Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 838

Lilia paused at his question, her crimson eyes locking onto his. Astron’s expression remained unreadable, his voice as cool and detached as ever, but there was something beneath the surface—something subtle. His dark purple eyes, distant yet sharp, held a glint of curiosity, faint but present.

It made sense. Astron was observant, more so than most people gave him credit for. He must have noticed how she had carried herself throughout the night, how she had played the game differently than usual. And now, he was curious.

Lilia exhaled, tilting her head slightly. "You really do like watching people, don’t you?" she mused, her voice quieter now, less guarded.

Astron didn’t blink. "Observing," he corrected. "People are predictable if you pay attention."

A small smirk tugged at Lilia’s lips. "And what? You think I wasn’t acting like myself?"

Astron studied her for a moment before replying. "I think you were acting like someone who wanted to win."

Lilia stilled. It wasn’t an incorrect statement, but coming from Astron, it felt oddly precise.

Wanted to win? She turned the words over in her mind. Did she really want to win, or did she just refuse to lose?

She let out a quiet sigh, glancing away toward the dimly lit training grounds in the distance. "I feel…" She hesitated, as if the answer itself was caught somewhere between her thoughts and her pride.

She considered lying—saying something light, something dismissive. But Astron wasn’t the type to accept shallow answers. He’d only see through it.

So instead, she answered honestly.

"Frustrated. Tired." Her voice was steady, but she didn’t hide the weight behind her words. "But more than that… disappointed."

Astron didn’t react immediately, but she saw it—the way his gaze flickered slightly, as if processing her words with more care than expected.

"Disappointed in what?" he asked.

Lilia let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "Myself, mostly."

Astron raised an eyebrow slightly, but he didn’t interrupt.

She turned back to him, her crimson eyes sharper now, not with anger, but with a more introspective intensity. "I knew what I was walking into. I knew how Selene and Adrian operate. And yet, I still let myself play their game."

She exhaled, her hands tightening slightly at her sides. "That was my mistake."

Astron was silent for a moment, then he nodded. "It was."

Lilia blinked, half expecting him to say something else. When he didn’t, she let out a short laugh. "You’re terrible at comforting people, you know that?"

"I’m not trying to comfort you."

"Yeah, I figured."

For a moment, there was only quiet between them. A strange, comfortable kind of quiet. Lilia had expected more from him—some comment, some analysis—but Astron just stood there, watching her, waiting.

And oddly enough, that was enough.

Lilia exhaled softly, the night air cool against her skin, her mind still running through the match, through Selene’s schemes, through every move and counter-move that had played out tonight. And yet, just as she thought the conversation was winding down, Astron suddenly spoke.

"I sometimes wonder… why do you care about all this?"

Lilia blinked, her gaze snapping to him. His voice was the same as always—calm, measured—but there was something different about it this time. A faint curiosity that wasn’t just about observation. He was actually asking.

Her brows furrowed slightly. "Care about what?"

Astron tilted his head slightly, his dark purple eyes cool and steady. "The guild. Olympus Vanguard. The succession battle. Why do you care so much about winning?"

Lilia’s steps slowed for a moment. The question wasn’t difficult, not on the surface. It was something she had been answering her entire life—to others, to herself. And yet, hearing it from Astron, spoken so plainly, so detached, made her pause in a way she hadn’t expected.

Why did she care?

Her lips parted slightly, then pressed into a thin line. "That’s an easy answer," she said finally, her voice smooth despite the momentary hesitation. "Because I want to be the one leading it. I want to be the one in power."

She glanced at him, gauging his reaction, but Astron remained as impassive as ever, merely listening.

Lilia continued, her voice growing sharper, more certain as she spoke. "The Olympus Vanguard isn’t just a guild, Astron. It’s one of the most powerful organizations in the world. Whoever controls it doesn’t just lead a group of Awakened—they dictate alliances, control resources, influence entire nations." She exhaled, crossing her arms as her eyes flickered with determination. "That kind of power doesn’t come easily. And if it’s going to fall into anyone’s hands, it should be mine."

Astron nodded slightly but didn’t respond immediately. His silence stretched just long enough for her to feel the weight of her own words.

Lilia narrowed her eyes. "What?"