Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 843

Layla blinked as both Astron and Irina stared at her in silence, their expressions unreadable yet oddly synchronized. It was like they had both decided to pause reality just to process her words.

"…What?" she asked, frowning slightly.

Neither of them answered. Astron remained as still as ever, while Irina’s smirk widened ever so slightly, amusement flickering in her amber eyes. Layla looked between the two of them, her frustration growing.

"What?" she repeated, louder this time.

Irina exhaled through her nose, shaking her head. "You really are good at acting."

Layla’s eyebrows shot up. "What does that mean?"

Before Irina could respond, Astron—without missing a beat—answered in his usual calm, measured tone. "She’s not acting. She really believed what she said just now."

Irina blinked before leaning slightly forward, eyeing Layla with newfound interest. "…Really?"

"Yes," Astron confirmed simply.

"You can’t be serious," Irina said, now looking back at him.

"Sadly, I am."

Layla’s patience, already worn thin from her earlier conversation with Astron, snapped. "Hey! What are you two even talking about?"

Irina turned her gaze back to Layla, her expression somewhere between amusement and disbelief. "You actually think he came here at four."

"What? He said that?"

Astron remained as composed as ever, his sharp purple eyes unwavering as he countered, "I didn’t say that. I said I wake up at four A.M. That doesn’t mean I was here from that hour."

Layla blinked, her brain catching up to what he had just said. "…Wait."

Irina smirked, resting her chin on her palm as she leaned forward. "Yeah, he usually spends his mornings training. Then he comes here."

Layla opened her mouth, then closed it. And then it hit her.

They weren’t calling her crazy for thinking four A.M. was early… they were calling her crazy for thinking Astron had actually been sitting in the library that entire time.

"Oh."

A beat of silence stretched between them before Layla cleared her throat and let out a weak, forced chuckle. "Ahaha… I was just joking." She waved a hand dismissively, trying to play it off.

Astron, of course, was completely unmoved. His gaze remained steady as he spoke. "You weren’t."

Layla tensed slightly. "What? Of course I was—"

"When you joke, your lips curl slightly at the end of your sentences," Astron stated matter-of-factly. "You didn’t do that just now."

Layla’s breath hitched, her entire body stiffening.

Irina’s smirk widened. "Ooooh, wow. He’s calling you out, Layla. This is rare."

Layla’s eyes darted between the two of them. She was cornered. Absolutely, completely cornered.

"Aaaaaah…." she groaned, slumping forward onto the table and burying her face in her arms. "Why are you guys like this?"

And that was all it took for Irina to start laughing. "Ahaha! This is priceless." She clapped her hands together once, unable to hold back her amusement.

Astron, as expected, didn’t laugh. But Layla, still hiding her face in her arms, noticed something. The corner of his lips twitched. Just slightly.

Her eyes narrowed. They were messing with her.

With newfound determination, she shot her head up, pointing a finger accusingly at both of them. "You guys are totally teasing me!"

Irina grinned. "Oh, we absolutely are."

Astron didn’t confirm nor deny, but the fact that he didn’t refute it only made Layla more sure.

"…This is the worst," Layla muttered, dropping her head onto the table again in utter defeat.

Irina let out another laugh, while Astron returned to his notes, as if this entire conversation had been a minor detour in his perfectly scheduled day.

Layla, meanwhile, silently vowed revenge.

Just then, the sound of the library doors creaking open drew their attention. Two familiar figures stepped inside—Jasmine, her usual easygoing grin in place, and Sylvie, her green eyes scanning the room before settling on the group. Both carried their bags, looking slightly less enthusiastic about spending their weekend on an assignment but ready nonetheless.

"Morning, everyone," Jasmine greeted, her voice light as she approached the table.

The moment Layla saw her, she leaped from her seat and rushed toward her like a desperate survivor finding an escape route. "Jasmine… save me," she pleaded dramatically, grabbing onto her friend’s sleeve.

Jasmine, caught off guard, blinked in confusion before glancing between Layla, Astron, and Irina, who were both watching the scene unfold with clear amusement. "Uh… from what, exactly?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Layla whirled around, pointing at the two culprits like they were criminals caught red-handed. "These two! They ganged up on me!"

Jasmine’s eyes gleamed with interest as she set her bag down. "Oh? Do tell."