Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 167

Chapter 167 Chapter 37.2 - Small talk on the train

As Irina was about to relocate to her assigned seat in compartment C, seat 12, she was taken aback by an unexpected sight.

A familiar face, one she didn't expect to see on this train, was sitting in the seat right before her. The young boy with purple eyes and black hair, Astron.

"Huh?" Irina uttered in surprise, her eyes locking onto his.

Astron, maintaining his usual serious demeanor, slowly lifted his gaze to meet Irina's. The exchange of glances created a momentary pause, and the passengers nearby observed the unexpected encounter.

After all, Irina's presence immediately gathered attention from the surroundings the moment she entered the train. Her clothes and her demeanor alone suggested that she was someone with a high standing, and her beauty was enough to attract everyone.

"You…" Irina started, caught off guard by Astron's presence.

Astron looked at the girl standing right before him as he mumbled. "I should have expected it."

Irina, her annoyance growing, glared at Astron. "Expected what?"

Astron, unfazed by her glare, calmly responded, "I heard explosions even from inside the train. I should have known it was you."

Irina's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? How did you...?"

Astron pointed towards the direction they were heading. "Look outside. The signs of combustion are quite evident. And, there aren't many people in this world that use transportation methods like you. You left quite an impression even before getting on the train."

Irina, realizing that her attempt to escape her mother's schemes hadn't gone unnoticed, felt a mix of frustration and embarrassment.

Especially since the one realizing was this annoying guy.

"Sigh…."

She sighed and decided to take a seat, gesturing towards the empty spot across from her. But as she sat down, suddenly she realized something.

'What is he doing here?'

That guy, what he was doing here? Her curiosity grew as she looked at him. His clothes were casual, and he looked the same as usual, but there was something different about him that she could sense.

'Something has changed?'

Her curiosity grew. This annoying guy had been occupying a part of her mind recently, and most of the things about him were questions that weren't answered.

"Since you're here, you might as well tell me what you're doing on this train."

Astron, without a change in expression, took the offered seat. "I have my reasons. Business, you could say."

Irina raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Business? On a train to Arcadia? What kind of business?"

Astron simply replied, "The kind that doesn't concern you."

"….."

Irina rolled her eyes, already regretting the fact that Astron had become an unexpected companion on her journey.

'Annoying bastard.'

His aloof demeanor and the way he spoke was getting on her nerves.

"I don't care anyway."

"You don't care? Then why did you ask?"

"...No reason."

"No reason?"

"Yep."

"And you want me to believe that."

"Believe what you want."

"I always believe what I want; you don't need to say it out."

"You.....Tch."

Whenever she argued with this guy, things always ended like this. He acted proud and retorted back whenever they talked.

It was like….

'He always needs to be the one that says the last line.'

She realized from their past talks that whenever it ended, she would end up feeling like she had lost.

'I can't stand it.'

"You know, your attitude really grates on my nerves," Irina remarked, shooting Astron an annoyed look.

"Likewise," Astron responded calmly, his eyes fixed on the passing scenery outside the train.

Irina huffed, crossing her arms. "Why are you even here? It's not like we're friends or anything."

Astron shrugged. "What do you mean? You are the one that came here after me."

"I didn't come here knowing you were sitting here. If I knew, rather than sitting on the same wagon as you, I would sit on the roof of the train."

"You would freeze on there?"

"Better than sitting with you."

"Then why are you not doing it?"

Irina rolled her eyes. "Because, annoyingly enough, I still want to get to Arcadia in one piece."

Astron turned his attention to Irina from the window. His expression didn't change, but Irina could swear that she had seen a small sneer in his eyes.

'How beaut-'

For a second, she almost got enchanted by them.

"You don't have to admit that you want my company."

Almost... as once again, the annoyance grew.

"Don't get ahead of yourself. It's more about not freezing to death than enjoying your company."

"Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that." Astron's tone remained calm, and Irina couldn't help but wonder if he was secretly enjoying their banter.

'He seems to be in a good mood.'

At first, she wasn't sure, but as she talked with him more, she realized his words were a little different than normal.

Normally, he would speak harshly while shutting down others, but this time, it felt like he was contributing to the talk quite differently.

'Should I ask?'

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