Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

"But you better not get yourself killed."

"...I won't…."

As the weight of their conversation began to settle, the room fell into a brief silence. Astron glanced at Maya with an unreadable expression before his lips somehow seemed to curl slightly. "Senior... for how long were you planning to stay like this?"

Maya blinked, momentarily confused. And then, all at once, it hit her—she was still straddling his lap, their bodies pressed close together. The heat of his body against hers, the tension that had built between them earlier, all of it came rushing back. Her face flushed crimson as she suddenly became acutely aware of her position, the warmth pooling in her body, and the subtle wetness she could feel in certain places.

"Ah—!" Maya gasped, instinctively trying to pull back, her face burning with embarrassment. But the moment she shifted, the friction between them only intensified the sensations she was feeling, and it became even harder to ignore.

Her heart raced, and she bit her lip, trying to control the sudden rush of desire that surged through her again. 'How did I not realize… this whole time?'

She wanted to move, to do something to salvage her dignity, but the way their bodies were intertwined made it nearly impossible to disengage without making things even more awkward.

"I… uh… forgot," she mumbled, her voice barely audible as she glanced anywhere but at him.

Astron's expression remained calm, but the slight amusement in his eyes was unmistakable. "It's fine, Senior," he said, his voice as composed as ever, though there was a faint warmth in his tone that made Maya's embarrassment even worse.

Her face flushed a deeper shade of red, and she quickly shifted, trying to disentangle herself without drawing attention to her discomfort. But each movement only seemed to remind her of the situation, and the subtle friction between them sent an electric shiver through her body.

'Why now?' she thought, internally cursing herself for being so easily flustered.

She faked a cough, awkwardly trying to cover her embarrassment as she finally managed to slide off his lap. Standing up quickly, she smoothed down her clothes, desperately avoiding eye contact with Astron. Her mind raced for a distraction, anything to break the tension that had built up once again.

Clearing her throat, Maya turned toward the gazebo, taking a few steps away from him. "A-anyway," she began, her voice still a little shaky as she tried to regain some semblance of control, "we should get back to planning. There's a lot to prepare for the banquet… and we don't have much time."

She busied herself with straightening her clothes, avoiding his gaze, hoping the cool breeze from the gazebo would calm her racing heart and the heat still lingering in her body.

Astron leaned back slightly, his gaze settling on her with his usual calmness. "For the time being, we should wait, Senior. We've discussed a lot, and adding more details right now will only complicate things further." His voice was steady, as though the previous tension between them had never existed.

Maya nodded, slowly feeling the heat in her body dissipate as she regained her composure. His words were logical, and she knew he was right. But as the haze of the earlier moment cleared, a sudden realization hit her—she had completely forgotten her manners.

'Oh no…' she thought, her eyes widening slightly as she remembered that Astron had just arrived. He was still a guest in her home, and here she was, getting carried away by her emotions, completely neglecting her duties as a host. What kind of courtesy was that?

She straightened up quickly, her face still a little flushed, but her mind now focused on something else entirely. "Junior! I—I can't believe I forgot," she said, shaking her head at her own carelessness. "You just arrived, and I haven't even properly welcomed you. You must be tired from the journey, and here I am, making things difficult for you without even offering you a place to settle."

Maya hurried over to the small table nearby, setting her hands on her hips as she mentally scolded herself. "What kind of host am I?" she muttered. "Where are my manners?"

"Cough…..It is a little bit late for that, don't you think? And it is not like I am just a normal person. We are both Awakened, so I am not tired. Senior, don't worry."

Maya took a deep breath, forcing her mind to shift focus and clinging to Astron's words as an opportunity to escape the overwhelming embarrassment. "That won't do, Junior," she said with a playful but determined tone. "Awakened or not, I'm still your host, and I need to show some courtesy. Besides, I've decided—since you've never had the chance to see it, how about I give you a tour around the mansion? You don't often get the opportunity to see places like this."

She stood tall, brushing off the awkwardness as best she could, and a small smile tugged at her lips. The idea seemed perfect—not only would it give her a chance to shift the mood, but it could also give her some time to get closer to Astron. After all, Amelia had told her all about dates, and wasn't this the perfect opportunity to treat it like one?

'Yes,' she thought to herself, excitement bubbling up inside her. 'A tour around the mansion… that sounds like a date, doesn't it?'

Astron raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing her sudden shift in energy but not fully understanding what was going through her mind. "A tour?" he asked, his tone skeptical but not disinterested.

Maya's smile widened as she gave him a slight nod. "Yes, a tour! Come on, Junior. You don't get to see places like this often. I'll show you around."

Astron hesitated for a moment, not because he did not want to but because he thought that if he were to get more and more into the family, he would never be able to leave this place.

'It is a little bit late for that, isn't it?' But well, the ship was sailed at this point, and Astron was sure that things would no longer be the same. Once Maya decided to reveal her lineage to him, it meant that he could no longer avoid entangling himself with this matter.

Though seeing Maya's enthusiasm, he couldn't help but let out a small sigh of defeat. "Alright, Senior. Lead the way," he said, taking her hand and letting her pull him along.

Maya quickly removed the formation she had set up around the gazebo, the faint shimmering barrier dissolving into the air. It had been there to keep prying eyes away, ensuring that their conversation remained private. But now, with the more serious matters set aside, she felt it was no longer needed.

"Alright, let's go," she said, her voice light and eager. She tugged Astron's hand gently, leading him toward the grand entrance of the mansion.

As they were just about to step inside, the sound of footsteps interrupted them. Alfred, her family's trusted butler, approached with his usual calm demeanor. His eyes shifted between Maya and Astron, silently assessing the situation.

"Lady Maya," Alfred said with a slight bow. "I see you and your guest have concluded your discussion. Is everything in order?"

Maya smiled at Alfred, giving him a reassuring nod. "Yes, Alfred. Everything is fine. I'm just going to give Astron a tour of the mansion."

Alfred's expression softened, and he returned the nod. "Very well. Should you need anything, Lady Maya, do not hesitate to ask." His gaze shifted briefly to Astron, who remained composed and polite, though there was an air of careful distance in his posture.

"No, we're fine," Maya replied, her tone casual but polite. She waved Alfred off, turning back to Astron with renewed enthusiasm. "Come on, Junior. Let's start the tour."

Alfred took his leave, retreating into the mansion, while Maya led Astron through the grand entrance hall. The massive doors opened with a soft creak, revealing the splendor within—ornate decorations, tapestries, and elegant furniture that spoke of the Evergreen family's long-standing legacy. The atmosphere was regal, yet there was a sense of warmth to the place.

Maya practically bubbled with excitement as she led Astron through the grand hallways of the mansion, her voice animated as she began telling him stories from her childhood. "You know, I used to run through these halls pretending I was on some grand adventure," she said with a fond smile, her eyes gleaming as she recalled the memories. "Alfred would always catch me sneaking into places I wasn't supposed to be. I was a bit of a troublemaker back then."

Astron followed her closely, quietly observing the details of the mansion. The Evergreen family's legacy was etched into every corner—portraits of past generations, intricate carvings on the walls, and an unmistakable aura of wealth and power. Yet, there was also something homey and warm about the place, likely due to Maya's lively presence.

They passed through the grand library next, and Maya couldn't help but grin as she pushed open the heavy doors. The smell of parchment and old books filled the air, shelves stacked from floor to ceiling with ancient tomes, scrolls, and records. "This is where I spent most of my time growing up," she admitted. "I loved reading about the old cultivation arts, histories, and legends. My father used to joke that I'd get lost in here for days if he didn't drag me out."

Astron's eyes briefly scanned the titles, noting a few rare and ancient texts, though he stayed silent. The sheer magnitude of the library was impressive, but he remained composed, his expression unreadable as ever.

After the library, she led him through a series of rooms—guest chambers, dining halls, and even an armory. Each one had its own story, and Maya was more than happy to recount her escapades in each place. "This is the armory where I first learned how to wield a blade," she said proudly, gesturing to the impressive collection of weapons. "Though, well…..Let's say I was never good at it."

Considering the talent that she had shown as a mage and her control of all elements, Astron knew that achieving such control was not just a matter of being a genius.

She would need to put quite a lot of effort into that, and that would mean she would not be able to pay attention to other weapons.

Such talents often meant a lack of talents in other fields, which was normal.

They finally made their way to the airship hangar, a massive structure that stood outside the main building.

"You have already seen this place before, so there is not much to show."

They went past the hanger, and she led him to a large stretch of land where rows of plants grew in neat, cultivated patches.

Maya beamed, pointing at the lush fields. "And this is where we grow our daily fruits and herbs. We have everything here—fresh Starbloom Essence, Silverpetal Lotus, and even rare Everglow Root."

Astron's eyebrow twitched slightly at the casual mention of such high-quality herbs.

Starbloom Essence was incredibly valuable, and he knew from the fact that Maya spoke about them as if they were common household fruits that she was not normal.

But witnessing it once again, it was really hard to just causally brush it off.

"This is what I gave you back then."

"Yeah…..You said it was like a daily use for you…I guess you really were telling the truth."

"Humph, Junior. When have you ever seen me lying?"

Astron was speechless.

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