Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 735 - 167.3 - Return to the Academy

<Arcadia Hunter Academy, Monday, Start of the Second Semester> 
The academy garden was alive with chatter, the crisp morning air mingling with the hum of anticipation. Students from all years gathered in clusters, their voices rising and falling like waves as they shared stories, theories, and complaints about the semester ahead. The garden, with its meticulously pruned hedges and vibrant flowers, seemed almost too serene for the lively chaos unfolding within its bounds. 
"Man, I can't believe the break's already over," a boy groaned, slumping against a tree. "I didn't even finish half the stuff I planned to do." 
"Did you really plan anything, though?" his friend teased, nudging him. "You were just bragging about marathoning all six seasons of Mystic Chronicles last week." 
"Hey, that counts as self-improvement! I was studying the tactics of the Mystic Order," he defended, earning a round of laughter from his group. 
Nearby, a group of second-years huddled around a tall girl with braided hair, her voice carrying above the others. 
"Did you hear?" she said, leaning in conspiratorially. "The headmaster's bringing in a new professor for the combat classes. Apparently, she's a retired hunter—top rank." 
"What?" one of the boys exclaimed. "A top-ranked hunter teaching us? What are they expecting us to face this semester? Dragons?" 
"Wouldn't be surprised," another chimed in. "Did you see the new curriculum outline? Tactical warfare, advanced dungeon strategies... It's like they're preparing us for war." 
"Or to not die horribly," someone muttered, and a somber silence fell over the group before being broken by a nervous chuckle. 
On the eastern side of the garden, a trio of first-years sat on a low stone wall, their uniforms still looking freshly pressed. 
"I heard the second semester is way tougher," one of them said, adjusting his glasses. "The mana manipulation test is supposed to weed out the weaklings." 
"That's just a rumor," his friend countered, kicking at the grass. "They're not gonna kick people out. Right?" 
"I don't know... Remember that girl who failed last year? She just... disappeared. No one's heard from her since." 
"Maybe she transferred?" the first boy offered weakly, but the uneasy silence suggested no one believed it. 
Ethan stood among the lively chaos of the academy, his bag slung casually over his shoulder as he scanned the sea of students. The energy of the first day back was infectious, with groups of students catching up, sharing stories, and speculating about what lay ahead. 
"Yo, Mountain Boy! Finally decided to grace us with your presence?" Julia's familiar voice rang out above the chatter, cutting through the din like an arrow. Ethan turned to see her striding toward him, her trademark smirk already firmly in place. 
"Mountain Boy?" Ethan echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Is that what I'm going to be called now?" 
"Better than 'Hermit,' which was my first choice," Julia quipped, crossing her arms. "You've been completely off the grid, Ethan. What, did you become someone important in the mountains or something? Too good to answer a message?" 
Ethan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It wasn't like that. Aunt Kaya kept me too busy to even think about touching my smartwatch. Training with her is... let's just say it's not exactly a vacation." 
"Training," Julia repeated, her grin widening mischievously. "Or did you join some kind of secret society up there? 'Cause honestly, disappearing for weeks without a word—sounds suspicious." 
"Not everything is some grand conspiracy, Julia," Ethan said, though the corner of his mouth twitched upward. "Unlike some people, I wasn't lounging around on break." 
Julia's eyes narrowed playfully. "Oh, I was busy. Unlike you, I'm reachable, thank you very much. And the Chaos Squad has been a mess without you. Lilia here has been trying to impersonate you in the group chat, but, let's be honest, she's terrible at it." 
"I'm not terrible," Lilia interjected, stepping up with an exaggerated pout. "I was just filling in the gaps. Someone had to bring the drama while you were gone, Ethan." 
Ethan smirked. "I don't bring drama." 
"You are drama," Julia corrected, nudging him with her elbow. "You just don't know it." 
Carl and Lucas approached then, both carrying identical looks of curiosity and mild amusement. 
"Ethan," Lucas said, gesturing toward him as if presenting a puzzle, "you've been back for all of five minutes, and already Julia's grilling you. Did you really miss this?" 
Lilia chuckled, adjusting the strap of his own bag. "It's like a rite of passage at this point. If Julia's not on your case, are you even part of the group?" 
"Don't encourage her," Ethan groaned, though he couldn't keep the smile off his face. 
"But seriously," Lucas said, his tone turning just a bit more inquisitive, "what was it like? Training with Kaya Hartley? I've heard stories—she's supposed to be terrifying." 
"She is terrifying," Ethan confirmed. "And relentless. Every day was a new kind of torture—but, honestly, it was worth it. I feel stronger, more focused." 
"Stronger, huh?" Julia said, leaning closer with a gleam of mischief in her eyes. "What's next? Are you planning to challenge Victor Blackthorn for his throne?" 
Ethan snorted. "Yeah, because that would end well." 
"Maybe not," Lilia chimed in, her voice light but teasing. "But you could at least try to give him a run for his money. You've got the mysterious loner vibe going now—girls love that." 
Ethan's face warmed slightly, but he shook his head. "I think I'll pass on the whole 'throne' thing. Victor can keep it." 
Julia grinned, sensing an opportunity. "Speaking of girls, Ethan... who were you so busy calling after your bath yesterday?" 
Ethan froze, his mind flashing back to his conversation with Jane. "I—wait, how do you know about that?" 
"Heh….Dumbass…..Seeing that you were online yesterday, I thought that I would call you….But apparently, the line was busy…." 
Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. He'd completely forgotten about the missed call in the excitement of catching up with Jane. "Right… that. Sorry, Julia. I didn't even check who was calling." 
Julia's eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms, her mock-serious expression already forming. "Didn't check? Really? After weeks of radio silence, at least calling me once would've been nice, no? Or is my rank on the priority list so low now that you don't even bother?" 
Ethan groaned, sensing the teasing wasn't going to let up anytime soon. "It's not like that. I just… forgot, okay?" 
"Forgot," Julia repeated, her voice dripping with exaggerated offense. "You hear that, guys? Forgot. Mountain Boy here goes off for weeks, comes back a new man, and suddenly, we're an afterthought." 
"Yeah, Ethan," Lilia joined in, her tone light but mischievous. "You didn't even let us know you were alive until yesterday. The least you could do is pretend you care." 
Ethan rubbed his temples, his face caught between exasperation and amusement. "Alright, alright. Fine. I was talking with her, okay? So what?" 
The group froze for a moment, the revelation landing like a pebble in a pond. Then Julia's smirk returned, wider and more triumphant than ever. "Her, huh? So it was Jane." 
Lucas grinned, folding his arms as he joined the fray. "I didn't realize you were such a romantic, Ethan. Jane must've made quite the impression." 
Ethan rolled his eyes, though the warmth in his face betrayed his composure. "Can we drop it already?" 
"Nope," Julia said, popping the "p" with mock finality. "Not a chance. You've been off doing who-knows-what for a month, and now you come back acting all mysterious and evasive. We're not letting this slide." 
The teasing continued, each comment eliciting groans from Ethan and laughter from the group. Despite his protests, Ethan found himself smiling. For the first time in weeks, he felt the weight of his training begins to lift, replaced by the easy camaraderie of his friends. 
As the laughter died down, Ethan glanced around the group. Lilia's sharp, teasing gaze softened, Carl looked relaxed, and even Lucas seemed at ease. It struck him how different Lucas appeared—less burdened as if some of the tension that had clouded him before had finally lifted. 
"It's really been a while," Ethan said, his voice quieter now. "I missed this. You guys." 
The group stilled for a moment, the playful atmosphere giving way to something more sincere. Then Julia grinned, her tone deliberately light as she said, "Yeah, yeah. Don't get all sentimental on us, Mountain Boy." 
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "I mean it. You all look good. Seems like everyone's doing fine now." 
Lucas gave a small nod, his usual grin tempered with a hint of gratitude. "Yeah. Things feel… clearer now." 
Ethan didn't push for details, but the unspoken understanding passed between them. Lucas had been wrestling with his own demons before Ethan left, and it was a relief to see him looking more like himself. 
"But wait…." 
However, Ethan realized something. 
Ethan glanced around, his brow furrowing slightly. Something felt incomplete about the group. "But wait…" he said, trailing off as the realization hit him. "Where's Irina?" 
Julia's lips curved into a knowing smile, her arms crossing loosely. "Oh, don't worry. She said she'd be here soon. Probably making a dramatic entrance like always." 
As if on cue, the distant hum of chatter seemed to part, and the group turned to see a figure approaching from the direction of the main gate. Irina Emberheart strode toward them with purpose, her fiery red hair catching the sunlight, almost glowing. Her usual confident gait was there, but there was something… different about her. 
Her aura, always vibrant, now carried an unmistakable weight. The fiery energy that surrounded her felt sharper, more controlled, and yet somehow more powerful. And her expression—calm, focused, and ever so slightly smug—hinted at a newfound strength. 
"Wow," Lucas muttered, his arms dropping to his sides as he took in her presence. "She looks… different." 
"No kidding," Lilia added, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to analyze the change. "She's definitely leveled up." 
Julia raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. "Looks like Mountain Boy isn't the only one who got a power-up over the break." 
Ethan watched as Irina closed the distance, her fiery aura practically radiating confidence. He couldn't help but smile. "Irina," he called out, his voice warm. "You're looking… strong." 
Irina stopped just a few feet away, planting her hands on her hips as her yellow eyes swept over the group. "And you're looking less like a slacker, Ethan. Guess that mountain training didn't kill you after all." 
Ethan chuckled, recognizing the familiar teasing edge in her voice, but there was something more to her words—a subtle acknowledgment, almost like a challenge. 
"Strong is an understatement," Carl said, stepping forward with an appraising nod. "You've been training too, haven't you?" 
Irina's lips quirked into a small, self-assured smile. "What gave it away? The aura? The confidence? Or the fact that I can probably roast all of you right now without breaking a sweat?" 
"Confident much?" Julia teased, though there was no malice in her tone. "But I am confident too…" 
Irina's smile grew, her fiery aura flaring briefly before settling. "Ho?" 
Just then, they sensed a silence. Nôv(el)B\\jnn