Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 568 126.5 - Evergreen

Chapter 568 126.5 - Evergreen

Maya's gaze shifted from me to Alfred, her expression soft but laced with a hint of questioning. "Alfred," she said, her voice steady and calm, "what exactly are you doing?"

Alfred, in response, bowed his head slightly. "I apologize, Lady Maya if I came across as offensive." His tone was respectful, but I could see through the formality. It was more of an obligatory apology than a genuine one, delivered with the same polished precision that defined everything about him.

Senior Maya looked at him for a moment, her eyes lingering on his figure. The silence stretched, and for a brief second, I wondered if she would push further. But then, she sighed—a quiet, resigned sound. "It's fine," she said, though the softness in her voice hinted at a weariness with Alfred's behavior. "Just... prepare tea and snacks for us."

Alfred straightened immediately, his face an impassive mask of obedience. "As you wish, Lady Maya." But even as he acknowledged her command, I could see it—his eyes held no real remorse. It was subtle, hidden behind the veneer of professionalism, but it was clear to me. He understood that he had overstepped his boundaries, but there wasn't the slightest trace of regret in his demeanor.

'He's not used to being questioned,' I thought, watching the interaction closely. The apology, the bow, the compliance—it was all part of his role, a script he followed. But beneath it, there was a quiet defiance, an unspoken assertion of his own position. He hadn't backed down because he felt he was wrong; he had backed down because Senior Maya had spoken.

Maya turned her gaze to me after Alfred left, a gentle sigh escaping her lips. "I'm sorry about Alfred," she said softly, her tone carrying a quiet apology. "He tends to be... protective. More than necessary, sometimes."

I shook my head slightly, offering her a small nod of understanding. "I understand. It's not uncommon for people like him to behave that way, especially with someone like you to protect, Senior."

Maya's smile returned, softer now but with a glint of curiosity in her eyes. "Where were we? Ah, yes," she said, her voice smooth as she looked at me expectantly. "Now that you've made all these observations, what do you think, Junior?"

I paused for a moment, considering her question. I looked into her eyes, those calm yet sharp pink irises that seemed to hold so many secrets. I hesitated, wondering if it was really safe to speak what I was about to say. There was a chance someone could be listening, and what I was thinking... might sound outrageous. Dangerous, even.

"Are you sure you're okay with me saying this?" I asked, my voice low. "What I'm about to say might not be... safe. And if there are people listening, it could be risky."

Maya's smile deepened, and with a simple, graceful gesture of her hand, she urged me to continue. There was no hesitation in her demeanor, no sign of fear. It was as if she had expected this.

'Well.....The fact that she had brought me here and the reaction that Butler had shown alone also encourages this.'

And since she was showing me such a reaction, that would mean that there was no need for me to hold back.

"You are....of Elven Origins."

The moment the words left my lips, Maya's smile widened, a glint of satisfaction dancing in her eyes. It was as if she had been waiting for me to uncover this truth, the slight curve of her lips revealing more than mere amusement. I had struck at the heart of something deeper.

'So, I was right.'

Maya didn't answer immediately. Instead, her smile deepened, and I noticed a shift in her eyes. The soft pink hue that usually defined her irises began to change, turning a shade darker—crimson, as if the part of her that she had fought to keep hidden was surfacing.

"To the person who saved my life," she began, her voice carrying a weight of gratitude that I hadn't expected, "and who even covered for me when no one else would..." She paused, her gaze never leaving mine. "Hiding something like this would be hypocritical, wouldn't it?"

The sincerity in her voice was undeniable. Her smile, though still calm, carried a depth of emotion that made it harder and harder to ignore.

'Right... This is what kind of person she is,' I thought as I looked into Senior Maya's eyes.

She wasn't someone who played games or toyed with people's emotions. Maya had always been upfront and sincere about everything she did. Whether it was teaching me how to control mana or stepping in when I had no one to turn to, she had never once asked for anything in return. Her kindness was never transactional; it was genuine.

She was the first person who saw something in me when no one else did. The one who extended her hand without hesitation when I was still fumbling, trying to understand the world of mana and magic. I couldn't forget that moment—the way she'd calmly walked up to me and offered her help when she had no obligation to do so. It was who she was. Always looking out for others, even when she herself carried burdens she never spoke of.

'She's always been like this,' I thought, remembering the countless moments she'd quietly covered for me. Whether it was during training or in the missions we'd shared, she'd always been the one to shield me from the things I couldn't handle, never expecting recognition or thanks.

And now, here she was, baring a part of herself she had kept hidden for so long—because she thought I deserved to know.

'Seeing someone else in others....It is not a healthy thing....' I had been running away for a long time already since it always felt uncomfortable being around her.

Since I had always been reminded of 'her' whenever I was close to Senior.

'Right...'

And this was what I had realized while talking with Dakota at that time. How ungrateful and disgusting to do something like this to the person in front of you.

While they are trying to help you, you are just seeing someone else in them....This fact alone is really....

No one deserved such a thing.

"Senior."

Just as I was about to speak any further, suddenly, I sensed someone's presence.

"Lady. Your tea is ready."