Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest-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.'

I held her gaze, letting my thoughts swirl as I pieced together everything that had led me to this conclusion. The mana in this place was the first clue. It felt ancient, older than anything I had encountered in human domains, something that resonated with the earth itself. The connection between the mana and the surrounding nature was seamless, intertwined in a way that human magic simply couldn't replicate. Humans may wield mana, but this... this felt alive, as though it had been nurtured by centuries of uninterrupted growth.

'Elven magic. No human could harness mana like this. The balance between life and mana here is too precise, too natural.'

The barrier around the estate was another subtle but undeniable sign. I'd sensed it the moment I entered the grounds. Most barriers were crude in comparison—forceful constructs meant to block or repel intruders. But this one? It blended into the very air, almost invisible to the untrained eye, quietly woven into the land itself, just like Elven wards designed to protect without disturbing nature.

But that alone wasn't enough to pinpoint the truth.

'The architecture here... it's familiar.'

The design of the mansion struck me from the moment we entered. It wasn't the ostentatious, towering structures that humans favored, nor did it have the blocky efficiency of dwarven designs. No, this was something else—sleek, elegant, every line flowing as though the building itself was shaped by the wind and earth. The curves, the open spaces, the harmony with the surrounding garden. It all felt too similar to the cities I had explored in the game's Elven domain. My photographic memory replayed those scenes vividly. There was no mistaking it—this estate mirrored the architecture of Elven cities almost exactly.

'There's no way this is a coincidence. It's too deliberate. The design, the mana, the very air around this place... it's all Elven.'

And then there was Maya herself. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Her becoming a half-vampire while resisting a full transformation wasn't something any normal human could achieve. If she were entirely human, her evolution would have been completed—she would have become a full vampire. But she hadn't. She had fought it, maintained her humanity, or at least a part of it. That feat alone made her lineage stand out.

'Her other lineage couldn't possibly be normal. The strength to fight off a vampiric transformation like that... it's not human resilience. It's something more. Something ancient.'

It all clicked into place. The mana of the land, the architecture, and the strange nature of her bloodline. Everything pointed to one conclusion.

I didn't voice these thoughts aloud. There was no need. Maya's reaction had already confirmed the truth.

'Elven origins...'

I watched her closely, noting the way she seemed almost pleased with my deduction. Perhaps she had been waiting for me to reach this conclusion, or maybe she had always known that I would. Either way, the truth hung between us, unspoken but acknowledged.

Maya's eyes, normally calm and serene, sparkled with a rare happiness as they locked onto mine. There was no more need for pretense, no reason to hold back now that the truth had been uncovered. Her pink eyes seemed to brighten, as though relieved to finally share something that had been hidden for so long.

"You're right," she said, her voice soft but carrying a note of satisfaction. "I knew you would see it, Junior."

I held her gaze, letting her words sink in. My mind was still piecing together the implications of what I had uncovered, but one question gnawed at me. Why? Why had she allowed me to see this? Why had she revealed something so deeply tied to her identity?

I stayed silent for a while, letting the quiet stretch between us. Finally, I asked the question that had been forming in my mind. "Why?" My voice was calm, though my curiosity was palpable. "Why did you reveal this to me? Why tell me now?"

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."