Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest-Chapter 413 94.1 - Not every negative thing is negative

The end-of-the-semester duel festival for freshmen was in full swing, and the academy grounds buzzed with excitement and activity.

Among the many booths set up for the event, one in particular stood out, drawing a steady stream of visitors.

The booth, adorned with colorful banners and enticing aromas, was dedicated to selling chips and snacks. Behind the counter, Maya and her friends worked with cheerful efficiency, their presence adding a magnetic charm to the scene.

Maya, the top seat of the sophomore year, was at the center of attention. Her reputation had spread far and wide, and many students flocked to the booth not just for the delicious snacks but to catch a glimpse of her.

Maya's gentle nature and radiant smile, as she prepared and served the snacks, played a significant role in attracting the crowd. She moved gracefully, her hands deftly handling the various ingredients, while her laughter and friendly banter with customers created a warm, inviting atmosphere.

"Here you go! Enjoy the snacks and have a great time at the festival!" Maya said, handing a bag of chips to a group of excited freshmen. Her eyes sparkled with genuine warmth, making each interaction feel personal and special.

Beside her, Amelia stood, her smile matching Maya's in brightness but with a hint of sadness in her eyes. She helped Maya prepare the snacks, her enthusiasm seemingly masking her deeper emotions.

Amelia's hands moved quickly and skillfully, yet there was a slight tension in her posture, a reflection of the inner conflict she kept hidden.

"Amelia, could you pass me the seasoning mix?" Maya asked, turning to her friend with a grateful smile.

"Of course, Maya!" Amelia replied, her voice cheerful. She handed over the mix, her eyes lingering on Maya for a moment longer than necessary. Despite the sadness she felt, despite how heartbroken she was, she couldn't help but be proud of her 'friend's' accomplishments and the joy she brought to others.

As the line of customers continued, many of them exchanged excited whispers about Maya.

Of course, not everyone there was a student at the academy. In fact, most of them came from the outside.

"Who is this big sister? She is so beautiful."

A young kid looked up, his eyes locked on Maya while he and his mother were passing through the boot.

"That big sister?" the mother teased her young son, a playful glint in her eye. "Would you like to marry her?"

The kid blushed furiously but mumbled, "I want to."

Maya, overhearing the exchange, couldn't help but smile. She called the kid over to the booth, her gentle demeanor putting him at ease. "I'm flattered," she said warmly, "but I'm afraid I can't marry you. There's someone else that I want as my husband."

Suddenly, the chatter around the booth quieted. Her friends, who had been busy preparing snacks, looked up with wide eyes. The crowd, including the mother and her son, seemed to hold their breath as they waited for more. Maya's serene and beautiful smile spread a radiant warmth, captivating everyone around her.

'Ah….She must have said this so as not to let the kid down. Maya, you are too kind!'

Aside from only one person, everyone was thinking about this, as they knew about Maya's character.

Aside from one.

As Amelia knew Maya and about her feelings.

'Right…' The kid, feeling a bit shy, looked down at the ground, clearly unsure of how to respond. Maya knelt down to his level, her smile never wavering. "But how about I show you a magic trick instead? Would you like that?"

The kid's eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly. Maya stood back up, flicking her fingers with a practiced ease.

In an instant, the elements responded to her command. Water swirled in the air, forming delicate shapes before cascading down like a gentle waterfall. Air currents danced around, lifting leaves and creating miniature whirlwinds.

Earth rose up, forming intricate patterns on the ground, while flames flickered and twirled, creating a mesmerizing display of light and warmth.

The crowd watched in awe as Maya controlled the elements with grace and precision. She gathered the ingredients for the snacks and, with a flourish, tossed them into the air.

The elements came together in a dazzling display, cooking the snacks as they floated, using only her elemental magic. Fire roasted, air cooled, water seasoned, and earth provided the stability to hold everything in place.

She took the concept of cooking display to the audience to another level.

–THUMP! Yet suddenly, she sensed something. Her heart suddenly strongly hit her body, making her almost lose her balance.

'Huh?'

It was for a subtle moment, but she felt like the world was about to go crimson. The kid before her looked tasty as if she had seen a delicious meal.

'No!' In an instant, she took control of her body once again, making herself feel normal.

In moments, the air was filled with the delicious aroma of freshly prepared snacks. Maya caught the finished product with a smile, handing a perfectly cooked treat to the young boy. "Here you go. Enjoy!"

The kid took the snack with wide eyes, beaming up at Maya. "Thank you, big sister!"

Maya's friends, along with the rest of the crowd, broke into applause as they witnessed the display.

Many wanted to see more, but Maya.

She was having a hard time.

THUMP! THUMP! Her body was pumping blood rapidly, and every breath became a struggle. She knew she couldn't stay any longer.

"Excuse me for a moment," Maya said hurriedly, her voice strained. She didn't wait for a response as she turned and quickly walked away from the booth, each step feeling heavier than the last.

"Maya, are you okay?" Amelia called out, concern evident in her voice. Kiera and the others echoed her worry, but Maya didn't stop to answer. She couldn't risk it.

She moved through the festival crowd, her pace quickening. The curious glances and murmured questions of those she passed barely registered. All she could focus on was getting away before she lost control completely.

Though using magic wasn't prohibited, there were regulations of how one mustn't pass a certain threshold, yet he couldn't care less.

Finally, she found a secluded spot in the academy forest, in a place filled with trees.

Maya leaned heavily against the tree, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. The forest around her was a sanctuary, a place where she could momentarily escape the chaos of the festival. However, her reprieve was fleeting. The sounds of explosions echoed in the distance, a constant reminder of the danger that loomed just beyond the trees.

Her body trembled, the demonic energy in the air aggravating her vampiric instincts. Normally, Maya could disguise her true nature, hiding the telltale signs of her vampirism behind a carefully maintained facade.

But now, with the pervasive corruption thickening the air, maintaining control was becoming increasingly difficult.

"Why now?" she whispered to herself, her voice tinged with desperation. "Why here?" f𝐫eewe𝚋nove𝗹.𝗰o𝚖

She clutched at her chest, feeling the erratic thumping of her heart. Each beat sent a surge of hunger through her, a ravenous craving that threatened to overtake her senses.

The scent of blood from the wounded and dying civilians at the festival reached her even here, in the depths of the forest. It was intoxicating, a siren call that beckoned her to give in to her darkest urges.

"No," Maya muttered through gritted teeth. "I can't... I won't."

She forced herself to focus, drawing on every ounce of her willpower to suppress the vampiric features that threatened to emerge. Her normally vibrant blue eyes flickered with hints of crimson, and she felt her fangs lengthening involuntarily. She dug her nails into the bark of the tree, using the pain as a grounding force.

"I need to control this," she told herself, her voice a steadying mantra. "I need to stay hidden."

The thought of revealing her true nature to the world filled her with dread. She had worked so hard to maintain her human guise, to protect those around her from the truth.

But now, with the demonic energy coursing through the air, that facade was slipping.

In the distance, another explosion rocked the ground, sending a plume of smoke skyward. Maya's heightened senses picked up the cries of fear and pain from the festival grounds.

Every instinct screamed at her to go and help, to use her powers to protect the innocent.

But she knew she couldn't risk it. Not now, not when she was so close to losing control.

She sank to the ground, pressing her back against the tree and closing her eyes. She needed to center herself, to find the strength to resist the overwhelming hunger. She pictured Junior's face in her mind, drawing strength from the memory of his calm, steady presence. He had always believed in her, always trusted her to do the right thing.

"I can't let him down," she whispered. "If it is known, I will never see him again."

She manipulated the earth, plugging her nose so that she couldn't smell anything.

Then she focused on her breathing, taking slow, measured breaths to calm her racing heart. Following that, she reached for her spatial storage and took out a small pouch.

GULP!

And then started drinking it. Even though she didn't know if this would quench her feelings, she left herself in the relief of his blood.

The sounds of the festival and the forest blended into a distant hum, and she found a sliver of peace amidst the chaos.

Just like that, she closed her senses, leaning on that tree.

She could hold herself until everything ended. At least, that was what she wanted to believe.

*******

The world was dark, as she intended.

Her senses dulled to the chaos outside.

Until that moment.

Like a whisper through the void, the throbbing sensation returned, a relentless pulse that cut through her self-imposed isolation.

Her eyes snapped open, the darkness replaced by a crimson haze. The demonic energy that had been a distant hum now roared in her ears, and she felt it—three distinct blood scents wafting through the air.

The first two were thick, rich, and tantalizingly close. The third was more subtle, hidden beneath the overpowering aroma of the other two, but it was there, beckoning her.

"No..." she muttered, her voice a faint echo of defiance. But her body betrayed her, muscles tensing, fangs elongating, and her eyes now a deep, unrelenting crimson.

The primal hunger surged within her, overwhelming any semblance of control she had left.

SWOOSH! With a speed that defied her human past, Maya dashed through the forest, her movements a blur. Trees and underbrush seemed to part before her as she followed the scent, her mind consumed by the need to sate the thirst that gnawed at her very being.

As she neared the source of the blood, the scene came into focus. Two figures carried by a slightly tall, bulky person.

One of the figures had fiery red hair, while the other one had silvery long hair flowing down.

"Grrr….."

And she instantly attacked, not being able to contain her desires.