Chapter 815 - Translation

<h1>Chapter 815 189.1 - Mentorship</h1><p>Chapter  815 189.1 - Mentorship</p><p>As soon as Professor Kain left the room, Julia groaned dramatically, slumping forward onto her desk. "Ugh, another report? Seriously? I'm so done with this!" she whined, her voice carrying over the murmurs of the other students. "Why do we always have to write these stupid things? We're hunters, not writers!"</p><p>Ethan chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. "I mean, she's got a point. Writing reports after every exercise does get old."</p><p>Lucas, sitting nearby, smirked faintly as he adjusted his tablet. "You're acting like this is new. It's the academy. You had to know there'd be another report coming."</p><p>"Expected or not," Julia said, shooting Lucas a glare, "that doesn't make it any less annoying. I'd rather be in a dungeon fighting something than stuck in my room analyzing formations."</p><p>Lilia, who had been quietly packing her things, raised an eyebrow. "We've been writing reports since the start of the semester. You should've gotten used to it by now."</p><p>Julia shook her head vehemently, crossing her arms. "Getting used to it doesn't mean I have to like it."</p><p>Irina, seated a few rows behind them, smirked faintly as she listened in on the conversation. "You could always delegate it to someone else," she said dryly, her fiery yellow eyes glinting with amusement.</p><p>Julia spun around to face her, her blue eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Are you volunteering?"</p><p>Irina chuckled, leaning back in her chair. "Not a chance. You'd probably 'critique' my writing style the whole time."</p><p>Julia groaned again, flopping back into her seat with exaggerated defeat. "I'm not cut out for this academic stuff. Can't we just skip the reports and prove ourselves in the field?"</p><p>Ethan shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "You know that's not how it works. Kain's right—reflecting on what we did helps us get better."</p><p>Julia shot him a look, her lips pursing. "You're starting to sound like a professor, Zeus. Don't let it go to your head."</p><p>Lilia chuckled softly, her tone light but teasing. "Don't worry. He's just trying to keep you from complaining the whole week."</p><p>Julia huffed, shaking her head as she grabbed her bag. "Fine, fine. I'll do the stupid report. But don't expect me to enjoy it."</p><p>The group laughed, the tension of the assignment easing into their usual camaraderie as they gathered their things and prepared to leave. Despite Julia's grumbling, they all knew she'd get it done—probably with a few more complaints along the way.</p><p>Julia, unable to sit still in her frustration, spun back toward Irina, a mischievous glint sparking in her blue eyes. "You know what, Irina?" she said, crossing her arms on the back of her chair and leaning toward her classmate. "How did your practical lesson go? With your 'Mister Cool' here, you should've had quite a lot of fun, right?" Her tone was laced with playful mockery, each word exaggerated for effect.</p><p>Irina raised an eyebrow, her fiery yellow eyes narrowing slightly as a faint smirk played at her lips. "Mister Cool?" she repeated, her voice calm but edged with warning. "Are we giving Astron a new nickname now, or is this just your way of fishing for gossip?"</p><p>Julia grinned, undeterred by Irina's sharp tone. "Oh, I'm not fishing. I'm hooking. Come on, Irina, you've got to admit, partnering up with someone like him must've made things… interesting."</p><p>Irina's smirk deepened, but her tone remained steady. "If by 'interesting,' you mean him silently doing his part without much fuss, then sure. Fascinating stuff."</p><p>Julia wasn't about to let up, her grin widening as she draped her arms over the back of her chair like a cat preparing to pounce. "Oh, come on. You're telling me you didn't notice the way everyone in the dungeon was sneaking glances at him? The silent brooding, the impossible precision—classic 'Mister Cool' energy. Bet you were swooning the whole time."</p><p>"Indeed. The guy has a way of making everything look effortless. It's obnoxious."</p><p>"Exactly!" Julia said, pointing at Lilia as if she'd just solved a great mystery. "Obnoxiously cool. So, Irina, what's the verdict? Did he swoop in to save you at the last second, or were you too busy trying to keep up?"</p><p>Irina leaned back in her chair, her expression as calm as ever, though her narrowed gaze carried a subtle edge. "First of all, I don't need saving. And second," she added, her tone dripping with mock sweetness, "if you're so fascinated by Astron, why don't you ask him yourself? I'm sure he'd love to entertain your endless curiosity."</p><p>Julia gasped, her hand flying to her chest in mock offense. "Irina Emberheart, are you suggesting I'm the one interested in him? How scandalous! I'm just here to make sure you don't miss your moment with our resident enigma."</p><p>"Moment?" Irina repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Please. The only thing Astron and I have in common is the desire to finish assignments without dealing with nonsense like this."</p><p>Julia's grin widened, the glint of mischief in her eyes turning almost predatory. She leaned forward, her voice dropping into a conspiratorial tone. "Heeeeeeh… Really? Are you sure you two didn't share a steamy moment in the heat of battle?" she teased, dragging out the words as if savoring every syllable.</p><p>Irina didn't flinch, her fiery yellow eyes narrowing slightly, though the faintest twitch at the corner of her lips betrayed her growing irritation.</p><p>"And," Julia continued, her grin practically splitting her face now, "your team consisted of all women, right? Tell me—did Mister Cool somehow manage to land himself a harem? I mean, just picture it: our resident enigma, brooding in the middle of a group of women. That would be priceless."</p><p>Lilia snorted, barely suppressing a laugh as she glanced at Irina, clearly enjoying Julia's relentless antics. "You have to admit," she said with a faint smirk, "it is a funny image. Astron, the silent protector of his harem."</p><p>"Exactly!" Julia said, her excitement building. She twisted in her chair, throwing a wink in Astron's direction. "Hey, Astron, how does it feel being surrounded by adoring fans? Got any insights for us?"</p><p>Astron, seated a few rows away, didn't even bother looking up from his tablet. His calm, indifferent demeanor remained unshaken, as though Julia's teasing didn't exist in his world.</p><p>Julia turned back to Irina, throwing her hands up in mock exasperation. "See? He's too cool to even acknowledge me! The audacity!" Her dramatic flair earned a round of chuckles from the group.</p><p>Irina, however, remained still, her composure seemingly unshaken—until a subtle pause in her movements betrayed her. It was brief, barely noticeable to anyone else, but Julia caught it immediately, her grin widening triumphantly.</p><p>Irina exhaled quietly, leaning forward with deliberate calm. Her voice, when she finally spoke, was as sharp as the edge of a blade. "Julia," she began, her tone light but edged with steel, "if you have so much time to fantasize about Astron's social life, maybe you should channel that energy into your report. Who knows? You might even manage to turn it in on time for once."</p><p>Julia feigned a wounded look, placing a hand over her chest. "Ouch. Low blow, Irina. But I'm just saying, it'd be a shame if someone as interesting as Astron got all this attention and didn't even notice."</p><p>Irina's smirk returned, this time tinged with a hint of menace. "Don't worry, Julia. I'm sure he notices plenty—he's just selective about what's worth his time."</p><p>The group laughed, the playful banter easing the tension in the room. Even Julia had to admit defeat, though the glint of mischief in her eyes made it clear she wasn't done poking fun at Irina just yet.</p><p>RING!</p><p>The shrill sound of the bell echoed through the classroom, signaling the end of the break. Julia let out a dramatic groan, slumping forward onto her desk as though she'd just been dealt a mortal blow. "That's it? That's all the time we get? That wasn't a break—it was a glorified blink!"</p><p>Several other students murmured in agreement, their voices carrying a mix of frustration and exhaustion.</p><p>"Shortest break ever," Julia grumbled, sitting back up and throwing her arms in the air. "I barely had time to complain about how much I hate reports!"</p><p>Lilia, already organized with her tablet neatly placed on her desk, arched an eyebrow at Julia. "It felt short because Professor Kain went over time. He's not exactly known for his impeccable time management."</p><p>Julia turned toward Lilia with a mock glare. "You're really going to defend this travesty of a break? Traitor."</p><p>Lilia smirked, leaning back in her chair with a casual shrug. "I'm not defending it; I'm just stating facts. Besides, maybe if you spent less time teasing Irina, you'd feel like you got more out of the break."</p><p>Irina, who had been quietly reviewing her notes, glanced up with a faint smirk. "She has a point. Though, I doubt you'd be able to resist your usual antics, Julia."</p><p>Julia crossed her arms, pouting. "You're all ganging up on me now, huh? Fine, I'll just sit here in silence. No jokes. No teasing. Just a perfect, studious cadet."</p><p>The group exchanged skeptical glances before bursting into laughter. Julia's mock indignation quickly crumbled into a grin as she joined in.</p><p>The door opened suddenly, and the laughter died down as all eyes turned toward the entrance. Professor Eleanor stepped into the room, her heels clicking against the polished floor as she made her way to the podium. She carried her usual stack of papers and tablet, her sharp eyes immediately scanning the room to ensure everyone was settled.</p><p>"Good morning," she said, her voice crisp and commanding. The room instantly fell into a respectful silence, the students straightening in their seats.</p><p>Eleanor placed her materials on the podium, her gaze briefly lingering on Julia, who sat with an exaggeratedly serious expression as if to prove her earlier declaration of studiousness. A faint quirk of Eleanor's brow suggested she wasn't entirely fooled.</p><p>"Let us begin," Eleanor continued, her tone leaving no room for delay. She tapped her tablet, and the classroom screen flickered to life, displaying a detailed diagram of mana flow and elemental interactions. "Today's lesson will focus on advanced applications of elemental synergy. Open your textbooks to page 78."</p>

**Chapitre 815 189.1 – Mentorat** Dès que le professeur Kain quitta la salle, Julia se laissa tomber sur son bureau avec un gémissement théâtral, exagérant sa détresse comme à son habitude. *« Ugh, encore un rapport ? Sérieusement ? J’en ai marre ! »* Sa voix résonna, couvrant les murmures dispersés des autres étudiants. *« Pourquoi doit-on toujours écrire ces trucs stupides ? On est des chasseurs, pas des écrivains ! »* Ethan sourit en coin, se balançant légèrement sur sa chaise. *« Elle a pas tout à fait tort. Rédiger des rapports après chaque exercice, ça finit par devenir lassant à la longue. »* Lucas, assis non loin, esquissa un sourire narquois en ajustant sa tablette d’un geste négligent. *« Tu fais comme si c’était une surprise. C’est l’académie. Tu savais très bien qu’un autre rapport finirait par arriver. »* *« Attendue ou pas, *rétorqua Julia en lui lançant un regard noir, *ça ne le rend pas moins énervant. Je préférerais mille fois être dans un donjon à combattre plutôt que coincée dans ma chambre à analyser des formations tactiques. »* Lilia, occupée à ranger méthodiquement ses affaires, leva un sourcil avec une sérénité agaçante. *« On écrit des rapports depuis le début du semestre. Tu devrais t’y être habituée à ce stade. »* Julia secoua vigoureusement la tête, croisant les bras avec entêtement. *« S’y habituer ne veut pas dire que je dois aimer ça. »* Quelques rangées derrière eux, Irina laissa échapper un petit sourire en écoutant la conversation. *« Tu pourrais toujours déléguer à quelqu’un d’autre, *fit-elle d’un ton sec, ses yeux jaunes étincelants d’un amusement malicieux. Julia pivota sur sa chaise pour lui faire face, ses yeux bleus se plissant avec une méfiance exagérée. *« Oh ? Tu te portes volontaire, par hasard ? »* Irina éclata d’un rire léger, se renversant négligemment sur son siège. *« Aucune chance. Tu passerais ton temps à critiquer mon style d’écriture de toute façon. »* Julia poussa un nouveau gémissement, s’affalant sur son bureau avec une résignation dramatique. *« Je ne suis pas faite pour ce genre de trucs académiques. On ne pourrait pas juste sauter les rapports et prouver notre valeur sur le terrain, comme des vrais chasseurs ? »* Ethan secoua la tête, un sourire indulgent aux lèvres. *« Tu sais très bien que ça ne marche pas comme ça. Kain a raison—réfléchir à nos actions nous fait progresser, aussi chiants que soient ces rapports. »* Julia lui adressa un regard assassin, ses lèvres se pinçant. *« Tu commences à parler exactement comme un prof, Zeus. Attention à ne pas trop t’emballer. »* Lilia pouffa de rire, son ton léger mais taquin. *« Ne t’en fais pas. Il essaie juste de t’éviter de râler pendant toute la semaine. »* Julia souffla bruyamment, attrapant son sac avec une moue boudeuse. *« Bon, d’accord. Je vais faire ce stupide rapport. Mais ne t’attends pas à ce que j’y prenne du plaisir. »* Le groupe éclata de rire, la tension liée au devoir se dissipant dans leur dynamique habituelle tandis qu’ils rassemblaient leurs affaires. Malgré ses grognements, ils savaient tous que Julia s’exécuterait—probablement en ponctuant chaque étape de nouvelles plaintes. Soudain, Julia se tourna vers Irina, une étincelle espiègle dans le regard. *« Dis donc, Irina, *commença-t-elle en croisant les bras sur le dossier de sa chaise et en se penchant vers elle, *comment s’est passée ta leçon pratique ? Avec ton " Mister Cool" dans les parages, tu as dû bien t’amuser, non ? »* Son ton était chargé de sous-entendus moqueurs, chaque syllabe traînée pour maximiser l’effet. Irina leva un sourcil, ses yeux dorés luisant d’une lueur avertie. *« " Mister Cool" ? *répéta-t-elle, calme mais tranchante. *« Tu inventes des surnoms pour Astron maintenant, ou c’est juste une excuse pour faire jaser ? »* Julia sourit, imperturbable. *« Oh, je ne fais pas que pêcher des ragots. Je harponne. Allez, Irina, avoue qu’être en équipe avec lui a dû rendre les choses… intéressantes. »* Le sourire d’Irina s’accentua, bien que son ton reste impassible. *« Si par "intéressant" tu veux dire qu’il a fait son travail sans un mot de trop, alors oui. Passionnant. »* Julia ne lâcha pas prise, son sourire s’élargissant tandis qu’elle s’accoudait, féline. *« Oh, allez. Tu n’as pas remarqué comment tout le monde dans le donjon le regardait en douce ? Le silence mystérieux, la précision parfaite—l’aura classique de " Mister Cool". Je parie que tu étais en admiration tout du long. »* *« Exact. Il a un talent pour tout rendre facile. C’est exaspérant. »* *« Voilà ! *s’exclama Julia, pointant Lilia comme si elle venait de résoudre une énigme. *« Exaspérément cool. Alors, Irina, quel est le verdict ? Il t’a sauvée à la dernière seconde, ou tu étais trop occupée à essayer de suivre ? »* Irina se renversa sur sa chaise, son expression neutre masquant mal une pointe d’agacement. *« Premièrement, je n’ai besoin de personne pour me sauver. Et deuxièmement, *ajouta-t-elle avec un faux ton sucré, *si tu es si fascinée par Astron, pourquoi ne lui demandes-tu pas toi-même ? Je suis sûre qu’il adorerait satisfaire ta curiosité insatiable. »* Julia plaqua une main sur sa poitrine, feignant l’offense. *« Irina Emberheart, est-ce que tu sous-entends que c’est moi qui suis intéressée ? Quel scandale ! Je m’inquiète juste pour toi, au cas où tu raterais ton moment avec notre mystère ambulant. »* *« Moment ? *répéta Irina, un sourcil sceptique levé. *« S’il te plaît. La seule chose qu’Astron et moi partageons, c’est l’envie de finir nos missions sans subir ce genre de bêtises. »* Le sourire de Julia devint presque carnassier. Elle se pencha, voix chuchotante et complice. *« Heeeeeeh… Vraiment ? Tu es sûre qu’il n’y a pas eu un petit moment torride dans le feu de l’action ? »* Irina ne broncha pas, bien qu’un tic à sa lèvre trahisse son irritation. *« Et, *poursuivit Julia, ravie, *ton équipe était composée uniquement de femmes, non ? Dis-moi—est-ce que Mister Cool s’est retrouvé avec un harem ? Imagine : notre énigme résidente, entourée d’admiratrices. Ce serait hilarant. »* Lilia étouffa un rire, visiblement amusée. *« Avoue que c’est une image marrante. Astron, le protecteur silencieux d’un harem. »* *« Exactement ! *s’exclama Julia, excitée. Elle fit un clin d’œil en direction d’Astron. *« Hé, Astron, ça fait quoi d’être le centre d’attention d’un groupe de fans ? Des commentaires ? »* Astron, assis plus loin, ne leva même pas les yeux de sa tablette, son indifférence absolue. Julia se retourna vers Irina, levant les mains. *« Tu vois ? Il est trop cool pour daigner me répondre ! Quelle arrogance ! »* Irina, cependant, garda son calme—du moins jusqu’à ce qu’une micro-pause dans ses gestes ne trahisse son agacement. Julia sourit, victorieuse. Irina expira, se penchant en avant avec une sérénité calculée. *« Julia, *commença-t-elle, voix douce mais tranchante, *si tu as autant de temps pour fantasmer sur la vie sociale d’Astron, peut-être devrais-tu l’utiliser pour ton rapport. Qui sait ? Tu pourrais même le finir à temps pour une fois. »* Julia feignit la blessure, main sur le cœur. *« Aïe. Méchante. Mais je dis juste que ce serait dommage qu’un type aussi intéressant attire autant d’attention sans même s’en rendre compte. »* Le sourire d’Irina se teinta d’avertissement. *« Ne t’inquiète pas. Je suis sûre qu’il remarque beaucoup de choses—il est juste sélectif sur ce qui mérite son attention. »* Le groupe rit, dissipant l’ambiance tendue. Julia, vaincue pour l’instant, garda son sourire espiègle—promettant silencieusement une revanche. **DING !** La cloche retentit, coupant court à leurs échanges. Julia gémit, s’écroulant sur son bureau. *« C’est tout ? Une pause digne d’un clignement d’yeux ! »* Lilia haussa les épaules. *« Le professeur Kain a dépassé. C’est connu. »* Julia la foudroya du regard. *« Tu oses défendre cette mascarade ? Traîtresse. »* Lilia sourit. *« Si tu avais moins taquiné Irina, tu aurais eu l’impression d’une vraie pause. »* Irina, absorbée par ses notes, leva les yeux. *« Elle a raison. Mais je doute que tu changes. »* Julia bouder. *« Bon, je vais être une élève modèle. Plus de blagues. Plus de taquineries. »* Le groupe éclata de rire—Julia les rejoignant bientôt. La porte s’ouvrit brusquement. La professeure Eleanor entra, talons claquant, regard scrutateur. *« Bonjour, *dit-elle, imposant le silence. Julia s’assit droite, expression faussement sérieuse. Eleanor ignora sa comédie. *« Aujourd’hui : synergie élémentaire avancée. Page 78. »*