The hallway was quiet.
Too quiet.
Word had already spread.
Leo walked through it alone.
Hands in his pockets.
Unbothered.
Like nothing had happened.
"Leo."
A voice stopped him.
A staff member stood at the end of the hall.
"The headmaster wants to see you."
Leo sighed.
"Of course he does."
⬛ Headmaster's Office
The room was spacious.
Organized.
Silent.
The headmaster stood by the window.
Back turned.
"…I can't believe it."
Leo stepped in.
"That someone like you…"
The headmaster continued.
"…someone as intelligent as you…"
"…could make such a mistake."
Leo shrugged.
"How is it my fault?"
The headmaster didn't turn yet.
Leo continued casually:
"He walked up to me… asking how a 'smarty pants' like me got into the academy."
A pause.
"I told him 'smarty pants' isn't even a real word…"
Leo smirked slightly.
"…dumbass."
Silence.
Leo tilted his head.
"…Now that I think about it…"
"Yeah, I started it."
Another pause.
"…but he had it coming."
The headmaster exhaled slowly.
Then turned.
"I've heard about you," he said.
"My brother told me."
His gaze sharpened.
"But I didn't think you'd go this far."
Leo blinked.
"Really?"
He counted on his fingers casually.
"I only sent him through a window…"
"Broke his arm…"
"And kicked him once."
A small shrug.
"…Does that really deserve punishment?"
The headmaster stared at him.
"…You already know the answer to that."
Leo nodded once.
"Fair enough."
Silence settled between them.
Then—
"Leo."
The tone changed.
Softer.
"I know what you're capable of."
A pause.
"You could become one of the greatest hunters to ever exist."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"So why do you hold back?"
For the first time—
Leo didn't answer immediately.
A memory flickered.
Clubs.
Training.
Victory.
Then—
Leaving.
Always leaving.
"…It just feels natural," Leo said finally.
The headmaster watched him carefully.
"To not be tied down to one thing."
Silence.
Then—
A faint smile.
"…I see."
The headmaster turned slightly away.
"That attitude of yours…"
"…is exactly why I can't bring myself to expel you."
Leo raised an eyebrow.
"Lucky me."
"But don't misunderstand," the headmaster added.
"There will be punishment."
Leo sighed.
"Yeah, yeah…"
⚖️ Punishment
"You'll assist in field operations."
Leo paused.
"…Field operations?"
The headmaster nodded.
"Real ones."
"Outside the academy."
"Monster subjugation."
Leo's expression didn't change.
But something behind his eyes did.
"…That's it?"
"For now," the headmaster replied.
"Think of it as…"
"…a way to make use of your actions."
Leo smirked faintly.
"Sounds fun."
The headmaster frowned slightly.
"…That wasn't meant to sound appealing."
Leo turned toward the door.
"Too late."
He walked out.
⬛ Aftermath
The room fell silent again.
The headmaster stood still.
Then slowly walked to his desk.
He picked up a photo.
Two men.
Standing side by side.
Himself.
And another.
Leo's father.
"…Your son…"
He murmured quietly.
"…is exactly like you."
A pause.
His grip tightened slightly.
"…and that's what worries me."
His gaze darkened.
"When I look at him…"
"…I don't feel fear."
Silence.
"…It's something else."
"…Like I'm the one being observed."
A long pause.
"…I hope…"
He exhaled slowly.
"…this doesn't go the way I think it will."