Chapter 20: No Way...
Chapter 20: No Way...
Sevi glanced at the mission screen.
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Mission: Gain recognition from Noemi for your skills.
Reward: +10 favorability points, gain 1 additional skill
Time Limit: 10 Days Remaining
Penalty: Failure to complete the mission within the time limit will result in a loss of 20 favorability points and a 14 day cooldown for similar missions.
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'When would she agree though? Her favorability keeps increasing now but the deadline for the mission is also nearing.'
'I did keep on training on the past days but I don't think it's enough to gain recognition from Noemi.' Sevi thought as he looked over his bruised hands and his skill screen.
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Beginner Swordsmanship: S
Skills: Parry (B+), Counterattack(A), Tactical Awareness (B-), First Aid(C+)
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Tomorrow came and as usual, Sevi woke up and is on his way to class.
'Another day to pester Noemi~' Sevi thought as he hummed his way to his class. Sevi walked into the classroom with a cheerful hum, ready to greet Noemi.
But, as he scanned the room, he noticed that Noemi's seat was empty.
'Hmmm? She's not here? She was always punctual though,' Sevi thought, his concern growing since it's not like Noemi to miss class without a reason.
He placed his bag on his seat and leaned forward to ask the person sitting in front of him, a student named Carla.
"Hey, Carla, have you seen Noemi today?" Sevi asked.
Carla looked back at him with a sympathetic expression. "Oh, Sevi, I'm actually not sure. I haven't seen her yet today. I heard she wasn't feeling well again, but I thought she'd be here."
"Do you know where Noemi's dorm is? I want to check on her," Sevi asked.
Carla looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Oh, she's in Dorm 3, Room 205. It's a bit of a walk from here, but you should be able to find it easily."
"Thanks for letting me know, Carla. I think I'll go check on her after class."
Then right on time, a screen popped up.
[Mission Alert!]
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Mission: Visit Noemi in her dorm. Take care of her.
Reward: +10 favorability points with Noemi, +1 grade in First Aid
Time Limit: 3 Hours Remaining
Penalty: Failure to complete the mission within the time limit will result in a loss of 15 favorability points of Noemi and a 7-day cooldown for similar missions.
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'Hell, there's only three hours remaining!' Sevi thought as he glanced at the mission screen with a sense of urgency.
"Nevermind, I'll just go visit her right now. Thanks again Carla!" Sevi said as he grabbed his bag but then realized something.
"Wait, where's dorm 3 again?" Sevi asked.
Carla looked up from her notes, her expression showing understanding. "Oh, It's on the north side of the campus. It's the building next to the library."
"Once you get to the library, you should see Dorm 3 on the right. Room 205 is on the second floor, so you'll need to take the stairs."
"Got it. Thanks for the help!" Sevi said in an urgent. He quickly left Carla and headed toward the north side of the campus.
As he approached the library, he spotted Dorm 3 just as Carla had described. The building was a bit old-fashioned but well-maintained.
He entered the lobby and located the stairs, quickly making his way to the second floor.
Once there, Sevi found Room 205.
Sevi arrived at Room 205 and noticed immediately that it looked different from the other rooms on the floor.
The paint on the door was chipped, and the hallway outside seemed a bit dimmer compared to the other well-maintained rooms.
'What the..? This is how they treat the best in the class?' Sevi thought as he compared Noemi's room to the others.
He then knocked gently on the door but received no response. Growing more worried, he knocked again, this time a bit louder.
"Noemi? It's Sevi. Are you there?" he called out.
Still no response. Sevi's concern deepened. He gently pushed the door open and stepped inside, peering into the room.
Sevi entered the room cautiously, his eyes scanning the space for any sign of Noemi.
The room was indeed in a state of disarray, with the curtains drawn and the bed unkempt. He didn't see any human figure, which only increased his worry.
As he approached the bed, his attention was drawn to a small, shivering bump beneath the covers.
Curiosity and concern drove him closer, and he carefully lifted a corner of the blanket to reveal a small black fox nestled there.
The fox looked up at Sevi with its strikingly blue eyes. Its black fur was sleek but visibly ruffled, and it trembled slightly from the cold or fear.
'This fox is so unique... Its black fur and those blue eyes... It almost reminds me of Noemi, in a way.' Sevi thought, a shiver running down his spine as he realized the unusual resemblance.
'But... no way.'
He gently petted the fox, trying to comfort it while searching for any clues about Noemi's whereabouts.
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