Bully Lord

Part-46

The school hallways felt strangely charged that day. Despite the exhaustion clinging to James like a second skin, a prickle of unease ran down his spine. Mili kept stealing glances his way, her gaze lingering for a beat too long each time.  Was she still annoyed by his awkward date request? The whole encounter replayed in his mind, bringing a fresh wave of self-consciousness.

He tried to catch her eye, hoping for a friendly smile or a wave, anything to dispel the awkwardness. But Mili quickly averted her gaze each time, leaving James feeling like a social pariah.  Deciding to avoid the confusing situation altogether, James kept his head down, navigating the hallways like a lone wolf.

Later, as James rounded a corner, he nearly collided with Ryan.  Ryan, however, seemed unfazed.  A wide grin stretched across his face, a stark contrast to the nervous energy James had witnessed at the park.

James stared at him, incredulous.  This was the same guy who'd tormented him for weeks, the one who'd orchestrated the ridiculous Judo challenge with Sourov, a challenge that could have gotten him seriously hurt.  Now, he was acting like some newfound friend?  The nerve!  James felt a surge of anger, a potent blend of annoyance and distrust bubbling within him.  He wasn't about to forget Ryan's past actions, or the way he'd used Mili to manipulate James.

"Don't talk to me," James muttered through gritted teeth, pushing past Ryan without another word.

Ryan's grin faltered, replaced by a look of confusion. He opened his mouth to speak again, but James was already gone, leaving Ryan alone in the echoing hallway.

The library doors loomed before James, a stark contrast to the bustling hallways he'd just navigated. Dust motes danced in the afternoon sunlight filtering through the high windows, a silent testament to the time that had passed since his last visit. It felt like a lifetime ago, a time before the System, before the Loop Missions, before the constant pressure and ever-present threat of violence. Back then, the library was a sanctuary, a haven of knowledge where he could lose himself in the pages of a well-worn book. Now, it felt like a forgotten realm, a place he'd subconsciously avoided.

A shiver ran down his spine as he stepped through the doorway, the silence broken only by the soft creak of the aged floorboards beneath his feet.  He scanned the seemingly endless rows of bookshelves, a pang of guilt twisting in his gut. He'd neglected this place, his haven, for far too long.

Suddenly, the familiar blue window flickered into existence, its message a stark contrast to the serenity of the library.

[Mission 9: Find the martial arts book written by Jihad Chan Mia and read it within 7 days.]

[Reward: All your stats will increase by +2]

[Penalty: All of your stats will be sealed under 5 points for 30 days if you failed to read it within 7 days.]

James' eyes widened. A +2 boost to all his stats? That was a significant incentive. But the penalty – a crippling reduction in his stats for a month – was terrifying.