As if to prove my hypothesis, a screen unfolded in front of me the next moment.
[Conditions met.]
[Ding! A main mission has been issued!]
[Mission: Save the planet Earth and its people from total annihilation.]
[Mission Details: A threat is rapidly approaching your planet and your planet is unable to defend against it. You are required to become stronger and be the main force standing against the threat.]
[Time Limit: ~1 Year]
Upon reading the mission, I simply froze in place—I couldn't see, hear or think for a while.
"Hey, Eren, what's wrong?" I suddenly heard Duante's concerned voice and felt him shake my shoulder.
When I got my senses back, I realized I was trembling, my heart was beating like a drum in my chest and I was covered in cold sweat.
I then noticed that my classmates had gathered around me and were looking at me with what I believed were looks of concern.
"Did you get a panic attack?" someone asked me.
I shook my head, "I don't know, but I'm alright now."
"No, you are not." Duante and our class president, Mayla, said at the same time.
"You have been acting strangely since earlier." Duante said.
Mayla glanced at him, "Please take him to the infirmary and let nurse Kim take a look at him."
Duante nodded and immediately put my hand around his shoulder and helped me out of the seat. I didn't resist and soon we were out of the classroom.
"...Eren." I heard him say as we walked through the corridor.
I glanced at him and saw he had a solemn look on his face.
"Yes?" I responded.
"Are you unable to handle the pressure of college?" he asked.
"No." I sighed, "It's not that."
"Then is something wrong at home?"
I pursed my lips and shook my head again.
He took a long look at me and said, "I don't know what's troubling you, but have faith brother. Everything will turn out to be just fine."
"I hope so." I muttered.
After we arrived at the infirmary, we met nurse Kim. After Duante talked to her for a minute, he nodded at me and left the room.
"So, Mr. Eren. I heard from your friend…"
"Ms. Kim. I'm really alright. I had just received bad news, so I had become a bit too emotional back there." I said before she could start talking about what was wrong and that she needed to do check-ups.
Nurse Kim paused. Then, asked, "And what bad news did you receive?"
I knew if I didn't give her a good enough excuse, she wouldn't let me be, so I put on a sad look on my face and said, "I… my girlfriend, who I loved a lot, broke up with me without a reason in the morning."
"Oh?" Nurse Kim raised her brows. She then walked over, picked up the phone and began dialing a number.
"Hello, Mr. Sharma. Are you free now? Yes, I have a student who could use some counseling at the moment. Yeah, thank you. I'll bring him over in ten minutes."
"..."
I face-palmed. But on second thought, maybe I should have made another, lighter, excuse.
For the next few minutes, she did a check-up on me to make sure I was really alright and wasn't suffering from any illness. Then, she led me to the counsellor's office.
The next two hours, I spent two hours with Mr. Sharma who tried his best to make sure I wasn't depressed and was in a good mood and optimistic about my future when I walked out of his door.
Of course I went along with him, but I had to admit, he was really good. If not for the fact that the problem I was facing wasn't the end of the world, I might have really stopped worrying.
After leaving his office, I went to the washroom, closed the door of the cubicle and summoned the system screen.
This time, it instantly appeared before me.
[Name: Eren Yadgril]
[Strength: 0.8]
[Agility: 0.7]
[Perception: 1.5]
[SP: 0]
[Shop→]
[Return Countdown: 08: 07: 57]
Phew!
I let out a sigh of relief upon seeing the countdown.
'I can return.' I clenched my fists. I didn't feel as happy about it as I would have felt if I hadn't received the mission earlier.
'I can't waste time sitting around the village this time. I have to become stronger as soon as possible.' I decided.
…
When I returned to the classroom, everyone looked at me.
"I'm fine everyone." I said, greeted the teacher before walking to my seat.
I really wanted to leave and return home, but it would just make my parents worry. And it wasn't like I had anything to do. So, I decided to stay.
…
When you were doing something important or having fun, time would pass very quickly, but when it was the opposite, you would become aware of every second.
The same happened to me. The few hours I was sitting in the classroom felt like days.
On another note, perhaps because the news of me being unwell had spread and the teachers were paying more attention to me to ensure I was alright, those bullies didn't bother us.
Finally the classes ended and I left the college with Duante.
I wanted to say something to Duante, give him a heads-up, but I doubted he would take it seriously and it would only make him more concerned.
After parting ways with him, I went to a supermarket and bought a first aid kid and two hunting knives. I wanted to buy a crossbow too, but it wouldn't fit in my backpack and I couldn't really show it to my mother as she would think I was up to something weird, so I had to give it up.
After returning home, I spent time with my mother and siblings. In the evening, my father returned from his work and we had dinner.
Before I headed upstairs, I told my parents that I might be heading to Duante's place in a while.
I did that if the threat really came tonight, it might cause mass panic and if my family saw I was missing from my room, they would get worried. Of course, they would still get worried if I wasn't in front of them at that time, but they would at least know where I was.
[Return Countdown: 00:00:09]
[...: 00:00:08]
…
[00:00:01]
"Let's go."