CHAPTER 44: FAVOR

’It’s Selena... right?’

Noel was nearly certain. But, in the end, he had no intention of interfering.

Despite the nonsense Serah was spouting, he didn’t think Selena was weaker than her.

He considered Serah dangerous — not because of strength, but because of how utterly unhinged she was.

It seemed like she didn’t even know the meaning of the word restraint.

The main point wasn’t strength. After all, Elysia was stronger than her.

That didn’t mean Serah was weak, though — far from it.

She simply didn’t know when to stop.

Anyway, Noel continued listening to the excited Serah for a while, letting her ramble as he quietly leaned back.

He said nothing, just stared, until finally, in a flat voice, he asked, "Have you finished?"

There was a pause. For a moment, even the sounds of chaos on her end seemed to still. Then Serah’s voice came through, sulky.

"You really are no fun~"

Then, after clicking her tongue in annoyance, she said.

"Anyway, tell me what you want?"

"If it’s a date, you’ll have to wait. I’m a little busy these next few days."

Noel found himself briefly wondering what had suddenly changed on her side... but he didn’t ask.

Instead, he got straight to the point.

"It’s about the dimension you’re about to enter."

He spoke plainly, without buildup.

"Have you scouted it? Can you say for sure it’s not dangerous?"

There was a beat of silence — then her voice returned, but with something warmer in it, something closer to genuine joy.

"Are you worried about me?"

Noel didn’t hesitate.

"No. I’m making a deal."

He leaned forward, tapping a finger lightly against the desk.

"I have certain information. The dimension you’re about to enter... it’s dangerous."

"So, I suggest you ask for help. Someone stronger."

"You’re free to take my advice. You’re also free to ignore it."

"But if you follow through with it, and my warning proves true..."

He paused, letting the words settle.

"Then you’ll owe me a favor later."

Serah didn’t respond right away, and Noel’s fingers tapped softly against the desk as he waited.

When finally, her voice came — it was different this time.

Far more serious than anything he’d heard from her before.

"What is your source?"

But Noel’s tone didn’t change as he said, "I can’t divulge that."

"In the first place, all I know is that the dimension will be dangerous for you... nothing more."

Her response came late again.

It felt like she was weighing something — not just his words, but perhaps the stakes.

Then, at last, she spoke again — her voice had returned to that playful tone.

"Okay, let’s say you’re right, and this dimension really is dangerous. But how can you guarantee that I’ll keep my word after taking your advice?"

A gleam went past Noel’s eyes, as he replied with a casual voice, "Nothing can guarantee that. And even if you went back on your word... I wouldn’t be able to do anything about it."

Serah laughed heartily at his words, clearly amused, before she asked again,"Then, what do you want this favor for?"

"That, I will tell you later," Noel said.

After that, he exchanged a few more words with Serah before he finished the call.

Noel considered to himself that he took a great risk this time, and he still couldn’t be sure of the result of this gamble.

But, if things were like he thought... then he would have a favor to ask in every single simulation!

With that thought in mind, Noel, nearly ready to start the second simulation of the day, finally turned to his notebook.

He flipped to the page where he had written about the Blood Refinement Path and had already placed a ✓ beside it, before he wrote underneath: Blood Source.

Then, moving further down, he added:

Serah Noct. Favor.

He took his time, considering what else he should write.

But, in the end, he decided to keep things simple — just like he’d thought before.

’Let’s concentrate on solving the problem regarding the Refinement Blood Path for this simulation!’

With that decision, Noel finally turned to the Codex Null and spent 10 Null Points for the cheapest premium simulation.

[Life Simulation begins.]

[21 years old. You suddenly felt something was wrong as you looked at your phone and notebook on the desk. And so, you carefully went about checking everything around you, trying to grasp your situation.]

[After you done that, you sent Selena a message — asking about her current state.]

[And only, after receiving her reply — that she was fine and would come see you later, once she had gathered her thoughts more properly — did you finally start your training in the Blood Scripture.]

[You spent your time like that until evening, before stepping out of your room to eat something. That was when you came across Lilith and Linda.]

[At first, everything seemed fine. But then, Lilith’s expression suddenly changed as she walked closer to you and asked, "What the fuck is going on with you?"]

[Beneath her anger, there was fear. And recognizing that, you tried to be gentle with your tone as you told her that nothing was wrong with you.]

[But Lilith didn’t accept that answer, and kept pressing — demanding to know why your soul was continuously healing like this.]

[You told her that you didn’t know. But she didn’t believe you, and insisted that you tell her the reason.]

[You seemed to grow annoyed with her persistence, and so, spreading your arms, you told her to look for herself.]

[Lilith didn’t stand on ceremony. She stepped forward and had Linda check you more closely. But even after that, she still found nothing. And that only seemed to push Lilith closer to losing her mind.]

So, it finally came to this point?

Noel narrowed his eyes as he started thinking.

Both Selena and Lilith were against healing his soul, after all. And now, with it being healed one time after another...

A clash between them was bound to happen.

So then... how should he prepare for this coming problem — one he would soon face in reality too?