The Author's POV

A couple of days had passed since the party, but news of what had transpired during the party spread throughout the whole academy like wildfire.

It was to the point that pretty much everyone knew what had happened.

Currently, I was laying on my bed staring at the white ceiling of my room. Lost in my own thoughts.

I thought that since I didn't directly participate in the main plotline of the story that the future wouldn't change.

I thought I had full control of my memories, so I decided to take advantage of them and help myself to some of the benefits whilst also trying to not affect the plotline.

But I was wrong...no matter how small the change was, once it began...there was no stopping it.

It suddenly hit me.

One little change could cause massive changes to the whole story. It was like a domino chain.

Regardless of how small the force was, once the first domino fell, like a chain reaction all the dominos fell apart.

I was naive, no! I was arrogant.

Because of my arrogance, the plotline started changing. In a way that I was losing control of the advantage that I had as the author.

The event between Elijah and Amanda should've never happened this early in the novel. Somehow my actions had affected the novel. Despite me repeating to myself that everything was going to be fine, I was simply lying to myself.

I couldn't deny something that happened right before my eyes. I couldn't deny that my existence itself had changed the plotline.

...I fundamentally needed to change the way I was thinking.

But how?

'Do I actively interact with the protagonists or keep myself in the shadows as I did before?'

I was lost...

-Ring!

Snapping me from my thoughts was the sound of my cellphone ringing. Turning it on I looked at the notification that showed up.

[Amanda Stern, singlehandedly defeats rank villain that had infiltrated the academy and posed as Elijah Turner. She had been awa...]

'It seems like the news was already starting to spread outside of the academy...'

During these past few days, Amanda managed to cement herself as one of the foremost geniuses in our generation. 'Ice queen', 'Bow Godess', 'villain killer' all sort of nicknames started circulating around the academy as everyone started paying attention to her.

The reason for such attention was because...she singlehandedly defeated a rank villain despite only being in the early stages of rank. A genius amongst geniuses. After the incident, she was now being compared to the likes of Kevin in terms of raw talent.

Turning off my phone, I gave myself a pat on the back. It seems like I managed to cover my traces quite well as nothing was mentioned regarding me.

It also seems that Thomas covered for me, preventing anyone from finding out that I was responsible for tipping them about the incident.

Looks like I owe him one...

Fortunately, apart from the small loophole, with the facts pointing towards Amanda, my daily life returned to what it was before.

well, that was how it was supposed to be like, but...

After changing and heading to my classroom, I noticed two eyes deeply staring at me from the left side of the classroom.

Awkwardly smiling, I lightly waved in Amanda's direction. I was hoping she would take then hint and leave me alone, but it seemed that my action only further increased the intensity of her stare.

'...does she perhaps have a grudge against me for putting her in the spotlight?'

I thought as I tried my best to look at the front, ignoring her piercing stare.

plausible. Because of my action, the whole world was now paying attention

something like this happened to me, I too would've held a grudge against myself. Sometimes fame was

perhaps misunderstand

it. She probably thought that I was someone who was hiding his

the event, she probably has a misconception about

I did in fact kill a rank villain, many factors

Elijah didn't underestimate me added with me having [Monarch's indifferece]...I would've never

combined together helped me achieve. It wasn't

thus I was now stuck with Amanda thinking I was some sort of genius that was comparable to the likes

...this was honestly problematic.

"...hm?"

I was lamenting at how Amanda probably misunderstood me, Melissa who was sitting three rows behind

her eyes paused

eyes a couple of times before making sure that Amanda

she clicked her tongue, then suddenly a smirk appeared on

ominous premonition. Just now, she did her signature smile. The smile signaled that she was onto

I start

why I didn't want to interact with her. Not only was she a sadistic girl who took pleasure in other's suffering, but she was the type to repay grudges

Kevin were currently busy talking with Miss Donna, and Jin was at

fact that the class loner suddenly interacted with the two most beautiful girls in the academy was to

could probably fill twenty five

is starting, please

Donna dismissed everyone that was in the

"Quiet please"

down, Donna lightly raised her palm.

as soon as Donna spoke, I couldn't help but admire her even more. The degree of control she had over the class was quite impressive. With just a

was not to be dismissed

we will select the groups you will be split into during our trip

forgot this was

I had completely forgotten we had a class trip in about a

honestly didn't

to the front of the class

Donna took a large

your name one by one in ascending

her

take one ticket and that will be your group for the week that you will be in Hollberg, now

being called, Kevin stood up and headed to

"Here?"

take a ticket and go back to

to Donna, Kevin reached his hand into

attention was drawn towards

year, if anyone was paired up with him they were guaranteed results. This was shown multiple times

I

grade? Hate to break it to you but this time you'll come back disappointed as an incident will prevent him from completing whatever he was supposed to do in

silent for a second before going back to his

disappointment, he didn't show what group number

rule didn't apply to me who knew exactly what he got. His group was [Group 7], and if I'm not wrong Melissa would end up being in the same group

"Next, Melissa Hall"

the podium and took a

intense as when Kevin had come up. This time it

"Next, Jin Horton"

.

.

.

"Next, Ren Dover"

long, my

their ticket, most people ignored me. No one really cared about

to say but, I