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.

my action, the whole world was now paying

held a grudge against myself. Sometimes fame was more

did she perhaps misunderstand something regarding my

She probably thought that I was someone who was hiding his

back at the event, she probably has a misconception about the true extent of my

fact kill a rank villain,

with her last-ditch attack, and if Elijah didn't underestimate me added with me having [Monarch's indifferece]...I would've never

me achieve. It wasn't

world and thus I was now stuck with Amanda thinking I was some sort of genius that was

...this was honestly problematic.

"...hm?"

misunderstood me, Melissa who was sitting three rows behind Amanda noticed her weird behavior and looked in

eyes

Melissa rubbed her eyes a couple of times before making sure that Amanda was indeed

tongue, then

did her signature smile. The smile signaled that she

I start crying

sadistic girl who took pleasure in

interaction that had just occurred. Emma and Kevin were currently

class loner suddenly interacted with the two most beautiful girls in the

those two have could probably fill twenty

is starting,

and seeing that it was time for class to start, Donna dismissed everyone that was in the front of the class and headed for the

"Quiet please"

down, Donna lightly raised

shut up 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 few words and

to be dismissed either.

you will be split into

oh crap, forgot

that I had completely forgotten we had

honestly didn't want

come to the front of the

a large box and put it in front of the

name one by one in ascending

her

be your group for the week that you will be in Hollberg, now let's start...Rank

his name being called, Kevin stood up

"Here?"

ticket and

Donna, Kevin reached his hand into the

was

1 ranked in the whole year, if anyone was paired up with him they were guaranteed results. This was shown multiple times in things such as in the virtual class and other group activities as

I scoffed at

will get a good grade? Hate to break it to you but this time you'll come

remained silent for a second before

everyone's disappointment, he didn't show what

didn't apply to me who knew exactly what he got. His group was [Group 7], and if I'm not wrong Melissa

"Next, Melissa Hall"

Melissa walked to the podium and took

as intense as when Kevin

"Next, Jin Horton"

.

.

.

"Next, Ren Dover"

knows how long, my turn had finally

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

to say but, I