The Author's POV

"haha, been a while"

With an awkward smile on my face, I headed towards where Jin, Amanda, and the rest were. Glancing at my group, I pretty much knew everyone apart from a certain individual.

...his name was Zack I believe.

Leisurely chatting with Donald, whom I was in a group with back in Hollberg, Zack was a rather skinny individual with black hair and black eyes. He was around my height and apart from his long nose, he didn't particularly stand out.

As I observed him from the distance, apart from the fact that he was in my class, I really knew nothing about him. He wasn't even in the tournament arc therefore it was safe to say that he had failed the tryouts in my novel.

Arriving before the group, I nodded my head towards Jin and Amanda who nodded back. Thereafter, as I nodded towards Arnold, I saw him snorting and looking away from me.

...looks like he still hated me.

Well, not that I cared. In my eyes, he was merely putting on a show in front of Jin.

Turning my attention back towards Donald who was talking to Zack, I casually smiled as I greeted him.

"Hey Donald, been a while since I've seen you"

Turning around and glancing at me, Donald's casual smile faded from his face as he nodded his head.

"Hm? Oh it's you"

Noticing Donald's attitude, which was a stark contrast to what it was back in Hollberg I couldn't help but tease him

"mmhmm, I see...Now that I'm ranked higher than you, you're starting to be more polite huh?"

Hearing my remark, glaring at me, Donald raised his voice

"Do you want to fight you bastard"

Raising my brow I couldn't help but shake my head as I said.

"You still won't stop calling me bastard? Hey, how many times did I tell you? My name is Ren. Do you want me to spell it for you? R-E-N"

"You think I care about your damn nam-"

"Please stop"

Not so far from where Donald and I were, noticing that things were about to get out of control, Amanda sighed and spoke up. Her tone was neither overbearing nor cold.

She was really speechless at the moment.

In a couple of minutes they would be participating in the tryouts for the academy tournament and yet two of their members were already fighting.

Were they not nervous at all?

Brushing her hair to the side, Amanda curtly said.

"Please, calm down, and let's start discussing our strategy"

Thereafter, as she finished speaking, Amanda expectantly looked at me. Shortly after, as if mimicking Amanda, everyone else looked in my direction.

"huh?"

Noticing everyone staring in my direction, my brow couldn't help but twitch.

What's going on?

"Hold up, why is everyone looking at me?"

Unbothered by my expression, Jin looked at me and said.

"Do you not have a plan?"

Glancing at Jin, after a short pause I nodded my head.

"...I do"

did in fact

to boss everyone around and tell them what to do, but to my surprise, he directly asked

mature a lot since the last

what he was a few months back. What in the world happened since the time I

my response, Jin

what is the

*Sigh*

"...no problem, no problem"

my mouth, lowering my voice, I pondered for a few seconds before

the plan is relatively actually simple. Give the

a finished speaking, everyone looked at me strangely. Evidently not understanding what

voice out their confusion was Donald as he

sort of plan is that?

my brow

"Isn't it obvious why?"

"Why?"

immediately, I answered back with another question as I looked at

code who would you give

first one to speak up

"The strongest person?"

towards Amanda,

option, yes,

on his lips, Jin

is the

a faint smile

be someone who

inside of a random map, if we were to be put in a flat terrain,

let's say filled with obstacles someone that could hide from

at everyone and

following

my

think of a certain individual in our group who best fits such

turned towards Jin. With his arms crossed, a slight

want me to be

Jin straight into the eyes, I nodded my head and

you will

glad he caught

was focused on him, with me holding the code, chances were that

my eyes for what felt like an

"...fine"

I secretly nodded

the chances of us

that I was worried as originally Jin, Arnold, and Amanda made it past

things outside of the plot could happen, with the plot armour they had, chances were that they were very

was quietly pondering for

what if they

secretly nodded my head. He wasn't as stupid as

question, I've also

when I was coming up with the plan, I

team could also think that it was a trap and decide to

beforehand. Staring at Amanda, Donald, and Arnold, I smiled at

guys

shoulders, Amanda's brows lightly frowned

"us?"

as I looked at both Amanda

be within

matter what happens. Always be fifty hundred meters away from him, and whenever he gets into trouble, secretly

Amanda listened, her brows couldn't help but knit in a deeper frown as

"...why is that?"

for a

like Arnold is the

It was simple really.

the one that carried the code, naturally it would be