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

script wasn't supposed to go like this. I originally predicted for Jin to boss everyone around and tell them what to do, but to

did mature a lot since

he had changed...he was completely different from what he was a few months back. What in the world happened

response, Jin

is

*Sigh*

"...no problem, no problem"

an extended sigh escaped from my mouth, lowering my voice, I pondered for a

plan is relatively actually simple. Give the code to me and you

a finished speaking, everyone looked at me

the first to voice out their confusion was Donald as

is that?

at Donald, I raised my

"Isn't it obvious why?"

"Why?"

back with another

you had the code who would you give

The first one to speak

"The strongest person?"

towards Amanda,

an option, yes, but not the ideal

lips,

what is the ideal

at Jin and the others, a faint smile

ideal candidate would obviously be someone who could run fast or

were to be put in a flat terrain, someone who can

with obstacles someone that could hide from

I looked at everyone and

guys are following

understanding, my eyes soon

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

everyone's attention turned towards Jin. With his arms crossed, a slight frown appeared on Jin's brows as he

want me

the eyes, I nodded

and you will be operating

glad he caught

chances were that the other team would mainly focus their attention on him. Therefore, if everyone was focused on him, with me holding the code, chances were that even if they caught Jin, by the time they realized he didn't

my eyes for what felt like an eternity,

"...fine"

I secretly

what I was saying, the chances

worried as originally Jin,

I now knew that things outside of the plot could happen, with the plot armour they had, chances were that they were very likely going to

newfound attitude, Donald, who was quietly pondering for a while, suddenly

they don't

question, I secretly nodded my head. He wasn't as stupid as I

question, I've also thought about

up with the plan, I

Jin being the obvious target, the other team could also think that it was a

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

guys

lightly frowned as she looked at Arnold and

"us?"

at both Amanda and Donald, I

always be within a

from him, and whenever he

brows couldn't help but knit in a deeper frown as

"...why is that?"

Amanda for a brief moment,

it looks like Arnold is

It was simple really.

the other team thought that Jin was not the one that carried the code, naturally it