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

go like this. I originally predicted for Jin to boss everyone around and tell them what

a lot since

from what he was a few months back. What in the world happened

my response, Jin

is

*Sigh*

"...no problem, no problem"

mouth, lowering my voice, I pondered for a

simple. Give the code to me and

everyone looked at me strangely. Evidently not understanding what I

to voice out their confusion

is that? and

Donald, I raised my brow as I mockingly

"Isn't it obvious why?"

"Why?"

I answered back with another question as I looked

code who would you

started pondering. The first one

"The strongest person?"

Amanda, I

option, yes,

lips, Jin frowned as he

is

and the others, a faint smile appeared on my lips as

obviously be someone

a flat terrain, someone who can outrun

let's say filled with obstacles someone that could hide from the enemy's prying eyes would

at everyone

following what I'm

in understanding, my eyes soon paused on a certain individual

certain individual in our group who best fits

arms crossed, a slight frown appeared

want me to

the eyes, I nodded my head

and you will be

glad he caught

Therefore, if everyone was focused on him, with

my eyes for what felt like an eternity, Jin eventually looked away

"...fine"

I secretly nodded my

saying, the chances

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

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 frowned as

if they don't target

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

question, I've also thought

when I was coming up with the plan,

the other team could also think that it was a trap and decide to focus on us...which wouldn't

this problem beforehand. Staring at Amanda, Donald, and

you guys

her head to the side as he black hair gently fell to her shoulders, Amanda's brows lightly frowned as she looked at Arnold and Donald. With

"us?"

my head as I looked at

will always be within a fifty hundred meter distance

from him, and whenever he gets into trouble, secretly help

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

"...why is that?"

Amanda for a brief moment, I

it looks like Arnold is the person that holds the

It was simple really.

team thought that Jin was not the one that carried the code, naturally it would be either