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"

I did in fact have

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

he really did mature a lot

completely different from what he was a few

my response, Jin

what is

*Sigh*

"...no problem, no problem"

lowering my voice, I pondered for a

relatively actually simple. Give the code to me and you

finished speaking, everyone looked at me strangely. Evidently not

to voice out their confusion was Donald

is that? and

Donald, I raised my brow as I

"Isn't it obvious why?"

"Why?"

answered back with another question as

the code who

The first one to speak up was Amanda who

"The strongest person?"

Amanda,

is an option, yes,

his lips,

is the

faint

candidate would obviously be someone who could

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

someone that could hide from the enemy's prying eyes would be the most

at everyone and

guys are following

and seeing them nod in understanding, my eyes

of a certain individual in our group who best fits

arms crossed, a slight frown appeared on

want me to

at Jin straight into the eyes, I nodded my head and

and you will

he caught

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

what felt like an eternity,

"...fine"

secretly

to what I was saying, the chances of us

as originally Jin, Arnold, and Amanda made

happen, with the plot armour they

rejoicing at Jin's newfound attitude, Donald, who was quietly pondering for

if they don't

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

also

when I was coming up with the plan, I had already thought of

the other team could also think that it was

of this problem beforehand. Staring at Amanda, Donald, and Arnold,

where you guys come into

gently fell to her shoulders, Amanda's brows lightly frowned as she looked at Arnold and

"us?"

my head as I looked at both Amanda and Donald,

will always be within a

away from

her brows couldn't help but knit

"...why is that?"

a brief

looks like Arnold is the

It was simple really.

that Jin was not the one that carried the code, naturally it would