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 a

this. I originally predicted for Jin to boss everyone around and tell them what to do, but to my surprise, he directly asked for my

lot since the last time I saw

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

my response, Jin coldly

what is the

*Sigh*

"...no problem, no problem"

from my mouth, lowering my

Give the code to

me strangely. Evidently not understanding

voice out their

plan is that?

Donald, I raised my

"Isn't it obvious why?"

"Why?"

immediately, I answered back with

the code who would you give

The first one

"The strongest person?"

towards Amanda,

option, yes, but

hand on his lips, Jin frowned as he

is the ideal

others, a faint smile appeared on my lips as

be someone who could run

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

if the map wasn't plain but let's say filled with obstacles someone that could hide from the enemy's prying eyes would

I looked at everyone and

guys are following

seeing them nod in understanding, my

certain individual in our group who

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

you want me to

at Jin straight into the eyes,

and you will be

glad he caught

holding the code, 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

felt like an eternity,

"...fine"

secretly

saying, the chances of us successfully passing

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

things outside of the plot could happen, with the plot

Donald, who was quietly pondering for a while, suddenly frowned as

what if they don't target

my head. He wasn't

also thought

with the plan,

also think that it was a trap and decide to focus on us...which

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

where you guys come into

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 a hint of doubt in her voice, she

"us?"

looked at both Amanda

within a fifty hundred meter distance from

from him, and whenever he

but knit in

"...why is that?"

at Amanda for a brief

Arnold is

It was simple really.

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