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

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

really did mature a lot since the last time I saw

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

my response, Jin

what is the

*Sigh*

"...no problem, no problem"

extended sigh escaped from my mouth, lowering my voice, I pondered

actually simple. Give the code to me and you guys do

at me strangely. Evidently not understanding what

first to voice out their confusion was Donald as he

is that? and why

Donald, I raised my

"Isn't it obvious why?"

"Why?"

answered back with another question

the code who

the question, everyone started pondering. The first one to speak up was

"The strongest person?"

Amanda,

yes, but not the

lips, Jin frowned as he

is the

a faint smile appeared on

ideal candidate would obviously be someone who could run fast or hide

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

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

I looked at everyone and

guys are following what I'm

in understanding, my eyes soon paused on

you guys think of a certain individual in

towards Jin. With his arms

want me to be

eyes,

you will be

he caught

was focused on him, with me holding the code,

for what felt like an eternity, Jin eventually looked away and nodded

"...fine"

I secretly nodded my

Jin listening to what I was saying, the chances of us

that I was worried as originally Jin, Arnold,

now knew that things outside of the plot could happen, with the plot armour they had, chances

Jin's newfound attitude, Donald, who was quietly pondering for a while, suddenly frowned as he

what if they don't

nodded my head. He wasn't as stupid

also thought

coming up with the

team could also think that it

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

guys come into

Amanda's brows lightly frowned as she looked at Arnold and Donald. With a hint

"us?"

I looked at both

within a fifty hundred meter distance

hundred meters away from him, and whenever he gets into

brows couldn't help but knit in a deeper frown

"...why is that?"

for a brief moment,

Arnold is the person

It was simple really.

not the one that carried the code,