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 fact

boss everyone around

mature a lot since the last

completely different from what he was a few months

my response, Jin coldly

what is the

*Sigh*

"...no problem, no problem"

mouth, lowering my voice, I

is relatively actually simple. Give the code to

everyone looked at me strangely. Evidently not understanding what

the first to voice out their confusion was

of plan is that? and

I raised my

"Isn't it obvious why?"

"Why?"

answering immediately, I answered back with another question as I looked at

the code who would you

first one to speak up was

"The strongest person?"

Amanda,

an option, yes, but not the

lips, Jin frowned as

is the ideal

the others, a faint

would obviously be someone who could run

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

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

at

are following what I'm

them nod in understanding, my eyes soon paused

individual in our group who best

towards Jin. With his arms crossed, a slight frown appeared on Jin's

you want me to

straight into the eyes,

and you will be operating

he caught

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

like an eternity, Jin eventually looked away

"...fine"

secretly

listening to what I was saying, the chances of us

as originally Jin, Arnold, and Amanda made it past

outside of the plot could happen, with the plot armour they had, chances were that they

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

what if they

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

I've also

when I was coming up with the plan, I had

that it was a trap

thought of this problem beforehand. Staring at Amanda, Donald,

where you guys come

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

"us?"

at both Amanda and

both will always be within a fifty

matter what happens. Always be fifty hundred meters away from him, and whenever

but knit in a deeper frown

"...why is that?"

for a brief moment, I

Arnold is the person that holds the

It was simple really.

one that carried the code, naturally it would be