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

the script wasn't supposed to go like this. I originally predicted for Jin to boss everyone

a lot since the

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

my response, Jin coldly

is the

*Sigh*

"...no problem, no problem"

sigh escaped from my mouth, lowering my voice, I pondered for a few seconds

actually simple. Give the code to me and you

looked at me strangely. Evidently

their confusion was Donald

is that? and why

my brow as

"Isn't it obvious why?"

"Why?"

immediately, I answered back with

you had the code who would you give

started pondering. The first one to speak up was Amanda who carefully

"The strongest person?"

towards Amanda,

an option, yes, but not the ideal

hand on his lips,

is the

a faint smile appeared on my lips as

ideal candidate would obviously be someone who could run fast or

to be put in a flat terrain, someone

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

looked at

following what

understanding, my eyes soon paused on a certain individual as I

you guys think of a certain individual in our

With his arms crossed, a slight frown appeared on Jin's brows as

want me to

at Jin straight into the eyes, I nodded

and you will

he caught

for 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 that even if they caught Jin, by the time they realized he didn't have the code, it would've already been

into my eyes for what felt like an eternity, Jin

"...fine"

I secretly

was saying, the chances of us successfully passing the tryouts

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

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

at Jin's newfound attitude, Donald, who was

what if they

I secretly nodded my head. He wasn't

question, I've also

was coming up with the

other team could also think that it was a trap and decide

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

you guys come into

hair gently fell to her shoulders, Amanda's brows lightly

"us?"

I looked at both Amanda

you both will always be within a

away from him, and whenever he

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

"...why is that?"

at Amanda for a brief

it looks like Arnold is

It was simple really.

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