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"

in fact

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

he really did mature a lot since the last time

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

response,

what is

*Sigh*

"...no problem, no problem"

from my mouth, lowering my voice,

the code to me

everyone looked at me strangely. Evidently not understanding what

to voice out their confusion was Donald as

is that?

Donald, I raised my brow

"Isn't it obvious why?"

"Why?"

back with

code who would

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

"The strongest person?"

Amanda, I

is an option, yes, but

lips, Jin frowned as he

what is the

Jin and the others, a faint smile appeared on my lips

ideal candidate would obviously be someone

in a flat terrain, someone who can outrun

obstacles someone that could hide from the

I looked at

guys are following what

and seeing them nod in understanding, my eyes soon

guys think of a certain individual in our group who best fits

everyone's attention turned towards Jin. With his arms crossed, a

me

into the eyes, I nodded my head

will

he

him. Therefore, if everyone was focused on him, with me holding the code, chances were that even if they caught Jin, by the

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

"...fine"

secretly nodded my

what I was saying, the

I was worried as originally Jin, Arnold, and Amanda made

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

newfound attitude, Donald, who was quietly pondering for

what if they

my head. He wasn't as stupid as I thought he

question, I've also

with the plan, I had already thought

target, the other team could also think that it was a

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

where you guys come into

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

"us?"

head as I looked at

be within a fifty hundred meter distance from

be fifty hundred meters away from him, and whenever he gets into trouble, secretly

brows couldn't help but knit in a deeper

"...why is that?"

Amanda for a

looks like Arnold is the person that

It was simple really.

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