The Author's POV

It was early in the morning, and following what was sent in the email yesterday, I made my way towards the Lock private area.

As I entered the room, the first thing I noticed was three individuals sitting at a round table.

I could instantly feel a deep and oppressive aura emanating from their body.

'Ebonie Wills, Mark Mendez, Perry Crossley...', I muttered underneath my breath as I looked at the three individuals sitting on the round table.

The three strongest students in the academy, and the heads of the three major factions in the Lock.

Calmly walking forward, I joined the small crowd of students that had gathered around them.

None of them dared to sit down with them as they just stood and watched them.

At the moment, a solemn atmosphere shrouded the room.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tapping on the table, a burly individual with short brown hair and green eyes spoke up, disrupting the silence. His voice contained hints of annoyance.

"Let's get this over with. I don't have much time to spare for the likes of this childish gathering."

"Shut up you brute. It's because of people like you that we have to hold these kinds of discussions"

Sitting opposite to him was an elegant youth with bright blue eyes and brown hair.

A look of disgust appeared on his face as he looked at the burly man opposite to him.

"Mark, Perry, can you guys shut up for five minutes?"

Standing up was a beautiful girl with tanned skin, black eyes, and dirt blonde hair.

Glaring at Mark, who was the elegant youth, and Perry who was the burly individual, the tanned girl, Ebonie Wills, walked towards one of the TVs and picked up the remote.

'”Clink!

Turning on the TV, Ebonie pressed a couple of buttons before a large data table appeared on the TV screen.

「Rankings」 - 「Points」

Lock Academy - 986

Theodora Academy - 904

Lutwik Academy - 888

Vellon Academy - 867

SilverWing Academy - 803

Kukz Academy - 745

DeathSigil Academy – 711

Dusk of Dawn Academy - 657

Everlight Academy - 656

PridedHorses Academy - 640

Looking at the TV screen I thought, 'Those numbers seem similar to the ones I wrote in the novel...'

Though I couldn't remember the exact numbers that I wrote in the novel, I remembered that on the first day the Lock did not surpass 1,000 points.

This was a very important piece of information to take note of since it suggested that as of right now the tournament arc was progressing just as it did in the novel.

Not sure how long this would last, but for now I could more or less be able to infer a little bit of what was to come in the future.

"Let's talk about serious matters."

Putting the TV remote down, Ebonie pointed at the scoreboard projected on the TV screen.

"As you can see, as of right now we are overall in the first place."

"Indeed. But I don't think we need to hold a meeting to point this out, no?"

Perry, the burly individual, spoke up as he crossed his large arms. Ebonie nodded her head in response.

"True, but there is a problem"

"What problem?"

"...According to the data, we're slightly behind last year's first-day record."

Ebonie gravely said as she looked at everyone in the room.

was last

said as his

his voice, it was quite apparent that he did not take

we managed to secure

Mark's brows knit for

are 47

once pointed at the TV screen, "Furthermore, Theodora academy's score is a whole

only the

spoke up Perry as his voice couldn't help but

first. All we have to do is continue to be first. Simple as that.

spoke, his face gradually

was extremely irritated about the fact that he had to wake up this early in the

down and listen

breath, Ebonie tried

believe that we shouldn't overlook this. If there is any chance that we might lose,

you wasted our time for this useless

Perry abruptly stood up.

pressure exuded from his body as the students next to

I wasn't affected by his pressure. Even then, I probably wouldn't

pretty much reminded me of

"This is not nons'”"

that this was something important. You're just

slightly, he made

walked, everyone stepped to the

"Wait lis'”"

going to have to agree with the

Mark similarly stood up.

for Ebonie to finish her sentence he followed Mark out of the room. Behind him, a row of students followed him out of the

half of the people attending the meeting left, leaving behind Ebonie and what seemed to be her followers which included the likes of Emma,

to me later telling me that I

two individuals leaving the room, Ebonie,

pricks. Why can't

cursed as her fists curled

'...As expected'

the scene from afar, I secretly

of this reason that the Lock nearly ended up losing the

been for Kevin's intervention, the overall winners would've

I saw things, the situation was

longer in control of the plot, the chances of the Lock losing were even higher

talented, could not

their decisions only. It was because of their ego that the chances of the Lock

"What do you think?"

"Hm?"

felt a slight touch on my shoulder. Turning around, I saw Kevin standing next to

he

I

What do

way I see things, she's

bit,

"You think so too?"

"...yeah"

third years was quite clear

this year it became

a game to be

asked Kevin as I

better get

Kevin waved and left the waiting room. I followed

managed to

about the meeting it was that I didn't

didn't have to worry

***

it was now Monday. During the past week, I did what I set

'”Click!

inside of a room illuminated by bright lights, a

multiple dummies fell

"Huuu..."

touched

"This feels weird."

couldn't get used to my rank getting suppressed. It felt as though I woke up after a

almost missed a couple of dummies that

throughout the whole time and barely managed

'”Beep!

after the last dummy fell, a beeping sound resounded across the room, and my score was

Dover; Time ➤ 2:

Smirk.

smirk invertedly appeared on