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 year's

said as his eyes

his voice, it was quite apparent that he did

we managed to secure 1033 points on the

response, Mark's brows knit for

are 47 points behind last

TV screen, "Furthermore, Theodora academy's score is a whole 80 points

only the first

as his voice

end result, and right now we're first. All we have to do is continue to be first. Simple as that. I don't see why we need

Perry spoke, his face gradually became

looks of it, he was extremely irritated about the fact that he had to wake up this early in the

down and

breath, Ebonie tried to calm

that we shouldn't overlook this. If there is any chance that we might lose, we have to crush it before the seed can

you wasted our time for this

Perry abruptly stood up.

his body as the students next to him backed up

by his pressure. Even then, I

of the orcs I faced back

"This is not nons'”"

this was something important. You're just wasting my time with your overly cautious

neck slightly, he made his way out of the

he walked, everyone stepped to the side to make a path for

"Wait lis'”"

to have to agree with the

Mark similarly stood up.

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

left, leaving behind Ebonie and what seemed to be her

me later telling me that I didn't warn you

room, Ebonie, shook her head

arrogant pricks. Why can't they

as her fists

'...As expected'

afar, I secretly shook my

because of this reason that the

it not been for Kevin's intervention, the overall winners would've been

way I saw things, the situation was progressing exactly

in control of the plot, the

leaders although talented, could

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

"What do you think?"

"Hm?"

I felt a slight touch on my shoulder. Turning around, I

did he get

wondered as I looked

What do you

I see

a bit,

"You think so too?"

"...yeah"

the third years was quite clear

was just as bad last year, this year it became even more apparent.

a game

I checked today's games

better

and left the waiting room. I followed him shortly

I managed to escape an

one thing that was good about the meeting it was that I didn't attract the attention of the three leaders

didn't have to worry about joining the conflicts between the

***

it was now Monday. During the

'”Click!

Thud. Thud, inside of a room illuminated by bright lights, a

multiple dummies fell

"Huuu..."

subtly touched the small

"This feels weird."

rank getting suppressed. It felt as though I woke up after a few hours of sleep as my body didn't move as fast as I wanted it

couple of dummies that were

time and barely managed to

'”Beep!

across the room, and my score was displayed on the board before

Time ➤ 2: 02

Smirk.

my timer, a smirk invertedly appeared