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.

last year's

his eyes squinted

it was quite

managed to secure

Mark's brows knit

we are 47 points behind last

academy's score is a whole 80 points higher than their

only the

Perry as his voice couldn't

All we have to do is continue to be first.

Perry spoke, his face gradually

fact that he had to wake

and listen

breath, Ebonie tried to calm

this. If there is any

wasted our time

Perry abruptly stood up.

pressure exuded from his body as the students next to him backed up

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

me of the orcs I faced back

"This is not nons'”"

leaving. I thought that this was something important. You're just wasting my time with your

his neck slightly, he made

he walked, everyone stepped to the side

"Wait lis'”"

going to have to agree

Mark similarly stood up.

Mark out of the room. Behind him, a row of students

leaving behind Ebonie and what seemed to be her followers which included the likes

to me later telling me

leaving the room, Ebonie, shook her head and

arrogant pricks. Why can't they listen

her fists curled into

'...As expected'

from afar,

because of this reason that the Lock nearly ended up

it not been for Kevin's intervention, the overall

way I saw things, the situation was progressing exactly as

control of the plot, the chances of the Lock losing were

leaders although talented, could not

because of their ego

"What do you think?"

"Hm?"

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

he get near

wondered as I looked at

What do

from the way I see

a bit, I

"You think so too?"

"...yeah"

lack of unity between the third years

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

have a game to be

asked Kevin as I

I better

my shoulder lightly, Kevin waved and left the waiting room.

to escape

the meeting it was that

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

***

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

'”Click!

inside of a room illuminated by bright lights, a subtle

multiple dummies fell on

"Huuu..."

deep breath, I subtly touched the small

"This feels weird."

as though I woke up after a few hours of sleep as my body didn't move

of this factor, I almost missed a couple of dummies that were coming at me from

was able to remain level-headed throughout the whole time and barely managed to defeat them

'”Beep!

last dummy fell, a beeping sound resounded across

Time ➤

Smirk.

at my timer, a smirk invertedly