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

we managed to secure 1033 points on the first

curtly responded. In response, Mark's brows knit for

we are 47 points behind last

pointed at the TV screen, "Furthermore, Theodora academy's score is a whole 80 points higher than their last year's score on the first day. Something

It's only the

Perry as his voice couldn't

is continue to be first.

his face gradually

he

down and

deep 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

you wasted our

Perry abruptly stood up.

his body as the students

then, I

pretty much reminded me of

"This is not nons'”"

important. You're just

around. Stretching his neck slightly, he made

stepped to the side to

"Wait lis'”"

have to agree with the brute over

Mark similarly stood up.

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

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

me later

two individuals leaving the room, Ebonie, shook

pricks. Why

as her

'...As expected'

at the scene from afar, I secretly

was exactly because of this reason that

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

the way I saw things, the situation was progressing exactly as

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

talented, could

their decisions and their decisions only. It was because of their

"What do you think?"

"Hm?"

on my shoulder. Turning around, I saw Kevin standing next to

did he

wondered as I looked at

What do

from the way I see

a bit, I shared my

"You think so too?"

"...yeah"

third years

year it became even more apparent. Portraying this was the scene that had

have a game to be

Kevin as I checked today's games

I better get

left the waiting room. I followed

least I managed to

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

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

***

During

'”Click!

room illuminated by bright lights, a subtle clicking

dummies fell on the ground as they

"Huuu..."

touched the small bracelet on my

"This feels weird."

though I woke up after a few

couple of dummies that were

the whole time and barely managed to defeat them without wasting

'”Beep!

across the

Dover; Time ➤ 2:

Smirk.

timer, a smirk invertedly appeared