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 eyes

casualness of his voice, it was quite apparent

managed to secure 1033 points on

Mark's brows

we are 47 points behind last

score is a whole 80 points higher than

It's only the

as his voice couldn't help

we're first. All we have to do is continue to be first. Simple as that. I don't see why we need to care

his face gradually became

about the fact that he had

and listen

breath, Ebonie tried to calm

overlook this. If there is any chance that we might lose, we have to

end, you wasted our

Perry abruptly stood up.

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

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

me of the orcs I

"This is not nons'”"

thought that this was something important. You're

off, Perry turned around. Stretching his neck slightly, he made his way out

stepped to the side to

"Wait lis'”"

agree with the brute over

Mark similarly stood up.

the

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

me later telling me

the two individuals leaving the room, Ebonie, shook

pricks. Why

cursed as her fists

'...As expected'

the scene from afar, I secretly shook

of this reason that the Lock nearly ended up losing

intervention,

situation was progressing exactly as

in control of the plot, the chances of

could

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

"What do you think?"

"Hm?"

on my shoulder. Turning

he

wondered as I looked at

What do you

from the way I see

bit, I

"You think so too?"

"...yeah"

of unity between the third

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

you have a game to be

as I checked

I better get

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

to escape

good about the meeting it was that I didn't attract

didn't have to worry about

***

flew by and it was now Monday. During the

'”Click!

room illuminated by bright lights, a subtle clicking

thuds, multiple dummies fell

"Huuu..."

touched

"This feels weird."

getting suppressed. It felt as though I woke up after a few hours of sleep

missed a couple of dummies that were coming at

level-headed throughout the whole time and barely

'”Beep!

a beeping sound resounded across the room, and my score was displayed on

Dover; Time

Smirk.

my timer, a smirk invertedly