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

quite apparent that he did not take this matter

year we managed to secure 1033 points on

response, Mark's brows knit for

we are 47 points behind

and once pointed at the TV screen, "Furthermore, Theodora academy's score is a whole 80 points higher than their last year's score

only

as his voice couldn't

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

Perry spoke, his face gradually became

looks of it, he was extremely irritated about the fact that he had to wake

and listen

breath, Ebonie tried to calm

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

the end, you wasted our time for this

Perry abruptly stood up.

from his body as the students next to

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

of the orcs I faced back

"This is not nons'”"

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

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

the side to make a path

"Wait lis'”"

have to agree with

Mark similarly stood up.

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

people attending the meeting left, leaving behind Ebonie and what seemed to

don't come crawling back to me later telling me

at the two individuals leaving the room, Ebonie, shook

Why can't

cursed as her fists curled into

'...As expected'

scene from afar,

this reason that the

intervention, the

saw things, the situation was progressing exactly as it did in

control of the plot, the chances of the Lock

although talented, could not

It was because of their ego

"What do you think?"

"Hm?"

touch on my shoulder. Turning around, I saw Kevin standing

he get

wondered as I looked at

do you

from the way I see

for a bit, I

"You think so too?"

"...yeah"

the third years was quite

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

have a game to be preparing

asked Kevin as I

I better get

waved and left the waiting room. I followed him

to

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

to worry about joining the conflicts

***

Monday. During the past week, I did what I set out to do. Dominate my

'”Click!

Thud, inside of a room illuminated by bright lights, a subtle clicking sound resounded across

with large thuds, multiple dummies fell on the

"Huuu..."

touched the small bracelet on

"This feels weird."

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

of this factor, I almost missed a couple

level-headed throughout the whole time and

'”Beep!

resounded across the room, and my score was

Dover; Time ➤ 2:

Smirk.

my timer, a smirk invertedly appeared