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

as his eyes

voice, it was quite apparent that he did

secure 1033

curtly responded. In response, Mark's brows

that we are 47

exactly it.", Ebonie nodded her head, and once pointed at the TV screen, "Furthermore, Theodora academy's score

It's only

his voice couldn't

the end result, and right now we're first. All we have to do is continue to be first. Simple

his face

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

down and listen to

Ebonie tried to calm

overlook this. If there is any

end, you wasted our time for this useless

Perry abruptly stood up.

as the students next

pressure. Even then, I probably wouldn't have been affected much due to my

much reminded 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

his neck slightly, he made

the side to make a

"Wait lis'”"

to have to agree

Mark similarly stood up.

of the

of the people attending the meeting left, leaving behind Ebonie and what

back to me later telling me that I didn't warn

room, Ebonie, shook

pricks. Why can't they

her fists

'...As expected'

from afar,

reason that the Lock

been for Kevin's intervention, the overall winners would've been

was progressing exactly as it did in

longer in control of the plot,

talented, could not work

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

"What do you think?"

"Hm?"

my shoulder. Turning

he

as I looked

What do you

the way I see things,

for a bit, I shared my

"You think so too?"

"...yeah"

third years was

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

have a game to

asked Kevin as I checked today's games

I better

waved and left the waiting room. I

managed to escape

that was good about the meeting it was that I

to worry

***

a week eventually flew by and it was now Monday. During the past week,

'”Click!

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

thuds, multiple dummies fell on

"Huuu..."

breath, I subtly touched the small bracelet on

"This feels weird."

It felt as though I woke up after a few hours of

of this factor, I almost missed a couple of dummies that were

throughout the whole time and

'”Beep!

minute after the last dummy fell, a beeping sound resounded across the room, and my score was

Time ➤ 2: 02

Smirk.

a smirk