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

casualness of his voice, it was quite apparent that

to secure 1033 points

curtly responded. In response, Mark's brows

that we are 47 points behind

it.", Ebonie nodded her head, and once 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

It's only the first

up Perry as his voice couldn't help

we're first. All we have to do is continue to be first. Simple as that. I

spoke, his face gradually

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

and listen to

deep breath, Ebonie tried

this. If there is any chance that

the end, you wasted our time

Perry abruptly stood up.

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

his pressure. Even then, I probably wouldn't have been

me of the orcs I faced

"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 his way out of

stepped to the side

"Wait lis'”"

agree with the

Mark similarly stood up.

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

behind Ebonie and what seemed to

come crawling back to me later telling

the room, Ebonie, shook her head

pricks. Why can't they listen

her fists curled

'...As expected'

scene from afar,

of this reason that the Lock nearly ended up losing the

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

situation was progressing

things were now no longer in control of the plot, the

three leaders although talented, could not work with

their decisions only. It was because of their

"What do you think?"

"Hm?"

touch on my shoulder. Turning around, I

he get near

I

do you

from the way I see things, she's

bit, I

"You think so too?"

"...yeah"

third years

it was just as bad last year, this year it became

a game to be preparing

asked Kevin as I checked

I better

Kevin waved and left

I managed to

good about the meeting it was that I

I didn't have to worry about joining

***

flew by and it was now Monday. During

'”Click!

a room illuminated by bright lights, a subtle

thuds, multiple dummies fell on the ground as they turned

"Huuu..."

deep breath, I subtly touched the small bracelet

"This feels weird."

to my rank getting suppressed. It felt as though I woke up after a few

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

remain level-headed throughout the whole time

'”Beep!

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

Time

Smirk.

smirk invertedly appeared