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 year's

said as his

the casualness of his voice, it was quite apparent that he did not take

to secure

In response, Mark's brows knit for a

you're saying that we are

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

only the

up Perry as his voice couldn't

All we have to do is continue to be first. Simple

Perry spoke, his face gradually became

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

and listen

a deep breath, Ebonie tried to calm Perry

is only the first day, I believe that we shouldn't overlook this. If there is any chance that we

in the end, you wasted our time for this

Perry abruptly stood up.

a domineering pressure exuded from his body as the students

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

pretty much reminded me of the orcs I faced back

"This is not nons'”"

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

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

the

"Wait lis'”"

going to have to agree

Mark similarly stood up.

Mark out of the room. Behind him, a

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

come crawling back to me later telling

the two individuals leaving the room, Ebonie, shook her head and sat

arrogant pricks. Why can't

her

'...As expected'

afar, I secretly

was exactly because of this reason that the Lock

it not been for Kevin's intervention,

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

in control of the

leaders although talented, could not

only. It was because

"What do you think?"

"Hm?"

touch on my shoulder. Turning

he get near

wondered as I looked at

What do you

the way I

a bit, I shared my honest

"You think so too?"

"...yeah"

unity between the third years was

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

a game to be

asked Kevin as I checked today's

I better

shoulder lightly, Kevin waved and left the waiting

least I managed to

there was one thing that was good about the meeting it was that

I didn't have to worry about joining the

***

now Monday. During the past week, I did what I set out

'”Click!

of a room illuminated by bright lights, a

dummies fell

"Huuu..."

subtly touched the

"This feels weird."

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

this factor, I almost missed a couple of

throughout the whole time and barely managed to defeat them without wasting any

'”Beep!

last dummy fell, a beeping sound resounded across the

Time ➤ 2: 02

Smirk.

my timer, a smirk