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

his

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

year we managed to secure 1033 points on the first

Mark's

that we are 47

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

only the

his voice couldn't help but

to do is continue

Perry spoke, his

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

down and

deep breath, Ebonie tried to calm Perry

shouldn't overlook this. If there is any chance

end, you wasted our

Perry abruptly stood up.

as the students next to him backed up a couple of

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

reminded me of the orcs I faced

"This is not nons'”"

was something important. You're just wasting my

around. Stretching his neck slightly, he made his way out

walked, everyone stepped to the side to

"Wait lis'”"

to agree

Mark similarly stood up.

the room. Behind him, a row of students

the meeting left, leaving behind Ebonie and what seemed to be her

come crawling back to me later telling me that I

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

arrogant pricks. Why can't they listen

her fists

'...As expected'

the scene from afar, I secretly shook my

was exactly because of this reason that the Lock nearly ended

intervention, the

the situation was progressing exactly as it did in

no longer in control of the plot, the

although talented, could not

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

"What do you think?"

"Hm?"

I felt a slight touch on my shoulder.

did he get

as I

What do you

way I see things,

bit, I shared

"You think so too?"

"...yeah"

of unity between the third years was quite

last year, this year it became

a game to be preparing

I checked today's

better

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

least I managed to escape an

was one thing that was good about the meeting it was

I didn't have to worry

***

by and it was now Monday. During the past week, I did

'”Click!

by bright lights,

fell on the ground as

"Huuu..."

breath, I subtly touched

"This feels weird."

though I woke up after a few hours of

almost missed a couple of dummies

remain level-headed throughout the whole time and barely managed to defeat them without

'”Beep!

the last dummy fell, a beeping sound resounded across the room, and

Dover; Time ➤ 2:

Smirk.

my timer, a smirk invertedly appeared on