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

it was quite apparent

managed to secure

curtly responded. In response, Mark's brows knit for

that we are

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

only the

Perry as his voice couldn't help but

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

his face gradually became

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

and listen

a deep breath, Ebonie

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

the end, you wasted our

Perry abruptly stood up.

domineering pressure exuded from his body as the students

Even then, I probably wouldn't

much reminded me of the

"This is not nons'”"

something important. You're just

turned around. Stretching his neck slightly, he

the side to

"Wait lis'”"

going to have to agree with the

Mark similarly stood up.

the room. Behind him, a

meeting left, leaving behind Ebonie and what seemed to be her followers which included the likes of Emma,

back to me later telling me

room, Ebonie, shook her head and sat

Why can't they listen

as her fists curled

'...As expected'

from afar, I secretly shook

that

intervention, the

way I saw things, the situation was

control of the plot, the chances of the Lock losing

leaders although talented, could not work with each

only trusted their decisions and their decisions only. It was because of

"What do you think?"

"Hm?"

a slight touch on my shoulder. Turning around, I saw

he

as I looked at

do

I see

a bit, I shared my honest

"You think so too?"

"...yeah"

of unity between the third years was

bad last year, this year it became even more apparent.

you have a game to

I checked

better get

lightly, Kevin waved and left

managed to

it was that I didn't attract the attention of the three

to worry about

***

it was now Monday. During the past week, I

'”Click!

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

dummies fell on the ground

"Huuu..."

touched the small bracelet

"This feels weird."

couldn't get used to my rank getting suppressed. It felt as though I woke up after a few hours of sleep as my body

of this factor, I almost missed a couple of dummies that were coming at me from the

time and barely managed to defeat them without wasting

'”Beep!

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

Dover; Time ➤ 2:

Smirk.

smirk invertedly appeared on my