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.

last year's

said as his

of his voice, it was quite apparent that he did

secure

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

you're saying that we are 47

exactly 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

only the first

his

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

spoke, his face gradually

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

down and listen to

a deep breath, Ebonie tried to calm

we shouldn't overlook this. If there is any chance

the end, you wasted our time

Perry abruptly stood up.

pressure exuded from his body as the students next to

I probably wouldn't

of the

"This is not nons'”"

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

neck slightly, he made

stepped to the side to make

"Wait lis'”"

to have to agree

Mark similarly stood up.

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

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

crawling back to me later telling me that

the two individuals leaving the room, Ebonie, shook her

pricks. Why can't they listen

her fists curled

'...As expected'

afar, I secretly

reason that the Lock nearly

not been for Kevin's intervention,

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

things were now no longer in control of the plot, the chances of the Lock losing were

although talented, could not

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

"What do you think?"

"Hm?"

a slight touch on my shoulder. Turning

did he

wondered as I looked at

do you

the way I see things,

for a bit, I

"You think so too?"

"...yeah"

the third years was quite clear to

this year it became even more

have a game to

as I checked today's

better get

my shoulder lightly, Kevin waved and left the

least I managed to escape an unwanted

one thing that was good about the meeting it was that

have to worry about joining the conflicts between

***

it was now Monday. During the

'”Click!

illuminated by bright lights, a subtle clicking sound

large thuds, multiple dummies fell on

"Huuu..."

I subtly touched the

"This feels weird."

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

almost missed a couple of dummies that were

the whole time and barely managed to defeat

'”Beep!

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

Dover; Time ➤ 2: 02

Smirk.

smirk invertedly appeared on my