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

secure 1033 points on

Mark's brows knit for

that we are 47 points behind

academy's score is a whole 80 points higher than their last year's score on the first day. Something

It's only the first

spoke up Perry as his voice couldn't help but

have to do is continue to be first. Simple as that. I don't see why we need to

Perry spoke, his face

that he had to wake up this early in the morning to talk

and

breath, Ebonie tried

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

you wasted our time for

Perry abruptly stood up.

the students next to him backed up

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

much reminded me of the

"This is not nons'”"

important. You're just wasting my time

off, Perry turned around. Stretching his neck slightly, he

he walked, everyone stepped to the side to make a path

"Wait lis'”"

going to have to agree with the brute

Mark similarly stood up.

the room. Behind him, a row of students followed him out of

the meeting left, leaving behind Ebonie and what seemed

later telling me that I didn't warn

leaving the room, Ebonie, shook her head

pricks. Why can't they listen

cursed as her fists

'...As expected'

the scene from afar, I secretly shook my

this reason that the Lock

been for Kevin's intervention, the overall

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

longer in control of the plot, the chances of

leaders although talented, could

was because of their ego

"What do you think?"

"Hm?"

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

he

as I

do

way I

for a bit, I shared my honest

"You think so too?"

"...yeah"

the third years was

this year it became even

you have a game

Kevin as I

I better get

and left

managed to escape an unwanted

was one thing that was good about the meeting it was that I didn't attract the attention of the

that, I didn't have to worry about joining the conflicts

***

eventually 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

"Huuu..."

deep breath, I subtly touched the

"This feels weird."

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

couple of dummies that were coming

throughout the whole time and barely managed to defeat them without

'”Beep!

dummy fell, a beeping sound resounded across the

Ren Dover; Time ➤ 2: 02

Smirk.

my timer, a smirk