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 eyes

it was quite apparent that he did not

secure 1033 points

In response, Mark's

that we are 47 points behind last

screen, "Furthermore, Theodora academy's score is

only the

his

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

spoke, his face gradually

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

and listen

a deep breath, Ebonie tried

believe that we shouldn't overlook this. If there is any

end, you wasted our time

Perry abruptly stood up.

domineering pressure exuded from his body as the students next to him backed up a couple

I wasn't affected by his pressure. Even then, I probably wouldn't have

much reminded me of the orcs

"This is not nons'”"

I thought that this was something important. You're just wasting my time

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

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

"Wait lis'”"

have to agree with

Mark similarly stood up.

sentence he followed Mark out of the room. Behind him,

half of the people attending the meeting left, leaving behind Ebonie and what seemed to

later telling me that I

room, Ebonie, shook her head and sat

Why can't they

cursed as her

'...As expected'

at the scene from afar, I

exactly because of this reason that the Lock nearly

been for Kevin's intervention, the overall winners would've been Theodora's

saw things, the situation was

no longer in control of the plot, the chances

talented, could not work

their decisions only. It was because of their

"What do you think?"

"Hm?"

touch on my shoulder.

he get

as I looked at

What do you

way I

a bit, I shared

"You think so too?"

"...yeah"

unity between the third

this year it became even more apparent. Portraying this was the scene that had

a game to be preparing

asked Kevin as I checked

I better get

left the waiting room. I followed him

to escape an

was good about the meeting it was that I didn't attract the attention of the three leaders

worry about joining the conflicts

***

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

'”Click!

a room illuminated by bright lights, a subtle clicking sound resounded across the

multiple dummies fell on

"Huuu..."

a deep breath, I subtly touched the small

"This feels weird."

my rank getting suppressed. It felt as though I woke up after a few

missed a couple of dummies that were

to remain level-headed throughout the whole time and

'”Beep!

across the room, and my score was

Dover; Time ➤

Smirk.

my timer, a smirk invertedly appeared