The Author's POV

'”Bang!

The blaring sound of a table being pounded resounded across the room. Following this, an enraged roar echoed across the room.

"This is bullshit!"

Perry stood up.

"I shouldn't be responsible for our school's lackluster performances!"

"That's not the point"

Sitting next to Perry, Ebonie shouted back. Her voice contained all of the frustration she held back for the past week.

"I've repeatedly warned you about this at the beginning of the week yet none of you listened to me!"

Turning around, Ebonie pointed at the TV screen where the rankings were shown and once again raised her voice.

"Now, look! We're only fifty points ahead of Theodora academy who should've been two hundred points behind according to the initial forecast. Whose fault is it other than yours for this?"

「Rankings」 - 「Points」

Lock Academy - 11,089

Theodora Academy - 11,039

Lutwik Academy - 10,785

Vellon Academy - 10,467

SilverWing Academy - 9,803

Kukz Academy - 9,732

DeathSigil Academy – 9,311

Dusk of Dawn Academy - 8,953

Everlight Academy -8,824

PridedHorses Academy - 8,645

"What the fuc'”"

"Rather than voicing out your complaints, let's talk about the possible solutions to this problem."

Cutting Perry off before he could swear, was Mark. Compared to the first meeting, his face looked a lot more serious. He was no longer treating this as a joke.

He knew just how serious their current predicament was.

"...Right"

Finally, calming down a bit, Ebonie stood up. Biting her lower lip, she looked at everyone that had gathered in the room.

"From what I've gathered, in order for us to win, all we need is four first-years to win their respective games, followed by two by the second years."

Pausing, Ebonie took out a tablet. Tapping on the screen on the tablet, the TV screen behind her changed.

"If they somehow can achieve this, we should be able to widen the gap with Theodora Academy. If we can't achieve that then we have no choice but to..."

Ebonie paused.

"No choice but to...?"

Perry asked as he too seemed to have also calmed down from the previous outburst.

"Win one of the battle royale games..."

"..."

At her words, the room instantly became quiet.

If there was one game that no one could guarantee first place spot, it would be the battle royale game.

The reason was simple.

There was no rule that stated that the other academies couldn't form alliances with one another.

As a result of this rule, every year the Lock and the other larger academies would end up fighting at a numerical disadvantage. Making it much harder for them to win first place.

It was also because of this that the points awarded to the academies upon winning the game were much higher than singular games.

If two academies were neck and neck with each other in terms of points, they'd need to be able to win the battle royale in order to widen the gap.

"That shouldn't be a problem."

The first to speak up was Perry. A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Since we're already guaranteed first place in our battle royale, we don't really have to worry too much about it."

"That's easier said than done..."

Ebonie replied as she put her tablet down. From the way that she didn't deny Perry's statement, it seemed as though she agreed with him about the fact that the third year will win their battle royale.

to be

isn't right if the third years are the ones that carry the whole school up. The first and second years

was

all of the people that had

A threatening aura started exuding from his body. "I hope we don't go down in history

Mark's glare, everyone in the room sheepishly

their example

saying. My mind was preoccupied with

regarding the

Kevin last night, I decided to meet up with him in his room to discuss

preferred to just ask Kevin. It wasn't because I was too lazy or anything like that, it was just that the book was far too long for

recounting everything that happened to Kevin, the book was filled with endless amounts of jibberish that I couldn't care less

his shower and washed his body with the new soap that he had bought yesterday at

number of pages it had

that. This was why I just

under the same roof had its perks. Within a minute I had

and started spouting nonstop bullshit about how I had this vision that I couldn't quite make out about the Monolith

short, I managed to get Kevin

just because he was still immature due to his young age, after a bit of thought Kevin told me everything that he

to

talk pretty much confirmed that

was indeed

thing was going to without a

was because from what I had gathered from Kevin, they were planning on doing something

information is good enough

what they were planning, this was a good

some time to work with. It was

thank you all for coming. You are all

was preoccupied with my thoughts, Ebonie's voice suddenly

I too subconsciously followed the

since the beginning of the meeting, and after coming up with a rough plan, Ebonie

get enough points in the individual matches, we will bet everything on the battle royale. I hope everyone tries their best till then. I will not let the technical staff brief some individuals on their upcoming games. Good

her tablet, Ebonie left the waiting room. Not long after, Mark and Perry

"Ren, come here"

was also about to also leave, Melissa called out for me as she sat on a chair in the corner

do you

without moving

come here, I need to talk to you about

stay as far away

I shook my head.

nothing more than to be as far away

my, am

with her

I replied. "...yes you

didn't misunderstand,

grow a pair for god's sake. I'm not

was starting to get

contestant for the tournament, she wasn't actually participating in any

had stated before, there was

student's performances as well as the competitors and

she was part of the technical team. In all

you coming

stop joking.

back down,

"Here"

pointed towards a certain section

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

the time that you need to beat in

you the confidence that this is the

at the information

she had, I've made a rough estimate of her final score. Taking into account the worst-case scenario, I've shaven off ten seconds off of her

time Melissa was referring to, I softly

and twenty-eight

"Indeed."

nodded her

game, this should be the target score that you should be aiming for when entering the finals. If you can beat this score,

With a soft voice, she asked. "Can

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

the side of my

then there was a possibility of me beating

score, I wasn't arrogant to the point that I would

always best to remain

you can't do it or can do it. I'm

pocket and left. From

about my previous advice about drinking

let her go like that. I needed to

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

sweet smile appeared on her

you try the new potion that I've

that comes with the label from W.V.

made a meaningful

wasn't even made from

that I personally poured all of my love into. Trust me. You're