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.

didn't seem to be completely confident

don't think so. It isn't right if the third years are the ones that carry the whole

was Mark

Mark looked at all of the people that had gathered in

royale games..." A threatening aura started exuding from his body. "I hope we don't go down in history as the worst team

in

their example and nodded my

they were saying. My mind was preoccupied with other matters at

regarding

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

too lazy or anything like that, it was just that the book was far too long for me at the

happened to Kevin, the book was filled with endless amounts of jibberish that I

new soap that he

remained the same size, the number of pages

with useless stuff like that. This was why

had its perks. Within a minute

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

to get

trusted me a lot, or just because he was still immature due to his

it was enough to convince me that

pretty much confirmed that

Monolith was indeed

worse, that thing was going

because from what I had gathered from Kevin, they were planning

good

sure about what they

I had some time to work with. It was enough

for coming. You

I was preoccupied with my thoughts, Ebonie's

up. I

and after coming up with a rough plan, Ebonie satisfyingly stood up and dismissed

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.

left the waiting room. Not long after, Mark and

"Ren, come here"

also about to also leave, Melissa called out for me

do you

replied without moving from my

talk to you about your game that is coming up

stay as far away

I shook my head.

Melissa, I wanted nothing more than to be as far away

am

her mouth with her

replied. "...yes you

sure that she didn't misunderstand, I

sake. I'm not doing this because I want

her tongue, Melissa was

as a contestant for the tournament, she wasn't actually

Ebonie had stated before, there was a

well as

technical team. In all likelihood, she wanted to talk to me about my

coming or

I'll stop joking. What do you

down, I gave

"Here"

tablet, Melissa pointed towards a certain section

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

beat in order to secure first place

you the confidence that this is the

information displayed on

score. Taking into account the worst-case scenario, I've shaven off ten seconds off of her estimated overall score and as a result, come up with this

at the time Melissa was referring to,

minute and twenty-eight

"Indeed."

nodded her head

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

stare directed in my direction. With

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

the side of my neck, I

there was a possibility of

in beating the score, I wasn't arrogant to the point that I

it was always

if you can't do it or

Melissa put her hands in her pocket and left. From the looks of it, she didn't want to stay

always. Do think about my previous advice about drinking hot

of course wasn't going to let her go

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

a sweet smile appeared on

about you try the new potion

one that comes with the

a meaningful

even made from her. Just something she

personally poured all of my love into.