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.

seem to be

so. It isn't right if the third years are the ones that carry the whole school up. The first and second years need to hold their

it was Mark

looked at all of the people that had

battle royale games..." A threatening aura started exuding from his body. "I hope we don't

to Mark's glare, everyone in the room sheepishly nodded

followed their example

I actually cared about what they were saying. My mind was preoccupied with other matters

specifically, regarding

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 me at the

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

his shower and washed his body with the new soap that he had bought yesterday at the convenience store...''”Now why would I

the same size, the number of pages it had was scary. It probably numbered in the

was filled with useless stuff like that. This was

perks. Within a minute I

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, blah,

short, I managed to

he trusted me a lot, or just because he was still immature due to his young age, after a bit of thought Kevin told me everything that he knew regarding the

enough to convince me that something was definitely going to

talk pretty much confirmed that

Monolith was indeed

matters worse, that thing was

from Kevin, they were planning on doing something

is good

sure about what they were planning, this

work with. It

for coming.

with my thoughts, Ebonie's voice

up. I too subconsciously

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

the battle royale. I

waiting room. Not long after, Mark and Perry

"Ren, come here"

also about to also leave, Melissa called out for me as she sat on

What do

without moving from

to talk to you about your

as far away from you

I shook my head.

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

my, am I that

her mouth with her hand, Melissa

I replied. "...yes you

that she didn't

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

Melissa was starting to get

contestant for the tournament, she wasn't actually participating

before, there was

as well as the competitors and come up

of the technical team. In all likelihood, she wanted

coming or

I'll stop joking. What do you

down, I gave in and moved to

"Here"

handing me her tablet, Melissa pointed towards a certain section of

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

the time that you need to beat in order to

confidence that this is

the tablet, I solemnly looked at the information displayed

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

at the time Melissa was referring to, I

minute and twenty-eight

"Indeed."

nodded her head and

score that you should be aiming for when entering the finals. If you can beat this score, there is a high possibility of you

Melissa's stare directed in my direction. With a

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

of my neck, I

all out, then there was a possibility of me beating this score, but I

I wasn't arrogant to the point that I would think

was always best to remain a little bit

do it or

hands in her pocket and left. From the looks of it, she

Do think about my previous advice about drinking

going to let her go like that. I needed to have the

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

around, a sweet smile appeared on

try the new potion

with the label

made a meaningful

made from her. Just something she got off the market as a

poured all of my love into. Trust me.