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 completely confident

third years are the ones that carry

it was Mark

all of the people

the battle royale games..." A threatening aura started exuding from his body. "I hope we

Mark's glare, everyone in the room sheepishly

example and

cared about what they were saying. My mind

specifically, regarding the

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

It wasn't because I was too lazy or anything like that, it

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

body with the new soap that he had bought yesterday at the convenience store...''”Now why would I want to

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

with useless stuff like that. This was why I just chose to directly ask him about what

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

had this vision that I couldn't quite make out

I managed to get

still immature due to his young age, after a bit of thought Kevin told me

there was no concrete evidence, it was enough to convince me that something was definitely going to

confirmed that my

was indeed planning

worse, that thing was going to without

Kevin, they were planning on doing something

good enough for

what they were planning, this was a

had some time to work with. It

for coming.

preoccupied with my thoughts, Ebonie's voice suddenly

up. I too subconsciously followed

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

If we fail to win to get enough points in the individual matches, we will bet everything on the battle royale. I hope everyone tries their

after, Mark and Perry also left. Behind

"Ren, come here"

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

What do

replied without moving

here, I need to talk to you about your game

as far away from you as

I shook my head.

wanted nothing more than to be

am I that

mouth with her

I replied. "...yes

didn't misunderstand,

god's sake. I'm

her tongue, Melissa was starting

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

before, there was

the student's performances as well

me because she was part of the technical team. In all likelihood, she wanted to talk to me

you coming or

stop joking. What do

to push and when to back down, I gave in and

"Here"

Melissa pointed towards a

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

is the time that you need to beat in order

confidence

looked at the information displayed on it. By

had, I've made a rough estimate of her final score. Taking into account the worst-case

time Melissa was

and twenty-eight

"Indeed."

her head and

should be the target score that you should be aiming for when entering the finals. If you

I felt Melissa's stare directed in my direction. With a soft voice, she asked. "Can you

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

of my

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

some confidence in beating the score, I wasn't arrogant to the

always best to remain a little bit

I don't care if you can't do it

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

Do think about my

go like that. I needed to

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

a sweet smile

about you try the new

comes with the label from

a

potion for me it wasn't even made from her.

all of my