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

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

time it was Mark who started

at all of the people that

lot! You've heard what she said. Make sure you don't disappoint during the battle royale games..." A threatening aura started exuding from his body. "I hope we don't go down in history as the worst team to

everyone in the room sheepishly

also followed their example and

were saying. My mind

regarding

up with him in his room to discuss more on the

too lazy or anything like that, it

book was filled with endless amounts of jibberish that I couldn't

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

of pages

was why I just

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

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

I managed to get

to his young age,

enough to convince me that something was definitely going to

confirmed that my

Monolith was indeed planning something

was going to without a

were planning on doing something big during the battle royale event

is good

about what they

to work with. It was enough time

for coming.

preoccupied with my thoughts, Ebonie's voice suddenly

the room stood up. I too subconsciously followed the

the meeting, and after coming up with a rough plan, Ebonie satisfyingly stood up and dismissed everyone from

battle royale. I hope everyone tries their best till then. I will

Mark and

"Ren, come here"

also about to also leave, Melissa called out for

do you

moving

to talk to you about your game

stay as far away from you

I shook my head.

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

am I

her mouth with her hand,

I replied.

sure that she didn't misunderstand, I repeated

sake. I'm not doing this

her tongue, Melissa was starting to get

Melissa was enlisted as a contestant for the tournament,

had stated before, there

well as the competitors and

the technical team. In all likelihood, she wanted to

coming

joking. What

when to push and when to back down, I gave in and moved to where Melissa

"Here"

tablet, Melissa pointed towards a certain section of

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

that you need to beat in order to secure

the confidence that this is the

looked at the information displayed on

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

Melissa was referring to, I

minute and

"Indeed."

her head and

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

stare directed in my direction. With a soft voice, she asked. "Can you

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

side of

a possibility of

some confidence in beating the score, I wasn't arrogant to the point that I would think that my

actually won, it was always best to remain a

do it or can do it.

tablet off of my hand, Melissa put her hands in her pocket and left. From the

about my

go like that.

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

a sweet smile appeared on her

then how about you try the new potion that I've

comes with the label

made a meaningful

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

my love into. Trust me. You're going to enjoy