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.

so, she didn't seem to

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

time it was

at all of the people that had

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

glare, everyone in the room sheepishly nodded their

followed their example and nodded

cared about what they were saying. My

specifically, regarding the Monolith

to meet up with him

because I was too lazy or anything like that, it

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

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

pages it had was scary.

like that. This was why I just chose to directly ask him about

had its perks. Within a minute I

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

I managed to get Kevin to

trusted me a lot, or just because he was still immature due to his young age, after a bit of

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

pretty much confirmed that

Monolith was indeed planning

worse, that thing was going to

Kevin, they were planning on doing something big during

good enough for

sure about what they were planning, this was

work with. It was

for coming. You are

preoccupied with my thoughts, Ebonie's voice

up. I too subconsciously

had passed since the beginning of the meeting, and after coming up with a rough plan, Ebonie satisfyingly stood up and dismissed everyone from the

to win to 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

Ebonie left the waiting room. Not long after, Mark and Perry also left. Behind them were their usual

"Ren, come here"

to also leave, Melissa called out for

do

replied without moving

I need to talk to

far away from

I shook my head.

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

am I

mouth with

replied.

that she didn't misunderstand, I repeated this

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

was starting to get

a contestant for the

before, there was a

to analyze the student's performances as well

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

coming or

I'll stop joking. What do

down, I gave

"Here"

Melissa pointed towards a

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

you need to beat in order to secure first place in

confidence that this is the

looked at the information displayed on

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

at the time Melissa was referring to, I

minute and

"Indeed."

nodded her head

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

felt Melissa's stare directed in my direction. With a soft voice,

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

side of

was a possibility

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

was always best to remain a little

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

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

my

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

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

smile appeared on her

you try the new potion

that comes with the label

a meaningful

wasn't even made from her. Just something she got off the market as a

personally poured all of my love into. Trust me. You're going to