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 completely

third years are the ones that carry the whole school up. The first

time it was Mark who started

around, Mark looked at all of the people that had gathered in the

said. Make sure you don't disappoint during the battle royale games..." A threatening aura started exuding from his

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

followed their example and nodded my

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

regarding the Monolith

night, I decided to meet 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

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

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

somehow remained the same size, the number of pages it had was scary.

it was filled with useless stuff like that. This was

roof had its perks. Within a minute

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

I managed to get

because he was still immature due to his young age, after a bit of thought Kevin told

was enough to convince me that something was definitely

pretty much confirmed that my worries

indeed

make matters worse, that thing was going

from Kevin, they were planning on doing something big

information is good

sure about what they

at least knew that I had some time to work with. It was enough time for me to

you all for

was preoccupied with my thoughts, Ebonie's

up. I

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

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

her tablet, 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 me as she sat on a chair in the corner of

do

moving

I need to talk to you about your game that is coming up

far away from you as

I shook my head.

wanted nothing more than to be as far away

am I that

mouth with her hand, Melissa

I replied.

that she didn't misunderstand, I

pair for god's sake. I'm not doing this because

was starting to

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

stated before, there

student's performances as well

technical team. In all likelihood, she wanted to talk to

coming or

joking.

and when to back down, I gave in and moved

"Here"

pointed towards

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

is the time that you need to beat in

you the confidence that this is the

solemnly looked at the information displayed on

past six matches she had, 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 her estimated overall score

time Melissa was referring to, I

minute and twenty-eight

"Indeed."

her head and

cross-reference the data from each game, this should be the target score that you should be aiming for when entering the

direction. With a

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

the side of my

was a possibility of me beating this score,

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

I actually won, it was always best

if you can't do it

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

as always. Do think about my previous advice

wasn't going to let her go

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

a sweet smile appeared on

you try

with the

made a

for me it wasn't even made

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