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 be completely confident

if the third years are the ones

was Mark who started

all of the people that

games..." A threatening aura started

in the room sheepishly

their example and

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

regarding the Monolith

with him in his room to

because I was too lazy or anything like that, it

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

the valve of his shower and washed his body with the new soap that he had bought yesterday at the convenience

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

like that. This was why I

its perks. Within a minute I had already arrived at

how I had this vision that I couldn't quite make out about

to get Kevin to

was still immature due to his

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

much confirmed that my worries

was indeed planning

was going to without

from what I had gathered from Kevin, they were planning on doing something big during the battle royale event

good enough

what they were planning, this was a

at least knew that I had some time to work with.

you all for coming. You are

my thoughts,

the room stood up. I too subconsciously followed the

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

matches, we will bet everything on the battle royale. I hope everyone tries their best till then. I will not let the

Mark and Perry also left. Behind them were their usual rows of

"Ren, come here"

about to also leave, Melissa called out for me as she sat on a chair in the corner of

What do you

replied without moving

to you about your game

as far away from you as

I shook my head.

with Melissa, I wanted nothing more than to

am I that

mouth with her hand,

replied.

she didn't misunderstand, I repeated

pair for god's sake. I'm not

was starting to

Melissa was enlisted as a contestant for the

before, there was a technical

team's role was to analyze the student's performances as well as the

this case, Melissa was talking to me because she was part of the technical team. In all likelihood, she wanted

you coming

joking. What do

when to back down, I

"Here"

her tablet, Melissa pointed towards a certain section

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

is the time that you need to beat in order to secure first place in the

you the confidence that this is the

at the information displayed on it. By the side,

the 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 and as a result, come up with this value over

the time Melissa was referring

minute and

"Indeed."

nodded her head

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

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

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

side of my neck,

there was a possibility of me beating this score, but I wasn't

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

always

don't care if you can't do it or can do it. I'm just

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

Do think about my previous advice about

wasn't going to let her go

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

smile

about you try the

one that comes with the label from W.V.

a meaningful

it wasn't even made from her. Just something she got off

my