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.

she didn't seem to be completely confident about

if the third years are the ones that carry the whole school

was Mark who started

at all of the

games..." A threatening aura started exuding from his body. "I

Mark's glare, everyone in the room sheepishly nodded

their example and nodded my

actually cared about what they were saying.

regarding

to meet up with him

Kevin. It wasn't because I was too lazy or anything like that, it was just that the book was

Kevin, the book was filled with

soap

same size, the number of pages it had

stuff like that. This was

had its perks. Within a minute I had already arrived

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

to get Kevin to

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

to convince

confirmed that my worries weren't

Monolith was indeed

worse, that thing was going to

from Kevin, they were planning on doing something big during the battle royale

good enough for

I wasn't yet sure about what they

had some time to work with. It was

for

my thoughts, Ebonie's voice suddenly resounded across

up. I

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

fail 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 staff brief

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

do you

without moving from

to you about your game that is coming up

stay as far away from you as

I shook my head.

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

am

with her hand, Melissa

replied.

that she didn't misunderstand, I

god's sake. I'm not doing this

was

enlisted as a contestant for the tournament,

before, there

performances as well as the competitors and come

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

coming or

I'll stop joking. What do

when to back down, I gave in

"Here"

me her tablet, Melissa pointed towards a certain section

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

to beat in order to

what gives you the confidence that this is the

information displayed on it. By the

of her final score. Taking into account the worst-case

the time Melissa was referring to, I

minute and

"Indeed."

nodded her

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

With a soft voice, she asked. "Can you

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

of my

a possibility of me beating

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

it was always best

if you can't do it or can do

hands in her pocket and left. From the looks of it, she didn't want

my previous advice

go

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

a sweet smile

you try the new potion that

that comes with the label

made a meaningful

made a potion for me it wasn't even made

the one that I personally poured all of my love into. Trust me.