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

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

was Mark

Mark looked at all of the people

royale games..." A threatening aura started exuding from his body. "I hope we don't go down in history as the worst team to have ever

glare, everyone in

followed their example and

were saying. My mind was preoccupied with

regarding the

up with

the book with me, I honestly preferred to just ask Kevin. It wasn't because I was too lazy or anything like that, it was

Kevin, the book was filled with endless amounts of jibberish that I couldn't care

new soap that he had bought yesterday

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

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

same roof had its perks. Within a

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

I managed to get Kevin

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

to convince me that something was

pretty much confirmed that

was indeed planning something

worse, that thing was going

I had gathered from Kevin, they were planning on doing something big during the

good enough

about what they were planning, this was a

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

thank you all for coming.

my thoughts, Ebonie's voice suddenly

in the room stood up. I too subconsciously followed the other's

since the beginning of the meeting, and after coming up with a rough plan,

then. If we 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 some individuals on their upcoming games. Good

waiting room. Not long after, Mark and Perry also left.

"Ren, come here"

when I was also about to also leave, Melissa called out for me as she

do

moving from my

to talk to you about your

stay as far

I shook my head.

previous experiences with Melissa, I wanted nothing more

am I that

her mouth with

I replied. "...yes

make sure that she didn't misunderstand, I repeated

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

Melissa was

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

Ebonie had stated before, there

technical team's role was to analyze the student's performances as well as the competitors and come up with a good

was talking to me because she was part of the technical team. In all likelihood, she wanted to talk to me about my upcoming

coming

joking. What

down, I gave

"Here"

pointed towards a certain section of

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

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

gives you the confidence that this is

at the information displayed on it. By the

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

time Melissa was

minute and twenty-eight

"Indeed."

nodded her

for when entering the finals. If you can beat this score, there is

stare directed in my direction. With a soft voice,

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

side of

there was a possibility of me

I wasn't arrogant to the point that I would think that my victory was

it was always best to remain a little bit

you can't do it or can do it. I'm just doing my

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

about my previous advice about drinking hot

course wasn't going to let her go like that.

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

a sweet smile appeared on her

you try the new potion

one that comes with the label from

made a

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

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