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 about

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

was Mark who started

of the people that had

A threatening aura started exuding from his body. "I

in the room

example

actually cared about what they were saying. My mind was preoccupied

regarding the Monolith

up with him in his room to discuss

to just ask Kevin. It wasn't because I was too lazy

Kevin, the book was filled with endless amounts of

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

number of pages

useless stuff like that. This was why I just chose to

same roof had its perks. Within a minute I had already

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

managed to get Kevin to spill

due to his

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

confirmed that my worries weren't for

indeed planning something

make matters worse, that thing was going to without

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

good enough for

I wasn't yet sure about what they were

knew that I had some time to work with. It was

for coming. You are

I was preoccupied with my thoughts, Ebonie's voice suddenly resounded across the

stood up. I too subconsciously followed the other's

meeting, and after coming up with a rough

get enough points in the individual matches, we will bet everything on the battle royale. I hope everyone

Not long after, Mark and Perry also left. Behind them

"Ren, come here"

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

What do you

without moving from

come here, I need to talk to you about your game that

I'd rather stay as far away from you as

I shook my head.

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

my, am

her mouth with her hand, Melissa

I replied. "...yes you

make sure that she didn't misunderstand, I repeated

god's sake. I'm not doing

Melissa was starting to get

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

before, there

performances as well as the competitors and

was talking to me because she was part of the technical

you coming

I'll stop joking. What do you

back down, I gave in

"Here"

her tablet, Melissa pointed towards a

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

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

what gives you the confidence that this is

the tablet, I solemnly looked at the information displayed on it.

I've made a rough estimate of her final score. Taking into account the worst-case scenario, I've shaven

Melissa was referring

and twenty-eight

"Indeed."

her

from each game, this should be the target score that you should be aiming for when entering the finals. If you can beat this

felt Melissa's stare directed in my direction. With

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

side of

I went all out, then there was a possibility of me beating this score, but I wasn't

wasn't arrogant

I actually won, it was always best

can't do it or can

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

think about my previous

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

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

sweet smile

how about you try the new potion

with the label

a

time Melissa made a potion for me it wasn't even made from her.

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