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

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

was

of the people

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

glare, everyone in

also followed their example and nodded

were saying. My mind was preoccupied with other matters

regarding the

up with him in his room to discuss more

I was too lazy or anything like that, it

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

his shower and washed his body with the new soap that he had bought yesterday

the same size, the number of pages

like that. This was why I just

its perks. Within

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

managed to get Kevin to spill

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

was enough to convince me that something was definitely going

talk pretty much confirmed that my worries

was indeed

thing was going

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

is good enough for

what they were planning, this was

work with. It was enough time for

you all for coming. You are all

preoccupied with my thoughts, Ebonie's

in the room stood up. I

and after coming up with a rough plan, Ebonie

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.

long after, Mark and Perry also left. Behind

"Ren, come here"

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

do you

without moving

come here, I need to talk to you about your

as far

I shook my head.

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

am I

with her

replied. "...yes you

didn't misunderstand, I repeated

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

was starting

contestant for the tournament, she wasn't actually participating

stated before, there was a technical

well as the competitors and come up with a good

because she was part of the technical team. In all likelihood,

you coming or

I'll stop joking. What do you

to push and when to back down, I gave in and moved to

"Here"

me her tablet, Melissa pointed towards a certain

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

is the time that you need to beat in order to

confidence that this is

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

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

at the time Melissa was referring to, I

and

"Indeed."

nodded her

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

directed in my direction. With a soft voice, she asked.

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

the side of my neck, I

possibility of me beating

score, I wasn't arrogant to the

actually won, it was always best to

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

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

think about my previous advice about drinking hot

let her go

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

sweet smile

then how about you try the new potion

that comes with

a meaningful

it wasn't even made from her.

all of my love into. Trust