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

isn't right if the third years are the ones that carry the whole school up. The first and second years need to hold their

time it was

around, Mark looked at all of the people that had gathered

aura started exuding from his body. "I hope we don't go down

response to Mark's glare, everyone in the room sheepishly nodded their

their example

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

specifically, regarding the Monolith

to meet up with

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

that happened to Kevin, the book was filled with endless amounts of jibberish that I

shower and washed his body with the new soap that he had bought yesterday at the convenience store...''”Now why would I want

the same size, the number of pages it had was scary. It probably numbered in the thousands

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

perks. Within a minute I had already arrived

nonstop bullshit about how I had this vision that

I managed to get Kevin

due to his young

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

that my worries weren't

indeed

that thing was going to

because from what I had gathered from Kevin, they were

good

wasn't yet sure about what they were planning, this was a good starting

time to work with. It was enough

thank you all for coming.

thoughts, Ebonie's voice suddenly resounded across

room stood up. I too subconsciously followed the

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

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

long after, Mark and Perry also left. Behind them

"Ren, come here"

Melissa called out for me as she sat on a chair in the corner

do you

without moving

talk to you about your game that

I'd rather stay as far away from

I shook my head.

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

am I that

her mouth with her hand, Melissa

replied.

sure that she didn't misunderstand, I

sake. I'm not doing this

her tongue, Melissa was starting

a contestant for the tournament, she wasn't actually participating in any

stated before, there

to analyze the student's performances as well as the competitors and come up with a

technical team. In all likelihood, she wanted to

coming

stop joking. What

when to push and when to back down,

"Here"

pointed towards

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

need to beat in order to secure first

you the confidence that

at the information displayed on it.

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,

time Melissa was referring to, I softly

minute and

"Indeed."

nodded her head and

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

directed in my direction. With a soft

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

of my neck,

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

wasn't arrogant to the point that I would think

I actually won, it was always

you can't do it or can do it.

her pocket and

always. Do think about my previous advice

to let her go

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

smile appeared on

about you try the new potion that I've

with the label from W.V.

a

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

personally poured all of my love into. Trust me.