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.

to be completely confident

right if the third years are the ones that carry the whole school up. The first and second years need to

it was Mark who

looked at all of the

You've heard what she said. Make sure you don't disappoint during the battle royale games..." A threatening aura started exuding from his body. "I hope

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

example and

that I actually cared about what they were saying. My mind

regarding

last night, I decided to meet up with him

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

the book was filled with endless amounts of

the new soap that he had bought yesterday at the convenience store...''”Now why would I want to

the same size, the number of pages it

was why

under the same roof had its perks. Within a minute I had already arrived

nonstop bullshit about how I had this vision that

short, I managed to get Kevin

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

was enough to convince me that something

much confirmed that my worries

Monolith was indeed planning

was going to without a

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

good

yet sure about what they were planning, this was

had some time to work with. It was enough

all for coming. You are all

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

I

meeting, and after coming up with a rough plan, Ebonie satisfyingly stood up and dismissed everyone

will bet everything on the battle royale. I hope everyone tries their best till then. I will not let the technical staff brief some

long after, Mark and Perry also

"Ren, come here"

Melissa called out for me as she sat on

What do

without moving

to you about

I'd rather stay as far

I shook my head.

Melissa, I wanted nothing more than to be as

my, am I that

her mouth with her

replied.

that she didn't

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

was

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

stated before, there was a technical

performances as well as the

was part of the technical team. In all likelihood,

coming or

joking.

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

"Here"

pointed towards a certain

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

in

what gives you the confidence that this is

information displayed on it. By

past six matches she had, I've made a rough estimate of her final score. Taking into account the worst-case scenario, I've shaven off ten seconds off of her estimated overall score

Melissa was referring

and

"Indeed."

nodded her

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

my direction. With a soft voice, she asked.

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

side of

possibility of

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

was always best to remain a little

do it or can do

her hands in her pocket and left. From

Do think about my previous advice about drinking hot

course wasn't going to let her go

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

around, a sweet smile appeared on her

how about you try the

that comes with the label

a

made from her. Just something she got off the market as a

I personally poured all of my love into.