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.

didn't seem to be

third years are the ones that carry the whole school up.

it was

around, Mark looked at all of the

threatening aura started

in the

example and nodded

saying. My mind was preoccupied

specifically, regarding

last night, I decided to meet up with him in his room to discuss more on the

I had 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 just that the book was far too

it recounting everything that happened to Kevin, the book was filled with endless amounts of jibberish that I couldn't care less

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

number of pages it had was scary. It probably numbered in the

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

perks. Within a minute I had already

I had this vision that I couldn't quite make out about the Monolith and

short, I managed to get

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

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

pretty much confirmed that my worries weren't

was indeed planning

to make matters worse, that thing was

had gathered from Kevin, they were planning on doing something

information is good

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

had some time to work with. It

you all for coming. You

with my thoughts, Ebonie's voice suddenly resounded across

in the room stood up. I too subconsciously

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

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

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

"Ren, come here"

was also about to also leave, Melissa called out for me as she sat on a chair in the

What do

moving from

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

far away from

I shook my head.

nothing more than

my, am

her mouth with her hand,

I replied. "...yes

sure that she didn't misunderstand,

sake. I'm not doing this because

Melissa was starting to get

contestant for the tournament,

Ebonie had stated before, there was

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

Melissa was talking to me because she was part of the technical team. In all likelihood, she wanted to

coming

I'll stop joking. What do

to back down, I gave in and moved to where

"Here"

tablet, Melissa pointed towards a certain section

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

need to beat in order

the confidence that

the information displayed on it.

her final score. Taking into account the worst-case scenario, I've shaven

Melissa was referring to, I softly

minute and

"Indeed."

nodded her head

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

With a soft voice, she

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

side of my

all out, then there was a possibility of me beating this score, but

some confidence in beating the score, I wasn't arrogant to the point that I would think that my victory was

always best

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

of my hand, Melissa put her hands in her pocket and left. From the looks of it, she didn't want to stay any

about my previous advice about drinking hot

of course wasn't going to let her go like that. I needed to have

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

around, a sweet smile appeared on her

try the new potion that

comes with the label

a meaningful

a potion for me it wasn't even made from her. Just something

one that I personally poured all of my