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 confident about

years are the ones that carry the whole

was Mark

looked at all of the people that had gathered in

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

Mark's glare, everyone in the room sheepishly nodded

example and nodded

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

regarding

up with him in

Kevin. It wasn't because I was too lazy or anything like that, it

filled with endless amounts of jibberish that I

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

somehow remained the same size, the number of pages it had was

stuff like that. This was why I just

its perks. Within a minute I had already arrived

room and started spouting nonstop bullshit about how I had this vision

managed to

to his young age, after a bit of

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

that my worries weren't for

Monolith was indeed planning something

matters worse, that thing was going to

they were planning on doing something big during

good enough

wasn't yet sure about what they

work with. It was enough time

thank you all for coming. You are

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

in the 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 and

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. Good

after, Mark and Perry also left. Behind them were their

"Ren, come here"

out for me

do you

replied without moving from my

need to talk to you about your game that is coming up

I'd rather stay as far away from

I shook my head.

wanted nothing more

my, am I

with

I replied. "...yes

make sure that she didn't misunderstand,

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

her tongue, Melissa was starting

Melissa was enlisted as a contestant for the tournament, she wasn't actually participating in any

stated before,

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

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

coming or

I'll stop joking. What do

and when to back down, I gave

"Here"

pointed towards a certain

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

to beat in order to secure first place in the

confidence that this is the

information displayed on it. By

account the worst-case scenario, I've shaven off ten seconds off of her estimated overall score and as a result, come up with

the time Melissa was referring to, I

minute and

"Indeed."

her

cross-reference the data from each game, this should 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

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

side of my

there was a possibility of me

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

was always

care if you can't do it or can

put her hands in her pocket and left. From the looks

about my previous advice about drinking

course wasn't going to let her go like

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

smile appeared on her

then how about you try the new potion

with the label from W.V.

made a meaningful

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

personally poured all of my love into. Trust