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.

seem to be

ones that

it was

all of the people that

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 we

everyone in the room sheepishly

example and nodded

about what they were saying. My mind was

specifically, regarding

calling Kevin last night, I decided to meet up with him in his

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

the book was filled

soap that he had bought yesterday at the convenience

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

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

roof had its perks. Within a minute I had already

I had this vision that I

short, I managed to

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

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

much confirmed that my

indeed planning

make matters worse, that thing was going to without a doubt

was because from what I had gathered from Kevin, they were planning on doing something big during the battle

good enough for

what they were planning, this was a good

had some time to work with. It was enough time for me to

for coming. You are

with my thoughts, Ebonie's voice suddenly

I too subconsciously followed the other's

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

to get enough points in the individual matches, we will bet everything on the battle royale.

room. Not long after, Mark and Perry also

"Ren, come here"

was also about to also leave, Melissa called out for me as she sat on

do you

replied without moving from my

come here, I need to talk to you

I'd rather stay as far away from you

I shook my head.

experiences with Melissa, I wanted nothing more

my, am I that

her mouth with her hand,

replied. "...yes

she didn't misunderstand, I repeated this

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

her tongue, Melissa was

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

Ebonie had stated before, there was a

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

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

coming

I'll stop joking. What do you

back down, I gave in and

"Here"

tablet, Melissa pointed towards a

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

beat in order to secure first place in the dummy

gives you the confidence that

looked at the information displayed on

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 and as a result, come up with

was

and

"Indeed."

her head

this should be the target score that you should be aiming for when

I felt Melissa's stare directed in my direction. With a

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

the side of my neck,

a possibility of me

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

it was always

if you can't do it or can do it.

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

about my

let her go like that. I needed to have the

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

a sweet smile appeared on

about you try the new potion that

comes with the

a

made from her. Just something she got off

of my love into. Trust me. You're going to