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

ones that carry the whole school up.

was Mark who started

around, Mark looked at all of the people

you don't disappoint during the battle royale games..." A threatening aura started exuding from

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

their example and nodded my

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

specifically, regarding the Monolith

decided to meet up with him in his room

Kevin. It wasn't because I was too lazy or

was filled with endless amounts of jibberish that I couldn't care less

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

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

was why I just chose to directly

its perks. Within a minute I had

his room and started spouting nonstop bullshit about how I had this vision that I couldn't quite make out about the Monolith and blah, blah,

managed to get Kevin

he was still immature due to his young age, after

was enough to convince me that something was definitely going

talk pretty much confirmed that my worries weren't

Monolith was indeed

was

had gathered from Kevin, they were planning on doing

good

sure about what they were planning, this

had some time to work with.

thank you all for coming.

my thoughts, Ebonie's voice suddenly resounded

stood up. I too subconsciously followed the

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

we fail 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

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

"Ren, come here"

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

do

replied without moving from my

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

stay as far away from you

I shook my head.

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

my, am I that

her mouth with her hand, Melissa

I replied. "...yes

make sure that she didn't misunderstand, I repeated

god's sake. I'm

Melissa was starting

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

stated before, there was a technical

technical team's role was to analyze the student's performances as well

the technical team. In all

you coming

I'll stop joking.

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

"Here"

handing me her tablet, Melissa pointed towards a certain section

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

in order to secure first place in the

gives you the confidence that this is the

the tablet, I solemnly looked at the information displayed on it.

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

at the time Melissa was referring to, I softly

and

"Indeed."

nodded her

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

felt Melissa's stare directed in my direction. With a soft voice, she

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

of

a possibility of me

wasn't arrogant to the point that I would

I actually won, it was always

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

put her hands in her pocket and left. From the looks of it, she didn't

my previous advice

her go like that. I

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

smile

you try the

one that comes with the label from W.V.

made a

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

the one that I personally poured all of my love into. Trust me. You're going to