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

right if the third years are the ones that carry the whole school up. The

was Mark who

all of the people that had

aura started exuding

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

their example and nodded my

were saying. My mind was preoccupied with

regarding

up with him in his room to

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 long

recounting everything that happened to Kevin, the book was filled with endless amounts

his body with the new soap that he had bought yesterday at the

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

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

Within

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

I managed to get

he trusted me a lot, or just because he was still immature due to his young age, after a bit of thought Kevin told me everything that he knew regarding

concrete evidence, it was enough to convince me that something was definitely going

confirmed that my worries weren't

Monolith was indeed planning something

matters worse, that thing was going to

gathered from Kevin, they were

good

about what they were planning, this

some time to work with. It was enough

you all for coming.

my thoughts, Ebonie's voice suddenly resounded

I too subconsciously followed

and after coming up with a

get enough points in the individual matches, we will bet everything on the battle royale. I hope everyone tries their

room. Not long after, Mark and Perry also left. Behind them were their usual rows

"Ren, come here"

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

do you

without moving from

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

rather stay as far away from you as

I shook my head.

nothing more than to

my, am I that

her mouth with

replied. "...yes you

that she didn't

I'm not doing this because I want

Melissa was starting

contestant for the tournament, she wasn't actually participating

Ebonie had stated before, there was

performances as well as the

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

coming or

I'll stop joking. What

and when to back down, I

"Here"

me her tablet, Melissa pointed towards a certain section of

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

to beat in order to secure first place

confidence that this is

the information displayed on it. By the side,

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 this

Melissa was referring to, I softly

minute and

"Indeed."

her head and

be aiming for when entering the finals. If you can beat this score, there is a high

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

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

the side of my

possibility of me

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

won, it was always best to

don't care if you can't do it

pocket and

think about my previous advice about drinking

go like

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

around, a sweet smile appeared on

you try the new

that comes with the label from W.V.

made a

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

personally poured all of my