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 completely confident about

I don't think so. It isn't right if the third years are the ones that carry the whole school up. The first and second years need to hold their

it was Mark

around, Mark looked at all of the people that had gathered in

the battle royale games..." A threatening aura started exuding

glare, everyone in the room

also followed their example and nodded

saying. My mind was preoccupied

regarding the

I decided to meet up with him in his room to discuss more

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

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

the valve of his shower and washed his body with the new soap that he had bought yesterday at the

somehow remained the same size, the number of pages

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

same roof had its perks. Within a minute

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

to

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

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

pretty much confirmed that my worries

was indeed planning something

worse, that thing was

gathered from Kevin, they were

is good enough for

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

work with. It was enough time for me to figure

all for coming. You are all

was preoccupied with my thoughts, Ebonie's voice

the room stood up. I too subconsciously followed the other's

meeting, and after coming up with a rough plan, Ebonie satisfyingly

the battle royale. I hope everyone tries their best till then. I will not let the technical staff brief some individuals

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

"Ren, come here"

also about to also leave, Melissa called out for

What do you

moving

to you about your game that is coming up

far

I shook my head.

Melissa, I wanted nothing more than to

my, am I

with her

replied. "...yes you

make sure that she didn't misunderstand,

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

Melissa was starting to get

as a contestant for the tournament,

before, there was

as well as the competitors and come up with

technical team. In all likelihood,

coming or

I'll stop joking.

when to back down, I gave

"Here"

her tablet, Melissa pointed towards a certain section of

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

the time that you need to beat in order to secure first place in the dummy

you the confidence that

the information displayed

she had, I've made a rough estimate of her final score. Taking into account the worst-case scenario, I've shaven off ten

was referring to, I softly

and twenty-eight

"Indeed."

her head

from each game, this should be the target score that you should be aiming for when entering the finals. If you can beat

I felt Melissa's stare directed in my direction. With a soft voice, she asked. "Can you do

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

side of my neck, I

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

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

always best

it

in her pocket and

Do think about my previous advice about drinking hot

go like that. I needed

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

a sweet smile appeared

about you try the new potion that I've

comes with the

a meaningful

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

poured all of my love into. Trust me. You're