A couple of days had passed since the party, but news of what had transpired during the party spread throughout the whole academy like wildfire.

It was to the point that pretty much everyone knew what had happened.

Currently, I was laying on my bed staring at the white ceiling of my room. Lost in my own thoughts.

I thought that since I didn't directly participate in the main plotline of the story that the future wouldn't change.

I thought I had full control of my memories, so I decided to take advantage of them and help myself to some of the benefits whilst also trying to not affect the plotline.

But I was wrong...no matter how small the change was, once it began...there was no stopping it.

It suddenly hit me.

One little change could cause massive changes to the whole story. It was like a domino chain.

Regardless of how small the force was, once the first domino fell, like a chain reaction all the dominos fell apart.

I was naive, no! I was arrogant.

Because of my arrogance, the plotline started changing. In a way that I was losing control of the advantage that I had as the author.

The event between Elijah and Amanda should've never happened this early in the novel. Somehow my actions had affected the novel. Despite me repeating to myself that everything was going to be fine, I was simply lying to myself.

I couldn't deny something that happened right before my eyes. I couldn't deny that my existence itself had changed the plotline.

...I fundamentally needed to change the way I was thinking.

But how?

'Do I actively interact with the protagonists or keep myself in the shadows as I did before?'

I was lost...

-Ring!

Snapping me from my thoughts was the sound of my cellphone ringing. Turning it on I looked at the notification that showed up.

[Amanda Stern, singlehandedly defeats <D> rank villain that had infiltrated the academy and posed as Elijah Turner. She had been awa...]

'It seems like the news was already starting to spread outside of the academy...'

During these past few days, Amanda managed to cement herself as one of the foremost geniuses in our generation. 'Ice queen', 'Bow Godess', 'villain killer' all sort of nicknames started circulating around the academy as everyone started paying attention to her.

The reason for such attention was because...she singlehandedly defeated a <D> rank villain despite only being in the early stages of <E> rank. A genius amongst geniuses. After the incident, she was now being compared to the likes of Kevin in terms of raw talent.

Turning off my phone, I gave myself a pat on the back. It seems like I managed to cover my traces quite well as nothing was mentioned regarding me.

It also seems that Thomas covered for me, preventing anyone from finding out that I was responsible for tipping them about the incident.

Looks like I owe him one...

Fortunately, apart from the small loophole, with the facts pointing towards Amanda, my daily life returned to what it was before.

well, that was how it was supposed to be like, but...

After changing and heading to my classroom, I noticed two eyes deeply staring at me from the left side of the classroom.

Awkwardly smiling, I lightly waved in Amanda's direction. I was hoping she would take then hint and leave me alone, but it seemed that my action only further increased the intensity of her stare.

'...does she perhaps have a grudge against me for putting her in the spotlight?'

I thought as I tried my best to look at the front, ignoring her piercing stare.

It was plausible. Because of my action, the whole world was now paying attention to her.

If something like this happened to me, I too would've held a grudge against myself. Sometimes fame was more of a curse than a blessing.

...or did she perhaps misunderstand something regarding my strength?

Now that I thought about it. She probably thought that I was someone who was hiding his strength.

She was not wrong about that, but looking back at the event, she probably has a misconception about the true extent of my abilities.

Though I did in fact kill a <D> rank villain, many factors had come to play in me defeating him.

If she had not distracted him with her last-ditch attack, and if Elijah didn't underestimate me added with me having [Monarch's indifferece]...I would've never been able to kill Elijah.

Me killing Elijah was something that many factors combined together helped me achieve. It wasn't something I could ever hope to achieve again.

But...there were no what if's in this world and thus I was now stuck with Amanda thinking I was some sort of genius that was comparable to the likes of Kevin.

...this was honestly problematic.

"...hm?"

As I was lamenting at how Amanda probably misunderstood me, Melissa who was sitting three rows behind Amanda noticed her weird behavior and looked in the direction she was looking at.

Soon her eyes paused on me.

Raising her brow, Melissa rubbed her eyes a couple of times before making sure that Amanda was indeed looking at me.

At first, she clicked her tongue, then suddenly a smirk appeared on her face.

I instantly felt an ominous premonition. Just now, she did her signature smile. The smile signaled that she was onto something.

Can I start crying already?

...this was why I didn't want to interact with her. Not only was she a sadistic girl who took pleasure in other's suffering, but she was the type to repay grudges many times fold.

On the bright side, no one noticed the interaction that had just occurred. Emma and Kevin were currently busy talking with Miss Donna, and Jin was at the front of the classroom unusually quiet.

If the fact that the class loner suddenly interacted with the two most beautiful girls in the academy was to spread, I could already start planning my funeral.

The sheer amount of admirers those two have could probably fill twenty five football fields. It was that ridiculous.

"Okay class is starting, please be seated everyone"

Looking at the clock and seeing that it was time for class to start, Donna dismissed everyone that was in the front of the class and headed for the podium.

"Quiet please"

Gesturing for the class to quiet down, Donna lightly raised her palm. Soon everyone stopped talking.

Seeing how everyone shut up as soon as Donna spoke, I couldn't help but admire her even more. The degree of control she had over the class was quite impressive. With just a few words and gestures she managed to shut the whole class up.

It may have something to do with the art she practices, but her natural charisma was not to be dismissed either. She just had this charm around her that made any man or woman follow whatever she said.

"Today we will select the groups you will be split into during our trip to Hollberg"

... oh crap, forgot this was happening.

Was too caught up with the Amanda thing that I had completely forgotten we had a class trip in about a week's time.

I honestly didn't want to go.

"Please come to the front of the class and collect your ticket"

Not caring about my predicament, Donna took a large box and put it in front of the podium.

"I'll call your name one by one in ascending order."

Taking ut her register, Donna continued

"You are to take one ticket and that will be your group for the week that you will be in Hollberg, now let's start...Rank 1, Kevin Voss"

Hearing his name being called, Kevin stood up and headed to where Donna was.

"Here?"

"Yes, take a ticket and go back to your seat"

Listening to Donna, Kevin reached his hand into the box and took a ticket.

Instantly everyone's attention was drawn towards him.

They were all curious about his group number. Being the number 1 ranked in the whole year, if anyone was paired up with him they were guaranteed results. This was shown multiple times in things such as in the virtual class and other group activities as he got the first rank in every one of those activities.

Seeing everyone's reaction, I scoffed at them.

Do you think that by freeloading on Kevin you will get a good grade? Hate to break it to you but this time you'll come back disappointed as an incident will prevent him from completing whatever he was supposed to do in Hollberg.

Looking at his number, Kevin remained silent for a second before going back to his seat.

To everyone's disappointment, he didn't show what group number he got.

well, that rule didn't apply to me who knew exactly what he got. His group was [Group 7], and if I'm not wrong Melissa would end up being in the same group as him.

"Next, Melissa Hall"

Standing up, Melissa walked to the podium and took a ticket.

Briefly glancing at the ticket, Melissa walked back to her seat. The stares were just as intense as when Kevin had come up. This time it wasn't because of her ability, but more because of how beautiful she was.

"Next, Jin Horton"

.

.

.

"Next, Ren Dover"

Finally. After who knows how long, my turn had finally come.

Since everyone had gotten their ticket, most people ignored me. No one really cared about me so I didn't feel any eyes on me.

...is what I wanted to say but, I found two sets of eyes focusing on me.

Trying my best to ignore them, my mouth and brows twitched a couple of times.

Without even glancing at me, Donna coldly said

"Take your ticket and leave"

Trying to hide my bitterness at Donna's overly harsh tone, I reached out into the box and took a ticket.

As soon as my hand was inside of the box I secretly channeled some of my mana into it. Though Melissa tried to hide it well, the small spell she cast inside of the box didn't escape my eyes.

Taking out a ticket, I headed back to my seat.

As I was walking up, I noticed Melissa's face crumbling. It looked as if she had eaten crap.

...it felt great.

Secretly winking at her, I sat back in my seat and proceeded to ignore her.

'he he he, you think I wouldn't know what you were up to?'

Please, I am your creator. Do you think I wouldn't know about your petty tricks?

As soon as I saw her smirk I knew she was up to something. Thinking back to my novel, I pretty much deduced what she was trying to do and broke the spell she placed inside of the box. She was probably trying to manipulate the tickets so that I would end up in a crappy group.

Most probably, she was trying to group me with Amanda.

Since she noticed how odd Amanda was behaving she must've thought she had a grudge against me or something...which wasn't wrong.

Too bad for her, I already knew what she was trying to do and stopped whatever spell she placed inside of the box.

-Clap!

Clapping once to gather everyone's attention, Donna said

"Alright, now that everyone has found a group you may leave the class"

Just as everyone was about to stand up to leave the class, Donna smacked her palm with her fist

"...ah! one more thing"

Taking a ticket out of the box she flipped the ticket backward and said

"Behind the ticket, you will find that there is a room number and a list of things you will need to bring and do during your trip. Please go to the room after you leave the class and discuss with your groups which task you will do"

Listening to her and flipping over my ticket, I looked through the contents

==========================

[Group 9]

Group room : A(b) 15

Task :

- In-depth report on how monster parts are processed in a factory. The report must detail how monsters are skinned, processed, and turned into raw materials to be used in artifact creation.

- In-depth report on the different properties of monster parts. From density to breaking point, elasticity etc..

- Interview with the vice-director of the factory and report their economic strategy and what sets them apart from other monster processing plants.

==========================

This was part of the reason why I didn't want to go.

The sheer amount of boring tasks we needed to do made me depressed. It just wasn't something I was looking forward to.

"Alright, class dismissed"

Finished with what she wanted to say, Donna packed her stuff and left the classroom.

Sighing, I stood up and went to the room I was supposed to go to meet my group.

'I hope I get a decent group...'

Though it was only a pipe dream, a man could still hope right...?