Staring at Emma who was indifferently staring at him from above, Kevin weakly smiled.
"Hey."
"You…"
Despite how hard Emma tried to keep a straight face, before long, her body trembled. She had a hard time formulating her words as her eyes grew blurry.
"W..why did you do that?"
Her voice was faint and weak, but Kevin was able to make out every single word that came out of her mouth.
"A...re you so desperate to breakthrough that you would reduce your body to that state?...Are you still not over...his death?"
Lifting his head up, and meeting Emma's eyes, Kevin shook his head.
"No, it's not that."
"Then why!"
She screamed, tears flowing down her cheek.
"Why would you do that to yourself? Do you not understand how worried everyone was when they saw you in that state in your room!?"
"You wouldn't understand."
Kevin replied.
He couldn't quite bring himself to tell her the truth. That he had done what he did to save Ren.
He wanted to, but he couldn't.
Who would believe him in the first place? Ren was dead, he'd only look crazy to Emma if he said those words.
"You…"
A hurt look appeared on Emma's face as she heard Kevin's words.
"Am I that untrustworthy to you?"
"No, it's not that."
Shaking his head, Kevin took out the wires that were attached to his body and weakly stood up.
"What are you doing!"
This obviously flustered Emma who rushed towards him and tried to put him back on the bed.
"Got you."
But just as Emma was about to grab him, extended his hand forward, Kevin grabbed Emma by the arm and pulled her towards the bed, helping himself up in the meantime.
"Hiak!"
Falling onto the bed, she screamed in panic.
Staring at Emma who was on the bed, Kevin teasingly smiled.
"Thanks for helping me up."
"You!"
An enraged looked appeared on Emma's face as she looked up towards Kevin.
Turning his back in Emma and walking towards the exit of the room, Kevin's smile faded.
Thinking back at all the things that had happened recently, Kevin felt this sense of urgency rise from within him.
From the synchronization episodes to the fact that the demon king was going to ascend in eight years' time, Kevin knew that he could no longer take things as easily as before. This recent event was a wake-up call to him.
He had to put in even more effort. He had been relying on his system too much.
Now that it wasn't grating him as many quests as before, he knew that he needed to make a change.
He needed to push himself even more than he ever pushed himself before.
"Hey Kevin, where are you going?"
Right as Kevin was about to leave the room, Emma's voice echoed from behind.
Turning around, Kevin briefly glanced at Emma before answering.
"I'm going back to the dorm."
"To do what?"
Halting his footsteps right at the door, Kevin extended his hand and pushed the door open.
"To train."
***
Eight months later.
Lock as a large banner hung at the
[Lock third-year graduation ceremony.]
over the academy campus. Their eyes, which seemed
It was a mess.
to run
the academy building, in a rather secluded area, Kevin looked back at the academy campus behind
arms on his knees, Kevin tried
contacting him, in hopes of recruiting him. This was understandable, being the top-ranked guy for three
could get. But with him constantly being harassed on the phone every day and night, Kevin was forced to
even that didn't work as they would somehow find out about his new number
"About time you arrived."
looking at him with her arms crossed. Her
her were Jin and
academy logo engraved on the back. Kevin too wore a similar attire as they were the academy graduation robes, signifying that
take a
apologized before walking up to
more time, Kevin had
finally leaving
years at the Lock, it was now finally time for him to leave. It'd be a lie if he said that he wasn't sad. A lot of
the others from the corner of his eyes,
the least. In hindsight, she spent most of her time in the lab, therefore, she
all about
bluntly replied. "What are we even doing
for Amanda. Didn't you forget that she wanted to
from
behind her ear,
said something about,
Emma suddenly turned
timing. She's
left, everyone saw the silhouette of
black dress that perfectly showed off the contour of her body and legs, Amanda stepped out of the car
"Thank you for waiting."
walking
make you wait
did you want us here
glasses up. Before even sharing any formalities, she quickly went straight to the
that she was quite comfortable with Amanda, which
join my
Amanda replied back.
moment she said those words, Melissa's face alongside the others froze
to then relax upon seeing the small smile
not joke about
said, pointing her finger
offer still stands. If you're not planning on joining
"No thank you."
kindly declined with a
"That's too bad."
too fazed by his
of it. I mean, who wouldn't want someone as talented as
behind her ear,
you've made up your
"Yeah."
Kevin nodded.
though he knew that Ren was alive, he still decided to
more because he decided that this was the best course of
using
to their
should we
asked
a little,
going to go eat
Amanda looked
booked a good place where we can
good, cause
say anything else, she quickly headed in the direction of
in, rolling the
are you waiting for? Let's
sat back in the car and
afar, everyone was left
didn't know
"Shall we just go?"
those words that everyone
'It wasn't bad.'
time before the car slowly sped into the distance, Kevin knew that
***
[Henlour, elder hall.]
of the semi-circular desk where all the other elders sat, Gervis looked
further reports regarding the remains members
solemn voice reached every corner
a few at large, but let's be honest,
replied from a couple of seats away from
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!