The Author's POV

They say that saying sorry was hard, but it was only now that I realized that asking for help was just as hard or perhaps even harder than apologizing.

"Pl…ease help me."

Uttering those words, it felt as though I used up all of the strength inside of my body.

I felt completely drained of energy.

Almost as though I had sprinted a full marathon. Uneasiness swept my body, and my heart beat faster.

Yet, despite feeling this way, the feeling I got after the initial lethargic sensation wasn't all too bad.

I felt this sense of relief wash over my body.

As though a heavy boulder had been lifted off of my shoulder, finally allowing me to stand up straight again. I couldn't quite explain it in words, but it just felt liberating.

"Haaa…"

I deeply exhaled.

"It's okay."

It was then that Kevin finally spoke.

Taking a step forward, with his hand on my shoulder, he looked at the moon in the sky.

"I know that you've been through a lot over the past few years. I won't pretend to know just how much you've suffered, and that I even understand what you're going through, but…I want you to remember one thing."

Kevin paused. With his eyes still directed onto the moon in the distance, he continued.

"Hard as things may be, you're not alone. It may look like you are, but all you have to do is look around you."

Turning his head, Kevin looked at me before turning to look at the others who were also staring at me.

"…and when I say take a look, I mean take a proper look. See just who is around you, and see that there are people out there that actually care about you."

Closing my eyes, I lowered my head.

Guilt crept up inside of my heart.

I understood that they cared about me, but the problem was not them, it was me.

Ever since coming into this world, I've seen everyone as my pawn.

People who I could move as I pleased for the sake of my final goal, defeating the demon king. Be it Kevin, Douglas, Waylan, my mercenary group members, everyone was a piece in my eyes.

A piece that I could move as I pleased.

That was how it should've been, but…

Recalling the words that Kevin had just said, for the first time, I felt like maybe my mentality was wrong.

Maybe, I was looking at things in the wrong way…not just for my own goals, but for myself as well. Perhaps, without realizing it, the so-called pieces became more than pieces to me.

It made me wonder, 'were these 'pieces' really as expandable as I thought they were?'

Lifting my head, and staring at everyone present, my eyes soon paused on Kevin and I finally opened my mouth.

"…I think I understand somewhat, thank you."

'Thank you for making me understand my flaws.'

A smile appeared on Kevin's face as he removed his hand away from my shoulder.

Turning his back on me, he muttered.

"You know, I don't know when, but from the very first time I met you, I felt like there was this invisible wall that you erected on yourself. As though you wanted to get as far away from us as possible…it was quite odd, but I never questioned you. I feel like you're hiding something, but who doesn't? Everyone has got their own little secret that they can't tell the others. I get that, but…"

Swooosh—

Turning around, a soft wind brushed past Kevin as his clothes fluttered.

whatever your secret is, it's eating away

brows jumped at his

anything,

wrong, I'm not telling you to tell us what your secret

to his words, but I struggled to find the right words to

novel

I could tell

didn't want to make them feel like they were just some novel characters I

the past were just things that I had done in order to design

tell them that and was

were just better

I smiled.

"I understand...thank you."

"You're doing it again."

sounded once

head, I was met with the sight of a frowning Kevin. Taken aback, I

"Doing what?"

your true feelings again. That smile

He shrugged his shoulders.

I won't say anything else. Just keep in

"Than—"

"Cough."

for the nth time, I

the cough came from and my eyes soon paused on Douglas who was standing not so far from where I was with a smile

startled as Jin, Amanda, Kevin, and Melissa all drew out their

down, I'm on

face me, he alternated his gaze between me

guys have sorted out your stuff.

echoed throughout

turning

be mad if we stay

old man

flashed across my face

my gaze between Douglas

"Huh? You've already met?"

one that

"He what?"

look surprised as I

well that ends well. You may have lost yourself a bit, but I can tell that some of the burdens

to Douglas's words, I secretly shook my

how it is…No wonder they were able to find me.

starting

why they suddenly showed up out of nowhere while I was taking care of

area around us should've been sealed, therefore, for them to come, it shouldn't have made any sense. I merely shrugged it off before since my mind was too preoccupied with other things, but when I think about it now, it should've been impossible for them

Douglas, it finally dawned

were able to enter this

you also the ones that

"Yes, we have."

Douglas nodded.

I stroked my

"…is he okay?"

should still be

relief at

Waylan and Douglas to back me up in case things went wrong. Already taking into consideration the possibility of possibly

I wouldn't do something I might

died, things would've been

it wouldn't have been enough to satiate the thirst for revenge

for me to be satisfied. He

checking his watch, Douglas's

quickly head back. The

around, raising his hand and pointing

before we go.

"…ah, right."

my clothes were in, a wry smile appeared on my