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.

it looks like whatever your secret is,

jumped

anything, Kevin raised his

what your secret is. I'm just saying, if need help,

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

novel world and I'm the

no way I

the fact that they would most probably not believe me, even if they did, I didn't want to make them feel like they were just some novel characters I

all they've gone through in the past

them that and was never

just better

I smiled.

"I understand...thank you."

"You're doing it again."

voice sounded once

the sight of a frowning Kevin. Taken aback, I

"Doing what?"

smile you just did

He shrugged his shoulders.

you, so I won't say anything else. Just keep in mind

"Than—"

"Cough."

was about to thank Kevin for the nth time, I heard

the direction of where the cough came from and my eyes soon paused on Douglas who was standing not so far from where I was

and Melissa all drew out their weapons

I'm on

chuckled at the sigh. Turning to face me, he alternated his gaze between

guys have sorted out your stuff. How about we

voice echoed

and turning

elves will be

You're the old man

said from behind me. Surprise flashed across my face as I heard

my gaze between Douglas

"Huh? You've already met?"

that

"He what?"

was my turn to look surprised as I turned

calmly smiled. "As you can see all's well that ends well. You may have lost yourself a bit, but I can tell that some of the burdens

Douglas's words, I secretly

is…No wonder they were able to find me. It's

was starting to make

up out of nowhere while I was taking care of

I merely shrugged it off before since my mind was too preoccupied with other things, but

it

were able to enter

also the ones that

"Yes, we have."

Douglas nodded.

I stroked my

"…is he okay?"

should still

in relief at his

I had asked Waylan and Douglas to back me up in case things went wrong. Already taking into consideration the possibility of possibly losing myself, I had asked Douglas and Waylan to be

do something I might end

things would've been terrible for

been enough to satiate the thirst

enough for me to

his watch, Douglas's

head back. The

hand and pointing it at

before we

"…ah, right."

state my clothes were in, a wry smile appeared