The Author's POV

An unbearable silence descended upon the room as Kevin and I struggled to find the right words to say.

I really didn't know what to say. I was just that shocked by the fact that Kevin could see the red book and knew what it was.

Just when I had thought things had calmed down, something as unexpected as this suddenly happened.

It really made one wonder how I managed to cope with the constant shocks.

"…Have you always been able to see the red book?"

Kevin finally broke the silence.

Lifting my head and staring at him, I didn't answer him immediately.

My mind was currently a mess.

Glancing at the red book in the distance, many questions came into my mind, but out of all of them, one, in particular, stood out to me.

'How come he can see the red book now and not before?'

I had used the red book many times in front of him before. Yet, in all the times I had used it, Kevin never showed signs of ever being able to see the book.

So why now?

"Ren?"

"Ah, right."

Snapping out of it, I looked back at Kevin who gazing at me with a face filled with questions.

"How much do you know about that book?"

I asked whilst breathing out.

Depending on what he answered, I was going to decide whether to tell him the truth or make something up.

Gazing in my direction for a brief moment of time, Kevin walked up to the book and placed his hand on it.

Seeing that there was no reaction, Kevin sighed in relief. Then, opening it, he carefully flipped through its pages.

"…it's empty"

He muttered out loud. His brows furrowing tightly. Then, putting the book back down, with his back facing me, he started speaking.

"The first time I got the book was when I was returning to my dorm."

I sat up straight at his words. This was important information.

"I was very surprised by the fact that a random book magically showed up in the middle of my room. Of course, it was only after I touched the book that I realized that the book was special. It was also during that time that I had my first vision."

Kevin paused. But he didn't need to say anything. I had the notes with me, and I already knew what the vision he was referring to was about.

Flip—

I flipped through the notes before finally pausing on a certain page.

It was the vision where I was supposed to have died.

"Ku, Ku, ku, this is on you."

"I am the sin you created."

"…I am the consequence of your actions."

"…never forget…I am the one sin…you will never get rid of…"

As I looked through the notes, Kevin continued speaking.

"The first vision was different compared to the others. I could move there, and it wasn't just like any other of the visions I saw later"

Kevin's brows knit tightly.

"…but it was also the oddest of the other visions."

"I can tell."

I solemnly replied whilst looking through the notes he wrote. As I read, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

'If I died in in this vision, does that mean that the visions are not entirely accurate?'

Possible.

However, that was beside the point as my entire focus shifted towards the description of the demon responsible for killing 'me.'

"Say…"

Flip—

flipped to

demon that you saw in the vision, can you describe it for me? What did it look

Kevin nodded.

humanoid figure. A demon. Red blood eyes and a sadistic smile on his

the description,

he was describing to me was

really had no idea who the black humanoid figure was. Despite having crossed many demons, none really left an impression on me…well, there

I had only seen him

for some strange reason, he seemed to have developed

the figure be

But after a while, I

any time I wanted. Furthermore, the only reason he

brain suddenly froze. My heart sped up a little

about it, wasn't Everblood the reason I got

to meet him and defeat him, I would've

There couldn't

you have something in

was Kevin's voice. Lifting my head and staring in

"No…at least not yet."

There were some connections, but they weren't

on keeping track of this matter. I

"Okay."

head before he continued narrating to me each and every

was talking, I could

more I listened to him, the tighter the frown on

novel...or whatever this world was, I would know most of the stuff regarding this place,

a

the vision regarding the figure that resembled you.

Kevin finally concluded.

I could say anything, Kevin

thing that I haven't

"…Something else?"

"Mhm."

taking a deep breath. The atmosphere

"Huuuu…"

Kevin lifted his head and directly met

about my past

"I do."

with a short nod.

came from was invaded by demons and I lost

"Yeah."

the general setting of Kevin in

kill parents, he becomes the sole survivor, and he gains a system. Nothing

one thing that I

jumped up as

'He couldn't be…'

I received this strange interface that essentially helped me get to where I am now. That interface,

"Ah."

only reply to his words with a weird sound. I really couldn't understand what was

"…System?"

I knew about the system, I pretended

because of it that I managed to push myself to

"Oh."

type to reveal something like this. There must definitely be something

My eyes squinted.

like this.

it assigns me quests from time to time. Once I complete them, I get rewarded by the system through either

telling me this?" I suddenly

"You caught on fast."

Kevin smiled.

hand, Kevin flashed the red

"It's because of this."

"The book?"

to be more precise, the

"Time what?"

face as I wondered what in the world

in the world did he

"Time codex."

head, reaffirming the fact that the book was called the time

was still a little bit doubtful if I had to be honest as I couldn't help but

"...Are you sure?"

what the system called the book. The time

doubt was

…so that's what it was. Is this why you revealed

"Yeah."