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 the

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

Kevin nodded.

humanoid figure. A demon. Red blood eyes

description,

he was describing to me was just how any regular demon acted

black humanoid figure was. Despite having crossed many demons, none really left an impression on me…well, there was Angelica, but

he was a bit of a mystery to me. I had

had never seen him. Yet, for some strange

figure be

a while,

of any time I wanted. Furthermore, the only reason he developed a connection with me was because I ruined his plans back

froze. My heart sped up

it, wasn't Everblood the reason I got Monarch's

and defeat him, I

there be a link? There couldn't be, right?…it just didn't

have something in

Lifting my head and staring

"No…at least not yet."

Everblood theory was just too far-fetched. There were some connections, but they

keeping track of this matter. I had a nagging feeling

"Okay."

narrating to me each and every one of his

could tell that he was

to him, the tighter the frown on my face became. That was because I understood

originally thought that as the author of the novel...or whatever this world was, I would know most of the stuff regarding this place, yet, listening to what Kevin was telling me, I really couldn't understand

was a strange

vision regarding the figure that resembled

Kevin finally concluded.

could say anything, Kevin

another thing that I haven't told

"…Something else?"

"Mhm."

deep breath.

"Huuuu…"

Kevin lifted his head and directly met my

about

"I do."

replied with a short nod. Nodding

the village that I came from was invaded by demons and

"Yeah."

the general setting of Kevin in

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

thing that I

as I abruptly lifted my

'He couldn't be…'

not sure exactly when, but I received this strange

"Ah."

words with a weird sound. I really couldn't understand what was

"…System?"

even though I knew about the system, I

It's because of it that I managed to push myself to where I am

"Oh."

reveal something like

My eyes squinted.

Kevin's nature to do something like this. There was definitely more than

a status window, and it assigns me quests from time to time. Once I complete them, I get rewarded by the system through either rank upgrades

telling me this?" I suddenly asked, trying

"You caught on fast."

Kevin smiled.

Kevin flashed the red

"It's because of this."

"The book?"

be more precise, the

"Time what?"

once again dyed my face as I wondered what in the

world did he get the name 'Time

"Time codex."

again nodded his head, reaffirming the fact that the book

bit doubtful if I had to be honest as I

"...Are you sure?"

what the system called the book.

of my doubt was dispelled at

…so that's what it was. Is this why

"Yeah."