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—

to the next

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

Kevin nodded.

demon. Red blood eyes and a sadistic

description, my

me was just how any regular demon

the black humanoid figure was. Despite having crossed many demons, none really

him, he was a bit of a mystery to me. I had only seen him once in my life, and that was back at the

Yet, for some strange

the figure

thought. But after a while, I shook

ranked demon I can get rid of any time I wanted. Furthermore, the only reason he developed a connection with me

My heart sped

think about it, wasn't Everblood the reason I

him and defeat him, I would've never gotten my hands

couldn't be, right?…it

have something

it was Kevin's voice. Lifting my head

"No…at least not yet."

connections, but

matter. I had a nagging feeling that

"Okay."

to me each and every

he was talking, I could tell that

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

I would know most of the

a strange

vision regarding the figure that resembled you.

Kevin finally concluded.

could say anything, Kevin once again opened

that I haven't told

"…Something else?"

"Mhm."

head before taking a deep breath.

"Huuuu…"

lifted his

you know about

"I do."

a short nod.

that I came from was invaded by demons and I

"Yeah."

the general setting of Kevin in

survivor, and he gains a system.

one thing that

up as I abruptly lifted my

'He couldn't be…'

this strange interface that

"Ah."

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

"…System?"

about the system, I pretended to look both

managed

"Oh."

the type to reveal something like

My eyes squinted.

nature to do something like this. There was

me quests from time to time. Once I complete

me this?" I suddenly asked, trying

"You caught on fast."

Kevin smiled.

Kevin flashed the red

"It's because of this."

"The book?"

or to be more precise, the time

"Time what?"

I wondered what

in the world did he get the

"Time codex."

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

bit doubtful if I had to

"...Are you sure?"

what the system called

doubt was dispelled

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

"Yeah."