The Author's POV

Pitch black darkness.

What met my sight upon activating Monarch's indifference was pitch black darkness.

The darkness seemed to be unending.

But it wasn't long before I regained consciousness and wondered to myself.

'What's going on?'

Why was I in this pitch-black word? ...and why could I move as I pleased?

This had never happened before, back when I activated Monarch's indifference.

Did that mean that my previous conjecture was correct and that Monarch indifference had a link with the shift in my mentality? Intense wariness flashed across my eyes.

Glancing around the place, I opened my mouth and coldly said.

"...Where are you? I know you're here somewhere."

Silence.

As my vice echoed amidst the darkness, all I was met with was silence. However, I wasn't one to give up easily as I once again opened my mouth.

"Come out. I've already figured things out."

"Hm."

It was then that with a soft hum, someone materialized a couple of meters away from me.

It was none other than the other Ren. Or at least, that was what I used to think. But now, I wasn't too sure.

With a thoughtful look on his face, he scanned my body from top to bottom.

"You're not half bad."

He muttered after a while.

I frowned at his words as I felt a weird sense of discomfort wash over my body. The sense of discomfort came from the way he was looking at me.

It reminded me of a scientist looking at his experiment. It felt very uncomfortable.

Calming down my nerves, I looked straight into the other Ren's eyes and got straight to the point.

With my limited amount of time, I could only carefully choose my questions.

"...You were the one responsible for what happened to Emma, weren't you?"

"Me?"

Lifting his head, the other Ren raised his brow. A small smile then surfaced on his face as he shook his head.

"Now why would you think that?"

"...Because I would never make such a mistake."

"Oh? Aren't you confident in yourself?"

Waving his hand, a wooden table materialized in front of the other Ren. Gesturing for me to sit down opposite of him, Ren sat down and raised his hand where a small teacup materialized.

Holding onto the handle of the cup, he raised the cup slightly. A small smile tugged the edge of his lips.

"Everything that happened is a result of your actions. I am merely someone whose body you took over."

"Don't bullshit with me!"

I quickly shot back.

"You can stop your little facade. I know that you're hiding something."

Walking over to the table, I sat down. Leaning forward, I coldly looked at the other Ren.

"I don't know what you're hiding, but I for sure know that you must've had a hand in my transmigration."

"...I'm hiding something? Transmigration?"

a sip of his tea before putting it back down on

he

"What is your goal?"

"My goal?"

by his sudden question, I

Ren once again

goal in life? What are you aiming to achieve in your life?

question, my eyes

baffled by his sudden question, I still nevertheless answered. I wanted to see where he was going

"...Defeating the demon king."

answer, Ren

your goal is to defeat the demon...no, defeating should be the roadblock that you need to pass through in order to

his cup of tea, Ren

die, whatever goal you have will be all

words, I didn't reply

I wanted to refute his words, I couldn't. His words

any other goal that I had would

goal was to keep my family safe unless I defeated the demon

head, my eyes squinted even

"Get to the point."

head, Ren put

answered your

are you

answer? I don't recall ever hearing his

did was ramble about how I should defea—wait. He

my eyes opened

"You.."

closed it and opened it again. I was currently having trouble

just calmly looked at me with a superficial smile

about the incident with Emma, aren't

turned out to be right. It really

reason why I did what I did and

only grew. If that was true, and what happened to Emma was truly due to his influence,

body shook at that

eyes, instead of panicking

managed to calm myself down, I once

anything to do with defeating the demon

anger rising in my

on his

that the air around him suddenly distorted and his demeanor changed to that of a cold and emotionless person. He looked just like me when I

such dumb questions. You already know the

body, enshrouding the area around me as a dominant force completely enveloped me whole, making it hard for me to

'I knew it.'

force, I showed

my eyes, I

to imply. How could I not? It was obvious,

only emotional baggage that Kevin carries with him. He does not

gazed into the other Ren's eyes. Staring deep into his eyes, I could sense no shred of emotion inside

Those eyes.

eyes reflected the eyes of a man who no

current Kevin is far too soft. He does not have his priorities

the one that the akashic records chose, and yet he is the one that is least fit to carry on that

suddenly stood up and turned his back away from me.

safe? You want to defeat the demon king? You

and every question he asked powerfully rang

so, this is

"No."

shook my head and similarly stood

is not the only way to

to the other Ren, I stopped a couple of meters away

Kevin is soft, but he's still young. He can change. I don't see the need for you to hurt Emma or anyone that is close to him. What if he suddenly loses himself in the process? What would

"He won't."

indifferently shook

change. Fundamentally, he is wired to prioritize those that are close to him. He does not

he continued. His dull eyes peered through my

yourself. Deep inside you know I'm right. Removing every single burden around Kevin will grant us the highest possibility of

gaze and listening to his words, my brows

speak as though the