The Author's POV

Gazing in Kevin's direction, I lowered my head and stared at the floor next to me.

Following my hints, Kevin who had calmed down slowly walked over and sat down. He didn't say a single word throughout the whole time.

I didn't blame him for his reaction.

Resting my arms over my knees, I opened my mouth.

"Where should I start? There's much I have to say…"

There truly were a lot of things that I wanted to say.

So many that I had difficulty trying to sort my thoughts out.

But in the end, after realizing just how important it was for me to disclose everything, I calmed myself down.

Eyeing Kevin from the side of my eyes, I muttered.

"Just so you know, you're the only one that I've ever told my secret. I hope you don't tell anyone else about my secret."

This was a secret that I originally meant to take with me to the grave, but circumstances forced me to do otherwise. If I didn't disclose everything, the rift that the other Ren was trying to create between me, Kevin, and the others would simply widen.

But, if possible, I wanted only Kevin to know. It wasn't that I didn't trust the others, but I didn't want the others to have a false idea about who I was.

"Can you do that for me?"

"…okay."

After a long silence, Kevin eventually nodded his head. I smiled in response.

"Thanks."

Then, letting out a deep sigh, I began recounting to him everything.

"…well, it all started a week prior to the beginning of the Lock. That was the day I awoke...or should I say, those were the days where my memories began."

***

"The moment I woke up, I had faint recollections of a previous world where mana did not exist and I was a novel writer. A failed one at that."

"Luminescent swordman. That was the name of the last novel I created, and the name of the protagonist was...Kevin Voss."

Listening to Ren's words, Kevin's anger slowly started to disappear and what replaced it was pure shock.

The shock was so strong that Kevin found himself unable to speak nor think as his mind was entranced by every word that Ren said.

Many times he wanted to outright stop Ren from speaking.

He just couldn't come to terms with what he was saying. This world was a novel that he created, and he was the main character of that world? How could he believe that? But the more Ren talked, the more things started to align with his weird behavior, his deep knowledge regarding a few things, and his way of words.

Kevin's heart started to sink.

Doubt started to creep deep into his body as his face paled.

'Could his words be true?'

"It was only after the events after Immorra that I stopped being passive with my knowledge regarding the wo—"

"...Bullshit."

Kevin finally mouthed out loud, cutting Ren off. He just couldn't listen to Ren's words anymore.

He couldn't accept the idea that everything that had happened to him was merely part of some writing that Ren wrote.

Weren't Ren's words essentially saying that all the disasters that were currently happening to the world were a fabrication of his imagination? Were everything he felt in the past and his memories also fake?

Kevin couldn't accept it!

"You can't be real. It's impossible."

a bitter smile on his

I was lying, but, I'm not. What I told you was

mid-speech, Ren's face suddenly

was what I originally believed to be

hearing those words. A trace

"What do you mean?"

few seconds. His brows repeatedly furrowed and relaxed during that time before finally, looking straight at Kevin straight

reason to believe in those memories. I think that world was a fake world designed by someone to make me act the way that they wanted

"...What?"

confusion in Kevin intensified. Leaning his neck forward, Kevin

someone implanted those memories into you, and is trying to manipulate

difficult face, Ren eventually nodded his

"Right..."

lifting his

that I'm lying, but whatever is happening to me, their

"Me?"

for long as flashbacks of the

be that the vision was real?...and the one responsible for killing

everything was slowly starting

vision he saw was truly a flashback of the future. Apprehension instantly hit Kevin as he

Kevin was thinking, Ren, nodded

I believe that the entity responsible for all

Ren's face twisted slightly before he suddenly lowered

you were right. I was somehow responsible for

clapped inside of Kevin's ears as his eyes opened

not last for long as Kevin

moment he had linked everything to the previous flashback, he already understood that whatever happened to Emma was not an

you that the

Ren suddenly asked.

eyes, Kevin took

"Continue."

Ren pursed his lips.

is to try to harm everyone that is

Ren's words, Kevin showed no reaction as he

"Harm those around me?"

"Yes."

his head

I've gathered, the entity is trying to make you less soft. Or rather, trying

his eyes, Kevin once again took a deep breath as he tried to process all of the information he was being

change me into someone deemed fit to fight the demon king?

read Kevin's thoughts, Ren

and yet he is the one that is

was what

Kevin suddenly

'Akashic records.'

words were once again

to quickly piece everything together. 'The one that the Akashic records chose.' What else could they refer to but the

veil and mystery revolving around the world started to fade. Lifting his head, Kevin came up with a

seemed to be a step ahead of him. Before he could

the demon king, as a way to preserve itself, the Akashic records chose someone to prevent the demon king from ever getting to it, and that person is none other than you, Kevin. This probably explains why you

words, Kevin had no other choice but to agree. He also believed that this was

question he had was,

in the world, why him? He really

"Huuuu..."

at the ceiling of the training ground, Kevin tried to digest all of the information inside of his

Kevin knew that he had only barely scraped the surface of

silent. He had a thoughtful look on

he looked at him, the previous anger that Kevin felt for

you figure

his head and looking at him, Ren shook

but thinking back at the vision you previously told me about, I have a nagging feeling that whoever the entity trying to manipulate us is,

and placing it below his chin, Ren

targeting you? What if the entity inside of