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."

bitter smile on his face, Ren shook

but, I'm not. What I told you

mid-speech, Ren's

at least that was what I originally believed to be the

hearing those words. A trace of hope

"What do you mean?"

anything for the next few seconds. His brows repeatedly furrowed and relaxed during that

reason to believe in those memories. I think that world was a fake world designed by someone

"...What?"

his neck forward, Kevin tilted

that someone implanted those memories

face, Ren

"Right..."

forehead. Then, lifting his head,

you can think that I'm lying, but whatever is happening to me, their target

"Me?"

his brows in surprise. However, the surprise did not last for long

was real?...and the one responsible for killing Emma

everything was slowly starting to make more

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

of what Kevin was thinking, Ren,

entity responsible for all of this

Ren's face twisted slightly before he suddenly lowered

you were right. I

thunderously clapped inside of Kevin's ears as his eyes opened

last for long as Kevin

flashback, he already understood that whatever happened to Emma was not an

you that the

Ren suddenly asked.

Kevin took a deep

"Continue."

Ren pursed his lips.

entity is to try to harm everyone that is around

words, Kevin showed

"Harm those around me?"

"Yes."

his head and

gathered, the entity is trying to make you less soft. Or rather, trying to change you into someone they

he tried to process all

someone deemed fit to fight the demon king? Why

able to read Kevin's thoughts, Ren

the one that the Akashic records chose, and yet he is the one that

what

suddenly

'Akashic records.'

were once again being

was able to quickly piece everything together. 'The one

world started to fade.

a step ahead of him. Before he could voice out his theory, Ren had

due to the threat of the demon king, as a way to preserve itself, the Akashic records chose someone to prevent the demon king from ever getting to

no other choice but to agree. He also believed that this was the

he had was,

people in the world, why

"Huuuu..."

staring at the ceiling of the training ground, Kevin

sense, however, Kevin knew

near him, Ren also remained silent. He had a thoughtful

he looked at him, the previous anger that Kevin felt for him slowly started to dispel as he

you figure

looking at him, Ren shook his

concrete yet, but thinking back at the vision you previously told me about, I have a nagging feeling

it below his chin, Ren

you? What if the