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."

on his face, Ren shook

really wish that I was lying, but, I'm not. What I told

mid-speech, Ren's face suddenly

what I originally believed to

frowned upon hearing those words. A trace of hope

"What do you mean?"

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

that world was a fake world designed

"...What?"

his neck forward, Kevin

memories into you, and is

face, Ren

"Right..."

massage his forehead. Then, lifting his head,

that I'm lying, but whatever

"Me?"

for long as flashbacks of the last synchronization started

the vision was real?...and the one responsible

so, everything was slowly starting to

flashback of the future. Apprehension instantly

was thinking, Ren, nodded

I believe that the entity responsible for

twisted slightly before

right. I was somehow

words thunderously clapped inside of Kevin's ears as his

did not last for long as Kevin

moment he had linked everything to the previous flashback, he already understood that whatever

you that the entity

Ren suddenly asked.

eyes, Kevin

"Continue."

Ren pursed his lips.

entity is to try

words, Kevin showed

"Harm those around me?"

"Yes."

his head

trying to make you less soft. Or rather, trying to

once again took a deep breath as he tried to process

deemed fit to fight the demon king? Why does he think I can't

able to read Kevin's

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

was what he

head, Kevin suddenly

'Akashic records.'

words were once again

a smart person. The moment Ren mentioned those words, he was able to quickly piece everything together. 'The one that the

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

ahead of him. Before he could voice out

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.

choice but to agree. He also believed

only question he had

all the people in the world, why him? He really couldn't

"Huuuu..."

of the training ground,

make more sense, however, Kevin knew that he had only barely scraped

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

Kevin felt for him slowly

you figure

and looking at

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

placing it below his chin, Ren carefully

said something about the 'time remnant' targeting you? What if