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

I'm not. What

Ren's

least that was what I

A trace of hope rekindled

"What do you mean?"

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

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

"...What?"

confusion in Kevin intensified. Leaning his neck forward, Kevin tilted

someone implanted those memories into you, and is

difficult face, Ren eventually nodded

"Right..."

lifting his head,

I'm lying, but whatever is

"Me?"

did not last for long as flashbacks of the last synchronization started

vision was real?...and the

slowly starting to make

saw was truly a flashback of the future. Apprehension instantly hit

of what Kevin was thinking,

believe that the entity responsible

twisted slightly before

regarding Emma, you were right. I was somehow

inside of Kevin's ears as his eyes opened

as Kevin was

flashback, he already understood

you that the entity was trying to target

Ren suddenly asked.

eyes, Kevin took

"Continue."

Ren pursed his lips.

of the entity is to try to harm

Kevin showed no reaction as

"Harm those around me?"

"Yes."

nodded his head and

soft. Or rather, trying to change you into someone they

Kevin once again took a deep breath as he tried to process all of the

to fight the demon king? Why

being able to read Kevin's thoughts,

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

was what he

his head, Kevin suddenly felt

'Akashic records.'

words were once

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

started to fade. Lifting his head,

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

records chose someone to prevent the demon king from ever getting to

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

question he had was, 'Why

world, why him? He really couldn't

"Huuuu..."

ceiling of the training ground, Kevin tried to digest all of the

sense, however, Kevin knew that he had only barely scraped the surface

also remained silent. He had a thoughtful look on his

that Kevin felt for him

you figure something

looking at him, Ren

I have a nagging feeling that whoever the entity trying to manipulate

hand and placing it below his chin,

the 'time remnant' targeting you? What if the entity