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

I was lying, but, I'm

mid-speech, Ren's face

I

frowned upon hearing those words. A trace of hope rekindled in

"What do you mean?"

seconds. His brows repeatedly furrowed and relaxed during

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

"...What?"

intensified. Leaning his neck forward, Kevin tilted

memories

difficult face, Ren eventually nodded

"Right..."

massage his forehead. Then, lifting his head, he looked straight into Kevin's

I'm lying, but whatever

"Me?"

not last for long as flashbacks of the last synchronization started to replay in his

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

slowly

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

of what Kevin was thinking, Ren,

the entity responsible for all of this

slightly before he suddenly

right. I

clapped inside of Kevin's ears as his eyes

that did not last for long as Kevin was able to

previous flashback, he already understood that

told you that the entity was trying

Ren suddenly asked.

Kevin

"Continue."

Ren pursed his lips.

goal of the entity is to try to harm everyone that is around

showed no reaction as he

"Harm those around me?"

"Yes."

nodded his

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

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

king?

read Kevin's thoughts, Ren

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

what he

Kevin suddenly felt his head

'Akashic records.'

words were once

Ren mentioned those words, he was able to quickly piece everything together.

the veil and mystery revolving around the world started to

a step ahead of him. Before he could voice out

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

no other choice but to agree. He

question he had was,

the world, why him? He

"Huuuu..."

ground, Kevin tried to digest all of

knew that he had

remained silent. He had a thoughtful look on

at him, the previous anger that Kevin felt for him slowly started

figure something

and looking at him, Ren

vision you previously told me about, I have a nagging feeling that whoever the entity trying to manipulate us is, he knows

it

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