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,

wish that I was lying, but, I'm not. What I told you was nothing but

Ren's face suddenly

what I originally believed to be

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

"What do you mean?"

and relaxed during that time before finally, looking straight

was a fake world designed by someone to make me act the way that

"...What?"

Leaning his neck forward, Kevin tilted his

memories into you, and is trying to

difficult face, Ren eventually nodded

"Right..."

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

to say, you can think that I'm

"Me?"

However, the surprise did not last for long as

the one responsible for killing Emma was that

slowly

flashback of the future. Apprehension instantly hit Kevin as he eyed

Kevin was thinking, Ren,

I believe that the entity responsible for all of this is targeting

twisted slightly before he suddenly lowered

Emma, you were right. I

thunderbolts, Ren's words thunderously clapped inside of

as Kevin

everything to the previous flashback, he already understood that

told you that the

Ren suddenly asked.

Kevin

"Continue."

Ren pursed his lips.

try to harm everyone

Kevin showed no reaction

"Harm those around me?"

"Yes."

his head

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

eyes, Kevin once again took a deep breath as he tried to process all

king? Why does he think I can't defeat

able to read Kevin's thoughts, Ren

the one that the Akashic records chose, and yet he

what

Kevin suddenly felt

'Akashic records.'

were once again

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

revolving around the world started to fade. Lifting his

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

a way to preserve itself, the Akashic records chose someone to

choice but to agree. He also believed

question he had was,

the world, why

"Huuuu..."

back and staring at the ceiling of the training ground, Kevin

Kevin knew

silent. He had

that Kevin felt for him slowly

you figure

and looking at him, Ren

me about, I have a

and placing it below

something about the 'time remnant' targeting you? What if the entity inside of