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."

smile on his

was lying, but, I'm not.

mid-speech, Ren's face

that was what I originally believed to be

words. A trace of

"What do you mean?"

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

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

"...What?"

confusion in Kevin intensified. Leaning his

implanted those memories into you, and is trying

a difficult face, Ren eventually nodded his

"Right..."

to massage his forehead. Then, lifting his head, he looked straight into

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 as

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

slowly starting to make more

the future. Apprehension instantly hit

what Kevin was thinking, Ren, nodded his

that the entity responsible for

slightly before he suddenly lowered

were right. I was somehow

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

not last for long as Kevin was

flashback, he

told you that the entity was trying to

Ren suddenly asked.

his eyes, Kevin took a

"Continue."

Ren pursed his lips.

to try to

words, Kevin showed no reaction as he

"Harm those around me?"

"Yes."

nodded his

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

took a deep breath as he tried

change me into someone deemed fit to fight the demon king? Why does he think I can't defeat the demon

read Kevin's thoughts, Ren

and yet he is the one that is least fit

was what

suddenly

'Akashic records.'

words were once again being

piece everything together. 'The

around the world started to fade. Lifting his

him. Before he could voice out his theory, Ren

king, 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. This probably explains why you have

choice but to agree. He

question he

of all the people in the world, why him?

"Huuuu..."

ceiling of the training ground,

however, Kevin knew that he had only

him, Ren also remained silent. He had a thoughtful

that Kevin felt for him slowly started to

you figure

and looking at him, Ren shook

you previously told me about, I have a nagging

his hand and placing it below his

remnant' targeting you? What if the entity inside of me is the time