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."

his face,

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

mid-speech, Ren's

was what I originally

A trace of

"What do you mean?"

and relaxed during that time before finally, looking straight at Kevin straight in the eyes, he

to believe in those memories. I think that world was a fake world designed by someone to make me

"...What?"

intensified. Leaning his neck forward, Kevin

those memories into

difficult face, Ren

"Right..."

massage his forehead. Then, lifting his head,

I'm lying, but whatever is happening to

"Me?"

in surprise. However, the surprise did not last for long as flashbacks of the last

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

so, everything was slowly starting to make more

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

of what Kevin was thinking,

that the entity responsible for all of this is targeting

twisted slightly

incident regarding Emma, you were right. I was somehow responsible for

clapped inside of Kevin's ears as his

that did not last for long as Kevin was able to quickly recompose

had linked everything to the previous flashback, he already understood that whatever happened to Emma was

how I told you that the entity was trying to

Ren suddenly asked.

eyes, Kevin took

"Continue."

Ren pursed his lips.

is to try

words, Kevin showed no reaction

"Harm those around me?"

"Yes."

his head and

you less soft. Or rather,

once again took a deep breath as he

demon king? Why does he think I can't

being able to read Kevin's

he is the one that

was what

suddenly felt his

'Akashic records.'

were once

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

world started to fade. Lifting his head, Kevin came up with a

a step ahead of him. Before he could voice out

of the demon king, as a way to preserve itself, the Akashic records chose someone to prevent the demon king from ever getting to it, and that

Ren's words, Kevin had no other choice but to agree. He also believed that this

he

all the people in the world, why him? He really

"Huuuu..."

of the training ground,

more sense, however, Kevin knew

Ren also remained silent. He

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

you figure

head and looking at him, Ren shook

have

it below his

you?