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 face, Ren shook

lying, but, I'm not. What I told you was

Ren's face

what I originally believed

A trace

"What do you mean?"

and relaxed during that time before finally, looking straight

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

you saying that someone implanted those memories into you, and

face, Ren eventually nodded

"Right..."

his forehead. Then, lifting his

you can think that I'm lying, but whatever is happening to me, their target is

"Me?"

last for

be that the vision was real?...and the

so, everything was slowly starting to

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

Kevin was

that the entity responsible

face twisted slightly before

Emma, you were right. I was somehow responsible for

words thunderously clapped inside of Kevin's ears as

not last for long as Kevin was able

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

I told you that the entity

Ren suddenly asked.

Kevin took a deep

"Continue."

Ren pursed his lips.

of the entity is to try to harm everyone

Ren's words, Kevin showed no reaction as he softly

"Harm those around me?"

"Yes."

his head and

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

as he tried to process all of the

fight the demon king? Why does he think I can't defeat the demon

being able to read Kevin's thoughts, Ren

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

what

Kevin suddenly felt his head

'Akashic records.'

were once

to quickly piece everything together.

the veil and mystery revolving around the world started to fade. Lifting his head, Kevin came up

of him. Before he could voice out his theory, Ren had already started

was in danger due to the threat of the demon king, as a way to preserve itself, the Akashic records chose someone to prevent the

other choice but to

only question he had was, 'Why

in the world, why him? He really

"Huuuu..."

his head back and staring at the ceiling of the training ground, Kevin tried to digest all of

Kevin knew that he

silent. He had a thoughtful look on his

that Kevin felt for him slowly started to dispel as

figure something

head and looking at him,

you previously told me about, I have a nagging feeling that whoever the entity

hand and placing it

you? What if the