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 shook

lying, but, I'm not. What

Ren's

that was what I originally believed to be the

those words. A trace of hope rekindled in his

"What do you mean?"

few seconds. His brows repeatedly furrowed and relaxed during that time before finally, looking straight at

to believe in those memories. I think that world was a

"...What?"

Kevin intensified. Leaning his neck forward, Kevin tilted his

someone implanted those memories into you, and

face, Ren eventually nodded

"Right..."

Then, lifting his head, he looked straight

you can think that I'm lying, but whatever is happening

"Me?"

surprise. However, the surprise did not last for long as flashbacks of the last synchronization started to replay in

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

everything was slowly

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

was thinking, Ren, nodded his

entity responsible for all

twisted slightly

regarding Emma, you were right. I was

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

that did not last for long as Kevin was

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

how I told you that the entity

Ren suddenly asked.

Kevin took a

"Continue."

Ren pursed his lips.

goal of the entity is to try to harm

showed no reaction as he softly

"Harm those around me?"

"Yes."

nodded his head

you less soft. Or rather, trying to change you

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

someone deemed fit to fight the demon king? Why

able to read Kevin's thoughts,

one that the Akashic records chose, and yet he

what

his head, Kevin suddenly

'Akashic records.'

words were once again

Ren mentioned those words, he was able to quickly piece everything together. 'The one that the Akashic records chose.' What else could they refer to

revolving around the world started to

Ren seemed to be a step ahead of him. Before

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

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

he had was,

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

"Huuuu..."

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

more sense, however, Kevin knew that he had only barely

He had a thoughtful

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

you figure something

head and looking at

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

placing it below his chin, Ren

you? What if the entity inside