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."

a bitter smile on his face,

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

Ren's face suddenly

at least that was what I originally

A

"What do you mean?"

say anything for the next few seconds. His brows repeatedly furrowed and

in those memories. I think that world was a fake world designed by someone

"...What?"

in Kevin intensified. Leaning his neck

you saying that someone implanted those memories

Ren eventually nodded his

"Right..."

forehead. Then, lifting

don't know what to say, you can think that I'm lying, but whatever is happening to me, their target is

"Me?"

surprise. However, the surprise did not last for long

real?...and the one responsible for

slowly starting to

a flashback of the future. Apprehension instantly hit Kevin

what Kevin was thinking, Ren, nodded

believe that the entity responsible for all of this

face twisted slightly before he suddenly

right. I was somehow responsible for

of Kevin's

that did not last for long as

had linked everything to the previous flashback, he already understood

that the entity was

Ren suddenly asked.

his eyes, Kevin took a deep

"Continue."

Ren pursed his lips.

try to harm everyone

showed no

"Harm those around me?"

"Yes."

his head and

make you less soft. Or rather, trying to change you into someone they deemed fit

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

deemed fit to fight the demon king? Why

able to read Kevin's

chose, and yet he is the

what

suddenly felt

'Akashic records.'

words were once again

words, he was able to quickly piece everything together. 'The

around the world started to

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

Akashic records chose someone to prevent the demon king from ever getting to it, and that

to agree. He

he

people in the world,

"Huuuu..."

and staring at the ceiling of the training ground, Kevin

to make more sense, however, Kevin knew that he had only barely scraped the surface

him, Ren also remained silent. He had a thoughtful look on his

anger that Kevin felt

you figure

and looking at him, Ren shook his

told me about, I have a nagging feeling that whoever

and placing it below his chin, Ren

'time remnant' targeting you? What if the entity