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

that I was lying, but, I'm

mid-speech, Ren's face suddenly

was what I originally believed to be

upon hearing those words. A trace of

"What do you mean?"

anything for the next few seconds. His brows repeatedly furrowed and relaxed during that time before finally, looking straight at Kevin straight in the

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

"...What?"

his neck

memories into you, and is trying

face, Ren

"Right..."

massage his forehead. Then, lifting his

know what to say, 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

was real?...and the one responsible for killing Emma

everything was slowly starting to make more

flashback of the future.

of what Kevin was thinking,

the entity responsible for all

Ren's face twisted slightly before

incident regarding Emma, you were right. I was

inside of Kevin's ears as

last for long as Kevin was

he had linked everything to the previous flashback, he already understood

I told you that the entity was trying to target

Ren suddenly asked.

eyes, Kevin took a

"Continue."

Ren pursed his lips.

try to harm

showed no reaction as he softly

"Harm those around me?"

"Yes."

nodded his head

I've gathered, the entity is trying to make you less soft. Or rather, trying to

as he tried to process all of

into someone deemed fit to fight the demon king? Why does he think

able to read Kevin's thoughts,

the one that the Akashic records chose, and yet he is the one that is least fit to

what he

his head, Kevin suddenly

'Akashic records.'

words were once

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

around the world started to fade. Lifting his head,

be a step ahead of him. Before he could voice out his theory, Ren had already started

chose someone to prevent the

Kevin had no other choice but to agree. He also believed that this

only question he

people in the world, why

"Huuuu..."

at the ceiling of the training ground, Kevin tried to digest all

sense, however, Kevin knew that he had

also remained silent. He had a thoughtful look on his

that Kevin felt for him slowly started to

you figure something

looking at

but thinking back at the vision you previously told me about, I have a nagging feeling that whoever the entity trying to manipulate

it below

something about the 'time remnant' targeting you? What if the entity