The Author's POV

"Yes, I won't let you die even if you wanted to die. I've already made the proper calculations."

"This..."

Hearing his words, I unconsciously took a step back as my eyes opened wide.

'It can't be...'

He had made the proper calculations? ...Didn't that mean that he already knew that I was going to act the way I was going to act?

How was that even possible?!

Furthermore, from what his words suggested, my life had never been in any danger. The only reason why I had passed out was probably him trying to drag me here.

Confirming my doubts was the other Ren's voice as he coldly said.

"Don't think too much. It's exactly what you think."

"...How!?"

I softly muttered, trying to suppress the shock within my body.

The shock didn't last for long. Clenching my teeth, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Then, lifting my head and meeting the other Ren's gaze, I opened my mouth.

"So it really was you who planned this whole thing..."

I already had a hunch before this when I linked up the scenario with Angelica and Amanda's mother.

The clues were there, from how Everblood had tried to manipulate her to come to me, to how she was able to have pictures of her mother back at the Lock.

Everything was a full circle, and it all led to the man in front of me. Of course, everything was just speculation on my part, but the more I looked at the other Ren, the more I was convinced about my conjecture.

As my thoughts paused there, my brows furrowed.

'If this is indeed planned by him, what would his real motive be?'

Could he be trying to separate me from the others? ...That was a plausible scenario, but I don't think it was the right answer.

From what I knew, his goal was to create a 'perfect' version of Kevin. An unfeeling Kevin that had no burdens and only aimed to kill the demon king.

That was the only goal I knew he had. Without a doubt, there were other goals he had, but I had no idea about what they were.

'...Wait.'

It was then that a thought suddenly struck me.

'Wasn't the reason why I was able to see him in the real world because of the damage that my soul took due to the contract breach? ...What if the real purpose in him trying to set this whole scenario up was to damage my soul...'

A cold chill ran down my spine as my thoughts paused there. Lifting my head, my eyes met with the other Ren's.

"Looks like you've figured things out."

The other Ren said as he calmly stood in the void with the chains rotating around his body, binding him down even more tightly.

With both of his hands locked down, he continued.

"My goal was indeed to damage your soul."

Upon hearing his confirmation, I became even warier of him. Taking a step forward, I coldly asked.

the reason I made the decision that I did because

"...You can say so."

admitting to every single thing that I was

my wariness even more as my brows

The reason why I chose

and when did he

when

Ren answered the question that was inside of

used Monarch's indifference, that was when

body froze upon hearing his

just admit to the fact that he could affect my mind whenever I use Monarch's

had my speculations in the past, and I was able to confirm this when I met him a while back, but who would've thought that during that time I activated it again he would take advantage

I was one step ahead of him, I

It was frustrating.

much had he planned

clenched my

was thinking, or at least pretending to not know, the other

contract breach. Had you been stronger, the damage that your soul would've taken wouldn't have been enough for me. Only at your current rank could I guarantee your survival as well as the optimal soul

he spoke, the number my

the will of someone else caused me this sense of loathing to rise from deep within my

words made perfect

until after the tournament ended, although it would've taken me nearly four months to reach rank, it would've definitely have

mother's situation, I could've easily said that I needed to make some preparations that required me to

back then

heart started

seem to care about what I was thinking, as he continued

only reason why I planted them inside of your mind was so that

heard this. Indeed, back then, I remembered doing what I did for the sake of not hurting Amanda. But taking a look at it back now, I was still uncertain about how I felt for

to before, the feelings inside of my heart weren't as dominant. If that made

his mouth, the other Ren

or not, it's for you

head, the other Ren's eyes once again

"Frustrating isn't it?"

"..."

silent. Tilting his head,

flow of

"Hm?"

words, my brows jumped

emotions coming from the other Ren's voice. It was faint, very faint, but I could feel a mix of

face changed slightly

mouth I

telling me this? What's your

to me that he had been manipulating me to how he revealed that he could influence my thoughts whenever I

a hidden agenda would never reveal such things, yet, here he

have something else

knew that he could manipulate me through it, why would he ever think

'Unless...'

head snapped upwards and I glared at the other

influence my

setup, it

manipulating the commander into acting the way that I wanted him to act by acting in a way that made it

was exactly

so that I would

I realized this,