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 decision that I

"...You can say so."

admitting to every single thing

even more

well? The reason why I chose to forfeit

did he

was back when you

my thoughts, the other Ren answered

you used Monarch's indifference, that was when I implanted the ideologies inside of

froze upon hearing

admit to the fact that he

to confirm this when I met him a while back, but who would've thought that during that time I activated it again

Ren, the more apprehensive I became. Whenever I thought I was one step ahead of him, I would

It was frustrating.

had

clenched my fists at

was thinking, or at least pretending

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

the number my

my actions carefully puppeteered to the will of someone else caused me this sense of loathing to rise

back, his words made

nearly four months to reach rank, it would've definitely have

needed to make some

back then

heart started to

other Ren didn't seem to care about what I was thinking,

Amanda, the only reason why I planted them inside of your mind was so that I could create a

I 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

my heart weren't as dominant.

his mouth, the other

for her. Whether you like her or not, it's for you to figure out. I don't care

his head, the other Ren's eyes once again met

"Frustrating isn't it?"

"..."

into his eyes, I chose to remain silent. Tilting his head, the

flow of your

"Hm?"

words, my brows jumped

voice. It was faint, very faint, but I could feel a mix of sadness and hate hidden within his voice

face changed slightly when

my mouth I

telling me this?

had been manipulating me to how he revealed that he could influence my thoughts whenever I activated Monarch's indifference, what was

reveal such things, yet,

he just stupid, or did he have something

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

'Unless...'

head snapped upwards and I

to influence my decision-making by telling me all of

of setup, it felt

the time when I was manipulating the commander into acting the way that I wanted him to act by acting in

exactly what was

was so that I would be forced to act in a way that

I realized this, my