The Author's POV

Coming out from beneath, the black threads gently wrapped around the white orb.

Opening his eyes, Kevin felt his mouth open.

"How should I start?"

Ren's voice echoed throughout the dark void.

After looking at the orb and seeing the reflection, Kevin felt his brow furrow as Ren fell into contemplation. He seemed to be thinking about the current circumstances.

"...Let's see if it's possible for me to completely replace my memories with his."

After uttering those words, Kevin watched as the black threads flung around like wild snakes and attempted to wrap around the orb as quickly as possible.

"Khh..."

Kevin let out a short groan as his hand pulled away from the orb.

Tsss.

What followed after was a sizzling sound. Lowering his head, Kevin caught sight of Ren staring at his hand which had become transparent.

Taking a moment to raise his head again, he gazed at the orb's reflection.

"Looks like I can't do that. Whatever Kevin put on me sealed some of my powers..."

Silence ensued after he uttered those words. After which, Kevin watched as Ren kept his gaze on the orb, and the same scenario from before replayed.

Time seemed to have passed by in the blink of an eye as the memories shifted, and it was now the fourth time that Kevin was staring at the same image of Ren standing up from his bed, in what seemed to be the Lock's dormitory.

"Hm?"

This time, a change to the scenario happened.

Ding Dong.

The door suddenly rang.

'What? Why did the bell suddenly ring?'

Taking aback by the sudden events, Kevin was unsure of how to react. Having watched the scenario well over four times, he had never seen this happen in teh past.

Kevin's attention was soon taken away by a subtle pull of his lips.

Opening his mouth, Kevin spoke through Ren's mouth.

"...As expected, you can't let this happen, can you? Without me, all hopes of defeating the demon king are null."

What followed after his words was the sudden appearance of a man in a blue jacket. He was holding onto a small box which Ren took and brought with him inside of the room.

After which, he looked through the contents and eventually pulled out an unfamiliar red book.

'That...'

Kevin instantly recognized the book in Ren's hands.

How could he not? It was the same book he had used back when Ren was in danger in the past.

"Oh? What an interesting book."

Focusing his attention back on the reflection, Kevin was able to see what was written in the book. It was his life.

'As expected, it's the same.'

...and it was from there that Kevin was able to confirm his suspicions.

Time moved forward, and now, with the aid of the book, Ren no longer died during the Hollberg incident as he did in the past. He managed to survive.

Kevin felt interest arise from within his body.

"Can this be enough to stop the loop?"

Kevin mumbled out loud through Ren's body.

But...

"Doesn't look like it."

Time passed, and Ren once again died. This time, he died during the inter-academy tournament. He made it a bit further, but he still died.

"...This won't do."

The same scene repeated itself once again. This time, the red book appeared in each scene.

Clank. Clank.

Reaching out for the orb once more, Kevin felt his mouth open as he muttered.

"I think I've got an idea of what I should do..."

Black threads once again started to form around the white orb upon reaching out for it.

This time, they were a lot less than before. Nevertheless, they were still many.

"A red book, huh? Is this the only thing, or have you left more?"

Kevin mumbled through Ren's mouth.

Locking his eyes onto the red book, the black threads gently wrapped around the white orb.

"...This might work."

Thinking of something, Kevin felt Ren's brows relax. After that, he stared at the reflection on the orb.

"Since you've received a book that outlines exactly what Kevin is doing, it stands to reason that his altered memories have to do with a book. How about an author entering his own book? This would reduce the possibility of you discovering that your memories have been tampered with, and I won't have trouble giving him the power of foresight..."

Trying to wrap around the orb, more black threads emerged from beneath it with each passing second. Soon, a black cacoon formed in front of Kevin's vision.

"Since I have only a limited amount of power, I can't add too many details to his memory. Nevertheless, it shouldn't be a problem. Right now, my priority is making sure that he does what I want, and that is...have Kevin kill the Demon King."

Removing his hand from the orb, Kevin felt his body take several steps back.

Carefully observing the orb, Kevin once again felt his mouth open.

"Trial one. Begin."

Following his words, the black threads revolving around the orb started to scatter and Kevin was once again able to see what was reflected inside of the orb.

'It's different.'

compared to the previous versions

far too different from that of the

'...What is he doing?'

past such as the Hollberg incident, the

everyone in the world, and he was hailed

and the loop to

'What happened?'

wondered to himself as he continued to

suddenly restart? Ren

"Another failure."

thoughts, Kevin felt the top ends of his

his mouth, Ren's voice echoed throughout the dark

becoming weak and eventually

'What?'

hand on the orb once

Subject meddled too much resulting in Kevin and the others

rose from beneath

the plotline I have set up for him like the last trial. For

from a world where magic does not exist, and is a total loser that is rejected by society. His only ambition will be to live a happy life and in order

the more the black threads

Clank. Clank.

rattling sound coming from the chains became more intense as time

in the plotline. A pawn is necessary. One that would force him into the specific

Clank! Clank!

became more and more powerful with each passing second. It

magic, he will be inexperienced and will have a high chance of dying. When the

CLANK! CLANK!

nowhere, the chains that were rattling shook with a wild force and Kevin felt his body get flung all

the orb, the black threads that were wrapping

familiar scene began to replay on

'It's once again different.'

again shocked to see the scene change. However, if there was one thing

much closer to the Ren

he talked and

like the Ren that

and headed out for what seemed to be the black market. After that, he came into contact with what seemed

Clank. Clank.

then that Kevin

Clank. Clank.

Kevin felt his hand press against

"Red desolation."

said two words, but it was

of the

Kevin watched as Ren chose that exact

and the land was cracked. Marching through the dungeon, Kevin watched as Ren fought against monsters and trained himself. It was only after a while that

seemed to be a mercenary

their bodies eventually start

'Mindbreaker curse.'

with the symptoms the mercenary group experienced, Kevin was able to tell with a glance how they died, and it was then that he came to the conclusion that there was a demon

before he could do anything about it, a sandstorm

only after Ren entered the eye

'What is he doing?'

Kevin watched as Ren approached the castle and

did he

"Good."

mouth open as

'What good?'

Kevin to be

on, Kevin spotted a black humanoid figure sitting on a throne. Staring at Ren with an amused look on his face, he began to toy with him. Ren did try to put on a struggle, but it only

'This...make it stop.'

Kevin wanted to take his eyes away, but he physically

only watch as the demon toyed with Ren till

Kevin watched the same thing

for Kevin, as this was a memory, he only saw short

you

seeing the same scene of

'Do something!'

to die,

in order for me to recuperate some of the

the orb, more black threads shot into the air

Kevin saw something

likes to play with his subjects. The key is to pretend you don't work anymore

Kevin watched as the same scene unfolded. This time, however, he was shocked

the torture, Ren pretended to no longer move, and exactly as the demon lost

exactly as

not last for long as he once again felt his

CLANK. CLANK. CLANK. CLANK.

at that moment, Kevin was stunned to see the chains that were binding

beneath the ground, and clung

body, Ren was pulled away from

to Kevin was the fact that he felt his lips curl

"I've succeeded."

his eyelids close, darkness enveloped

"Aaahhhhhh!"

heard a

'What's going on?'

up again, Kevin found himself

he doing

before him was the same

"Ahhhhh!"

screamed in agony throughout the room as he

"Quiet."

instant that his words rang out, the demon that was

his head, Kevin felt his eyes meet with the

'This demon...he feels familiar.'

familiar. He knew that he was the same demon from the orb, but the familiarity actually came from somewhere

have much time to

"It's you!"

watched the demon slash towards him with a bloodthirsty gaze. Sadly for the demon, his attack went right through Kevin and

The demon froze mid-air.

had trying to get a

glow suddenly enveloped the finger

that

"Ahhhhh!"

as his words faded, the demon let out another scream and his

'What did he do?'

watched the demon scream

something to him. Unfortunately, the only thing Kevin could do was watch. The memories didn't allow him to understand what Ren was