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.'

noticed that compared to the

from

'...What is he doing?'

certain events in the past such as the

the world, and he was hailed

dark and the

'What happened?'

wondered to himself as he continued to gaze at

loop suddenly restart? Ren was definitely extremely

"Another failure."

Kevin felt the top ends of

Ren's voice echoed throughout

got greedy, and his meddling resulted in Kevin becoming weak and eventually

'What?'

his hand on the

one, failure. Subject meddled too much resulting in Kevin and the others becoming too weak

threads once again rose from beneath the

ambitious, he will derail from the plotline I have set

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 to do that, he must make sure that he thoroughly

felt his mouth speak, the more the black

Clank. Clank.

the chains became more intense as

to a change in the plotline. A pawn is necessary. One that would force him into the specific route

Clank! Clank!

from the chains became more and more powerful with each passing second. It was

a world without magic, he will be inexperienced and will have a high chance of dying. When the time comes, I

CLANK! CLANK!

with a wild force and Kevin

were wrapping around it, dissipated

familiar scene began to replay on the

'It's once again different.'

was once again shocked to see the scene change. However, if

closer to the

way he talked

like the Ren that he

headed out for what seemed to be the black market. After that, he came into contact with what seemed to be a broker. Talking with him for a bit,

Clank. Clank.

then that Kevin felt

Clank. Clank.

Kevin felt his hand

"Red desolation."

said two words, but it was enough for Kevin to

the name of one of the

shockingly, Kevin watched as Ren chose that

dungeon, Kevin watched as Ren fought against monsters and trained himself. It was

seemed to be a

their bodies eventually start to convulse and

'Mindbreaker curse.'

experienced, Kevin was able to tell with a glance how they died, and it

same conclusion, but before he could do anything about it, a sandstorm engulfed him. The only thing Kevin saw

able to see what was happening only after Ren entered the eye of the storm. A massive castle appeared in the

'What is he doing?'

Ren approached

did he enter

"Good."

mouth open as Ren's

'What good?'

words caused Kevin to be

black humanoid figure sitting on a throne. Staring at Ren with an amused look

'This...make it stop.'

scene, Kevin wanted to take his eyes away, but

end, Kevin could only watch as the demon toyed with

loop repeated once more, and Kevin watched the same thing happen again. Training in the dungeon and

times. Fortunately for Kevin, as this was

aren't you doing

he still couldn't stand seeing the same scene

'Do something!'

was once again about to

in order for me to recuperate some of the energy I lost, and memorize all of the

orb, more black threads

saw

The key is to pretend you don't work anymore and attack

those words, Kevin watched as the same scene unfolded. This

the demon lost interest,

exactly as

Kevin's voice did not last for long as he once again felt

CLANK. CLANK. CLANK. CLANK.

moment, Kevin was stunned to see the chains that were binding him shake even

more sprang from beneath the ground, and clung

was

what was even more stunning to Kevin was the fact that he

"I've succeeded."

his eyelids close, darkness

"Aaahhhhhh!"

a bloodcurdling

'What's going on?'

up again, Kevin found himself

is he doing

on the ground before him was the

"Ahhhhh!"

the room as he

"Quiet."

the instant that his words rang out, the demon that was lying

Kevin felt his eyes meet with

'This demon...he feels familiar.'

demon, Kevin realized that he looked somewhat familiar. He knew that he was the same demon from the orb, but the familiarity actually

to dwell on

"It's you!"

demon, his attack went right through Kevin and before he could react, Kevin felt his hand rise

The demon froze mid-air.

I've already used most of the energy I had trying to get a small

a white glow suddenly enveloped

yourself lucky that

"Ahhhhh!"

the demon let out another

'What did he do?'

wondered to himself as he watched the demon

this...Ren was definitely doing something to him. Unfortunately, the only thing Kevin could do was watch. The memories didn't allow him to understand what Ren was thinking or doing. He had to figure everything