The Author's POV

'Why is it taking Kevin so long?'

During my conversation with Malik Alshayatin, in which I was trying to buy as much time as possible, I sneaked a look at the time on my watch.

Ten minutes had already passed since Hemlock had appeared, and nothing had happened.

'Did something go wrong with the operation?'

Kevin was supposed to be on his way to killing Malik Alshayatin, who was hiding not so far from where we were at the time, according to what I knew about the situation.

He was the only one who knew the precise location; I wasn't even sure of it myself.

Given that Hemlock was still seated at the oval table alongside everyone else, it was clear that Kevin had not yet made his move.

'Is it possible that he ran into some problems, and it's taking him more time than it is supposed to?'

This was the most likely possibility.

Kevin, in my opinion, was in no real danger at any point.

Malik Alshayatin would have already vanished by now had he found out that Kevin had attacked him, and taking into consideration the fact that Kevin was solely performing this action based on his memories, there was no way that Hemlock could know what was coming for him.

It was simply impossible.

'I guess I'll just stall for a bit more time. '

It wasn't that I really minded, but I was rapidly running out of topics to discuss in order to kill time. Octavious, to my great relief, came to my aid in the nick of time.

For some inexplicable reason, it felt to me as though he was in on the whole situation.

'I'm imagining things, right?'

"Is there anything you hope to accomplish by remaining here? I'm certain that you didn't just show up to listen to our conversation. If you truly desired to hear what we had to say, you would not have divulged your identity so early."

"As expected of the strongest human, you're very perceptive."

Hemlock clapped twice, his back lying on the leather chair.

"Initially, I intended to come here to confuse the minds of everyone present. I wanted you guys to question yourselves and perhaps convert a few of you to our side, but I changed my mind.

Hemlock gave me a friendly smile as he slowly turned his head in my direction and looked at me. As the ominous foreboding, I was experiencing became clearer, I felt shivers run down my entire body.

"...But I changed my mind. Not too long ago, a small bird told me something, and let's just say I discovered something even more entertaining."

The instant he said those words, my pupils constricted violently. Specifically, when he uttered the phrase "little bird," the puzzle pieces in my mind began to fall into place, and my breathing became rougher.

I muttered two words without hesitation in my mind.

"Monarch's Indifference."

My vision turned black.

***

that I was unconscious was a mystery to me, but the instant that I

I was all

in that direction without giving

In a short amount of time, the pleasant warmth morphed into something intolerable as a searing pain began to spread across all

it didn't matter to me; I kept moving forward regardless, not

the pain that my mind and body went through

off, and it wasn't long before I spotted a tiny white orb about the size of a star way off in the distance. The orb grew steadily more expansive as I proceeded forward

had to travel before I would reach the orb, but as soon as I got within a few feet of it, I could see that it was covered

person who looked an awful lot like me was standing not too far away from the orb and staring at it with a blank and

and stopped when I was

look at the orb as well, I noticed that it was reflecting images. In particular, I could see Kevin's

Kevin's face was accentuated by the fact

eyes, I spoke

was you, wasn't

in

was so calm and why Kevin had been held up for so long. This was all a scheme my other self had planned in order

I was aware of a searing rage permeating

turned his head and looked at me with the same expressionless gaze he had always

be thankful

very moment, every fiber of my being wanted to let out a

give the impression that I was losing control of the situation and would

could do was keep my composure and

the pointless emotions clouding my

to live, and I will be able to have

the point of staying alive if I'm going to die

surviving if, in the end, I

live a

"Very kind of you."

anxiously staring at the orb in front

facing the orb, and it appeared

mind stirred when that thought occurred to me, but when I looked beside me and saw the other me still calmly looking at the orb, I became unsure of what I

'What's going on?'

***

ground while holding

"E..Emma?"

to form in the inner

pale, looked at Emma's with a look of despondency

gazing upward,

shit...after all that I did to distance

indicated that she was still alive. However, it was abundantly clear

the poison had left a clear imprint

evidenced

tears that began to form in the creases of his eyes moved more quickly down his cheeks, and it appeared as though the world was losing its color to him as they did

"H..How is this possible?"

brought Emma's body closer to his in an embrace, he mumbled something