The Author's POV

Bang—!

A figure crashed against a series of buildings, sending them crumbling to the ground.

With another muffled blast, the figure crashed against the ground, and a crater formed around the area around him.

Following the dispersal of the debris and subsequent clearing of the area, Kevin's haggard figure appeared to be seen standing in the midst of the debris.

His clothing was ripped, and he appeared to have a gaping wound in his chest.

His red eyes gleamed under the red, apocalyptic sun that hung in the sky, matching its intensity.

"How pitifully weak..."

A figure with white hair descended from the sky above him in a slow and collected manner. His presence loomed over the world, and his towering figure oppressed anything within its sights.

He looked no different than a god that had descended upon the mortal world, as his every movement caused the world to shake.

"I'm rather disappointed."

Jezebeth spoke while maintaining eye contact with Kevin, who was standing below him.

His icy stare was filled with what could only be described as disappointment, and he raised his hand.

Palm facing Kevin, he mumbled.

"…If you're really all the records have planned in order to stop me, then I really am disappointed."

Booom—!

The world tore apart, and Kevin's vision grew black.

***

"Come, eat your soup, Kevin."

Kevin's ears rang with the sound of a familiar voice as he looked down and took a quick glance at the meal that was in front of him.

It was a straightforward yellow clear soup mixed with a few different vegetables ranging from carrots, broccoli, and the like.

'It's bland, and the nutritional value is low…'

Kevin thought as he brought the soup to his mouth.

The taste of the soup was extremely bland, and it never seemed to fill him, even though he was once again five years old.

The only reason he never grumbled was because he understood that this was the best his caretakers had to offer.

A simple vegetable soup.

Kevin, in all candor, did not comprehend why the records would assign him to such inept caretakers; however, he was not programmed to question the system's decision-making.

The only thing he needed to do was follow orders.

But…

"Why do you take care of me?"

There was still a lingering sense of curiosity in his heart, and he just couldn't help but bring himself to ask his caretaker the one question that had been in his mind ever since his first life.

Why would such a creature risk so much in taking care of him when they couldn't even take care of themselves?

Wouldn't it be more appropriate for them if they just abandoned him and lived for themselves?

wouldn't be experiencing nearly as much suffering as they were

contrary, their quality of life

but a burden, and Kevin wouldn't really think anything of it if they got rid of him.

in all, it was

do I take care of

mother looking at him with a friendly grin on her face as she turned her head and lightly

kneeled down

your mother; why wouldn't I take care

not a

asked, his

she listened to his words, and then

ever be a burden. My life has never been more fulfilled now that you're with me. I'm sure your father thinks

of his mother, Kevin didn't

more confused

mother's voice was what broke him out of his

right! You spoke! It's such a rare occasion

excitement once

a reaction for such a trivial

Humans…

creatures far more confusing than

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

same scenes from the first life repeated themselves. The demons came, and

at the lifeless body of his mother

"Why?"

the events that had taken place in the subsequent minutes and seconds, he

"Kevin, move!"

could still clearly remember his mother pushing him to the side in an effort to

followed by his father dragging

you didn't have to take care of me. Why did you do something so

the dead

where he stood, was completely mangled,

the ground and stared at his mother and father for

felt

like this, but for some strange reason, he felt

'Why is that?'

placed in

to how it had been before, and Kevin's progress in strength continued at a steady pace as the

*

Twenty five years later.

himself standing in

expressionless face was the same as it had been in

Kevin

wasn't just by a little bit; it

become even more powerful than he had been in his previous life by combining the knowledge he gained from

the most skilled instructors, which contributed to

could swat his former self in just a couple of moves. He had improved

look eerily familiar, don't

rang throughout the world, his eyes glossing over his body. With a raised eyebrow,

"…You couldn't possibl—"

and a white hue began to emerge from it.

and a powerful wave of

"Akashic laws…"

of shock on Jezebeth's face didn't last for very long. Instead, he appeared to have realized something, as evidenced by the appearance of a faint smile on his

I need in order to