The Author's POV

"What, what has gotten into you?"

Margaret looked at Kevin with a helpless expression. Johnatan, who was standing beside her, also wore a similar expression.

"Kevin, you know that we need to work, right? If we can't work, we won't be able to pay our bills and continue living in this house."

Standing in front of the door of the house and blocking the two of them from leaving was Kevin, who still wore the same expressionless look on his face.

If there was one thing that was different about him, however, was that his eyes weren't as detached from reality like in the past.

Of course, this wasn't a change that Kevin was aware of as he currently stood in front of the door and stopped the two of them from leaving.

"Do not go to work today."

"...Can you tell us why?"

Rather than being angry at Kevin's behavior, the two of them bent down and caressed his head.

Kevin's face didn't change at their touch, and he repeated.

"Do not go outside today."

"Yes, we understand that you don't want us to go outside today. But is there a reason?"

Margaret asked, her face completely calm and devoid of any frustration.

The same was true for Johnatan, who sat on the ground outside the small apartment and curiously looked at Kevin.

Seeing that he had gotten their attention, Kevin didn't say anything and hugged Margaret by the neck, startling her completely.

It wasn't just her that was startled; his father, Jonathan, was also startled and also somewhat jealous.

Both of them looked at each other with bewildered expressions.

Their reactions were understandable. After all, this was the very first time in his life that Kevin showed any glimmer of affection toward the two of them, and they were naturally taken aback.

'They might listen to me if I do this...'

On the other hand, Kevin had different thoughts, as the sole reason for hugging them was to manipulate them into listening to his request.

Since he couldn't reveal to them the exact reason why they couldn't go to work today, he could only try this method, which, in all fairness, seemed to be working quite well as the two of them started hesitating about going to work.

Of course, Kevin knew that this wasn't enough for him to convince them completely.

It was hence why he reached out for his pocket and took out a 50 U banknote.

"...I found this outside."

Contrary to Kevin's expectations, the faces of the couple changed completely the moment he took out the banknote and immediately asked.

"Where did you get that from, Kevin?"

"Don't tell me that you stole it, Kevin? You know that stealing is bad, right? Although our financial situation is not good, we would rather starve than steal."

Under the barrage of questions, Kevin merely cocked his head and answered.

"I didn't steal it."

It was actually a lie. This note was, in fact, the same note from the bald guy from a while back.

When everything was said and done, and his mother handed him the money, Kevin secretly found the man and killed him, taking away all of his possessions.

strange reason, Kevin felt a weird emotion while he looked

familiar with, but he recalled thinking that a quick death wouldn't

he was feeling that way, Kevin was still unsure...but if there was one thing he was sure about, it was that the man needed

it was exactly what Kevin did once

horror on the

Kevin didn't care at all and

the last moments before his death, Kevin looked at him with

One of utter disgust.

did you get this

a

stare

picked it up from

wasn't necessarily a lie. He had indeed picked up the

you lying to

"No."

shook his head, his face completely

next minute, the two stared at each other without saying anything before

from leaving, I guess I won't go to work today. Let me go give my

back of his head, he left the room and went back into the house, leaving

flashed a warm smile

won't go to work

headed for the kitchen.

have time, I might as well

"..."

regret his actions. It was

parents to die. At

he wanted nothing more than to understand them, for

around to stare at the wooden door of

happens quite far from

back from kindergarten, which was quite far from his

him

the demon attack since it was

least, that was

Bang―! Bang―!

Bring Kevin somewhere safe!

him away from his house, which was rapidly getting engulfed by the flames, Kevin felt the world around him move in slow motion as his

hide in here. Make sure you

Clank―!

scene but a different

the time Kevin regained clarity over his mind, he was standing in front of the corpse of his

just blankly stood in front of them for who knew how long, and something warm trickled down the side of

that his finger had been stained by

his finger, Kevin

"Why?"

***

to leave the village for a

and once again, he was presented with the same

at the hands of Jezebeth. This time, however, he was able to survive the

them, he was already exhausted, and all

rewinded, and Kevin found himself back in the

time, he decided

decided to approach

that had been haunting him for his entire third life, and he was desperate

to go directly

city, they would easily be

lot weaker than the

to go out of the village?