The Author's POV

The color white dyed my vision once more.

The world around me shattered into a million pieces, and I found myself standing on a clear floor. As I bent my head forward, I was able to see my own reflection.

"It seems like you've run out of time."

The voice…

I tilted my head to the side in order to get a better look at Matthew, who had seemingly materialized out of thin air. He was smiling at me.

"Did you manage to learn what you were looking to learn?"

"Sort of."

The time was brief, but I was somehow able to improve myself. It wasn't as much as I'd hoped I would improve, but it was better than nothing.

"That's good to hear."

Matthew mumbled, staring at the white world around him with a complicated look.

"Then it looks like my mission is completed. I wanted to meet you at the park because I liked the view there, but I guess that isn't possible anymore..."

He raised his head up and sighed.

"Well, that's that. I guess... You can say that I'm now officially dead."

The smile that spread across his face when he said those words seemed rather forced. I couldn't tell since his head was turned.

"When you mean, officially dead―"

"It means what it means."

Matthew looked at me.

"The only reason I was in this world, to begin with was to wait for you. My real body… well, you should already be aware of what happened to it."

My mind started going back to the incident that took place at the Monolith, and as it did so, I found myself closing my eyes.

"This world…"

He continued.

"It was nice. It was peaceful. It was everything that I thought Ashton City would be like if the demons never existed. I've lived in this place long enough to say that I was happy."

I opened my eyes again to stare at him.

Thinking about his words, I found myself asking.

"Do you really think that world is one where the demons don't exist?"

The history of the world suggested as much. The fact that Kevin didn't exist in that world was also an indicator that the Demon King―Jezebeth, had never existed… yet, for some reason, I couldn't get something out of my mind.

"If the demons never existed, why don't I exist? Why have I never been born in that world?"

There were no records about me, despite of how hard I looked for them.

Ren Dover didn't exist in that world, and I didn't know why.

"About that…"

Matthew scratched the side of his head.

"I'm not sure either, to be honest. I assume it's because two Rens can't exist in the same world, or for some other reason like that, but I don't know, nor will I ever know... I just know that Kevin wanted to show you something, and I hope you've found your answer."

"I have."

I found myself nodding.

"Although I'm not entirely sure about the validity of what I found, once I return, I'll be able to confirm everything."

"Then I can only wish you the best of luck."

Matthew smiled and extended both hands to the side.

looked at him

that you

"No."

me off,

might be the very last time I experience pain again, but… I still wish for it to be something that

"Hm?"

faded. When I raised my head to look at

indecisive. Get this over with. Let

"I…"

found myself at a loss for words, but I soon took

"Alright."

came to a stop when I was a few meters

sure it

me, making me

"I'll try."

"Ah right..."

to

face, it appeared as though he was at a loss for the appropriate words to say. After some time, he gave

"I'm sorry."

Slash―!

***

"Alliance Master."

hear faint words echo in the background of my

They were rather faint.

"Alliance Master."

grew louder

"Ren!"

"Huh?"

forward. When

going on? Where

I was in the middle of a sizable office. In front of me was

finally

"Ryan?"

standing in front of me. He was attired in a gray suit that was completely unfit for him. It was ridiculously oversized, and he hadn't even bothered to

are you doing here,

massaged my forehead

as a matter of fact. If I don't recall

"Are you okay?"

I

bottle from his ring and passed

looks like you've

"…"

at the potion for a moment before taking

Perhaps he was right.

that it helped clear up some of the fog in my head. A shame about the flavor, because if it hadn't been so astringent, I

"Feeling better?"

"A little bit."

but at the very least

"So…"

me without saying anything. The office space… it looked similar

of which seemed to be drawings that

of

observed the

where are we

"Hm?"

at me weirdly

the worried look on his face, I spoke before he had the chance

"Just answer me."

"…Alliance Headquarters."

"Alliance Headquarters… I see."

the bottom part

the Alliance Master,

you

"Just answer me."

If you were curious, then yes, you are

"…"

head

happened while I