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.

at him

tell me that you want me to

"No."

me off,

I've said before, make sure you're gentle this time. It might be the very last time I experience pain again, but… I still wish for it to be something that I don't have

"Hm?"

When I raised my head to look at

didn't take you for someone who's indecisive. Get

"I…"

at a loss for words, but I soon took a deep

"Alright."

only came to a stop when I was a

it

reminded me, making me

"I'll try."

"Ah right..."

to

at a loss for the appropriate words to say. After some time, he gave his head a slight shake

"I'm sorry."

Slash―!

***

"Alliance Master."

words echo

They were rather faint.

"Alliance Master."

grew louder and

"Ren!"

"Huh?"

until I became aware that my body was shaking and my head had jerked forward. When I opened my eyes,

going on? Where am

office. In front of me was a wooden table where papers were scattered, and behind it was a rather

finally woken

"Ryan?"

I found 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

are you doing here,

my forehead and looked

a matter of fact. If I don't

"Are you okay?"

answer, I received a

bottle from

potion. It looks like you've been

"…"

the potion for a moment before

Perhaps he was right.

of the potion was rather bitter, and I noticed that it helped clear up some of the fog in my head. A shame about the flavor, because if it hadn't

"Feeling better?"

"A little bit."

difference but at the

"So…"

without saying anything. The office space… it looked similar to Kevin's, but it was

of mine. All of which seemed to be drawings that Nola had gifted

also pictures of

I observed the

where are we

"Hm?"

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

the Alliance

are you

"Just answer me."

then yes, you are

"…"

my head

happened while