This is only a guess, but the image on the screen was probably different for every person because people started screaming and shouting once seeing the screen.

  “Mother!”


  “My love…… why are you……”


  “My Daughter! Give me back my daughter!”


  The Operator was showing everyone the people most important to them.

  ‘Sick bastards……’


  Sungjin swore under his breath, but he didn’t become upset like the others. He was an orphan. The only ‘close’ people he knew were several employees at the orphanage he grew up at, but he didn’t feel emotionally connected to them or their fate.

  [Hunters who perish during the hunt will also be moved to the purgatory.]

  [If someone completes all objectives and clears the challenges]

  [Everyone contained in the purgatory will be returned alive. However,]

  [If all hunters fail and are moved to the purgatory]

  [All of humanity will be purged.]

  Sungjin doubted those words.

  ‘Purged? If that’s the case, then why send me back?’


  Others continued to stare blankly as the Operator continued her explanation. They have yet to understand the gravity of her words.

  [Prove your power by overcoming any and all obstacle that stands in your way.]

  [And with your own strength, prove the worth of your species.]

  [If you fail to do so, Humanity as a specie will be made extinct.]

  Whispers among the crowd grew.

  “What? Extinct?”


  “Us? All of humanity?”


  Some were expressing anger.

  “Who is this bitch?”


  But the Operator’s indifferent tone of voice remained unchanged by the people’s reactions.

  [Now, the explanations are over.]

  [I pray that we will meet again.]

  The hall is now completely inundated with insults and expletives.

  “You fucking whore!”


  “What the fuck did you say?”


  “Mother fucker!”


  “Fuck!”


  Despite the abuse pouring out from the audience, the Operator continued her indifferent speech.

  [Hunting will begin shortly. Prepare for battle.]

  Despite the deafening roar of insults being thrown at the Operator, Sungjin kept his calm and planned his next move.

  ‘If things are the same as before……’


  Sungjin bit his lip and lifted his katana up to inspect the sword. The blade reflected his gaze back.

  Looking into the eyes reflected on the blade, he vowed to himself.

  ‘This time, I will perfectly clear every chapter.’


  Sungjin fixed his grip on the Katana and prepared himself. Moments later, he was teleported away from the Hunter’s Hall.

  (Translator’s note)

  The part about “hopes and dreams of ________ are gathered” is reference to Magical girl anime, like Sailor moon. It is a very hopeful and lighthearted way to say that the place is special, which is funny because this place is where people come to kill or face extinction.

  Prologue

  “No……”


  Sungjin reached out towards the heaven, but strength had already left him. Somewhere, the ‘Operator’s’ voice filled the air.

  [All players Eliminated. Closing the Chapter.]

  Sight dimmed from Sungjin’s eyes, darkness creeping inward from the edge of his vision. Now that he faced imminent death, he finally found peace.

  “I had enough of violence. I’m glad it is finally over.”


  He let the calm settle over him. Sungjin welcomed the approaching darkness, of his death. But the Operator’s voice continued to reverberate in the background.

  [You have died.]

  [You were humanity’s very last remaining Player.]

  [Benefit awarded to the last player to die is “Restart”]

  At the same time, a single line of text appears before his eyes.

  Restart – Redo the hunt from the very beginning, but with current memory.

  ‘What?’


  Before Sungjin could mutter another sentence, he opened his eyes and saw that he was now in an entirely white room. It was a familiar room, with perfectly square walls.

  [Hunt will soon begin. Prepare for battle.]

  “Restart…… from scratch?”


  Sungjin lifted his arms. They felt empty. He examined his hands.

  ‘My rings are gone!”


  It wasn’t just the rings, all the items he had been gathering until now were missing. He had been brought back moments before the first hunt. To the same room where everything began.

  “Sigh……”


  Sungjin massaged his forehead as he let out a withering sigh. In front of his eyes, a large bulletin board appeared.