Ch.1Divine Amusement

“Thank you for everything until now.”

A man bows his head. Sitting across from him is an elderly woman. On her desk sits a nameplate that reads “Kim Ara, Director of Hanbit Orphanage.”

“Our Sihyeon will do well living on his own. That’s what I believe.”

Director Kim Ara strokes the head of the man before her, Choi Sihyeon. She gives him a hug and offers some advice that might be useful in life before sending him on his way.

*Rattle-*

The sound of a rolling suitcase echoes through the hallway. Though it feels complicated to leave this orphanage where he’s lived for 19 years, becoming an adult means it’s inevitable.

He’s already said goodbye to the children he was close with at the orphanage and greeted the director and caretakers, so he steels himself and steps out of the orphanage.

An unnecessarily bright day. Despite it being July, the murderous temperature exceeding 30 degrees feels like a curse being poured upon him as he leaves the orphanage.

It’s so hot that heat waves seem to rise from the asphalt. How are people supposed to live in this kind of heat? It feels like the earth is about to end.

“Phew—, is this even a country? Is this weather something humans can survive in?”

Just as he starts walking, wanting to quickly get to his rented room to escape this murderous heat…

*BAAANG—!!*

A truck fills his vision. Some American comedian once said that even if an elderly person gets hit by a car, it’s natural causes. Because a young person could have avoided it. He used to chuckle and agree with that, but now he knows from experience that it’s nonsense.

Avoiding a truck that appears before you in an instant with a human body? Even a tennis player with good reflexes couldn’t do that. The moment he saw the truck, his body completely froze.

In that moment, countless thoughts crossed his mind, but the life flashing before his eyes that supposedly happens at the moment of death didn’t appear, and just like that, he lost his life.

*THUD—!!*

* * * * *

“Ladies & Gentlemen!”

He opens his eyes at the sudden sound. What he sees is… numerous people in a white space. Like him, they all seem confused, as if they’ve been suddenly transported here.

“Now! Here are the 100 participants who have come for the Play of the Gods this time as well! Everyone, please welcome them with warm support and applause!”

*Clap clap clap clap!!!!*

*Whistle—!!*

Applause and whistling sounds come from the white space where there was nothing before. Looking around for the source of the sounds coming from nowhere—all he sees are confused people. No one appears to be clapping or whistling.

“W-wait a minute— is this that thing? That drama that was popular last year! Is that what this is? That’s it, right?”

A woman wearing glasses asks, but the person who appears to be the host ignores her and continues.

“Now— in a moment, you will all depart for the fantasy world of Grancia! The area you’ve been living in, Area 48, or… hmm, Earth! I see you call it Earth! To you who have been living there, this is a world called fantasy! A world where monsters breathe, different races exist, and magic and spirits are real! Exciting, isn’t it!?”

“What nonsense is that—!! Just send me back home!!! I have an exam tomorrow, what is this all of a sudden—!!”

“I have a mother at home who can’t move well! She can’t live properly without me—! Please send me back—!!”

“Oh my—? You all don’t know yet?”

You’re all already dead.

With those words, a headache strikes, and as he clutches his head, memories come flooding back. He was… leaving the orphanage and heading to his rented room when… a truck… right. He was hit by a truck…

*Urgh—!!*

As the memory returns, he vomits, and looking up, it seems others are in the same situation as the white space becomes filled with vomit.

“Ugh— this is why humans are hopeless. Making such a mess just because you died once.”

*Snap–!*

As the host snaps his fingers, the vomit covering the floor disappears.

“There—! I’ve cleaned it up for you. I’ll let it slide this time, but there won’t be a next time!”

“Wait, wait! Question, can I just ask one question!?”

A man in a suit raises his hand, but the host ignores him.

“No— I’m dying of busyness and need to finish explaining quickly so I can send you all to that world. I’m sick of hearing things like ‘I’m not dead’ or ‘I’m not someone who would die so pathetically.’ You all are dead, and I’ve called your souls here to give you a new opportunity. Understand?”

Despite his words, some still raised their hands to ask questions, but somehow the host had made it so no words came from their mouths.

“In the old days, I would have just blown your heads off to keep you quiet, but sometimes talented people died that way, making for boring games. The gods were disappointed, so we don’t kill you anymore. Be grateful! Otherwise, I would have blown you up right away!”

The crowd falls silent at those words. In an instant, this person had removed all the vomit in the room and silenced everyone—they felt that if they angered him, they might really die.

“Now—! Finally some quiet. Anyway! From now on, you will cross over to the fantasy world of Grancia! There, you might become human, a spirit, an elf! You can become anything. Though it’s random! Hahaha! If you’re unlucky, maybe a worm or a goblin? But that’s okay! You’re already dead and only your souls remain! Normally, your memories would disappear immediately and you’d reincarnate as a random race, but now you’ll start with your memories and special privileges in a body that resonates with your soul—!? Amazing, right!?”

His tone seems to be seeking agreement. Having memories and special privileges in a new life… isn’t that exactly like those novels about reincarnation and causing trouble that Yeong-sik talked about?

“Anyway! Now you will cross over to Grancia! I don’t know what kind of beings you’ll become… but it’s best to pray to the gods that you’re chosen as a proper race! Now then, before we depart, let’s take a few questions~? Let’s see… you there, glasses, who tried to ask first!”

As he points to the woman, it seems she can speak again as the bespectacled woman’s voice is heard. Though startled by her suddenly regained voice… she calmly asks her question.

“I understand that we’ve died. I also understand that we’re going to a world called Grancia. But… what are we supposed to do once we cross over?”

The host claps his hands in delight at the question. It seems if that question hadn’t been asked, we would have lived without a purpose.

“Good, good! Is it because you wear glasses? That’s quite a good question! You all will fight until only one person remains after crossing over to Grancia! Of course, I mean the 100 people here, not the natives of Grancia!”

“You mean… we compete against each other until there’s one winner?”

“Exactly! Cooperate, ambush, do whatever you want! Compete until only one person remains, and please the gods like clowns!”

“Next person!” the host shouts. The woman with glasses seems unable to speak again as she opens and closes her mouth before giving up.

The next person allowed to ask a question from the countless raised hands was a short person… a child.

“Oh my, oh my! We even have a little gentleman here! Now, what’s your question?”

“Um… you said earlier. We came here for the gods’ amusement. So if those gods like us, will they help us?”

“Oh! The gods merely watch you; they don’t provide help! The only time they intervene is when the game becomes boring and they want to overturn it! Please don’t bore the gods!”

“Because then your chance or whatever will end immediately!” With those words, the child’s mouth is also sealed.

“Now then, let’s hear from one more person before departing for Grancia! Let’s see… you there, with the face like you’ve seen it all!”

At those words, I point to myself, and the host nods. I don’t know why he chose me when I hadn’t even raised my hand, but…

“Then… you told us to determine a winner. So what does the winner receive? Since they’ve pleased the gods like a clown, do they get a trophy or something?”

At those words, the host smiles widely, very widely, as if pleased.

“Everything.”

*Rumble—*

With those words, as the space rumbles, the host silences me.

“Now, has your curiosity been satisfied? I listened to your questions as a service because you all behaved well? Now the gods seem to be running out of patience, so let’s get going!”

May you be chosen as a proper race!

With those final words, a white light envelops my body.