Chapter 0: Why are you guys out of here?

The daily grind, monotonous as a hamster wheel.

Every day, tales of Hunters’ exploits spread further and wider.

Imagine a monster appearing before you, the sheer terror, and then Hunters arriving, coolly slicing the beast apart.

Everyone must have fantasized about it at some point.

‘I want to be a Hunter.’

Of course, that ship had long sailed for me.

I’m 30, at the very edge of the awakening age limit.

Even if I did awaken, I already had a decent job, a respectable position, a stable life.

Give it all up to become a Hunter?

The math didn’t add up.

I’d just be content with being a bit healthier and dive back into my routine.

‘Unless I awaken an S-rank Trait.’

Those cheat Traits that guarantee anyone who awakens them will reach at least A-rank Hunter status. Less than 1% of Awakened individuals possess them, so what were the chances I’d be that lucky?

“Enough daydreaming. Back to work.”

Lunch break was almost over. I drained my coffee in one gulp and turned back to my monitor. Suddenly, a blue window appeared before my eyes.

[Awakening]

‘What…?’

Crack. Pop.

The sounds of bones and muscles twisting, my body evolving. There was no pain, only an invigorating coolness washing over me.

That coolness confirmed it: I had awakened.

Work, the company, none of it mattered now.

I uttered the word I never thought I’d say.

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“Status Window!”

A blue window filled my vision.

]Status Window]

[Name: Kim Yu-won (Lv1 0%)
Age: 30
Gender: Male
Race: Human

Stats▼
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Stamina: 10
Intelligence: 6
Magic Power: 1
Mental Strength: 5
Charm: 5
Luck: 20
Remaining Points: 0

Traits▼
Five Lives (S)

Skills▼
Translation (Lv1)]

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Having just awakened, the stats weren’t particularly significant. Well, except for my luck, which was nearly four times higher than the average person.

But what truly mattered was written below.

The Trait section, which for some read “None.” There, shining brilliantly, was an S-rank Trait.

I was so stunned I couldn’t even scream. I immediately clicked on it for more information.

________________________________________________________________________________

[Five Lives (S): Live four lives, each lasting 30 years, in different worlds. The final life will have a normal lifespan.

Parents do not exist.

Memories transfer to the next life, but emotions do not.

Level, stats, and skill proficiency are reset upon reincarnation.

Traits can be carried over if desired.

*Remaining lifespan: 10 seconds]

Before I could even comprehend what it meant, the words at the bottom caught my eye.

Four lives, each 30 years long. I was 30 years old.

10 seconds left. 7 seconds now, as I processed the information.

________________________________________________________________________________

“What the f*ck! What is this…!”

With my dying breath, my first life ended.

Second life: Born an orphan in the Demonic Heavenly Sect.

After much hardship, I joined the Heavenly Demon Guard.

Luckily, I caught the eye of the Heavenly Demon, became her personal guard, and eventually married her.

Died at 30 as the Heavenly Demon’s husband.

Third life: Born an orphan in a fantasy world.

I recalled my martial arts training from my previous life and grew powerful quickly.

Because I used demonic martial arts, I was mistaken for a demon, but eventually cleared my name and received an apology from the Saintess.

We grew close, I defeated the Demon King alongside the Hero, and married the Saintess.

Died at 30 as a member of the Hero’s party and the Saintess’s husband.

Fourth life: Exhausted from my three previous lives, I decided to live peacefully in the countryside.

I made a childhood friend.

I gave her some pointers on her swordsmanship, which led to me teaching her techniques.

Before I knew it, I became the husband of my childhood friend, who had founded a new kingdom with her sword and magic.

Died at 30, married to a Sword Master and Archmage.

“This time, I’m going to live a peaceful life…”

I was reborn in the world of my first life.

Perhaps because my previous three lives were so tumultuous, I craved normalcy.

‘I’ll just maintain a mid-tier ranking at the academy, graduate, make a killing as a Hunter, and then retire.’

My head was filled with dreams of earning enough to live comfortably for the rest of my life and enjoying a happy retirement.

The academy entrance exam was a week away, but I wasn’t worried.

‘If a master who’s reached the Transcendent Realm can’t pass, is it even an academy?’

Even if I lacked talent, over 90 years of training allowed me to reach the Transcendent Realm.

I was only 17 in this life and hadn’t done anything to stand out, so I was stuck at the peak of Supernal Realm, but I could reach the Transformation Realm within six months if I put my mind to it.

The peak of Supernal Realm meant I had the power of an A-rank Hunter, which was perfect for now.

‘The written exam is another matter, though. I’ll have to study hard.’

As I opened my books to study, I heard a crackling sound from within my house.

“A Gate…?”

A small Gate was opening inside my house. Three of them, in fact!

“Are the Monster Management Bureau slacking off? Shouldn’t they have issued an evacuation notice at least an hour ago?”

Judging by the eerie silence, no alarm had been sounded.

Well, it was a small Gate, so it would probably only spawn F-rank or E-rank monsters. Since they were tiny Gates, barely large enough for a person to pass through, I figured it would just be goblins or something.

As I waited to see what would emerge, the Gates’ entrances ripped open, and something shot out from all three simultaneously.

It wasn’t a dangerous situation, so I just watched. But something was off.

‘What’s coming out… isn’t a monster?’

They had distinctly human forms. I channeled my inner energy to get a closer look and recognized the faces.

“Cheon Ha-yeon… Liera… Estelle…?!”

My wives from my other lives.

They stumbled out of the Gates and collapsed in my room.

‘Oh my god…’

A week before the academy entrance exam, disaster had struck.