episode_0001

If only I could fight directly like you guys.

If only I had become a stronger person.

If only I could go back to the past once again.

Could I have saved you guys?

***

I was lying under the scarlet sunset.

A huge meteorite was falling from the sky.

Bright red tentacles were sprouting from the ground and chewing up the buildings.

My companions and I fought the final battle to prevent the end of the world.

I was barely holding on to my life, which was almost completely extinguished.

The world was being completely destroyed.

From the academy to hunter life.

Comrades who have fought countless battles together.

As I had not awakened my combat skills, I could not fight directly.

Little basic skills and utility characteristics that I was able to learn.

And it was the result of a lot of teasing of Sechihyeok in order to recruit outstanding talent.

Even though I was half an awakened person, I managed to be recognized by a few people.

Earning the nickname [One snout is S-class]

At the same time, I was able to establish the best hunter guild.

It’s already been 5 years since I reincarnated here.

A world where men and women are reversed, and even more so, a world where monsters come out when the gate opens.

Although it is set in a fictional Korea, many things here are different from the world I was in.

<>

A pretty girl gacha game that I played briefly when it was first released but then quit.

Having played this game before, I was able to adapt quickly at first.

As soon as Season 1, which was refreshing and lively, ended, the sudden drift was broken.

A worldview full of all kinds of devastation began to unfold.

The balance with the enemies was such that it made me want to knock on the creator’s door.

It would have been nice to have at least a gacha system or a main character buff.

That ability was never granted to me until the end.

The only thing I could use was the [Achievement] ability that was part of the game system.

Although it is not a combat ability, if you meet special conditions, you can acquire some useful skills.

This is how I acquired most utility skills.

[Fire Resistance], [Steadfastness], [Detection], [Charm], etc…

I, who was of no help in battle, was able to be on the front line with them on the battlefield.

It was all thanks to these valuable skills.

If I didn’t have this, I wouldn’t have come this far.

In order to somehow survive, I had no choice but to study the world’s systems and utilize them to the best of my ability.

‘But in the end, it was pointless…’

I sighed and leaned back against the broken concrete.

My left arm was broken and tattered helplessly.

The right leg had fragments embedded in it and was leaking blood.

All of the magic power has been used up, so the wounds can no longer be healed.

I tried my best, but the result was complete defeat.

I defeated the final boss with all my might.

In the process, I lost so many colleagues.

Not only that, but the side that betrayed the devil was spreading a magic circle that summoned a giant meteorite.

We were on the defensive and eventually fell victim to their diversionary strategy.

As we stop the meteorite, the final boss goes on a rampage and the world explodes.

As I kill the final boss, a meteor comes flying.

It was too difficult to split the team in half and take charge of each one, but there were not enough people and strength to do so.

With a glimmer of hope, I thought that if I killed the final boss, the meteorite would naturally stop.

There was no way.

‘In the end, you won’t be able to awaken until just before you die…’

If I had awakened during the last battle, my anger so far would have been relieved at least a little.

No matter how hard you rack your brain to uncover the truth.

A semi-awakened person who has not been able to awaken his core abilities.

There were all kinds of discrimination and weaknesses in trading, combat, and even recruiting colleagues.

In a world where men and women are reversed, the status of a man who has not even awakened.

All I could do was use my tongue and win their favor.

Even then, I felt lonely because I got stabbed in the back at the end.

I thought it would be possible if we all fought together at once.

Who would have thought that the president and president of the association would sacrifice the entire country and its people to the devil?

It was an unimaginable development.

But it’s too late to regret it now.

The comet created by high-ranking demons was already flying here at full speed.

As I leaned back, Lauren, who was next to me, limped over and sat down next to me.

And then he slowly laid his head on my shoulder.

She has long blonde hair and blue eyes.

Since she was the youngest child of a conglomerate family, her current miserable appearance seemed even more contrasting.

A face covered in blood with a shield scorched by flames.

In addition to all kinds of injuries, the injuries were so severe that it was difficult to even stand properly.

Despite this, she did not lose her smile.

“You really worked hard, Commander… It was an honor to be with you until now.”

“Thank you for trusting and following me, Lauren. And… I’m really sorry.”

“No. It seems like just yesterday that you and I spent our days at the Academy… Who would have known that I would remain as your shield until the last moment.”

She closed her eyes and folded her white hands over mine.

She, who protected me in the final battle, ended up receiving a fatal wound on my behalf.

The pain was so extreme that an ordinary person would faint.

But because she has always been a shield for me and my colleagues.

No matter how severe the pain is, he won’t show it.

It seemed like he didn’t even notice that blood was leaking from her forehead.

I took out a bandage from my pocket and wrapped it around her forehead.

This action, which is not a healing skill, would have no meaning.

She smiled and said softly, ‘Thank you.’

“Hehe… It hurts so much…”

Black horns growing straight out of red hair.

Even though she was a dragon, the battle just now was fatal.

Surtur, who was holding a scarlet, half-broken spear like a crutch, sat down next to me.

“Ah, were you two joking around? I’m sorry if I disturbed you.”

“No, Surt. I was saying my last goodbyes to the commander…”

“Oh really? Shouldn’t we at least smoke our last cigarette?”

“Can’t you give up smoking until the moment you die… You two…”

Lauren frowned and looked back and forth between me and Surtur.

But in the end, he sighed and rested his head on my shoulder again.

It meant acquiescence or permission.

I took out two menthol cigarettes from my arms and put them in my mouth one by one in a friendly manner with her.

When I lit it with a silver Zippo lighter, a cloud of white light flowed out of my mouth.

We looked at the sunset without saying a word and started smoking our last cigarettes.

“Damn bastards… I never thought I’d get stabbed in the back at such an important moment…”

“Ha… I thought I almost won everything, but in the end, I ended up on the devil’s side.“

“Ugh… That’s it, that’s it. They’re all screwed up now anyway, so what’s going to change if you blame them? I just have to do it…”

“I’m sorry, Surt. This happened because of me…”

She looked back at me, exhaling cigarette smoke.

Then he stroked my head and laughed heartily.

Although the hands were covered in scars, they were very warm.

My reliable sister who always stayed by my side.

“If you had just asked me, I probably would have followed you to the end of hell. So don’t be too sorry. Because we liked it, we followed the commander’s tail.”

“Of course. We were happy just to be able to be with you, Commander.”

“I see… everyone…”

Gradually, my eyes started to get red.

If things continue like this, I feel like I’m going to cry

Trying not to cry, I raised my head and looked up at the sky.

By the time I finished smoking my cigarette, the last surviving colleague was walking towards us.

The girl with short pink hair stumbled.

I almost fell several times and eventually lost my balance.

I quickly ran and stretched out my broken arms towards her.

She was immediately held in my arms.

For a moment, my vision became blurry and exhilarating pain flowed through my body.

I gritted my teeth and held back a moan from coming out.

I didn’t want to make noises in front of my dying colleagues.

“Hello… Lapis.”

“I’m back… Commander… The smell of cigarettes is still so bad.”

“Ahaha… Well, no matter where you go, it’s okay to have a cigarette, right?”

“I really… I never thought you would be able to quit until the end…”

“Sorry, sorry. I smoked it with the commander because I was begging him.”

“Surt too… Ugh, I can’t help it. Lauren doesn’t seem to have tried to stop me either.”

“Ahaha… I don’t think you’ll listen to me now.”

Lapis laid her head on my lap and looked up at the sky.

Was the recoil from the last magic trick too severe?

Even she, who had always been full of life, was running out of magic and her life was fading away.

If she hadn’t succeeded in the final blow at the last moment.

There would never have been a chance to say hello to everyone together for the last time.

I couldn’t help but feel grateful just for being able to say hello to everyone.

Stroking her head as the flame of life slowly goes out.

We were breathing our last breath in a dying world.

“Commander.”

“Yes. I’m listening.”

“What if… What if… If there is still one way to save this world… Can you believe it?”

‘Still… there’s a chance…?’

If it had been someone else saying it, I would have definitely thought it was a joke.

But if Lapis was talking, it was a different story.

If it were her who had repeatedly told me the solution to a crisis that I thought was ‘ruined’ until now.

At the last moment, he might have suddenly thought of a way to prevent destruction.

It’s like catching a clue from a passing day.

“…I always believed in you, Lapis.”

“I’m glad…For this method to succeed…only a commander with a stronger will than anyone else can do it…”

Lapis slowly got up from the floor and sat down looking at us.

I took out a glass bottle from my bag.

Inside was a bright, rainbow-colored liquid.

‘That must have been on that bastard’s body…?’

The water bottle worn by the highest-ranking [S]-class demon around his neck during the final battle.

I was holding my breath and holding my guard, fearing that it might be an elixir that could induce amplification or mind control.

In the end, I didn’t even open the bottle cap until the last moment.

Maybe he was so careless that he didn’t feel the need to drink and died from Lapis’ blow.

‘Could it be… is that the last hope that Lapis spoke of?’

“If the commander drinks this, he can return to the time when he was first reincarnated here. With all my memories from now on.”

“What… Then, when the commander returns… he can crush the Association guys in advance…! I can now find out why that damn stone fell…!”

“Lapis…! If this is the case, Commander…”

“But. The reason I couldn’t bring this up easily is because there was a huge price to pay.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

gulp.

Everyone looked at Lapis with a nervous expression.

She also looked at us in turn with a stern expression.

“First, most of the memories of us and the commander will be erased. And…”

“And…?”

“What is it…! There’s not much time…!”

Everyone gathered their eyes and looked at Lapis.

She lowered her head and spoke in a hushed voice.

“Commander… From now on…”

Tup!

The sound of a bottle being snatched away.

Bong!

After opening the cork.

Gulp, gulp, gulp…!

I drank the liquid down in one go.

“Uh…! Ugh..! Commander!!! No way!!!”

“Hey!!! Spit it out!!! Listen to the end and drink it, idiot!!!!”

“Commander!!! What are you doing now…!”

Kyaha~!

It tasted like sweet cola without the carbonation.

“It’s okay!! Don’t die!! It’s okay because I’m not dead yet!!”

If only I could turn back time and save them.

I guess the price didn’t matter.

For the girls who have trusted and followed me until now.

And even the unfortunate people I couldn’t protect in the past.

If only to prevent the destruction of this world.

I could pay any price.

That’s why I did it right away, without regrets and without fear.

I was able to drink the rainbow-colored liquid in the bottle in one shot.

“Hey you idiot! If I had died as soon as I ate it, Lapis wouldn’t have even mentioned it!”

Surt was right.

For some reason, I feel like my intelligence has already decreased.

“Lapis..! Miss Lapis, what kind of side effects are there…! If I don’t tell you right now…!”

“That’s…! Ugh….!”

Lapis was so embarrassed that she opened her mouth and spoke.

He looked like he was almost crying.

I had a strong feeling that something was wrong.

“A person who has a crush on the commander… ends up completely falling for [Twisted Love]!!!!”

‘What kind of price is that?’

I tilt my head and look at Lapis.

She fidgeted and looked at me.

It seemed like [Twisted Love] was the true price of Lapis.

The expression on his face as if that was a very…very big price to pay.

I’m not sure what that means in the first place,

Compared to going back 5 years…

I thought it was a completely free transaction.

I didn’t care.

Single from birth for 22 years.

I had little money and had no opportunity to date.

There is no compatibility and his masculine charm is completely lacking.

I’ve never had anyone like me like this before.

The same goes for the three colleagues who remain by my side until the end.

It’s just ‘trust’ as a commander.

It was quite far from the realm of love.

In a relationship that comes together for business.

No one gave off a pink vibe.

Even on Christmas Day, I’m always solo.

When I asked them vaguely, just in case.

The answer I get is always rejection.

Those were the days when I always drank soju with a bitter heart.

You can go back to the past?

On the condition that it is such a benefit itself?

It was a deal with no losses for me.

At least, if I go back to the academy days, there was no reason to touch me as a student…

I smiled brightly and confidently told them.

“Don’t worry! There’s no way there’s someone in this world who would like something like me, right?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

There was silence.

“What, why is no one answering?”

Cold sweat started to run down the back of my head.

I looked at them with a feeling of uncertainty.

Everyone exchanged looks.

Three people spoke to me cautiously at the same time.

“Unfortunately, that person is me…”

“Commander… You didn’t hit an iron wall… Did you really not understand my feelings…?”

“…You can’t dislike someone like Commander…”

‘Fucked’

The time axis is becoming increasingly distorted.

The meteorite that was falling towards the giant buildings is moving further and further away.

Debris spits out from the mouths of the monsters that were gnawing at the buildings.

One by one, their wounds are healing.

“Commander….”

My vision is gradually becoming blurry.

The last thing I heard was as they were gradually moving away.

“Love…no, I liked it, Commander.”

“Hey!!! Give me a kiss before you go!!!”

“Commander… Good luck.”

This was my last memory before returning.

***

[The tutorial is forcibly terminated due to an abnormal error. ]

[congratulations! The gacha system has been unlocked!]

[congratulations! The awakening system has been unlocked!]

[congratulations! The bond system has been unlocked!]

what? So far this has been a tutorial?

I lost my mind.