[And thereby earning the right to become hunters who will represent all of humanity.]

  The reaction from the audience was varied.

  “Hunter? What does she mean?”


  “Is she talking about that…… that thing I just killed?”


  “Did you kill that too?”


  “Yes. I suppose you saw the same thing?”


  Chapter 0 is something akin to a tutorial. Faced with the threat of imminent death, are you able to land the killing blow on the mannequin?

  Naturally, elderly, children, and disabled are unable to pass. That’s not all.

  “It was much harder than I thought. It kept on screaming so loudly……”


  “Yours as well?”


  Living Mannequins scream for their life once attacked. Because of this creepy life-like behavior, those with difficulty in taking a life are also eliminated from Chapter 0.

  Physically weaker women, and also a small portion of men are part of this group. Someone comments in hindsight.

  “I should have stabbed its heart first.”


  [Definition of Hunter:]

  [Strongest representative of the entire species, living proof of the species’ strength.]

  With that said, the image of the Operator changes with that of another location. The image is filled with countless women, children, and elderly.

  [This place is the Purgatory. Neither heaven nor hell.]