Chapter 1
A young man, around 18 or 19 years old, walked along the road, dressed in his high school uniform. His face was slightly above average in appearance, carrying a faint smile. However, if one were skilled at reading people, they would notice something off—it was a fake smile. His eyes, in stark contrast, held a darkness so deep it could swallow you whole. There was an unsettling aura about him, one that made him seem eerie despite his seemingly normal demeanour. Yet, whenever someone looked his way, he would effortlessly return to an expression of normalcy. But beneath it all, his smile was nothing more than a plastered mask—a facade carefully crafted for the world to see.
As he continued toward home, the scenery around him suddenly shifted. The familiar road vanished, replaced by an enormous hall—so vast it could easily fit ten elephants. Panic surged within him, but outwardly, his expression remained unchanged, his artificial smile still in place. Before he could react further, a voice called out from behind him. When he turned, another voice echoed from his side.
Standing before him was a being of unimaginable beauty. To describe her in mere words would be an insult. It was as if the very essence of beauty had taken mortal form. Yet, despite witnessing such an overwhelming presence, he remained unmoved. His expression did not waver as he calmly asked, "Who are you? And where is this place?"
The ethereal being raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised by his lack of reaction. Most people, upon seeing her, would be consumed by either lust or awe. But he acted as if it were just another ordinary day.
She smiled slightly before answering, "You may call me the Guide."
He processed her words but didn't dwell on them. Instead, he repeated his question. "Where is this place?"
Her lips curled into an amused smirk as she responded, "This hall was created by higher entities—in your language, gods. You, along with 1,000 others, have been chosen."
His brows furrowed at her words. "Chosen? For what? And where are the others?"
She chuckled lightly at his nonchalant demeanour. "You're not afraid? You were taken from your world and placed in an unknown space, alone with a stranger."
He sighed, crossing his arms. "If you wanted to kill me, I wouldn't be able to do anything. You abducted me effortlessly, so being scared is pointless."
A flicker of surprise passed through her eyes. After a brief pause, she explained, "You have been chosen to play the role of a villain in another world. Your objective? Survive by any means necessary. If you manage to do so, you will earn the right to participate in the Gods' Game. Should you win, you may have any one wish granted—whether it be godhood, omnipresence, omnipotence, or even control over time at a universal level."
He remained silent for a few moments, stunned by the revelation. Then, after processing her words, he asked, "If I participate, what happens to my family and those who know me?"
She answered without hesitation. "If you die, they will forget you ever existed. However, if you win, you will be reintegrated into your original timeline as if nothing had happened."
Hearing that, he nodded. "Fine, I'll do it."
She smiled approvingly. "Before entering the new world, you may choose one abilities from the following options:"
Choices:
Knowledge of the story's unfolding—You will be aware of the protagonist's every opportunity and fateful encounter, but not their name.
Knowledge of key characters—You will know the traits, personalities, powers, weaknesses, and fondness levels of all main characters.
A personal A.I. companion—A system within your mind that analyses past and present moments to deduce the most plausible course of action.
Rules:
You cannot disclose any information about this place or what happened here.
You will always be monitored by the gods, as this is a game. However, private moments—such as intimate activities—will not be observed .
If you manage to capture a god's interest, you may receive their assistance. Consider it similar to a live-stream attracting a high-profile viewer.
With these choices and rules laid before him, the game was about to begin.