Prologue
[Welcome to a new world.]
A sweet, melodic voice of a young woman echoed inside my head.
Ahh!
Ugh!
My head! Why does it hurt so much?
A sharp, unbearable pain shot through my skull. It felt as though I was being struck over and over again with a blunt object, right on the top of my head.
Ahh!
A young man lay sprawled on the ground, resting on a bed of wild grass, surrounded by towering trees that reached high into the sky.
At first glance, he looked like he was sleeping. But he wasn't—his body was limp, weakened, as though he had collapsed and lost consciousness.
In his half-conscious state, he tried to move, forcing himself to get up. But his body, still heavy and weak, refused to obey.
Slowly, his eyelids fluttered open, revealing a blurry and distorted view of the world.
The pounding pain in his head made every small movement unbearable, yet he still forced himself.
Moments later, his vision cleared. He lifted his right hand, placing it against his forehead, just above his eyes.
"Ugh…" With his head still throbbing, and his strength far from recovered, he pushed himself to sit up from the ground.
Using both hands, he propped himself up, his legs stretched out in front of him. His trembling hands returned to clutch his head, struggling to endure the pain.
"Ahh… my head… why does it hurt this much…" He muttered with his eyes shut tight, still wincing from the pain that hadn't faded.
W-what happened?
He asked himself, bewildered by his current condition.
Slowly, he opened his eyes again.
"… …?"
What…? His eyes widened in disbelief.
Floating right in front of his face was something strange, something impossible.
A glowing panel—a notification board.
It hovered just inches away from him. Already dazed and confused, the sudden sight of a floating board only pushed him deeper into bewilderment.
[Please enter your name.]
A new notification? My… name?
The floating board was asking him to input his name.
Name? What's that supposed to mean?
Still puzzled, he ignored the notification for a moment and lowered his hand from his head, scanning his surroundings.
What?
All he saw were wild grasses, massive trees stretching skyward, and fallen branches scattered across the ground.
Where… am I? Why am I here?
His confusion deepened.
"Wait… this place… it doesn't feel unfamiliar."
Something about it stirred an odd sense of familiarity, as if he had been here before.
He closed his eyes, forcing his aching mind to recall. Slowly, the throbbing pain in his head began to fade.
This place… I've been here before.
He tried to remember, but no clear memory surfaced.
Wait… the last thing I remember—I was in my room.
Bits and fragments of memory began to surface, though still hazy. How did I end up here?
What was I doing?
He pressed harder, and then—
I remember. I remember now!
A flash of memory broke through the fog.
Though it wasn't entirely clear, he clung to it, forcing himself to recall more.
But… it's still fuzzy.
What I do know, what I clearly remember, is that I was in my room. I think… I was playing a video game on my computer. And then… damn it, I can't remember.
A game… yes. He tried to recall the game he had been playing.
Game… which game? Damn, I can't remember…
He turned back to the floating board, staring at it without blinking.
His mind struggled, grasping at scattered fragments of memory.
The… The? The what? I can't recall.
Then—
World… world…?
World… of… Kings.
"The World of Three Kings."
Yes. That was it. Finally, after minutes of forcing his brain, he remembered the name of the game he had been playing: The World of Three Kings.
Could this place… no, that's impossible. There's no way. I refuse to believe it.
Yet deep inside, doubt gnawed at him. No matter how he denied it, the thought kept pressing into his heart.
He looked away from the floating board, turning his eyes upward. The bright blue sky peeked through the canopy of leaves above, sunlight piercing in gentle rays.
But… this place—it's exactly the same as in the game.
Still, he couldn't accept it.
Could it be… did I enter the game?
He asked himself, yet the thought seemed too absurd. Being dragged into a game world—it was unthinkable.
And yet, staring at the sky, he began to wonder…
If this really is the game… then I have no choice but to accept it. And if there's ever a chance to go back, I'll take it.
Of course, that was a lie. Deep down, he hadn't accepted anything. He only told himself those words to stay calm, to keep his panic under control.
Wait! How did I even get pulled into this game?
There must be something I overlooked… what was it?
The last thing I remember… I was playing this game…
He dug deeper into his memories, but nothing surfaced.
"Damn it, I can't remember."
He scratched his head, exhaling a long, heavy sigh. His panic faded slightly, though unease still lingered.
[Please enter your name.]
The board's notification blinked again before him.
He pressed a hand against his forehead, covering his eyes as if lost in thought.
A notification? A message?
"Wait! That's it."
Suddenly, it clicked. The memory he had been searching for rushed back into his mind.
I remember now. A message… yes, that's it.
Because you have reached the end of the world, let us begin anew from the start.
That was the last message that appeared. Then, a blinding light burst from my computer screen… and when it faded, I ended up here.
"So that's what brought me here…"
"But… why? Why me?"
He shook his head. That wasn't important right now. What mattered most was surviving in this place. He knew it wouldn't remain safe for long—especially at night, when monsters would emerge.
Once more, he looked at the hovering board. It was still waiting for him to input his name.
A name, huh?
He thought for a moment.
What about Rachel… no, that's a girl's name.
Raiden? No, too flashy.
Max? Doesn't fit either.
Ugh, what name suits me?
He racked his brain, searching for the name he always used in games.
What was it again?
"Az-…"
"Azu-…"
"Azuto… Yes. Azuto. That fits."
Resolved, he raised his head and spoke firmly.
"Azuto."
[Nama: Azuto.]
[Do you wish to confirm?]
[Yes/No.]
"Yes."
[Confirming.]
[Name confirmed.]
The board glowed once more, presenting his next instructions—what he needed to do to begin.
[Gather materials, find food, craft tools, and build a shelter immediately.]
End of Prologue