Maya asked.
Today, the Luna Nordix strategy room feels completely different.
No tension. No alarms. Just… a casual get-together.
Gathered here are Maya, Emma, Ethan, Victoria, Elisabeth, and Beatrice.
No combat suits—everyone’s in their everyday clothes.
A toast is made, and people start digging into their food.
So… what exactly are we here to talk about?
The author said, “Season 1 is done—go ahead and talk about anything you want.”
A little treat for us, apparently.
If it’s free talk, there’s actually something I’ve always wondered.
Oh? Do tell.
Why does this story start with me dead? Some readers probably thought they’d opened a horror novel. Isn’t that a terrible way to treat your protagonist?
According to the author, he was simply following the ancient wisdom of fiction-writing:
“When in doubt, start with a corpse.”
And the lucky corpse was you.
Well… it definitely had impact.
That is NOT the point! Just because it’s impactful doesn’t mean you can do anything! And then I revive, fight a psychopath… the entire opening is basically horror-action!
I agree. I actually thought the story could’ve focused more on Maya’s trauma. Maybe Season 2 will explore that?
Hard to say. The author cuts explanations for the sake of pacing. If he remembers to fix that… great. (laughs at himself)
Look at you acting calm. Someone’s in a good mood because things with Ria are going well, huh? (cold smile)
(voice drops) Yeah, things did move forward.
But if you read the last chapter, you know—Daniel… He’s joined some dangerous group. Just imagining that I might have to fight him someday makes my stomach hurt.
Whatever happens, happens.
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
(looking at Victoria) True. Though judging by reader requests, you won’t have much time to act cool in Season 2.
W–what!? Seriously!?
What kind of enemy could even push Victoria-san that far…
Could be something non-combat that corners her.
The ending hinted at multiple factions. Ugh… that’s gonna be messy.
I’ve even seen comments like “Will Season 2 be a morally gray war?” Readers are definitely paying attention.
We’re not exactly heroes of justice.
People who preach justice are usually the first to fake it.
(sighs) Ezekiel sure did.
Anyway, the groups likely to show up in Season 2 are:
A Returner-supremacist faction led by a woman named Nox.
A faction that hunts Returners.
Either way, bloodshed seems unavoidable.
Ever since I blasted Ezekiel with Fate Strike, I keep feeling like someone’s watching me… Is that just me?
Luna Nordix hasn’t detected anything. But there might be someone with that kind of Exceed out there.
Okay! ANY cheerful topics?
Oh—my disciple appears in Season 2.
Aww, that’s cute.
He’s not, like… your sarcasm disciple, right? Because dealing with that would be awful.
(laughs) No. He’s a proper fifteen-year-old boy. Don’t bully him.
(sighing) So he’s a Gray Archives kid then.
That’s right. We’ll probably see even younger Returners in Season 2.
We really have to protect the kids…
There it is—classic protagonist energy. I like it though.
I am the protagonist.
Hell’s Returners is structured like an ensemble story. More characters will show up in Season 2, so Maya, you might want to assert yourself more.
Or Ethan could give her some of his scenes.
But anyway, the author already finished the Season 2 plot, and apparently he already decided who’s going to suffer horribly.
…Suffer horribly? (whispers)
I knew that author wasn’t going to behave like a normal human being.
Even I got cornered to the brink.
True… But learning about your past like that—it helped me understand your strength. It meant a lot to me.
I see.
Getting hurt, knowing pain, and choosing how to live afterward—seems that’s one of Season 2’s themes.
Ugh, I just want to avoid pain and stay home playing games. Looks like even I won’t get away with staying in support…
Honestly same. We’re not battle junkies. We fight because we have to. Why are we so busy?
Seriously. Hm?
(Ethan receives an urgent message. His face goes pale.)
Uh-oh… what happened?
It’s started.
I see… so that’s the move they’re making.
The monitors light up, sharing new intel across the room.
The cheerful mood evaporates instantly—
Curtain.