The Spectator's Prospective Inspection

The childlike voice, ethereal and carefree, echoed through the city, pouring its mysterious and unsettling message over the exhausted survivors. The expression of joy in her words contrasted cruelly with the merciless nature of the punishment she announced.

"If you're still alive, it means you're fit to become 'solvers'," she declared, plunging our minds into growing perplexity. The notion of being 'solvers' remained unclear, an enigma among many.

"This punishment is the price to pay for your failure to live in harmony. You will be condemned to solve riddles as dangerous as any other, deadly challenges that will adorn your path to what you may call the "Sacred Land".

Uncertainty reigned, and anguish grew as she added one last thing.

"Oh, it looks like your newpuzzle will be arriving soon! Be sure to check your notification box ;)" 

The words of the childlike voice had sown doubt and worry in our already tested minds. The questions jostled each other, a restless sea of perplexity. However, it was Saei who broke the silence, giving voice to our mutual concerns.

"What's going on? What's all this about punishment and 'solver'?" Saei was searching for answers, looking for a sliver of clarity in the growing darkness.

I felt helpless, overwhelmed by uncertainty. "I don't really know. It's all so confusing. But it reminds me of the movie, you know, 'The Deficient Piece'. The characters had to solve riddles to survive. It's like we're stuck in our own version of that scenario. Even worse... the film became our reality!"

A sense of urgency set in, the need to understand this strange reality unfolding around us. Echoes of the film, once distant and fictional, were now resonating in our existence, creating disturbing parallels between fiction and reality.

The idea that "solver" might be a pun on "solider" struck me as an obscure revelation. Were we destined to be soldiers of riddles, engaged in an intellectual battle for survival? The prospect was as disconcerting as it was mysterious.

However, Saei, still reeling from the shock of events, was not ready to explore this hypothesis. Her attention was caught by an agitated movement in the crowd near Korakuen station. People were milling about, muttering theories and speculations, desperate to understand their new reality.

I glanced around at the growing hustle and bustle, wondering what could be causing such an uproar.

Driven by curiosity and the urgent need to understand, Saei and I headed towards the source of the tumult. The crowd at Korakuen station was a restless sea of individuals, all as lost as we were in the face of this life-size enigma that had just befallen us.

We made our way through the mass of people, searching for clues in the bewildered expressions and confused murmurs floating in the air. Perplexity was the common thread uniting us all, turning the station into a sanctuary of collective confusion.

The new riddle appeared before our eyes, creating an atmosphere of palpable tension. Considered as the first, it laid out a new mysterious challenge before us.

[Puzzle n°2: The Hunter

Explanation: A hunter lurks in your dome.

Find a way to neutralize him so that he doesn't cause the most death.

Time: If after 12 days this puzzle also remains unsolved, the following puzzles will be added to those already in progress.

Rule: None

Failure: Death]

[Tip 1:

- Every dome in Japan has its hunter

- Your hunter is in the Bunkyō district.

- New tips may be revealed, keep an eye on your notification box].

"A hunter prowls our dome." The words echoed in my head, evoking images of intrigue and danger. The statement continued, enjoining us to find this hunter and neutralize him. There was no deadline, except the tacit threat that, if after 12 days the riddle remained unsolved, others would be added to the first. The hunter was located in Bunkyō, but no further information was forthcoming.

A heavy silence enveloped Korakuen station, broken only by the worried murmurs of people already trying to work out strategies. Uncertainty hung in the air, making this new ordeal a fuzzy challenge.

I shared my theory with Saei, convinced that our dome must represent the entire area of Bunkyō, thus explaining the hunter's vague location. It was a logical idea in this strange context.

To my surprise, a few people nearby seemed to have heard our conversation. One of them, a man with disheveled hair, exclaimed: "It's as if we were living in a huge space station, an O'Neil Cylinder on the scale of a neighborhood. We're guinea pigs in their interdimensional experiment!"

His friend, who seemed more serious, added: "But why did they choose us for this? And who is this hunter they're talking about?"

A third, a curious-looking young woman, approached. "Maybe they're testing our ability to solve puzzles in extreme conditions. If we're able to neutralize this hunter, we prove our usefulness."

The discussion intensified, with everyone sharing ideas and conjectures about the nature of our situation.

Tension was mounting among the crowd, who discussed the most diverse theories. The skeptics who thought it was a hoax began to take the situation seriously when a notification appeared before our eyes.

[Counter: 213 025/240 069]

The relentless counter read a grim 213,025/240,069. A heavy silence fell over the assembly, everyone realizing the gravity of the situation. Conversations died down, replaced by anguished murmurs.

I watched Saei, her gaze reflecting the concern shared by all. We were faced with an implacable reality, the challenge of surviving in this strange world taking on a darker dimension.

With the death counter hanging over our heads like a sword of Damocles, an idea occurred to me. I began circulating a message among the crowd, suggesting that we disperse throughout Bunkyō, given the vast expanse of the dome. My aim was clear: to minimize the hunter's chances of perpetrating mass murder.

The message spread quickly, triggering a crowd movement as everyone sought a place to take refuge. Saei, swept along by this human wave, clung tightly to my arm, determined not to lose sight of me in this race against death.

Just as I was about to explain the rest of my plan to Saei, a young man with piercing eyes and a cold look approached. He looked to be at least 25 years old, and exuded a certain coldness.

He asked us about our destination.

"You're going to Okutama, aren't you?"

I confirmed our destination, briefly explaining our plan to seek shelter. It was an excuse not to tell him the truth.

 The young man asked if he could join us, and after an exchange of glances with Saei, I gladly accepted his company.

And so, the young man, Saei and I headed for Okutama, seeking shelter in the heart of the forest from the threat of the mysterious hunter.

I explained the route we'd planned, detailing the various subway and train lines we'd be taking. Saei stayed by my side, listening attentively to the plan.

"To get to Okutama from Bunkyo, here's the route we're going to take: first, we'll take the Marunouchi subway line towards Ogikubo station. Once at Tokyo station, we'll change to the JR Chuo line to Tachikawa. At Tachikawa, we'll make a quick transfer to the Chuo Ome line, which will take me directly to Okutama."

The young man, as impassive as ever, observed the plan carefully. "It's quite a long journey. You must have a good reason for wanting to get there."

I took a second to consider my answer, not wanting to give away my true intentions. "My main objective is to get as far away from the crowds as possible. Okutama seems to be a secluded place, away from the chaos that reigns here."

He nodded, not insisting further. We headed for Marunouchi subway station to begin our journey to Okutama.