Chapter 1
Luka, an eccentric young man in his early 30s, was no stranger to tragedies. From his constant heart problems starting from birth to his life altering career ending decision, Luka was used to lady luck not being on his side. However, when Luka was suddenly stopped on the subway to throw a ddakji for money, he thought this was the end of his struggles. He had thought to himself, "maybe lady luck is turning around, goodbye debt!". Now Luka was never one to be characterized as cheerful as his miseries had desensitized him to an almost frightening point, yet, at this point, Luka decided to believe once more. He optimistically awaited the day where he would get a chance to win more money. Luka was by no means good at games; he had gotten smacked 50 times before winning once just to get smacked another 10 times before the strange man stopped him to hand him the even stranger card, but he knew he had to try once more to fix his failure of a life.
When Luka got knocked out by sleeping gas, he didn't question it; when Luka woke up with his none of his belongings and saw himself among hundreds of people, he didn't question it; when Luka saw the suspicious terms and conditions which he read thoroughly yet failed to act on, he also didn't question it. Yet, when Luka was suddenly surrounded by bodies on the floor, he did question it. And that's when he was cruelly brought back into reality; he would never have things go his way because he was meant to suffer.
Luka had fought his way through the play zone while trying to breathe as much as possible. He felt fragile, and he hadn't believed he would survive. He did though. And he continued to one game at a time. People may ask why he came back after getting the chance to leave, and he had a singular word that could answer that question: stupidity. His foolish stupidity caused him to go back, and he could blame no one but himself. But again, Luka survived. Physically at least.
Again, Luka had already previously been a bit desensitized due to his harsh conditions growing up, but this was something new. Luka had never held any care for others, but now he felt a bit conflicted. He would've rather never felt the misery of being betrayed by the elderly man who he first opened his closely guarded heart. He surely would've preferred not to get close to the now dead 20-year-old girl who stole his wallet right under his nose in the split second they bumped into each other. Yet he did, and he was now messed up for life. He still did not feel any positive emotions for others. No. No now instead of this causal indifference he started holding a deep hatred to people.
And out of everything, most of all, he regrets ever giving his old "friend" the time of his day. He hated him. Hate. Hate. Hate. As he killed the girl whom he had slowly seen as a little sister figure. Hate. As they circled around each other at the actual "squid game". Hate. As Luka refused to play into the palms of the VIPS by killing his "friend". Hate. As that "friend" killed himself and died in Luka's arms because of the idiot's stupid pride. Hate.
So, if Luka held this much hatred to people why is it that he is currently tracking down that same strange person from 5 years ago? The answer is simple. Stupidity. The foolish stupidity of human emotions still lingered despite what he wanted to think. As "emotionless" as he claimed to be, he was not an alien. He was human after all, and his actions proved so. He was using his hate to act. He would get revenge on the VIPS, and he wouldn't rest until he brought them down. He would succeed because despite his tendency for tragedies and his odd opposition with Lady Luck, Luka never died, and he believed this would lead him to his goal.