Title: 블랙배저
This review is based on the free episodes only!
[Short Summary]
The first thing he sees upon opening his eyes is a gun barrel and people dressed in special uniforms resembling students.
As he begins to make sense of his confusing surroundings, he introduces himself as Hildebert Taleb, or simply Hilde, and realizes that the only memories he retains are his name and a few specific words.
Hilde’s story begins as he joins “Black Badger,” a special unit fighting creatures in a broken world.
[Quick Analysis and Strengths]
(In fact, I discovered this work because of Naver Series’ Apocalypse special event, where up to Episode 50 was free. However, since the event ended on February 25, I only read up to Episode 25.)
The story starts with a dramatic scene: people pointing a gun at him, and him looking down the barrel.
In this chaos, as Hilde contemplates why he is here and realizes he has lost most of his memory, the story creates a refreshing contrast to many works where protagonists often possess future knowledge (via time loops).
Hilde’s calm situational judgment, appropriate actions, and pure demeanor naturally led me to think, “Ah, the protagonist must have been someone important in the past!” This curiosity seamlessly builds intrigue about the protagonist and keeps the reader immersed.
Additionally, the detailed depiction of characters’ appearances and diverse speech styles makes it easy to visualize the story and feel the characters as multi-dimensional. This is a major strength of the novel.
[Weak Points]
Because the story progresses as the protagonist adapts to a new world while having lost his memory, I felt the pacing is not particularly fast. Depending on the reader, this slower pace might feel frustrating.
For readers who prefer brisk and dynamic developments, the slow pace might be a downside.
Also, the novel introduces a large number of characters within the first 25 episodes, which could feel overwhelming for some readers and serve as a drawback.
[Final Thoughts]
With its unique world-building combining military, apocalypse, and modern elements, the novel effectively engages readers. Just as the protagonist is curious about the world he finds himself in and his lost memories, readers, too, become curious about the universe and Hilde’s unknown past.
This immersive storytelling, combined with a fresh setting and well-rounded characters, makes it a highly recommended read. If you’re looking for something new to try, this is a story worth checking out!
Personal Rating: 4.5/5
