Giving Yu a moment to mourn his now-blank status window—his delicate shoulders trembling as he hugged his knees and sniffled—DK01 decided it was time to pull the introduction back on track.
For a second, the system thought of his last host. That one had been calm, logical, almost boring compared to this fragile, tear-prone incubus—
'…Wait. First host?'
DK01's voice glitched faintly, almost as though speaking to himself.
'That shouldn't be possible. I… shouldn't have another host. I'm—'
"Have you calmed yourself yet?"
DK01 cut himself off abruptly, tone sharpening.
Yu quickly wiped his wet cheeks, nodding, ears twitching with nervous obedience.
"Y-yes, Mr. DK. I'm sorry for being… such a bother."
"…It's fine."
DK01 adjusted his glasses, regaining composure.
"Then listen carefully. What happened is simple: you died."
Yu's eyes widened. His lips parted, but no sound came.
"You were supposed to vanish, yet… someone took an interest in you. Enough to grant you a second chance. But to seize it, you must work for it. If you succeed, you will return to the moment before your Demon King fell—and you will have the power to change that fate."
Yu's small hands clenched tight.
"I… I can save him?"
His voice was barely above a whisper, trembling but fierce.
"That is the goal. To achieve it, you will travel to different worlds, collect fragments known as Soul Scraps. Each scrap strengthens Talo's soul and repairs the tether of your existence. Collect enough, and you'll return to your own world—with your lord alive."
The incubus swallowed hard, eyes shimmering.
"Then… then I'll do it. No matter what."
"Good. Then you need to understand the rules."
DK01's voice steadied into a teacher's cadence, patient yet clipped.
"This space you're in is a Godscape. A resting ground for transmigrating souls. Normally, souls wait here until the story of their chosen world ends. That usually happens when the main lead, female lead, or villain dies. If that happens, you'll be ejected and forced back to the beginning of your journey. Should you die without filling the Love-o-Meter or it's left in the negatives…"
A pause, almost too long.
"…you will cease to exist."
Yu's ears drooped, but he kept nodding.
"Now. While in these worlds, you cannot cause unnatural deviations to the plot. If, say, a carriage loses its wheel and kills someone, that is acceptable. If you shove them under it, the world will reject you. However—"
DK01's lenses glinted.
"—you must influence the world enough to achieve a minimum of fifty percent on the Love-o-Meter. That is the baseline for moving forward."
"L-Love?"
Yu's cheeks pinkened.
"I-I don't have to… make them fall in love with me, do I?"
"Not strictly. Acting out-of-character is permitted once you get past the 50% marker on the Love-o-Meter. But…"
DK01 hovered forward, gaze sharp,
"you are an incubus. Love, or its darker twin, hate, are the strongest forces your soul resonates with. Leaning into that affinity will strengthen your odds. Consider it… your natural advantage."
Yu's blush deepened, his tail coiling tightly around his waist like a shield.
"I… I understand."
"Good. Next, your System Shop."
A new lilac menu bloomed across his status window.
"Each host's shop reflects their soul. Yours is the Incubus System. In here, you may purchase skills, items, and body modifications with JP. Anything you've lost, you can regain. Anything you need, you can acquire."
Yu peeked timidly at the glowing icons, overwhelmed but entranced.
"And finally…"
DK01's tone softened, oddly thoughtful.
"…your wishes. Four in total. One: gain more power. Two: save Talo's soul. Three: produce children—"
Yu squeaked, covering his face with both hands.
"—and four…"
DK01's voice dropped lower, a flicker of static running through it.
"…wish four remains undisclosed, even to you. But I can tell you this: it is tied to love. Not desire, not lust—love itself."
Yu lowered his hands slowly, eyes wide. His lips quivered, but he said nothing.
Instead, he pressed a palm against his chest, where his heartbeat raced fast and fragile.
"…Then I'll do it."
He whispered again, firmer this time.
"No matter what worlds I have to go through, no matter how long it takes. I'll collect every Soul Scrap. I'll save my Lord."
And for the first time since waking in the void, Yu's small frame didn't look so fragile. It looked determined.
"…That concludes your system briefing."
DK01 straightened, his voice steadied into that clipped, professional tone again.
"Now then, Yu. Are you ready to enter your first world?"
Yu hugged his tail against his chest, ears trembling.
"…I'm scared."
His ruby eyes lowered, flicking nervously to the lilac screen before him. But then, with a quiet exhale, he forced himself to look up again.
"But… I want to save my Lord. So yes. I'm ready."
"Good."
DK01's face softened into something almost fond.
"You'll do fine, Host."
And with that, Yu's vision began to fade.
---
Darkness.
Then—light.
Suddenly, information slammed into his mind like a tidal wave.
"Listen closely, Yu. This is the first soul we'll be dealing with, and you need the whole picture."
[Host Soul Transferring: Yukio Hokohayashi]
[Current timeline: start of high school freshman year]
[Original trajectory: bullied until death by illness and neglect.]
[Mission Briefing – Case File: Tragic Target #001]
[ Subject: Taichi Arifukua]
[The boy's name was Yukio Hokohayashi. From the first day of kindergarten until the start of his freshman year of high school, he was the constant target of a single tormentor—Taichi Arifukua. The bullying never stopped. Words, fists, humiliation… day after day until Yukio's spirit finally broke. In the original timeline, Yukio didn't survive his first year of high school.
Taichi lived on, but his life unraveled. His grades were the lowest in his class, and at graduation his father—a powerful CEO—disowned him for being a disgrace to the family name.
Years later, Taichi crawled back to his father's company, desperate for money. That was when he met her—the story's heroine. She barely noticed him, but he fell for her instantly because she reminded him of Yukio: her dyed white hair, her red contact lenses. That resemblance hooked him like a ghost from his past.
Unfortunately for Taichi, his father had already chosen an heir—the illegitimate son he kept hidden for years. That heir was clever, accomplished, and destined to be the "protagonist" of the tale.
The girl came to the CEO's family to arrange a marriage alliance—her hand promised to the new heir. When Taichi discovered this, he tried to fight for her, hoping love could redeem him.
He failed. The so-called "hero's halo" around the new heir guaranteed Taichi's defeat. His life ended miserably, his story nothing more than a cautionary tale.
Your objective, Yu, is to intercept this tragedy. The soul of Taichi Arifukua carries a fragment of what we call a Soul Scrap. To retrieve it, you must alter the path of his fate. Save him from that doomed end, change the story's course, and in doing so, secure the fragment we need to save your Demon King, Talo.]
"Do you understand? This is not just about mercy. Every choice you make in this world will bring us closer to reclaiming Talo's soul."
[Mission Objective: Alter Taichi's ending.]
[Hint: Best chance—make Taichi fall in love with you.]
[Love-o-Meter (starting): 15%]
Yu's breath hitched as the data receded. His head throbbed, his legs shifted weakly against the bedsheets he now felt beneath him.
A soft ding chimed.
[Host Soul Transfer Complete.]
[Host Body: Yukio Hokohayashi. Status: Alive.]
Yu blinked awake into a small, dimly lit bedroom. A desk cluttered with unopened textbooks sat by the window. Faded curtains swayed faintly with the night breeze. His body felt weak, skin clammy, but he realized quickly—this wasn't weakness from travel.
This body… had just died from fever.
He sat up slowly, clutching his chest.
"So this is… Yukio…"
The memories of the boy's life flickered through his mind: parents and twin sister, all lost to a car accident. An aunt, the last remaining guardian, also gone—claimed by illness. Only this apartment and the inheritance money keeping him afloat.
Yu's brows furrowed, sympathy tugging at his heart. This poor boy… so alone.
"DK…"
Yu whispered softly, his voice still hoarse.
"Why… is Taichi's love meter already so high at the start?"
DK01 adjusted his glasses, appearing in the corner of the status screen again.
[Because this world is the easiest difficulty. Taichi already has feelings for Yukio.]
Yu's ears twitched in disbelief.
"F-Feelings? But he bullied him to death!"
[Yes, and that is the problem.]
DK01's tone remained even, but there was a strange glitch in his voice—like static between words.
[Taichi doesn't understand his own feelings. His affection is twisted into cruelty. He lashes out, too harshly, because he doesn't know how else to express himself.]
Yu's lips parted, then closed again. He looked down at his trembling hands, gripping the blanket tightly.
"…So the first person I have to save is the one who… killed Yukio?"
[Correct.]
DK01 paused.
[…If you succeed here, the foundation for your future missions will strengthen. If you fail—well. At least it will be quick.]
"Y-you don't have to say it like that!"
Yu squeaked.
[…Apologies.]
DK01 coughed lightly into his fist.
[…Host, please focus.]
Yu nodded weakly, trying to steel himself. His ruby eyes glanced at the status window again. 15%. It felt so fragile. Like the smallest mistake could shatter it.
But if this was what he had to do to get closer to saving Talo… then so be it.
Yu sat quietly on the narrow bed, rubbing at his arms. His skin felt different—softer somehow, fragile in a way his demon body never was. When he peeked at his reflection in the darkened window, pale hair and faint shadows under tired eyes looked back. Yukio Hokohayashi.
"It feels… odd…"
Yu whispered. His long ears were gone, replaced by ordinary human ones. Even his tail was missing. He curled his fingers tight in the sheets.
"Like I've been… clipped."
[Host Transmigration Successful.]
[Current Time: Friday evening.]
"Oh…"
Yu breathed.
"So… the human's school week is over?"
[Correct…]
DK01's voice chimed from the corner of his vision. He seemed uncharacteristically gentle, perhaps sensing Yu's unease.
[You have the weekend to adjust to this world. Consider it an orientation period. Use it wisely.]
Yu let out a shaky sigh of relief.
"At least… I won't have to face anyone right away."
DK01 adjusted his glasses, and with a flicker, a glowing panel appeared before Yu.
[Basic Human World Orientation]
• Meals: Three per day. Humans require balanced nutrition—protein, grains, vegetables.
• Sleep: Six to nine hours recommended. Your new body is prone to illness, so more rest is advisable.
• Money: Inherited savings from deceased relatives. Enough for modest living, but beware—Taichi often pressures Yukio into handing it over.
• Home Life: Parents, twin sister, and aunt deceased. Apartment inherited. No guardians remain.
• Daily Routine: Wake - Eat - Attend school - Return - Study or rest - Sleep. Limited social contact.
Yu's eyes grew wider and wider as he read the list. His lips quivered.
"…T-three meals? Every day?!"
[Indeed.]
"And sleep… every night?!"
[Indeed.]
Yu buried his face in his hands, groaning.
"I'll never survive this world…"
[Host, calm yourself. Humans manage it daily.]
"That's because they're humans!"
Yu wailed softly, curling into himself like a scolded cat.
"I'm a king, not a— a meal-planner!"
[...You were also an incubus who routinely forgot to eat while alive, unless Talo invited you.]
DK01 said flatly.
[Perhaps this body will enforce better habits.]
Yu peeked between his fingers, cheeks warm.
"…M-Maybe."
He slid off the bed and padded cautiously across the room. Every movement felt heavier than he expected; Yukio's body was thinner, weaker than his own. He opened the small fridge. Inside sat a carton of eggs, leftover rice, and a few wilting vegetables. Nothing luxurious, but enough.
Yu's tail twitched—except it wasn't there. He pouted, looking behind him.
"…I feel naked without it."
[Humans lack tails.]
DK01 replied.
"That's cruel!"
Yu pressed his hands to his hips, indignant.
"How do they balance?!"
[They… manage.]
Yu sulked, closing the fridge. But as he turned back toward the apartment, his pout softened. The place was neat but quiet, almost too quiet. No voices. No warmth. Just the hum of the refrigerator and the faint ticking of a clock.
So lonely…
He hugged his arms around himself. This wasn't just a mission. He was living someone else's pain now, too.
"…DK?"
His voice came out small.
[Can you tell me… more about Yukio's life? The parts that aren't just facts?]
There was a pause before DK01 answered, voice gentler than before.
[…There is not much to tell. Yukio had a twin sister. They were close. She died in the same accident as their parents. After that, he lived with his aunt until she passed from illness. He has been alone for a long time.]
Yu's throat tightened. He blinked quickly, brushing away tears before they could fall.
"…I see."
DK01 hesitated. Then, softer still:
[…You understand why Taichi matters now, don't you? Without intervention, Yukio dies not just from bullying… but from being unseen.]
Yu pressed his lips together, then nodded.
"Then I'll make sure he's seen. I'll make sure he's loved."
The words trembled on his tongue, but they carried a quiet strength.
---
Saturday Morning crept slowly but surely, and with it, brought Yu's first disaster…
Yu stood in front of the stove, sleeves rolled up like he was preparing for battle. Yu stared down the frying pan like it was an enemy soldier. His new human body felt clumsy, but he refused to admit defeat so soon.
"Alright…"
He whispered, tying Yukio's apron around his waist with grave solemnity.
"It's just eggs. They're like… tiny, fragile mana cores. I've handled worse."
[Correction: They are unfertilized reproductive—]
"DK01!"
Yu clapped his hands over his ears.
"Do not describe them like that! How dare you sully my breakfast!"
The AI's silence felt smug.
Yu huffed, picked up an egg, and cracked it against the pan. Half of the shell fell in with the yolk, sizzling immediately. He shrieked, grabbed a fork, and poked furiously at the shards—only to fling the gooey mess onto the wall. The yolk slid down slowly, like it was mocking him.
Yu froze.
"…It's laughing at me."
[That would be physically impossible.]
"It's laughing at me, DK01!"
Yu cried, dramatically clutching his chest.
"Even the food in this world bullies me!"
By the time he was done, the kitchen looked like a battlefield, but he proudly held up a scorched, flat lump. He staggered to the table, he had managed to create… something. A blackened lump, half-charred, half-mush, steaming ominously on a plate. Yu puffed up proudly, holding his fork aloft.
"Behold! A meal fit for—"
[That is charcoal.]
"…A meal of courage, then!—fit for a warrior's stomach!"
Yu insisted, stabbing it and taking a huge bite. His face crumpled instantly.
"Hrrk—!"
He slammed his forehead onto the table, tears streaming from his eyes.
"I've been defeated… by poultry…"
---
The afternoon wasn't much better when Yu was told he needed to go "grocery shopping"...
Armed with a wallet and sheer determination, Yu ventured outside. The supermarket was a battlefield unlike any Yu had faced. The human world was too bright compared to the Demon Realm. The supermarket nearly blinded him with its fluorescent lights. He shielded his eyes from the lights.
"Too bright! The humans live in… in constant daylight torture!"
He stopped at the vegetable aisle, staring at rows of identical green leaves.
"Which one is… edible?"
[They are all edible.]
Shoppers gave him strange looks as he slunk into the produce section. He picked up a head of lettuce, holding it at arm's length.
"…This one looks carnivorous."
[It is not.]
"Don't lie to me, DK01. I can feel its malice."
He poked a head of lettuce suspiciously.
"This one looks like it wants to bite back."
Shoppers stared as Yu muttered to himself, holding up vegetables to eye level like they were enemies. Next, he picked up a cucumber, squinting at it as though it might explode.
Finally, after what felt like hours, he placed his treasures on the checkout counter: five bags of potato chips, three bottles of soda, and the lonely cucumber.
The cashier blinked.
"That's all?"
Yu hugged the chips protectively.
"Yes. This is survival food. Warriors live on rations."
[Incorrect, Host. This will not sustain you. You will die of malnutrition.]
"I will survive on chips!"
Yu snapped, hugging the bags like lifelines—until he saw the cashier's deadpan look. He wilted instantly, cheeks pink.
"…M-maybe one bag."
---
By evening, Yu sat at the desk, textbooks stacked high. He cracked his knuckles, eyes blazing with determination.
"Humans do this every night. I can too. I'll master it! For my king! For Yukio! For—"
Five minutes later, he was upside down in the chair, groaning dramatically.
"My brain is melting! How do they memorize all these squiggly letters without magic?! My brain is leaking out my ears… The words are just… squiggles. Evil squiggles! I'd rather fight ten thousand heroes than—"
[You lasted four minutes and thirty-two seconds.]
Yu flopped onto the floor like a dying fish.
"DK01… count that as four hours… please…"
[No.]
Yu pounded the carpet with tiny fists, then rolled onto his back with a melodramatic sigh.
"I'm doomed…"
---
When the lights dimmed and silence returned, the apartment grew quiet again. Too quiet. Yu lay curled in Yukio's narrow bed, hugging a pillow to his chest. The comedy drained away, leaving only the ache of the quiet apartment.
He thought about Yukio—about how the boy had lived here alone after losing everyone. No voices in the hall. No warmth in the kitchen. Just the ticking clock and the hum of the fridge.
He whispered into the empty room.
"So this… is how Yukio lived every night…"
Yu pressed his face into the pillow, whispering,
"I'll save you too… not just Talo. You don't deserve to vanish like this."
His throat tightened. The laughter from earlier felt hollow now. He pressed his face into the pillow to hide the tears slipping free.
"…You were so strong to keep going like this."
The tears came quietly, and this time, DK01 didn't interrupt.
---
When the morning light shone through the sheer curtains, Yu was eager to start learning more human chores DK01 assigned for him to do. The first ask was laundry.
Yu stood before the washing machine, glaring.
"A metal box that eats clothes… I will conquer you."
He dumped in Yukio's dirty laundry, grabbed the detergent bottle, and—without hesitation—poured nearly half inside.
"There. Cleanliness achieved!"
Minutes later, bubbles oozed from the machine, spilling across the floor like an angry slime monster. Yu shrieked, hopping onto a chair.
"It's alive! It's retaliating!"
[That is soap foam.]
"It's trying to consume me!"
Yu pointed accusingly.
"Call reinforcements!"
[...I'm the only one here… Let's clean this mess and move on…]
---
After the laundry mishap, DK01 suggests Yu improve his overall physical health with some light exercises.
Yu got on the floor, determined.
"Push-ups! Humans do these for strength, yes?"
He bent his elbows, lowered halfway, and immediately collapsed. His arms shook like jelly.
"So… heavy…"
[That was half a push-up.]
"Count it as ten!"
Yu whined from the floor.
"I can't move! Bury me here!"
[Unlike demons, who naturally gain strength by defeating monsters, humans must rely on their own abilities to build their strength… Let's get you something to eat.]
---
With DK01's careful instructions, it guided Yu through the kitchen cabinets and managed to find a lone instant ramen cup.
Yu glared at the instant ramen packet like it had wronged him.
"This time… I'll succeed."
He followed the instructions with trembling care. Boil water. Add noodles. Sprinkle packet. Five minutes later, he held up a steaming bowl of ramen, eyes shining with triumph.
"I did it! A feast!"
He slurped the noodles proudly—then screamed, fanning his tongue.
"Hot! It's burning me alive!"
[Perhaps allow it to cool first.]
Yu collapsed into his chair, clutching the bowl like a holy relic. "Still… victory is mine."
---
But again, at night, the silence returns.
That night, Yu sat by the window, chin on his knees. Outside, the city glowed with human life: neon signs, headlights, laughter echoing from distant streets.
"So many people…"
He whispered.
"And yet… Yukio was alone."
The words quivered, but he clenched his fists, whispering fiercely.
"Not anymore. Not while I'm here. I'll make sure he's seen."
The lights outside blurred as tears welled again, but Yu didn't hide them this time.
Yu got up and went to lie curled beneath the blanket, staring at the ceiling again. His chest ached with the weight of the day, but he stubbornly whispered.
"I'll do better tomorrow. I have to."
[Host.]
DK01's usually dry voice softened.
[You've unlocked your beginner's gift.]
Yu blinked.
"…Beginner's gift?"
[A system perk. It lets you reclaim one of your incubus skills early. Choose carefully. Most Hosts would pick defense, persuasion, or glamour. You may—]
"Aquam Somnium!"
Yu bolted upright, eyes gleaming.
"I want that one!"
A long pause.
[Wet… dreaming.]
"Yes!"
Yu pumped his fists, cheeks burning.
"If I can make Taichi think about me that way right from the start, it'll be easier to raise the Love-o-Meter!"
[Statistically, seduction is effective but—]
"No buts!"
Yu declared, wagging a finger.
"The sooner I finish this world, the sooner I can go back to my king! So I'll use everything I've got!"