Yuuji was pulled into the light. It flashed violently for a moment, then gradually settled, allowing him to see his surroundings more clearly. He was now standing in a traditional Japanese-style dojo, wearing a standard kendo uniform—though he had no idea what kind of clothes he was even wearing. Judging by the size and shape of his body, he estimated he was around 9 or 10 years old.
"God, you didn't tell me that even my age would change with the substitution…"
Yuuji sighed inwardly and began to explore the dojo. From the appearance alone, it looked like something straight out of a Japanese manga or film. But since he didn't read manga or watch anime regularly, he had no way of knowing which world he had been thrown into.
"I didn't expect that the things I used to ignore might actually become my lifeline today…"
Sousuke, as he now identified himself, brushed aside his confusion and decided to wander the dojo in hopes of running into someone who might recognize the body he now inhabited.
"Why is this substitution so sloppy? I didn't even inherit the original guy's memories."
Yuuji couldn't help but complain. The future felt bleak.
Just then, a middle-aged man dressed in black casual clothes appeared before him. There was nothing in the man's expression—only silence and a deep, inescapable fatigue.
"Shirou, there you are."
The man addressed Yuuji and slowly sat down.
"Shirou… is that the name of this body?"
Yuuji silently pondered and then nodded, sitting beside the man. Due to the divine modification he underwent, Yuuji no longer had access to emotions. His expression was blank—eerily similar to the man sitting next to him.
The man didn't seem surprised by Yuuji's cold demeanor. After all, the child had just lost everything, just like him. After a moment of silence, the man said,
"Shirou, do you remember what I told you yesterday?"
Naturally, Yuuji shook his head. He truly had no idea.
"I once dreamed of becoming a hero of justice… but I gave it up. Adults… we grow out of such things. It's embarrassing to even say it now."
He spoke the words expressionlessly, but when he looked at Yuuji, there was the faintest flicker of hope in his lifeless eyes.
"Let me do it. Let me be the one who becomes a hero of justice. I'll fulfill your dream, Dad."
The thought surfaced in Yuuji's mind. He didn't know why he said it, but it came out naturally.
The man closed his eyes without responding, yet he seemed satisfied.
"Then I'll leave it to you," he said, as though spending the last of his strength. After that, he left the world.
Yuuji didn't understand. He was supposed to have lost all emotion, yet his body trembled. A single tear rolled down his cheek. He didn't know whether it came from himself or from the original owner of the body—but he knew one thing: he would inherit the man's dream. He would become a hero of justice.
As this vow formed in his heart, a flood of memories crashed into his brain. The pain was overwhelming, and he lost consciousness. Just before passing out, he finally learned the name of the man who had just passed away: Ikumi Kishi.
When Yuuji opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on a tatami mat. He stepped out of the room and saw a woman with short orange hair wearing black mourning clothes walking toward him.
"Shirou, you're awake?"
The woman asked with concern. Thanks to the memories from the day before, Yuuji recognized her. She was Fuji, whom he always referred to as "Sister Fuji."
"I'm okay, Sister Fuji. Where's my dad?" Yuuji asked.
"He's been buried simply, in a worker's grave. His identity was… complicated," she replied patiently. This boy had been entrusted to her by Ikumi Kishi.
Although Yuuji had inherited Shirou's memories, he couldn't mimic Shirou's usual emotional responses because of the divine modification. To hide this flaw, he used Ikumi's passing as an excuse. He simply nodded in silence.
Fuji didn't think too much of it—she assumed that Shirou had lost his energy because of Ikumi's death and would recover in time.
"If anything happens in the future, remember to tell me. Sister Fuji will always be here for you."
She gently patted Yuuji's head with a kind smile.
Yuuji didn't say anything but nodded again. Fuji knew Shirou was a boy who could take care of himself, so she didn't worry further and left the house.
Relying on Shirou's inherited memories, Yuuji began experimenting with magic—specifically "Strengthening" and "Projection," techniques Ikumi had once taught him. In this world, Shirou had poor magical circuits and could only perform limited magic after a lot of training. But with the enhancements God had given Yuuji, he was able to use this strange power again.
"Projection. Strengthen."
He murmured in his heart, and soon, the weapon he envisioned materialized in his hand.
"The Scarlet Queen."
From Devil May Cry 4, it was the single-edged sword used by Nero—now recreated in this world. Although Yuuji had no interest in anime or manga, he had always been addicted to computer games.
"At the very least, I have some strength now. But… who exactly am I supposed to protect?"
God had thrown him into this world without providing any clear objective, leaving Yuuji confused and aimless.
"Forget it… I'll walk around and get familiar with the terrain."
—The dividing line where the protagonist masters his first power—
In Fuyuki City that year, due to the lingering effects of the Holy Grail War five years ago, mysterious forces had deeply infiltrated the region. Late at night, the city had become a playground for monsters and other dark entities.
For reasons unknown, Yuuji found himself standing in front of an old, elegantly decorated mansion. The gates and courtyard were in disrepair, yet he felt nothing—not even curiosity. Still, perhaps fate had other plans. Just as he lingered outside, a black-haired girl with twin ponytails walked out of the mansion.
In that instant, Yuuji felt as though he were a dying man in a desert, suddenly discovering an endless ocean. Like a wanderer who had finally found home. Though his emotions had been stripped away, something stirred within him. A feeling he could not define—but one that screamed: protect her.
"Hey! What are you doing, loitering in front of someone else's house? Get lost!"
The girl barked at him coldly. She was about the same age as his current form and showed no warmth.
Yuuji didn't respond. He stared at her, emotionless, and began to walk toward her.
"Come any closer and I won't go easy on you!" she warned, stepping back and gritting her teeth.
Yuuji kept walking at a steady pace.
"Then don't blame me!"
With that, the girl pulled red gemstones from a hidden pouch and chanted a spell under her breath before flinging them at Yuuji.
Four crimson streaks of light surged toward him—he appeared completely defenseless.
But just before they hit, the girl heard him speak for the first time:
"Projection. Strengthen."
In a blink, Yuuji projected a strange box from his mind into reality, blocking the incoming attack. The box was adorned with silver thorns and had a devil's face engraved in its center. It was the ever-changing Pandora from Devil May Cry, and it absorbed the entire barrage effortlessly.
"What… what kind of weapon is that?"
The twin-tailed girl was stunned. Despite being basic Projection and Strengthening magic, the boy had created something that felt impossibly powerful.
"Why… why does it work like this?"
No one could answer that—not even her. All she knew was that she couldn't beat this boy.
As Yuuji walked toward her, he reached out. She closed her eyes, expecting an attack.
But instead, he gently pinched her cheek and asked:
"Can you tell me your name?"
"Rin. Tosaka Rin."
She replied, her voice trembling with a mix of confusion and curiosity.
"Rin… that's a beautiful name."
"S-So?"
"Let me protect you."
"Ha?! Σ(ﾟдﾟ|||)??"