Re start

It was an ordinary day—so they say in every story where that very ordinary day spirals into complete chaos, and this day was no exception.
“Damn, turned down for another job again…”
Meet Kazuki Shiro. He’s twenty years old and scrambling to find work.
“Why did I even bother studying if I can’t even get a simple job…” This was his fifth employment attempt.
“And now, for the main event,” came the broadcast from the media facade.“Professor James Thompson will demonstrate the first atomic manipulation of molecular particles.”
“What? They’re probably just going to blow everything to hell,” Shiro scoffed.
“Hello, everyone. I’m Professor James. Today marks a groundbreaking moment in science—the first atomic influence on molecular particles. We’ve pursued this for around ten years, and now... the great moment has arrived.”
All the passersby turned toward the facade, curious to see what would happen next.
“So, let’s begin. Three... two... one!” —and the transmission suddenly cut out.
“What?” “What was that?” murmured the crowd in dissatisfaction.
“Yeah… not exactly what I expected,” Shiro muttered softly to himself.

---
What followed was a green wave sweeping across the globe, obliterating everything in its path. It seemed like all life had vanished—yet roughly a thousand people survived.
At first, they were terrified, bewildered, simply trying to survive. The atmosphere itself had shifted: particles and atoms restructured. Trees and plants began to grow ten, even a hundred times faster. Humanity adapted to the new environment. With the change in atmospheric composition and air molecules, what came to be known as magic emerged.
The older generation could not use magic—they were not born with a magical core. But for the new generation, magic became natural.
Women who survived the catastrophe, when pregnant, inhaled air saturated with mana—altered molecules. As a result, mutations occurred: with a 6–8% chance, children were born as different races—elves, dwarves, triads, and more.
Within a few years, these races grew and diverged. The new generation of humans no longer bore other races; only the survivors of the old generation—those without magical cores—could be the progenitors of other races. Nonetheless, all of them were considered a special branch of humanity.
Animals too began mutating, becoming monsters. Instead of hearts, magical crystals appeared. These mana crystals formed in the most vulnerable part of the beast. Some creatures were edible, others deadly; some hostile, others harmless. Humans started to adapt to this new reality.
Moreover, when a living being died, its soul transformed into a “Fallen.” For three days, the Fallen were harmless, but afterward they became “Empties.” These Empties were categorized—like all monsters and people—from rank F up to SSS+, with even stronger anomalies existing. Fallen also bore a crystal in their weak spot, but they were vastly more difficult to kill than the ordinary mutated beasts.
Gradually, civilization rebuilt. People grew stronger, formed empires and kingdoms. The era of technology and science passed—and the era of sword and magic began.

---
Ten thousand years later, new continents, cities, nations emerged.
Thus began the Medieval Magic Age — the 10th Era of Magic.
[Continent: Landcraft; Country: Yapo; City: Shiba.]
“Ugh, my head…” Ishiki Shin, a ten‑year‑old boy, groaned. He lived with his father and stepmother—essentially as a servant boy.
Suddenly, memories from his past life—and that cataclysm ten thousand years ago—flashed through his mind.
“Uh-uh-uh… so that's how it is.” Sweat dripped from his brow, shock evident on his face. “These… are my memories.”
He looked around: the same alley, the same city, the same people… and—most strikingly—the people wielding magic.
“Is this… another world?” he asked himself. “It’s too realistic for a dream. And these memories—they've merged with the memories of this boy.” He pondered for several more minutes, then accepted his fate.
“All right. If I’ve remembered everything, it’s my chance to start over—especially with magic,” he whispered happily. “But there’s just one catch: my life here is worse than a dog’s… well, I'll think of something.”
He headed toward home. The streets bustled with shops, brothels, inns, guild halls, and homes. But the darker side was evident too—slums in the distance, filled with those who couldn’t afford even a loaf of bread.
“Huh… every world has rich and poor,” Shin muttered to himself.
In one alley, he bumped shoulders with the son of an aristocrat.
“Oy!” Shin fell to the ground. “Oh—sorry, I didn’t see you!” he stammered while standing.
“No worries,” said the youth kindly, helping him up.
The boy wore a white uniform, black eyes, slightly curly black hair, and a gentle, warm smile. Two other boys, dressed the same, stood with him.
“Watch where you're going next time,” one of them said coldly.
“Yes, sorry,” Shin replied, then ran off.
“Be careful!” called the boy who’d helped him.
“Whew—I thought he'd start humiliating me,” Shin thought. “What’s with those uniforms? They look like school clothes.”
Around him, he noticed many things that reminded him of his past life.
While he ran, a man burst out from a brothel and collided with him.
“Ow!” They both fell to the ground.
“You need to pay for your drink!” shouted the brothel owner.
“Ahhh—damn,” the man said sluggishly as he got up.
“Get out— and don’t let me see you here again!” the owner roared, slamming the door.
Everyone nearby stared at him and at Shin, sprawled on the ground.
The man turned to Shin, then extended a hand. “Oh—sorry, you okay?”
Shin lifted his head and looked at him: a tall, muscular man in his thirties, with kind brown eyes and shoulder-length brown hair.
Shin took his hand and stood up. “I’m okay—my fault, I wasn’t watching where I was going,” he replied bashfully, smiling. “Thanks for helping me up. Now I’ll run.”
“Hey, wait—want me to treat you to something?” asked the man.
“No, it’s fine.” Shin ran on. He thought, He was thrown out for not having money—what could he even treat me to?
A few minutes later, he reached home.
“They’re going to kill me for being late…” he sighed.
The house was two stories, brick-built, with four windows, surrounded by Khrushchyovkas.
He slowly opened the door and stepped inside. “Why did I even go outside?” he asked himself.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded above. Tapatapatap
“Crap…I need to get to my room,” Shin whispered.
Walking down the stairs was his stepmother, Ishiki Seika, thirty-five, beautiful and proud.
“Shin—Is that you?” she called sternly.
“Uh—yeah!” he replied.
“You’re late again.”
“Sorry…” Shin whispered.
Seika descended the steps. Shin froze, unsure what to do.
“Shin, you know how I hate lateness.”
“Y-yes…”
Smack.
The smack echoed through the house; she slapped him across the face. Shin stood dazed, unable to speak.
“Don’t let it happen again,” she said, then left the house.
“What the hell was that about?” Shin’s face was red. “Ow... that hurt.”
He rubbed his cheek, calming himself, then looked around the first floor: kitchen, guest room, bathroom.
“Well, even in fantasy worlds, didn’t expect a bath,” he thought.
The staircase to the second floor was right next to the kitchen wall. Shin slowly climbed upstairs.
“My room’s probably upstairs,” he thought.
The second floor had four rooms: two on the right for his father and Seika, and two on the left—one for Shin, one for Seika’s son.
“I need to lock myself in my room, or trouble will find me,” Shin thought.
He entered his room. It was a simple, nearly empty box.
“Well… even though I remember both lives, I’m still surprised,” he thought with a smirk.
In the far right corner was a slightly shabby bed; a small square window stood at the center of the wall; in the far left corner stood a fragile-looking wardrobe.
“Top‑class digs, huh,” he mused sarcastically.
He approached and lay down on the bed, his arms stretched out to avoid breaking the thing. He exhaled and started thinking.
“In this family, everyone hates me… as I recall, my mother died when I was three. Afterwards, my father came to hate me and married another woman two years later. Four years ago, she had a son. That bastard of a father didn’t even cry when my mother died... so why does he hate me?”
Shin thought for a long while, then a thought struck him.
“Pff… better to leave this family,” he thought. “But I need some way to earn a living... exactly!” he exclaimed, jumping from the bed. “This is a world of magic and swords—I saw an adventurer’s guild on the way here… but I can’t use magic.” He collapsed back onto the bed in despair.
“Maybe I can try using it… in anime and manga from my past life, the hero only had to visualize or speak the magic, and it would appear.”
A glimmer of hope sparked in his eyes. He stood up.
“All right, nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
Shin closed his eyes, stretched his hands forward, and imagined a fiery orb in his palms.
“Ugh… come on.”
He clenched his fists, then slowly opened them, tensing every muscle.
“Please…”
He began to inhale and exhale deliberately, feeling the air pass through his entire body. Shin slowly opened his eyes.
“Was it all for nothing?”
The air started to warp; he felt something like a vibration run up his arm.
Vwoosh!
A flame blazed in his hand, then swiftly disappeared. Shin’s eyes flew wide with astonishment and joy—his mouth dropped in awe.
“Is this... magic?” he whispered to himself. “This is magic!!!” he shouted from his soul. He jumped, danced, and celebrated—overjoyed beyond measure.
“Yes! Yes! Yes! This is real magic! In my past world, that was just a dream. Now with a little training, I can be an adventurer.”
He opened the wardrobe, retrieved an old bag, and packed a few belongings.
“All right then—goodbye to this rotten home where everyone hates me. Long live my new life.”
“But can I survive alone in this world...?” Shin wondered. “Well, whatever happens—adventure awaits.”
He went downstairs and searched for his father’s stash. He entered the kitchen: spacious, equipped with cupboards, a table with four chairs, and other utensils.
“If I remember correctly, it’s here...” He pulled out five silver coins from the far corner of a cabinet. “Five silvers—not bad.”
Currency of Landcraft:1 aluminum coin = ¥16.51 bronze coin = ¥1651 silver coin = ¥1,6501 gold coin = ¥16,5001 platinum coin = ¥1,650,000
“With this I could live in an inn for two weeks. And since they hate me, I’ve nothing to be ashamed of.”
Shin left the house and headed toward the carriages. Inside, he felt a pang of regret for leaving, but he was no longer just Shin… he was now Shiro, with Shin’s body and memories. He glanced back at the house.
“Farewell… old me.”
“Step right up! Going to the capital? Step right up!” cried a coachman in the distance.
“Maybe I should go to the capital,” Shin thought. “Yes! To the capital—I’ll live to the fullest and travel this world.”
Shin approached the coachman and asked the fare.
“Two bronze coins to the capital, one to the village,” said the man.
“Understood. To the capital, please.”
“Of course, take a seat.” With a smile, he gestured to a spot.
The carriage held four passengers, drawn by two horses.
Shin climbed in and sat in the left corner of the carriage.
“I can’t wait to see the capital and other places—this world is fascinating.” His heart pounded rapidly in anticipation.
A few minutes later, three more people boarded: two young women and a man.
The first woman looked about seventeen, not tall—around 160 cm—black hair, black eyes, dressed in adventurer’s garb with a dagger at her waist.
The second appeared about sixteen, slightly taller—around 165 cm—with blonde hair and orange eyes, wearing a black cloak covering her body and carrying a staff as tall as she was.
The man seemed twenty to twenty-two, a black headband, red hair, red eyes, about 170–175 cm tall, disheveled shirt and brown pants, a sword at his belt.
“They must be adventurers,” Shin thought.
“Hey, kid, you headed to the capital too?” asked the young man sitting opposite him.
“Yeah, looks like you are as well,” Shin replied. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
The two girls remained silent, observing.
“You’re adventurers?”
“Yes, we’re adventurers. We’re heading to the capital to register with the guild—monsters are getting scarce here.” answered the man. “I’m Frey, she’s Sara, the blonde is Karen. And you?”
“Sara glared at Frey, clearly annoyed.‘I could’ve introduced myself,’ she said.Karen looked at Shin and continued watching silently.
“Heh, pleasure to meet you—I’m Shiro,” he answered, slightly embarrassed.
“Why are you heading to the capital? You look like a kid. The academy only takes fifteen-year-olds, or are you going to relatives?” Frey asked.
“I want to become an adventurer,” Shiro answered.
Everyone stared at him in surprise—Frey even coughed.
“A c-cough, an adventurer?!”“At your age…” Sara said. “Aren’t you too young for that?”
Even silent Karen finally spoke:
“And how do you plan to become an adventurer?”
(In her mind: There’s barely any mana in him. If he wants to be a mage, it won’t work; and judging by his physique, he couldn’t even be a D‑rank adventurer… but he’s still a kid. Is this even appropriate?) Karen thought.
Shiro was taken aback by their reactions.
“Uh… what’s wrong with that? I know it’s dangerous, but why the surprise?”
(Stop… what if they won’t accept me as an adventurer? Noooo!!! Why am I thinking about this now?!) Suddenly it dawned on him: they might reject him.