Manga Corner: Regarding the Destruction of the Destruction Flag as a Result of a Nichiasa-Loving Otaku Being Reincarnated as a Villainous Student: Chapters 1-3

The Toku Source covering manga? Join Ethan as they check out this manga series about a tokusatsu otaku reincarnated in a game world.

Yuugo Kurei is a high school student that loves tokusatsu hero shows. One day, he loses his life protecting a child from a street slasher, but he is reincarnated in another world as Yuugo Clay, a character from a certain game. However, Yuugo is the most disliked person in the school and is destined to die tragically… He was reincarnated as a villain, but with the new power of magic in his hands, he aims to become a hero! “In this world, I can become the strongest hero!” A hero story of a tokusatsu otaku who rises from the bottom while crushing his doom flags!

Series description via NovelCool

Summary

Chapter One

The story begins with our protagonist Yuugo Kurei watching Sentai before he leaves the house. We are treated to an inner monologue about how he’s just an ordinary guy with the most notable thing about him being that he’s a tokusatsu fan, in particular Super Sentai, Kamen Rider and even Pretty Cure. Inspired by his heroes, he wishes to get a job as a firefighter or police officer to help others, just like the heroes he looks up to so much.

While out waiting in line to buy a new Sentai toy, a man with a knife tries to attack people. Dashing in to save a child, Yuugo takes down the attacker, saving the child, but is mortally wounded in the process. As he dies, the last thoughts on his mind is about how while he did save the child, he didn’t protect his smile, and the heroes he looks up to would have never let a child make the kind of face he saw in his final moments. He vows that, if there were a next time, he wouldn’t be such a failure of a hero; that he’d become a hero that can protect everyone’s smiles. With that, his mind goes blank.

Opening his eyes, his mind comes back into focus and we see a man named Zenon standing over the person Yuugo has been reincarnated into. He is now a man named Yuugo Clay and the reason Zenon is standing over him is because Yuugo Clay had just lost a duel to him, causing him to also lose his engagement to a woman named Claire. 

Passing out and waking up in an infirmary, Yuugo starts to become accustomed with his new body. A man in a military uniform walks in and chews him out, saying he is disowned and must return his family’s sacred sword, Galandil, and leave the dormitory at once. Yuugo, not knowing who this guy is, asks him, which only upsets him more. They storming out, telling Yuugo to be thankful that he already paid his tuition and not to use the family name ‘Clay’ again. As the man leaves, a young boy walks in, calling Yuugo his brother and confirming that the man was Yuugo Clay’s father. He asks who the boy is and where they are, with Yuugo explaining away his memory loss due to the duel. 

The young boy introduces himself as Phi Clay and explains that they are the latest in the noble line of Clay family knights. Yuugo was the next in line to be head of the family. Yuugo interrupts Phi at this point, realising that he’s been reincarnated. We then cut to Yuugo in a sleeping bag outside, since he’s been kicked out of the nice dorm room, and we’re given the explanation of where exactly we are: Luminous Academy, a place were people that want to become magic knights enroll. It’s a fancy school that extends from elementary right though to high school. Thinking on this, Yuugo reflects on the kind of person they have been reincarnated into and how they seemed to be a bad person, despised by everyone. 

Phi arrives, coming out of the bushes bringing food. As the two brothers eat, sitting at a nearby bench, Phi gives Yuugo a bracelet that materialises magic armour around you when your pour your energy into it. Yuugo tries it out and freaks out a little. Phi explains that it’s called Blaster and it can channel magic into the various crystals all over its body, delivering enhanced attacks. Armor type magical tools like it are old and not really used any more so it’s not much of a replacement for the sword he lost but transforming hero lover, Yuugo, doesn’t care. He’s overjoyed, not only at the kindness of Phi but also at finally having his own transformation item. The two brothers part for the night as Yuugo starts on his own special hero training. 

We cut away to see Hugo in his room, as he starts to monologue explaining that he, too, is a reincarnated being named Haino Seto. Along with a few others, guided by God, they were reincarnated into a game they played extensively during life, going on to explain that, in the game proper, the duel between him and Yuugo was meant to happen months from now. This would lead Yuugo down a dark path, sacrificing his own brother for power and leading to a sad death at the hands of the protagonist. However, because Claire is his favourite heroine, he acted early, which will likely cause the other ‘reincarnatees’ to act, as well. Declaring that he will be the one in this world to become the hero, the chapter closes with an ominous narration explaining that Yuugo’s plans to be the hero of this world will take him far. 

Chapter Two

After a short recap of the first chapter, we see a new character challenge Yuugo to a duel. Introducing himself as Marcos Bolg and insisting they accept his challenge, Yuugo insists he’s lost his memory. Marcos retorts that it doesn’t matter and they should fight anyways, explaining that he’s been sick of Yuugo for a long time and that, now he’s lost his sword, it’s the perfect chance to challenge him.

Yuugo flat out rejects the challenge, saying that he has to meet with someone. Marcos reveals he had his goons kidnap Phi and insists that Yuugo reconsiders his challenge, or Phi will have to fight in his place. Yuugo says he will agree to the duel if he lets Phi go, which he does. Yuugo and Marcos up the ante and wager that, if Marcos wins, Yuugo has to humiliate himself by licking his boots and, if Yuugo wins, Marcos will never show his face around here again.

Both of them agree to the terms and we cut to the duel area. Phi shows concern because Blaster is an old type of magic tool and its not as strong as some of the others. Yuugo tells him not to worry because, as long as he believes in him, he won’t lose. Marcos has suited up and is now equipped with a large crab claw like pincer weapon on one arm. The Kamen Rider Scissors vibes are real. 

Yuugo strikes a pose then, after yelling “Henshin” transforms into Blaster. Smack talking a little as the crowd cheers Marcos, Yuugo asks him if the battle has started. Marcos quips that the fight was on the moment both of them activated their magical tools. While Marcos mocks him, Yuugo charges magic in his hand and fires a beam, taking out Marcos instantly. Yuugo turns to Phi and asks if he just beat him, ending the chapter.    

Chapter Three

Picking up right were the last chapter left off, we see Yuugo and Phi reacting to the end of the duel with Marcos, before leaving and reflecting on the whole situation. Phi is impressed with how well Yuugo can use Blaster already. Yuugo takes the moment to ask if Blaster really is as old as Phi mentioned, to which Phi explains that Blaster is an old mass produced type of magic armour that fell out of use for a number of reasons – these include that, with pure magic, you can make barriers and augment your strength, making new magic armour takes a lot of time and resources and, fundamentally, its only ability is channelling energy. With that in mind, it’s not hard to see how it fell out of favour for more convenient things.

Yuugo, a little down over the reality that he reincarnated into a world that focused on efficiency over being cool, he asks Phi why exactly he keeps being so nice to him. Phi explains that Yuugo Clay was the only one in their family that was ever nice to him, due to him being to product of an affair and not being strong enough to become a magic knight. Yuugo Clay inspired Phi to become a researcher and serve as his right hand man when be becomes the head of the Clay family. As well reaffirming his belief in Yuugo, leading to him saying that he can’t afford to be sad as he has to keep moving forward if he’s going to be a big brother Phi can be proud off, Phi responds by telling Yuugo that he’s his hero, which really strikes a chord with him.

Remembering that child’s crying face and feeling a new sense of resolve, the others head to the cafeteria. We cut to Seto reacting to the news of Yuugo’s duel, a thing which never happened in the original game. He expresses concern for the story implications before his mind turns to one of the other female characters, one whose popularity rivalss Claire’s. He decides that she’s the next girl he will try to get in his budding harem. 

We then rejoin the brothers in the cafeteria, talking to some random people. Yuugo realises that he will probably need to get a job since he can’t keep mooching off Phi. Just then, the female character that Seto was talking about appears before them, asking if he wants a job and that they should team up with her. She introducing herself as Melt Epee, bringing the third chapter to a close. 

My Take

Wow, this is pretty great! I love art in the series, how expressive it is and how great a lot of the designs are. Yuugo and Phi’s dynamic is endearing and I look forward to seeing more as the series progresses. Yuugo is a very fun character, his knowledge of tokusatsu really is fun. He gushes over a lot of this stuff, like getting Blaster, or winning his first fight in one shot because he wanted to try out a special move he had to been working on. Let’s be honest, these are all things any toku fan would do if we were in Yuugo’s situation. Not to mention, all the references that just made me laugh reading this. What’s also very interesting is that he’s starting on the back foot from the very start and is really going to have to work for everything he gets as the series goes on.

Shifting focus to Seto for a moment, he is already an interesting villain by virtue of being a reincarnation as well as having one of the most punchable faces I’ve seen in a new manga in a while. The fact his core motivation is “build a harem” is somewhat of a let down but it seems to be playing into the wider “messing with the expected reincarnation manga” tropes, so I’m interested to see this goes. 

All in all, a very promising first three chapters that I recommend checking out. Regardless, be sure to check back here for new reviews as the series progresses. If you’ve already read them, let me know what you thought! Did you enjoy the first three chapters?

Will you be checking out this series yourself? Are you looking forward to the next chapter? I’d love to hear your thoughts. As always, I’ve been Ethan: writer, reviewer and reincarnated magic knight for The Toku Source and I’ll see you next time.