Shujinkou, literally meaning 'protagonist' in Japanese, is the main character controlled by the player in the Dragon Quest series. This character typically serves as the hero of the story, embarking on a quest to defeat evil forces threatening the world. Shujinkou's personality, appearance, and even gender are often determined by the player, making them a blank slate that represents the player's journey. As the central figure, Shujinkou leads the party and is crucial to the game's narrative progression.