The story begins with the protagonist, Sumeragi Takt, returning home after a week-long MMORPG marathon with friends. He discovers a pre-release game console and software, a gift from his older brother who works at a game company. Takt, exhausted and sleep-deprived, finds a USB drive with cheat codes from his brother, allowing him to maximize his starting bonus points in the game, "Another Key." Upon starting the game, a news report on the radio mentions players of "Another Key" are disappearing. Simultaneously, a message appears on his screen, announcing his transfer to the world of "Another Key."
Takt awakens on a beach, realizing he's been transported to the game world. He quickly learns basic survival skills, gaining "Gathering," "Poison Resistance," and "Fist Attack" skills by interacting with his environment. He encounters a wolf, which he defeats using a combination of his growing skills and a "Desperate Strike" bonus, learning "Throwing," "Evasion," and "Beast Combat" skills. He is then rescued by a gruff but kind bearded man who feeds him wolf meat and gives him two cards: "Luxury Fur" and "250 Dolg." He learns that monsters drop cards that can be exchanged for items or currency at a "Card Exchange."
Takt travels to the town of Mill, where he sells the Luxury Fur card for 3500 Dolg, gaining the "Commerce" skill. He learns that the town's weapon shop burned down and is temporarily operating within the church. He purchases a dagger, "Gale Dagger," and healing potions, gaining "Bargaining" and "Short Sword" skills. He also learns that magic users are rare and require specific skills and magic books.
Takt then encounters Mina, the innkeeper's daughter, and her sister Sasha. He learns Mina's parents were killed by bandits and Sasha was kidnapped. The town is attacked by bandits, and Takt uses his "Instant Teleportation" magic to save Mina and himself by teleporting to the church. He learns the bandits are holding Sasha in an abandoned mine. Takt, using his summoned One Wolf (from a card), defeats the bandits guarding the mine entrance, gaining "Monster Tamer" and "Anti-Person Combat" skills.
Inside the mine, Takt and Mina find Sasha, who had been drugged and was about to be assaulted by the bandit leader. Takt uses his magic to counteract the drug and, after a difficult battle where his "Fire Wall" magic fails due to insufficient MP, he manages to defeat the bandit leader with a combination of skills and a powerful "Fire Field" spell, amplified by his "Desperate Strike" bonus. He also retrieves stolen goods and weapons, which he converts into cards.
Returning to town, Takt learns the inn is heavily indebted and faces ruin. He decides to help by gathering rare items. He travels to a forest and, with the help of his skills and the cheat bonuses, manages to obtain 7 Unicorn Horn cards, a legendary item, within a single night, impressing a knight who was waiting to purchase them. The card exchange owner, Luke Cyclist, is deeply indebted to Takt for saving Mina and Sasha and for his efforts to help the town. The story concludes with Takt having acquired numerous skills and bonuses, setting him on a path of adventure in this new world.
