The protagonist, a socially withdrawn individual who struggles with crowds and social interaction, finds himself in a predicament during a school trip. He dislikes group activities and prefers solitude, but is forced to participate. His desire for isolation is so strong that he often feels unwell in social situations.
During the trip, while on the bus, he falls asleep listening to music. He awakens to find himself alone on a beach, with no sign of the bus or his classmates. The environment is bizarre, featuring a mix of tropical and temperate plants growing in an unnaturally orderly fashion. He quickly realizes he is in an unknown and potentially dangerous location.
His initial priority is survival. He checks his meager belongings: a flashlight, snacks, and a water bottle. He hides his luggage and creates a makeshift flag as a marker. While exploring, he encounters a rabbit, which he perceives as mocking him, fueling his frustration. He discovers that his movement is restricted by invisible barriers along the coastline, forcing him to venture inland through a dense forest.
The forest presents its own challenges, with unknown creatures and limited visibility. He attempts to create basic tools and a shelter, a hammock made of vines, and uses plants for insect repellent. He also tries to make a fire and boil seawater for drinking. His initial food sources are the snacks he brought and coconuts, but he struggles to open them.
He discovers a smartphone that has been "upgraded" by a mysterious stone monument. This upgrade installs new apps: "Land Map," "Link," and "Status." The map reveals his location on a large island and marks his current position and a "Base 1," which he dedifies as his hammock area. The "Link" app is unusable as it has no registered contacts.
The "Status" app is the most significant discovery. It reveals that he has been assigned a "Job" and has skills. After scanning his body, the app presents him with job categories: Combat, Magic, Production, and Special. He considers the options, leaning towards "Alchemist" due to its versatility for solo survival, as it offers basic combat, production, and magic abilities.
Upon selecting "Alchemist," the phone attaches itself to his arm with glowing cords, leaving a mark. The status screen updates, showing his job as Alchemist Lv1 with skills in Alchemy, Appraisal, and basic magic for all elements. Notably, the app explains that there are no numerical stats like HP or MP, emphasizing skill usage over reliance on numbers.
He learns he has skill points and uses one to unlock a "Simple Alchemy Set," which manifests as a mortar and pestle and a pot. He then attempts to fish, catching a strange "Box Fish." Upon dissecting it, he discovers a literal box inside, which is empty and deemed a "miss." He cooks and eats the fish, while also checking his status again. He notices he has skill points and uses one to upgrade his Alchemy skill, unlocking the "Simple Alchemy Set." He also discovers he has basic magic abilities for Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth, but these are limited. He realizes that creating a cave dwelling is currently impossible with his limited magic.
He returns to his base, gathering plants and mushrooms, hoping to use his Appraisal skill to identify edible items. He checks his fish trap, finding only a poisonous starfish and the Box Fish. He cooks the fish, and while waiting, he checks his status and discovers he has skill points. He uses one to upgrade his Alchemy skill, unlocking the "Simple Alchemy Set." He also discovers his basic magic skills. He decides to focus on improving his skills and crafting at his base before venturing further.
