This section of the light novel, chapters 3 through 12, details the protagonist Miko's transition from her mundane life to a new world.
Chapter 3 begins with Miko, a quiet and bookish high school student, being unexpectedly called aside after school by Akihiko Yamada, a popular classmate. He leads her to the back of the school building and confesses his feelings, asking her to be his girlfriend. Miko is surprised, as she barely interacts with him and knows he has a girlfriend, Akiho. Akihiko explains he broke up with Akiho because she was "too heavy" and "scary," and he was drawn to Miko's gentle nature, having seen her tending to flowers. Despite his confession, Miko gently rejects him, stating she has personal issues to resolve before she can move forward.
Chapter 4 delves into Miko's traumatic past. She experiences a nightmare depicting her father violently abusing her mother. This recurring nightmare stems from her childhood, where her father was a constant source of fear and violence. Her mother eventually divorced him, and he was sentenced to prison. Miko and her mother moved away and built a new life, but the trauma lingered, often surfacing in their shared nightmares, which they would comfort each other through.
Chapter 5 sees Miko attending school the next day, still affected by her lack of sleep and the lingering thoughts of Akihiko's confession. During lunch, she is approached by Akiho, Akihiko's ex-girlfriend, who takes her to the rooftop. Akiho is furious, demanding to know why Miko was chosen over her, believing she was superior in looks and affection. Miko reiterates that she rejected Akihiko and isn't interested in dating. Akiho, in a fit of rage and delusion, pulls out a knife and repeatedly stabs Miko, accusing her of seducing Akihiko. In her madness, Akiho confesses to killing Akihiko, believing he betrayed her by going to Miko. Miko succumbs to her fatal wounds, reflecting on her life with regret.
Chapter 6 marks Miko's awakening in a stark white, unknown space. She realizes she has died and is informed by a disembodied electronic voice that her soul is undergoing optimization for reincarnation. This process involves optimizing her body, mind, and memories, and severing her original causal ties. She is told she will be transferred to a world called "Stride," a realm of swords and magic.
Chapter 7 continues the explanation from the disembodied voice, which identifies itself as a Goddess. Miko learns she has no specific mission in Stride and can live freely. The Goddess explains Stride's world structure, featuring "Antique Towers" created by seven gods, which generate monsters. "Explorers" are those who hunt these monsters. The Goddess also warns Miko that Stride is far more physically dangerous than her previous world and stresses the importance of valuing her life.
Chapter 8 details Miko's interaction with the Goddess. Miko, initially overwhelmed, becomes fixated on the Goddess's beauty, revealing a latent attraction to women due to her past trauma with men. After a brief, comical struggle where Miko hugs the Goddess and is hit with a staff, the Goddess agrees to explain Stride further. She reiterates that Miko has no mission but can become an Explorer, a profession that offers financial stability and a way to integrate into society, as many Explorers lack clear backgrounds. The Goddess also explains the dangers of unchecked Towers, which can spawn increasingly powerful monsters.
Chapter 9 focuses on Miko's status and skills. The Goddess has Miko mentally access her "Status," a game-like interface revealing her abilities. Miko's stats are exceptionally high for her level, and her skills, particularly "Language Comprehension," "Seal Tag," and "Appraisal," are maxed out. The Goddess is astonished by Miko's abnormal stats, noting that her level 8 status should be much lower and her maxed skills are unusual, especially "Seal Tag" and "Appraisal" for a reincarnated individual. Despite the anomaly, the Goddess proceeds with the transfer, providing Miko with basic equipment: a sword, leather armor, undergarments, food, coins, and "Seal Tags."
Chapter 10 details Miko's final requests before her transfer. She asks the Goddess to ensure her mother's happiness in her original world, a request the Goddess grants by promising to provide opportunities for her mother's well-being. With her preparations complete, Miko bids farewell to the Goddess and is transported to Stride.
Chapter 11 describes Miko's arrival in Stride, finding herself in a dense forest. She immediately encounters a Goblin, a small, monstrous creature. Using her "Appraisal" skill, she learns its stats and easily defeats it with her sword. She then experiments with her "Seal Tag" skill, successfully storing the Goblin's remains in a copper card, discovering that different card types have varying storage capacities. She changes into her new leather armor, which is revealing, and discards her school uniform by sealing it in a card.
Chapter 12 sees Miko searching for a river and encountering more Goblins, which she easily defeats. She notes that the monsters seem weak. She eventually reaches a massive stone wall and follows it until she finds an entrance to a town.
Chapter 13 details Miko's arrival at the town of Ratia. She joins a queue for entry and observes various non-human races. At the gate, she expresses her desire to register as an Explorer. She is informed about the need for a criminal record check and requests a female official due to her male phobia. After the check, she is granted a one-month residency permit. She then explores the town, noting its medieval European architecture, and tries some local street food, which she finds delicious. The vendor advises her on how to find the Guild.
Chapter 14 continues Miko's exploration of Ratia. She visits a clothing store, finding the styles limited and muted, and a general store that sells potions. She purchases several knives and potions, using her "Seal Tag" skill to pay with coins from a card, impressing the shopkeeper. She also learns about the local currency, "Lux."
Chapter 15 describes Miko's visit to the Guild, a large building where various professions register. She is directed to the Explorer entrance and waits in line. She meets Aria, a Guild employee, who explains the different professions (Explorer, Merchant, Producer, Knight) and the benefits of Guild membership, including simplified entry into towns and a crime-tracking system embedded in Guild IDs. Miko is particularly struck by the magic system and its implications.
Chapter 16 delves into the specifics of being an Explorer. Aria explains that Explorers are essentially generalists who take on various missions, from cleaning to monster hunting. Ranks range from H to TS, each with a corresponding color. Explorers must remain active to avoid demotion or expulsion. Aria also outlines the rules regarding mission completion, penalties for failure, tax exemptions for Explorers, and severe consequences for crimes, including potential enslavement.
Chapter 17 details the contract signing process for becoming an Explorer. Miko signs a contract with her blood, and her information, including her unusually high stats and maxed-out skills, appears on the document. Aria is again astonished by Miko's status and warns her to keep it secret. Miko receives her Explorer Guild ID, a blue metal plate. She then proceeds to have the Goblins she defeated processed, receiving payment and advice from Aria to consider buying a slave.