The story begins with the protagonist awakening as a newborn infant, experiencing confusion and a sense of disorientation. He realizes he has been reincarnated and that the arguing couple he hears are likely his new parents. The mother, a young woman with blonde hair, is distressed, while the father, a man with brown hair, is angry. An elderly woman is also present, seemingly caring for the infant. The protagonist is wrapped in rough cloth and placed in a wooden box. His father then carries him out into the night, leaving his mother behind. The protagonist deduces he has been abandoned in a forest.
Upon waking, the protagonist finds himself alone in the wooden box in a forest. He discovers he can manipulate a mysterious, viscous substance around his body, which he dubs "Ki." This "Ki" allows him to sense his surroundings and, with effort, move objects. However, using it causes fatigue. He soon realizes he is in a dire situation, hungry and vulnerable. He hypothesizes that he might have been abandoned to die. Driven by survival, he experiments with his "Ki," discovering he can use it to manipulate objects with telekinetic force. He successfully plucks a red fruit from a tree, but it falls on him, causing pain. He then learns he cannot eat the fruit directly due to a lack of teeth and uses his "Ki" to crush it.
Over the next few weeks, the protagonist, now able to move by manipulating his "Ki" to propel the box, learns to survive on berries and insects. He also discovers that his "Ki" can be transformed into elemental forces, such as fire, water, and stone, and names this ability "Magic." He realizes he is in a world different from Earth, where magic exists. He decides to seek out civilization to learn more and find clothing. He observes hunters and learns their settlement is to the east.
After practicing his magic, including flight and invisibility, for several weeks, the protagonist, now appearing as a three-year-old child, ventures towards a village. He infiltrates a house with a young child named Frau, intending to learn language and culture from them. He observes the family's simple life and the village's agrarian society. He also learns about the world's history, including the existence of five great sacred territories, one of which, Nergu, is where he was abandoned. He witnesses the village's training for defense against beasts and observes a boy named Kiichi, who seems unusually dedicated.
During a training session, Kiichi's anger at the villagers' complacency leads to a confrontation with Kasoku, a seemingly lazy but skilled hunter. A duel is arranged, and Kiichi, despite his initial prowess, is defeated when his "Ki" (later revealed to be "Fighting Spirit" or "Touki") interferes with the protagonist's magic, which he had inadvertently used to observe the duel. This event causes the protagonist to feel guilt and resolve to leave the village.
Two years pass, and the protagonist, now appearing to be around five years old, continues to live in the village, observing and training. He learns more about "Fighting Spirit" from Shium, a village elder, and its ability to disrupt magic. He also witnesses the villagers' communal spirit and their reliance on each other. He learns that Kasoku and Shium were once explorers and that Kiichi is being trained by Shium to leave the village and become an adventurer.
The protagonist decides to leave the village and seeks passage on a merchant's wagon. He witnesses the merchant, Kilia, and his guide, Kisan, who uses a creature called a "Haku" to pull the wagon. He learns about the world's unique creatures and the role of guides. He also encounters a monstrous, six-legged dog-like creature, which he defeats using his magic.
The story then shifts focus to Elsi, Frau's mother, and the other village women. They have been secretly stealing small amounts of salt and other provisions, attributing it to "fairies" who also occasionally cause clothes to disappear. This secret brings them a sense of excitement and shared conspiracy. However, the discovery of the magically killed boar disrupts this illusion, and the women fear their secret is exposed.
The protagonist, now appearing to be around seven years old, continues his journey. He learns that his magic has been disrupted by his "Fighting Spirit," which he needs to suppress to use magic again. He also discovers that he can combine "Fighting Spirit" and magic by focusing them on different body parts. He decides to leave the village, as his presence is becoming too conspicuous.
The narrative returns to Elsi, who, despite her husband's suspicion and the villagers' fear of a magical being, continues to believe in the "fairy" who has protected her son. She feels conflicted about the potential exposure of their secret and the protagonist's fate.
The protagonist, having left the village, continues his journey with the merchant caravan. He encounters another magical beast, which he defeats. He arrives at a new town, which is similar to his village but larger. He observes the merchant's dealings and learns more about the world. The story concludes with the protagonist's continued journey, hinting at future adventures and discoveries in this new world.
