The protagonist, Hitomi Shimotsuki, wakes up one morning to discover she has inexplicably grown long, pointed elf ears. Initially disbelieving, she attempts to go to her job at a small rural financial institution, but her appearance causes a stir among her colleagues. Her immediate superior, the branch manager, dismisses her explanation as a prank and demands she hide her ears.
During this chaotic morning, Hitomi encounters a Dryad, a nature spirit who can see her and confirms she is indeed an elf. The Dryad explains that elves possess magical abilities due to their "magic circuits," which ordinary humans lack. This revelation allows Hitomi to understand why she can see the Dryad and why others cannot. The Dryad demonstrates her magic by effortlessly moving heavy boxes, and then guides Hitomi in her first attempt at magic: conjuring water. Hitomi, through a complex visualization process, manages to summon water using all four elemental spirits, impressing the Dryad with her potential, possibly as a "high elf."
Later that day, the bank is targeted by three masked robbers armed with guns. Hitomi, with the Dryad's assistance, negotiates with one of the robbers, a "fire spirit" disguised as a human, by offering him "magic-infused gunpowder" in exchange for their cooperation. This allows the Dryad to trap the robbers with vines while Hitomi uses her newfound abilities to ensure the guns misfire. The robbers are apprehended, and the branch manager, still bewildered and frightened, orders Hitomi to go home.
Hitomi leaves work and meets the fire spirit again in a park, fulfilling her promise to provide it with magic. She conjures matches for it to burn, and the fire spirit, satisfied, departs. Hitomi then seeks guidance from an Ifrit, a powerful fire spirit, to learn how to conceal her elf ears. The Ifrit teaches her a "recognition inhibition" spell, which creates an illusion to make her ears appear normal to most people, though those who can perceive spirits, like Hitomi herself, will still see them as they are.
The next day, Hitomi returns to work, and her ears are no longer outwardly apparent due to the spell. However, her colleagues treat her with a mixture of awe and apprehension. Her friend, Kisaragi Haru, a self-proclaimed otaku, visits and initially mistakes Hitomi's elf ears for a cosplay. Hitomi reveals the truth, and Haru, though surprised, agrees to help her understand her new abilities. The chapter arc concludes with Hitomi grappling with her new identity and the implications of her magical powers, while her friend's arrival signals a potential turning point in her journey.
