The light novel's chapters 3 through 12 detail the protagonist, Kizaki Hinata, a high school sophomore who, after a seemingly minor act of kindness, wakes up to find himself transformed into a young, emerald-eyed girl with snow-white hair. He is understandably distressed and confused by this drastic physical change, which is confirmed by his reflection in the mirror. His initial attempts to rationalize the situation, such as searching online for similar phenomena, prove fruitless, yielding only fictional accounts.
Hinata recalls the events leading to his transformation: he had been visiting a local shrine for about three months to help the priest with cleaning and to enjoy the company of a stray white kitten with green eyes. One afternoon, he witnessed two male students from a neighboring high school tormenting the kitten with an air rifle. In a moment of impulsive bravery, Hinata intervened, attempting to rescue the kitten. However, his frail physique and the students' aggression led to him being chased to the shrine's stairs, where he was pushed down. He instinctively shielded the kitten, resulting in severe injuries from the fall. Upon regaining consciousness, he found himself back in his room, inexplicably unharmed but in his new, feminine form.
Fearing his family's reaction and the potential disbelief or institutionalization, Hinata decides to conceal his condition. He fabricates an illness to avoid his mother and begins to strategize how to maintain his isolation. His plan involves feigning continued illness and using the newly released VRMMO game, "Ether Frontier," as an excuse to remain in his room. He had recently acquired the necessary VR equipment, a gift from his sister, intended as a way to help him socialize and overcome his reclusive tendencies.
The narrative then shifts to Hinata's first foray into "Ether Frontier." He logs in, intending to use a pre-made, plain male avatar, but the game's system rejects it due to his current physical form. Forced to create a new character, he reluctantly chooses a female avatar, naming it "Sun." He selects the "Enchanter" class, a support role focused on enhancing equipment, driven by a desire to be useful to his friends, Eiji Yajima and Ibuki Kurakura, who are also playing the game.
Upon entering the game world, Hinata, as Sun, is immediately overwhelmed by the realistic virtual environment and the attention his small, seemingly young female avatar attracts. He struggles with the game's mechanics and the social implications of his appearance, especially when his friends Eiji and Ibuki, who are aware of his true identity, join him. They agree to go along with the "bug" explanation for his appearance, but the situation is fraught with awkwardness and Hinata's deep-seated fear of rejection.
The group embarks on their first adventure to the northern floating continent of Cresea, a snowy region. Hinata, ill-prepared for the cold despite his protective gear, is often carried by Eiji. They encounter the game's weakest monsters, Zerits, and struggle with the deep snow. During their exploration, Hinata discovers a hidden hole beneath a large tree, leading to a fragment of an item called "Ice Wolf's Chain Fragment," which turns out to be a flag item for an event boss.
This discovery leads to a challenging battle against the "Glacial Lord," a powerful wolf-like monster. Despite their combined efforts and Hinata's crucial support through enchantments and the strategic use of terrain-altering magic by Ibuki, the party faces significant setbacks, including Eiji's temporary incapacitation and the loss of their healer, Mi, to a powerful boss attack. Hinata, despite his low level and limited offensive capabilities, manages to land the final blow using a risky, item-destroying skill called "Overload" after the boss's "Frenzy" mode is activated.
The victory is hard-won, and the party is rewarded with rare items, including the "Ice Wolf's Charm" and "Ice Wolf's Priestess Robe," which Hinata receives as a reward for his crucial role. However, the "Priestess Robe" turns out to be a revealing, almost-naked outfit with wolf ears and a tail, causing Hinata immense embarrassment and further solidifying his internal conflict about his new identity. He discards the robe in the game's fountain, only for a goddess-like figure to appear and offer him an even more revealing, yet seemingly more powerful, version of the outfit, the "Ice Wolf Princess Robe."
Following the successful expedition, Hinata continues to play "Ether Frontier" to maintain his alibi and enjoy time with his friends, while still grappling with his transformation and the growing disconnect between his male identity and his feminine avatar. He earns a significant amount of in-game currency through a lucrative quest involving the Glacial Lord, allowing him to upgrade his equipment and further immerse himself in the game world. However, the underlying fear of his condition being permanent and the emotional toll of his deception weigh heavily on him. The chapters conclude with Hinata continuing to navigate his dual life, finding solace and a sense of purpose in the virtual world while the mystery of his transformation remains unsolved.
