The story begins with the protagonist, a young girl named Alicia, recounting her traumatic past. She lived a happy life with her parents until a monster outbreak devastated her town, claiming their lives. Orphaned and alone, she was sent to a harsh orphanage run by a cruel old woman. There, she endured abuse, starvation, and the constant threat of violence from older orphans. Despite her suffering, Alicia clung to her mother's words about being forgiving, maintaining a smile and protecting her amulet bag.
One day, desperate to escape the orphanage and the impending threat of being handed over to a "client," Alicia flees. In an alley, she encounters a disheveled woman who reveals herself to be a reincarnator from another world, a world she identifies as the setting of an otome game called "Princess of the Moon." This woman, driven by a desire to become the game's protagonist, intends to transfer her consciousness and memories into Alicia's body using a "magic stone." In a desperate struggle, Alicia manages to wound the woman and, by accidentally touching the magic stone with her bloodied hand, absorbs fragmented knowledge from it. This knowledge includes combat skills, magic theory, and world history. Alicia then kills the woman and, driven by a newfound resolve, returns to the orphanage to exact revenge on the old woman, killing her in her sleep. She steals supplies and escapes the town, vowing to survive on her own and reject the predetermined fate of the otome game.
Alicia, now possessing the knowledge of the reincarnator, learns that this world is called Ciel and is similar to the otome game "Princess of the Moon." She discovers her mother was a noble who eloped with her father, a knight. Her immediate goal is to reach the next town, which is larger and offers more opportunities for survival. She learns about the world's social structure, the importance of "skills" (abilities gained through practice and ingrained in the soul), and the existence of magic, divided into "magic" (original) and "sorcery" (analyzed and made accessible). She also learns about the Adventurer's Guild, a potential path to survival.
Alicia's journey is fraught with challenges. She struggles with her child's body, lack of food, and the need to learn survival skills. She encounters a kind adventurer named Feld, who, mistaking her for a boy, teaches her basic combat skills, including knife fighting and the use of "body reinforcement" magic. He also helps her understand her own magic potential and the concept of "status" and "skills." During her time with Feld, Alicia discovers she can perceive magic as colors and begins to develop skills like "Stealth," "Night Vision," "Detection," and "Magic Control," alongside mastering basic "Life Magic" (fire, water, light, darkness, hardening, wind). She also learns about the "magic stone" and its connection to magic power.
Alicia's journey continues as she travels towards the next town. She practices her newfound skills, hunts small game, and gathers herbs. She learns to use her magic more effectively, even developing a unique way to camouflage herself by matching her magic to the surrounding elemental colors. She also creates a makeshift weapon using her hair and coins.
Upon reaching the town, Alicia, disguised as a boy, navigates the slums and learns about the world's social hierarchy and the dangers of being a "free person" without proper documentation. She encounters a pair of siblings, Jill and Shuri, who are also struggling to survive. After a violent encounter with an abusive man, Alicia, using her skills and a modified weapon, dispatches him and instructs Jill to dispose of the body. She then procures an "Appraisal Crystal" to better understand her own abilities and potential.
Alicia's status reveals her rapid growth in skills and magic power, including the newly acquired "Stealth," "Night Vision," "Detection," and "Magic Control," along with mastery of "Life Magic" and an increased magic capacity. She realizes her ability to perceive magic as colors is a significant advantage. She also learns that the "magic stone" she encountered is crucial for transferring memories and personalities, and that the reincarnator's knowledge was incomplete regarding the otome game's plot. Alicia's primary goal remains to survive and forge her own path, rejecting the predetermined narrative of the game. She continues her journey, aiming to gain more combat skills and knowledge to protect herself in this dangerous world.
