Makoto walked toward the towering mountain that seemed to pierce the sky. At the same time, he checked the supplies he was carrying: water, rope, compressed biscuits, and a survival knife given to him by his sensei when he was learning survival skills. Makoto calculated that his provisions would be enough for several days until he met Ema, a highland orc who was to be offered to Shin. The highland orcs did not know that they had fallen into a trap set by the demon race, who had manipulated events and shrouded their village in fog for several years, causing the crops they planted to bear no fruit.
Only when they made offerings to the superior dragon named Shin, who was sleeping in the area of that towering mountain, would the fog covering their village fade for a short time. The highland orcs were unaware that the fog that enveloped their village and made their lives miserable was the work of the demon race, who sought to turn the highland orcs into their subordinates.
Returning to Makoto, who was walking across barren land where not a single plant could be seen as far as the eye could reach, he muttered, "This really is what they call the end of the world," imagining how difficult it must be to live in a place like this. In truth, Makoto really wanted to try using magic, but he realized that if he did, the mana inside his body would leak out and cause him to emit an aura that would make everyone feel as if they had encountered a horde of Demon Kings. Therefore, Makoto could only train and understand the power given to him by the god Tsukuyomi, since that power did not require magical energy, or what could be called mana.
Makoto tried to create a hemispherical area centered on himself. After several attempts, he finally succeeded. Within the area he created, Makoto could detect everything happening around him. He tried expanding the detection area; the wider it became, the less detailed the information he received. Then he reduced the area to only a few meters around him, and within that small range, he could perceive everything in great detail. Makoto also tried reinforcement and defense like in anime, and the results were quite satisfying to him. He experimented with various ways of using that power, but just like in anime, he could only perform searching, reinforcement, and protection. Still, Makoto decided to name the power granted to him SAKAI.
During his journey, aside from conducting various experiments with Sakai, Makoto discovered that the mysterious object within his consciousness had changed. The light that had once been dim had become brighter. Makoto also realized that the mysterious object was slowly absorbing the mana in the air—something he would have ignored if he had not sensed it through Sakai. He tried various ways to communicate with the object, but none bore fruit. Makoto speculated that in his previous world, where mana did not exist, there had been no changes over the past year. Now that he was in another world, the mysterious object had begun to draw in the mana present in the air. In the end, Makoto chose to ignore it, as it did not respond in any way.
Three days had passed since Makoto arrived in the other world. By his calculations, by nightfall he should have met Ema and saved her from a monster attack. However, when night came, Makoto heard no cries for help. Feeling something was off, he expanded his Sakai. That was when he detected Ema facing a monster. "Damn it, it seems I spent too much time experimenting with the power given by the god Tsukuyomi," Makoto cursed inwardly as he ran at full speed. As he was about to arrive, he saw a large dog-like monster with two heads leap toward Ema. Without hesitation, Makoto leapt toward the monster, and with a single swing of his knife—reinforced by Sakai—he slashed at the creature's neck. After landing, Makoto turned around to see both of the monster's heads severed. At the same time, the knife in his hand shattered into several pieces. After picking up some of the broken fragments, Makoto walked toward Ema, who stood frozen in shock at what had just happened.
"Um, are you all right?" Makoto asked, looking at Ema, who looked exactly as she did in the anime.
"How can a human speak the orc language?" Ema asked spontaneously. Realizing her words had been rude, she quickly apologized. "I sincerely apologize for my impolite remark just now."
"It's fine," Makoto replied casually. "My name is Makoto. I've been lost in this barren land for three days. Is there a place where I can rest?" he asked while looking around.
"My name is Ema of the highland orc race. Thank you very much for saving me. As for a place to rest…" Ema paused for a moment, then explained her situation. "Actually, I am on my way to offer myself to Lord Shin, because for the past several years our entire village has been covered in thick fog that prevents our crops from bearing fruit." She then continued, "However, over there is a place for purification that leads toward the mountain. As a token of my gratitude for saving me from the monster, please rest there to relieve your fatigue," Ema said as she pointed the way.
Makoto looked at Ema as she guided him. "Ema really is smart, polite, and kind," Makoto thought to himself. And so, beneath the night sky that bore witness to their first meeting, Makoto followed Ema onward—marking his first encounter with the inhabitants of this other world.