Elder Tales, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), has become a global success by its eleventh expansion pack, having a following of millions of players.

During the release of its twelfth expansion pack— Novasphere Pioneers, thirty thousand Japanese gamers who are all logged on at the time of the update, suddenly find themselves transported inside the game world and donning their in-game avatars.

In the midst of the event, a socially awkward gamer called Shiroe along with his friends Naotsugu and Akatsuki team up so that they may face this world which has now become their reality along with the challenges which lie ahead.

[11] Shiroe, Crusty and Michitaka arrive at the banquet and easily counter Lord Malves' ruse with one of their own, forcing the latter to make a hasty retreat.

Minori voices her concern over Shiroe's actions but he reassures her that he accepts appearing as the villain as long as he can accomplish his tasks, something which Akatsuki berates herself for being blind to.