A teenage boy named Sora is abruptly summoned to a fantasy kingdom as one of seven chosen heroes destined to battle the Demon King. While the other six are granted powerful jobs, legendary titles, and incredible stats, Sora receives only a single, seemingly worthless ability called Walking, which simply ensures he never grows tired from walking. Deemed completely useless by the king, Sora is stripped of his hero status, given a small severance payment, and cast out into the streets of the royal capital to fend for himself.

Determined to make the best of his unjust situation, Sora soon discovers his skill has a hidden effect: each step he takes grants him one experience point. This allows him to level up simply by walking around town. He registers with the local Adventurer's Guild, taking on low-level delivery and herb-gathering quests that let him explore the countryside while steadily accumulating experience. As he walks, he acquires a growing collection of useful abilities including Appraisal, Alchemy, and various healing magics. Through these humble tasks, Sora gradually builds a new life, earning money, making friends, and learning the unspoken dangers of this new world where nearby villages face constant monster attacks and the threat of slavery is very real.

The initial arc takes place in the Elesia Kingdom, where Sora gets his bearings. A significant turning point occurs when he encounters No. 13, a young girl named Hikari, in a situation that forces him to stage his own death with the help of a demon named Ignis to escape the kingdom's corruption. Fleeing Elesia under the assumption that its rulers believe him dead, Sora moves on to the Holy Kingdom of Frieren, where he dons a mask and adopts the guise of a merchant to continue his travels discreetly. However, his desire for a quiet life is repeatedly interrupted. He becomes entangled in an orc massacre of a small village and uncovers a sinister plot in the holy city of Messa. Throughout these events, Sora is joined by a colorful group of female adventurers and a headstrong holy woman on the run, all while searching for leads on missing friends of his companions Chris and Rurika.