Van used to be a dull office worker who practically lived at work, going home only to sleep. But one day, he suddenly wakes up in the body of a two-year-old boy. Confused by his tiny hands, he runs around the unfamiliar room before rushing to the window. Outside, he sees a massive medieval castle and city, leaving him completely stunned. His maid, Till, suddenly rushes in, thinking Van is about to fall from the window. She quickly pulls him away and warns him that it is dangerous, but Van explains that he was simply fascinated by the view.
Till is shocked when Van speaks far more intelligently than a normal two-year-old. Then Van suddenly remembers fragments of his life in this world. He realizes that his name is Van Ney Fertio, the youngest son of Jalpa Fertio, and recalls having three older brothers. Soon, breakfast begins, with several maids eagerly taking care of Van. Despite his childish appearance, Van’s mind belongs to his previous life, making the situation rather amusing.
During breakfast, Jalpa asks his sons about their plans for the day. After hearing about their studies, he turns to Van and asks what he intends to do. Van calmly says that since he knows almost nothing about this world, he plans to start with the basics by learning about its culture and history. His brothers are stunned by how maturely he speaks, while Jalpa laughs and becomes even more interested in his youngest son. He believes Van may inherit his talent for fire magic, just like Van’s late mother.
Van already understands that this world has several types of magic attributes. However, nobles mainly value the four basic elements: fire, water, wind, and earth, because of their powerful offensive abilities. Other magical attributes are generally looked down upon, while all three of Van’s older brothers possess one of the four favored elements.
Later that day, Till teaches Van about their country, and he becomes excited after learning that their world is home to many intelligent races, including elves, dwarves, and others. Van then asks about magic tools, so Till explains that magic crystals and special rocks can store magical energy and are used to create various magical devices.
While Van is learning the basics, the old butler Esparda brings him several books to test his knowledge before beginning his proper education. Van admits that he can barely read but knows some basic math. Esparda starts with a simple question, asking what 3 + 5 is. When Van answers instantly without counting, Esparda is impressed and decides to personally teach him. Van soon realizes this means endless studying, as Esparda pushes him from morning until night. Thanks to his intense training, Van learns to read and write within a few weeks.
At the age of four, Van begins swordsmanship training, with Till as his first opponent. However, she easily dodges every swing of his wooden sword, leaving Van frustrated. When Till teases him about losing, the other maids demand that Van punish her for disrespecting a noble. Instead, Van simply flicks her forehead and declares that justice has been served.
Over the next year, Van works hard on his swordsmanship. By the age of five, he can defeat senior students with ease, thanks to his adult mind and ability to predict their simple attacks. Everyone begins seeing Van as a genius, especially because he treats even lower-ranking students with kindness despite their differences in social status.
After that, Van takes a short break when Dee, the deputy commander of the Knights, arrives to inspect his hands. He notices that Van has no calluses despite his impressive sword skills. Van explains that he is too busy studying to train regularly, and Dee casually reveals that the marquis ordered Esparda to make Van’s lessons three times harder. Van is shocked but finally understands why his education has been so brutal. Dee asks if he wants to pursue swordsmanship seriously and promises to convince the marquis to reduce his studies. Van wants to balance both, so Dee decides to train him personally, claiming he will take it easy because Van is still a child. Of course, that turns out to be a complete lie. Dee’s training is even more brutal, but Van still enjoys his new life.
Another year passes, and six-year-old Van is now famous throughout the territory as a genius. However, constantly studying and training with a sword leaves him exhausted, so he asks Till to take him outside. She brings him to the market with two knights, and Van is amazed by all the shops. Till points out a massive building belonging to the Mary Chamber of Commerce, a powerful company with branches across the country.
While exploring, Van notices a filthy and badly beaten blue-haired boy being dragged around by a man. The man rudely tells Van to mind his own business, angering the knights, but Van stops them and asks what is happening. The man arrogantly explains that he plans to sell his own son into slavery. Van is horrified to learn from Till that poor families sometimes sell their children to survive.
A merchant named Rosalie then approaches after recognizing Van as the marquis’s youngest son. Van asks how much the boy is worth, and Rosalie checks his magical attribute. After learning that the boy has a theft-related ability, she says he is only worth three large silver coins. Furious at his son’s low price, the father starts abusing him again. Van finally offers five large silver coins, buys the boy, and immediately sets him free.
When Van learns that the boy has nowhere to go, he decides to bring him back to the mansion. However, the knights explain that Van cannot simply take in someone of unknown origin and must register him as a slave. Van hates the idea, but the boy agrees. Rosalie then prepares the contract, and after the spell is cast, a magical mark appears on the boy’s hand, officially making him Van’s servant.
With that, Van brings Comm back to the mansion, where he quickly becomes a loyal and capable servant. One day, Comm tells Van that Dee is looking for him, so Van gives him a cookie and asks him to pretend he isn’t there. Comm accepts the bribe and boldly lies to Dee when he arrives, even claiming that a servant must have imagined seeing Van enter. Dee notices the cookie crumbs around Comm’s mouth, but the boy quickly wipes them away and insists Dee must be imagining things too. Impressed by Comm’s courage and loyalty, Dee decides to train him instead of Van.
Two years later, Van turns eight and attends his appraisal ceremony. Everyone expects him to become a great lord and assumes he will inherit his father’s fire magic. However, the results reveal that Van has production magic. Jalpa is furious because nobles consider it the weakest type of magic, believing it is little more than using magic to create things like weapons and tools. He cannot accept that his son, born to two powerful fire mages, possesses such an ability. In anger, Jalpa draws his sword and prepares to strike Van.
Before he can do anything, Van’s eldest brother Murcia steps in and suggests sending Van to develop a remote village in their territory. The village has only around a hundred residents, dangerous monsters in the northern mountains, a neighboring noble domain, and the rival kingdom of Yelanetta nearby. Jalpa agrees, deciding the unwanted territory is perfect for sending away his disappointing son.
Afterward, Murcia privately apologizes to Van, explaining that he only suggested the village to save his life. Van thanks him, and Murcia promises to help him settle there. Van begins preparing for the journey, while Till is furious about his father’s decision. Van, however, is actually excited because he expects to finally have plenty of free time. He is initially allowed to take only Comm, while adventurers are hired to protect him, but Murcia manages to arrange for Till to accompany him as well.
Just before departure, Dee suddenly announces that he is coming along to continue Van’s training. Van is horrified, but Dee claims he never received any order preventing the Knights from accompanying him. He even brings two knights with him. Then Esparda arrives and announces that he has retired early from the mansion and will continue teaching Van on the journey.
As the carriage leaves, Van thinks his departure will be quiet and secret because his father does not even want him using the family crest. But then he discovers the entire city has gathered to see him off. Huge banners announcing Van’s departure are everywhere, all because Dee ordered them to be displayed. The knights explain that they cannot remove them until Dee gives the order, but unfortunately, he is currently asleep. With the whole city cheering him on, Van promises that one day he will return.
