This setup and the flow of these first couple chapters is extraordinarily similar to a light novel I read years and years ago called "The Light Beyond the Road's End" / "道果ての向こうの光" - So much so I was certain it was an adaptation of it at first, based on my fuzzy memories. I had to dig through my ancient novel bookmarks list on my old external HD to confirm that this one is, in fact, adapted from a different novel.
This one does seem a good deal lighter in tone than that one though, which is more to my taste. Guess I'll set aside the deja vu and give it a shot.