Kim Young-min was an ordinary university student. He was quiet and introverted, never standing out in a crowd. However, he had an insatiable curiosity and a deep love for learning. Though he excelled academically, he never considered himself particularly talented.
One evening, after class, Young-min headed to the library as usual. It was his sanctuary, a place where he could escape into the world of books. Wandering through the familiar shelves, his fingers instinctively reached for the classic literature section. But today, something felt different.
A particular shelf, one he had never paid attention to before, seemed to beckon him. His eyes landed on an old, worn-out book with golden patterns embossed on its leather cover. The title, written in Hangul, stood out—"The Magic of a Strange Land."
Curious, Young-min picked up the book. Its weight felt solid in his hands, comforting in a way he couldn't explain.
"What is this…?" he murmured as he flipped open the cover.
The moment he turned the first page, a blinding light engulfed him.
When Young-min regained consciousness, he was no longer in the library.
The sky above him shimmered in hues of violet, and enormous emerald-leaved trees stretched endlessly before him. The air was filled with the scent of unknown flowers, and strange creatures roamed the landscape.
"Where… am I?" His voice trembled with disbelief as he scanned his surroundings.
Panic threatened to consume him, but he forced himself to stay calm. He had always been a logical thinker. If this was a dream, he had to wake up. If it wasn't, he had to survive.
"Stay calm, Kim Young-min. You need to figure this out."
Determined, he began his journey, using the stars as his guide and a nearby stream as his source of water. For days, he wandered the unfamiliar wilderness, carefully testing wild berries for sustenance and avoiding strange creatures lurking in the shadows.
Finally, on the fifth day, he spotted something that made his heart leap—a village.
As Young-min entered the village, wary eyes followed him. The villagers spoke an unfamiliar language, their expressions cautious. When he tried to communicate, they merely shook their heads in confusion.
Despair began to set in—until he saw the gathering in the village square.
At its center stood a man draped in magnificent robes, performing what could only be described as magic.
"Levitate." The man floated into the air.
"Ignite." A fiery arrow shot from his fingertips, striking a target with precision.
Gasps of awe rippled through the crowd, but Young-min wasn't mesmerized by the magic itself. Instead, his mind fixated on something else.
"Wait… he's speaking Korean?"
The realization hit him like a lightning bolt. Desperate, Young-min pushed through the crowd, raising his voice as loud as he could.
"Please, help me!"
The sorcerer froze mid-incantation, his gaze snapping toward Young-min. For a moment, silence hung in the air. Then, the sorcerer swiftly approached him, his expression filled with shock.
"How… How do you know this language?"
Young-min, equally stunned, struggled to find the right words.
"I—I've been starving for days because no one could understand me! But you… you're speaking Korean! How?"
The sorcerer studied him for a long moment before nodding.
"This language is the ancient tongue of magic. Hardly anyone here knows it anymore. Who are you?"
Before Young-min could respond, the sorcerer made a decision.
"This isn't the place for such a conversation. Come with me."
Young-min followed the sorcerer to a towering structure on the outskirts of the village. The moment they stepped inside, the air shifted—books floated mid-air, magical artifacts hummed with energy, and an otherworldly warmth filled the space.
"I am Alex, a magician of the Royal Association," the sorcerer introduced himself.
"I'm Kim Young-min… from Korea."
Alex furrowed his brows, intrigued.
"Korea? I've never heard of such a place."
Young-min explained how he had been transported through a book, only to realize he no longer had it. Alex, sensing the truth in his words, cast a spell to locate the book but could only determine that it existed somewhere beyond their world.
Then, Alex presented Young-min with several ancient scrolls.
"Can you read this?"
Young-min examined the scripts and, to his surprise, recognized the characters.
"Yes. This is Hangul."
Alex's eyes widened.
"So it's true… You can read the lost language of magic."
Before they could continue their discussion, the door creaked open. A woman entered the room—a striking figure with long golden hair, piercing blue eyes, and an air of elegance.
For a moment, Young-min found himself speechless.
"Who is she…?"
The woman's gaze, however, was far from welcoming.
"Master, I have returned. Who is this?"
"Elena," Alex greeted her. "This young man is from a distant land. He possesses a rare gift."
Elena's icy blue eyes assessed Young-min with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
"A rare gift, you say?" She turned to Young-min. "You. How did you come here?"
Young-min hesitated under her cold scrutiny.
"I don't know. I was reading a book, and then suddenly… I was here."
Elena folded her arms.
"This world is dangerous for outsiders. You should be careful."
Her voice was cool, calculated. Young-min could tell she didn't trust him.
Still, there was something about her that intrigued him.
Alex, sensing the tension, handed Elena a task. "I have matters to attend to. Elena, please guide him for now."
She sighed but nodded.
"Fine."
Elena led Young-min through the tower, her explanations brisk and efficient. She introduced him to the basics of magic, the history of their world, and the importance of ancient languages in spellcasting.
Despite her cold demeanor, she was undeniably intelligent, graceful, and incredibly skilled.
As Young-min listened, he found himself drawn to her—not just by her beauty but by the strength and confidence she exuded.
When they arrived at the library, she gestured toward the endless shelves of books.
"If you wish to survive here, you must understand this world. These books will help you."
Young-min met her gaze, sincerity in his voice.
"Thank you, Elena. I truly appreciate your help."
For the briefest moment, her icy exterior seemed to crack.
But just as quickly, she turned away.
"Don't thank me yet. You still have a long way to go."
Young-min couldn't help but smile.
"Then, I'll just have to prove myself."
And with that, his journey as the Korean Master in Another World truly began.