Chapter 22
Chapter 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Side Story - Everything Hangs on Luck
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"From a modern perspective, medieval Europeans' actions are pretty hard to understand."
Hwang Sian, a college student taking a liberal arts class, had one dream: to etch his name into history.
"For example, back then, they believed draining bad blood could cure diseases. Hygiene standards were abysmal, and people prioritized scraping by day-to-day over education. Social classes were rigid—serfs were born serfs, and the world barely changed for centuries."
He'd been called a genius since childhood. Never missed first place in school exams, aced the college entrance test to get into his top-choice university.
"But to put it bluntly, it wasn't because they were stupid. Human intelligence hasn't changed from hunter-gatherer days to now. Only our environment has. Humanity has always made the best choices given their circumstances."
After that, he never slipped below an A, returned from military service sharp as a tack to take over the department's student council, and always locked in top grades and scholarships.
"Why did knowledge spread so slowly in the Middle Ages? Simple: books were needed to share it, but without printing presses, everything had to be hand-copied. Books were rare and expensive luxuries."
But at some point, a sense of disillusionment crept in.
"Naturally, books became the domain of nobles and clergy. Peasants and commoners had no chance to learn to read, and knowledge trickled along at a snail's pace."
What's the point of studying so hard? Best I can hope for is landing a corporate job. But I want my name in history books—can a wage slave really achieve that?
"Without knowledge, medicine and science crawled forward. Then the Black Death hit, followed by the Little Ice Age, bringing plagues and famines. Amid endless disasters, people had nothing but faith."
Even becoming a corporate CEO might get my name out there, but how long would that last? A century at most, reduced to a footnote in some dusty book.
"Faith turned to obsession, then power—and history shows excessive power breeds corruption. Religion stopped preaching mercy and salvation, becoming just another tool of control."
He yearned to be remembered eternally, beyond centuries. Always hailed as a genius, even now, he dreamed of being recorded as a great figure in academia—especially science or math.
"What broke the cycle? The Renaissance and the printing press. The Renaissance shifted the world from God-centered to human-centered thought, and printing spread those ideas fast. Only then could the Reformation happen, sparking the Scientific Revolution, Commercial Revolution, and the dawn of capitalism—leading to the modern era."
Sure, solving dark matter, Hubble tension, or any Millennium Prize problem would immortalize him today.
"Some of you might be thinking: centuries of stagnation, then suddenly geniuses appear and boom—progress."
But Hwang Sian wanted more than that.
A once-in-a-millennium genius like Newton or Einstein, flipping science's paradigm 180 degrees.
"If so, let me say this: a hundred geniuses who could have sparked the Renaissance were born but died of the plague. A hundred who could have invented the printing press starved to death."
This era made it impossible. Math and science had reached domains no single genius could conquer alone—it was all factions and politics now.
"That's it for today. Next class, pop quiz."
Just look at Grigori Perelman's case. Anyway, class ended, and Hwang Sian ambled back to his studio apartment, flopped on the bed, and read webnovels.
[I Became a Genius Professor in a Medieval Fantasy World.]
[Surviving the Middle Ages with Science Cheats.]
[Got Isekai'd into a Party Banishment Story but Changed the World as a Genius Scientist.]
He stumbled into webnovels about protagonists isekai'd to medieval worlds, becoming great men.
'I bet I could crush it in a medieval fantasy world too.'
Not like those protagonists bullshitting half-baked knowledge with contrived plot armor—but a true genius, meticulously prepared, enlightening the masses and revolutionizing the world.
'Then I'd be immortalized as a legend there, right?'
Of course, he knew it was nonsense. Just a pleasant fantasy.
'Huh?'
Then, an ad caught his eye. At the bottom of the webnovel page, a banner read:
[Tired of real life? Want to be the protagonist? Contact us now. Your otherworld awaits.]
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
'What was I thinking?'
Early weekend morning, Hwang Sian took the subway somewhere, mocking himself.
'No way that's legit.'
That absurd ad promising otherworld trips—probably a game scam. But curiosity won; he messaged, and learned the shocking truth.
'No way it's that fixer, Lee Seung-hoon.'
Who was Lee Seung-hoon?
'...The fixer.'
Whatever his deal, a fixer could solve his malaise.
'Even if no otherworld, maybe some counseling.'
He arrived at the address. Dingy building, a sign:
「Lee Seung-hoon Fixer Office」
Inside, a few people waited. One smiled and greeted him.
"Mr. Hwang Sian?"
"Yes."
"Got it. Everyone's here. Coffee? Tea? Soda?"
"Coffee for me, please."
"Tea for me..."
"Soda..."
Sipping coffee, Hwang Sian eyed the others.
'They all here for otherworld trips like me?'
It tinted his view—they looked pathetic.
'Bunch of losers. As if it's real.'
I'm just curious, and since it's the fixer, maybe he can fix my rut. Fine. As he finished his coffee, Lee Seung-hoon entered with a stack of papers.
"Some of you might be here out of curiosity. But my ad is real—I can send you to another world right now."
"R-Really!?"
In chubby, bespectacled Hwang Sian's eyes, a grossly fat man shot up his hand.
"Yes, really. Read this first."
Hwang Sian took the paper, eyes widening.
'Bad taste.'
A list of people sent to otherworlds... who died.
'Mocking people like this?'
Mugged, fallen without treatment, diseased, nobled to death.
"As you see, I can send you to medieval fantasy worlds—but they're not paradises. Might be happy, but more likely not. Why? There's not one otherworld—over 100 million."
Lee Seung-hoon raised a finger.
"Bottom line: it's all luck. Happy world or not? Even I don't know."
He pulled out white paper, like notebook scraps.
"But more knowledge boosts survival odds in a bad draw, right? I don't want you dying pointlessly, so I'll help prep. First..."
Before handing paper, he asked:
"As I said, high death risk. Anyone backing out, raise your hand."
A few did. He shook hands, gave small boxes.
"Gifts. Life's twists are steep—tough now, but light will come."
As people left, murmurs reached Hwang Sian near the door.
-Is this real gold?
-Gold!? For real?
-Sweet! MapleStory cash time!
'Gold as a gift!?'
Small box, but gold. Greed flickered, but he doubled down.
'Gold for quitters? What's his game?'
Lee handed out papers—plus extras.
'What's this?'
Besides white paper, others detailed:
[1. Soap-making: Animal fat (cow, pig, sheep), alkali (lye from ash), spices/herbs (optional).
1-1. Melt fat slowly in pot. Low heat to avoid burning, then add lye. Hardwood like oak or chestnut best for ash.]
From soap to noble etiquette, ledger-keeping without calculators, simple meds from medieval tools/herbs, survival tips.
"Copy this onto the white paper. Need more? Ask. Or write what you deem important."
"Wh-What's the point?"
"White paper imprints permanently. Otherworld trips? Our edge is knowledge."
Hwang Sian asked:
"Mandatory?"
"No. Your choice."
Not distrust—just if true, prioritize.
'Newton and Einstein's achievements!'
He pulled his phone, copied furiously.
'It really sticks!'
"More paper, please!"
"Here. Stack ahead—write as much as you want."
Five remained, silently scribbling.
"Question."
Leftmost man, fastest scribe:
"If real otherworld, our identities? Medieval fantasy's white mainstream—we Asians stick out."
"Sharp. Don't know. But zero race-based deaths in prior 1,267 suggests auto-fix."
"You don't handle it?"
"I just own the sending item."
Others queried.
"Language?"
"Known: auto-learn most common tongue there."
"Popping in status-less—won't seem weird?"
"No mentions in priors—probably auto-resolved."
"Any cheats?"
"1% mana awakening. 5% protagonist-life world. Rest normal."
Someone yelled:
"5%!? Fucking jackpot!"
Hwang eyed him: average face, wildly excited.
"S-So 5% could mean! TS moe life!"
"TS?"
"Gender swap! Wanna be a cute girl!"
Contempt surged.
'Best he wants is turning girl for pats? Whatever, pathetic.'
Lee smiled.
"Yes, possible—had a case."
"Woo-hoo!"
Truly pathetic.
"Mr. Yoon Ga-on wants that life, huh."
"Yes! Lucid dream girl-mode hobby! 10-year vet—control dreams on cue, remember all. But dreams ain't real TS."
"Impressive passion. Respect."
"Heh... F-First praise ever."
Hwang raised his hand.
"If we go, what about our lives here? Families report missing."
"No worries."
Lee replied:
"Checked prior 1,267. All..."
Silence.
"...nonexistent. Families don't remember. No records, no photos—erased."
"You mean..."
"Yes."
They got it.
"Otherworld means vanishing here."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Last chance to think. Truly want it? No regrets? If yes, 9 AM tomorrow, back here."
"Quit get gifts?"
"Yes. But no second chances—means attachment here. Use that drive in this world."
Home, Hwang pondered.
'I vanish here.'
Heavy. Not just never seeing parents/friends—but erased from memory, existence.
'No—greatness demands cutting petty ties!'
Resolved, he dozed off. Dreamed atop clouds, seven massive temples. Entered sixth unconsciously.
『Hwang Sian.』
Invisible, unknowable entity offered a die.
『All is luck. Roll.』
1-100 die tumbled.
『1.』
Sad voice:
『Fear not. Knowledge might save you.』
Dream faded.
『Maybe.』
He woke.
'...Weird dream.'
Forgot it.
"You're here."
Hwang returned to the office.
"Others quit. Just you two."
Him and Yoon Ga-on.
"Off you go. Who first?"
"M-Me!"
"Wait here. Fetching your otherworld book."
Lee left; Yoon prayed, eyes shut.
"It's fine, got 99. 99, remember."
What the hell? Moments later, Lee brought book.
"Press finger here. Final regrets?"
"...Bit, but going!"
Yoon pressed; vanished seconds later.
'Real teleport!'
Heart pounding, Hwang pressed.
"Seize your desired life."
Vision blurred with Lee's farewell.
'Where...'
Came to in unfamiliar farmhouse.
'Otherworld?'
Puddle reflection: same face, medieval peasant clothes.
"Hey! Sian! Quit slacking!"
Unknown white girl yelled. He blurted:
"How'd you know my name?"
"What? You've crashed here three years—why wouldn't I?"
"Don't I look weird?"
"Huh? You look like you."
"R-Really?"
Ah, that's the fix.
Language too—unheard tongue flowed like Korean.
"Ha, haha!"
"What's wrong? Kid snap?"
"Uahaha!"
Overjoyed, he collapsed laughing on grass.
'Real otherworld! Medieval fantasy!'
My name lives forever!
"Ow!"
Bug bite?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Two days post-first transfers, the book updated.
[1,268. Yoon Ga-on (???), Alive, ★5% Jackpot★: Former office drone, transferred to mana-filled standard medieval fantasy world. Lost body en route, reincarnated as Northern Duke's youngest daughter. Doted on by family, smooth growth. Later, found egg from war-extinct dragon—soul-bound, became Dragon Saintess, North's Goddess. Now struggling to spread VTuber culture via illusion magic.]
[1,269. Hwang Sian (24), Dead: Former college student. Couldn't contain transfer joy, flopped on grass, flea bite led to Black Death. Village spotted plague, locked in barn, burned alive.]