Prologue

Lee Jin-Seong loved the world of fantasy.

It was more than mere fondness; it bordered on deep admiration. His interest was so profound that he spent every bit of his paycheck collecting not only fantasy novels but also manuscripts on history and mythology. Fantasy wasn’t just a hobby; it was a passion.

That was why he always yearned for something beyond the ordinary.

He wanted to go to a world of fantasy—a world of magic and wonder.

Jin-Seong didn’t leave his dream confined to his imagination. He quit his job and set off on a journey of realization, seeking out mysterious landscapes and places untouched by others. Over the years, he ventured to remote parts of the world, uncovering secrets hidden from civilization.

He conquered the highest mountain, ventured to the southernmost point on Earth, and even explored the center of the planet.

But, of course, nothing out of the ordinary ever happened.

Reality was the furthest thing from fantasy.

By this point, it would have been reasonable to give up. But Jin-Seong couldn’t. Every night, he prayed to every god in existence and even those beyond this world, wishing that when he awoke, he would find himself smack in the middle of a fantasy.

And finally, his prayer was answered—just not in the way he had imagined.

“This isn’t what I wanted...,” Jin-Seong said with a sigh, his breath instantly freezing and falling to the ground like ice.[1]

He lifted his head, his face weary with disappointment. Before his eyes lay an endless expanse of bitter cold.

1. I don’t think this is physically possible, but in this fantasy world, it is. ☜