Volume 1 Episode 1

Lin Hamill, who just woke up, was still wondering about the dream from last night. He couldn't remember what it was actually about, but he did have a blurry memory of meeting a person. As he got up from his bed, he switched on the television, only to find that the television wasn't at the same place as before. He did not understand how it had moved from its original place.

"Strange, I don't remember moving it. Maybe I did it in the middle of the night or something."

Lin told himself as he moved on from the issue at hand and switched on the television.

But as he moved to grab the remote, he noticed something unusual. The remote that was lying on the sofa wasn't the same remote that he used. It looked foreign. Alien.

Feeling unusual, he looked around more, only to find that the apartment that he was currently in, while looking incredibly similar to his own, was not the same. There had been few differences like the placement of the sink, the weird art hanging on the wall etc.

Incredibly worried by the changes as his mind thought of the worst case scenarios, Lin grabbed his phone only to realize that even the phone wasn't his.

[ Good morning user! ]

Suddenly, few lines of words flashed across his face.

"What in God's name?" Lin looked at the floating text for a few minutes in a state of shock. He still did not understand what had just happened. In fact, he had no clue as to what was going on. 

Where am I?

Have I been kidnapped?

Will I be sold on the black market for kidneys?

Did I come across something top secret that the government had no choice but to place him under captivity for an indefinite period of time?

Am I part of some wacky scientist's science experiment as a lab rat or something?

As he was a person who read webnovels during his leisure time, his imagination started running wild. Fortunately he didn't have to think for a long time.

[ The 'Alternate World Transfer' has been completed successfully. You have been transferred to a completely new alternate world as per your request. The Man upstairs has informed me to congratulate you on his behalf. It's a pleasure working with you. ]

Lin didn't move nor did he speak. He just stood there. As he was taking in the reality bending miracle that was happening in front of him, his memory about his dream finally became clearer.

That's right, how could he have forgotten it?

He met The Man. The Man Upstairs. And he talked with him. Not just a simple talk. It was an interview for a job. A job that can change the world. That can change any world. A job so influential that it could redefine the word 'control' as we know it. And he had been selected for that job.

As he finally remembered the job he was assigned to do, Lin could not help but snicker at the luck he had received. It was already a miracle that he had been selected as a potential candidate, and it was even more amazing that he had been selected for the job.

He was truly happy. How could he not. He, who worked and played the part of the mob, someone who wasn't exceptional, someone who can be described as normal, was selected for the job by the Man Upstairs. And it was a job that he was probably born to do.

As he thought about it, he moved to the balcony as he looked at the new world he was now a part of.

It had changed!

Everything had changed!

This world was different. It was similar in appearance but there was something fundamentally different that made it unique.

Magic.

Magic existed among the people. Not all of them, but still, it did exist. The people who could use magic were called 'Gifted' while the rest were just normal people. There were basically six main types of Magic: Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Grass and Electricity, with subgenres of their own.

Was Lin one of the Gifted?

No. He was not.

That was Lin's life in this world.

He was Lin Hamill, fifteen years old, the oldest son of the Hamill family, one of the richest and the most gifted families in the entirety of Korea.

And he was talentless.

The outside world didn't know. But the family members did.

The test to find out whether a person is gifted or not is done on three separate occasions: once during the birth, the second time during the tenth birthday and the last time during the high school admission. 

Apart from the first two tests, both of which are done in the household, the last test is done publicly at the school that they wish to go to.

Even though he hadn't been kicked out of the family, the situation wasn't all that great. The only reason he hadn't been kicked out was because of his father who holds significant power over the rest of the family members. But even he wouldn't be able to help him after the public test. The pressure of the family members would definitely result in the removal of his name from the will.

And it wasn't like he could just choose not to go to school. That would result in an even more suspicious situation. The son of a prestigious family blessed with magic had chosen not to attend school? The media would definitely have a field day with it. That's why he had chosen to move out of the family mansion into an apartment.

He was in a similar situation in the real world as well, where he had been expected to carry his parent's legacy and their business empire. He was so burdened with it that moved out of the house to get out of the pressure.

But unlike his previous world, this world was not outside of Lin's control. After all, being an employee for The Man Upstairs does come with its perks. And one of the perks he had received was information. The Man Upstairs had given him hints to unlock the hidden truths of this world, something that inhabitants themselves hadn't been able to solve precisely because of the powers they held. 

And Lin held the key to change the world. All he needed to do was find the right locks. This was far from easy to do, but at least he wasn't starting from scratch. He could still use his family's influence and money until he would inevitably be excluded from the family itself. But school admissions had yet to open, having more than six months till it starts, and he had enough time to devise a plan to stop his expulsion from the family inheritance, which might end up being crucial. After all, money and power did make life easier, although the pressure that came with it would say otherwise.

As he smelled the morning air, Lin smiled, "Six months, that's more than enough to find an answer to the roots of magic I guess."

As he nodded to himself as he made up his mind, Lin moved to the front door where a food package had been left. 

"Right on time."

Of course, living in a rich house did have its drawbacks, as he did not know how to cook, which means he had butlers and cooks sent food to him in packages, to emulate the feeling of takeout foods. Even though it was silly, he still hadn't learnt how to cook, so it definitely was helpful.

"Richard!"

"Yes, master Lin?"

As Lin called out his name, a blonde man with a large build appeared from the room next door. 

Lin carried the food in his hands, and Richard came running behind and helped him with setting up the table. As he took a bite out of his lavish and expensive breakfast, Lin spoke softly.

"Richard, I want to empty the basement of this building. I want everything in the room out. Bring in a bed and move it into the room. I want bright lights that are to be focused solely on the bed and a bunch of knives useful for cutting through the body smoothly…"

He was essentially describing an emergency room and medical equipments but he couldn't say it directly as there were no hospitals in this world, as potions existed to replace them. There wasn't a need for a doctor when potions could do the job for them.

Richard, albeit confused, listened attentively as Lin reached his final request.

"... And also, I want you to find an orphanage or a slum. Somewhere with a lot of people but no care for people going missing. It doesn't matter whether they are children or adults. But there needs to be both the gifted and the normal in that place as well."

At the last request, Richard squinted his eyes, but didn't say anything and just nodded in confirmation. He then cleaned up the dishes as Lin had finished his breakfast.

After Richard left, Lin stood in the living room, as he replayed his conversation with The Man Upstairs.

Why had Lin been chosen?

The Man Upstairs had told him that it was because it was fate.

Lin smiled as he thought of it. Maybe it really was fate. After all he fit the job perfectly.

"Don't worry, as long as I'm alive, this world will meet its end."