Chapter 1 : How To Get Revenge
No one likes being interrupted while working — that’s annoying enough on its own.
But when the interruption turns out to be an isekai kidnapping?
Yeah, that’s something else entirely.
“…Ah, for f**k’s sake.”
Dropped smack in the middle of what looked like a city straight out of the 17th or 18th century, I — Kang Cheonsu, 28-year-old political science professor — could only curse.
I mean, seriously.
What the hell did I do to deserve this?
“WHAT DID I EVER DO TO YOU, YOU CRAZY B**CH?!”
I’d lived a good life.
A hardworking, decent life.
I was a good son to my parents, had a solid circle of friends, and studied diligently.
Sure, I didn’t have a girlfriend, but I had my games and my hobbies.
I wasn’t some perfect overachiever, but I was doing pretty damn well.
I’d finally reached the point where all that hard work was about to pay off — and now?
Isekai.
Just like that.
Abducted without my consent, dumped in a foreign world, and expected to change the world as some kind of otherworldly savior?
No identity, no way to prove who I am, and in a place where getting mugged and killed wouldn’t even raise an eyebrow?
This is some absolute bulls**t.
“Hey! Get out of the way!”
“HOLY—”
A rough voice called out from behind me, and I barely managed to leap aside as a carriage barreled past, wheels clattering dangerously over the uneven stones.
My initial anger faded into cold reality as I got a good look at that carriage.
Not because of the carriage itself — but because of the thing pulling it.
Not a horse.
No, this was some kind of monstrous beast I couldn’t even identify.
‘…What the hell do I do now?’
Aside from the chocolate in my pocket, I had no food.
My clothes — just a dress shirt and slacks — weren’t exactly suited for survival.
Money?
I had some cash on me, but that was useless here.
No home.
No job.
No plan.
My brilliant mind — the same one that had earned me a professorship in my twenties — went into overdrive.
After ten minutes of desperate thinking, I settled on a simple plan.
“…Time to find a trash heap.”
The wind was cold.
If I didn’t want to freeze to death overnight, I needed something — anything — for warmth.
After that, I’d gather information.
Find out where the hell I was and how this world worked.
And if I could scrounge up some work to make a bit of cash?
Even better.
*****
“Hey! You! Quit dragging your feet!”
“Y-yes, sir! Coming!”
And so, a few days later…I’d become a full-fledged laborer.
This medieval fantasy world was a hellscape with no internet, no streetlights, and no modern comforts — but it did have one thing going for it.
You could get day labor without an ID.
As long as you gave a name and worked from sunrise to sunset, they paid you.
It wasn’t much, but it was enough to cover a night at an inn and three meals a day.
I learned a lot from my fellow workers, too.
By blending in and playing the part of a commoner, I picked up all sorts of useful information.
Buying drinks and snacks helped loosen tongues even more.
Eventually, I managed to piece together a rough understanding of this world.
“…So it’s an academy world, huh?”
The city I’d landed in was called Allein — the capital of the Allein Kingdom.
It was surrounded by neighboring nations like the Kram Empire and the Navre Kingdom, all locked in a delicate balance of power.
Just outside the capital lay a prestigious academy where talented individuals from across the continent came to study.
Graduates of this academy often went on to hold influential positions.
There was also some kind of religious order that worshiped a goddess and a saint.
All in all, your typical fantasy setting.
“…F**k this.”
Jealousy burned in my chest.
In my own world, I’d earned a place as a university professor at a ridiculously young age.
I should have been teaching at an academy like this — guiding students, shaping minds.
Instead, after decades of relentless study and effort.
I was stuck here doing manual labor.
‘Damn that goddess. If you’re going to drag me to another world, at least give me a proper position.’
If she had the power to abduct me, surely she could’ve arranged for me to be someone important — a royal advisor, a court scholar, even a high-ranking official.
If that had been the case, maybe I would’ve considered hearing her out.
But no.
She dumped me here with nothing.
‘…I’ll get my revenge. One day.’
I didn’t know how yet.
I was just a nobody in this world — a nameless commoner with no resources or influence.
Even my vast knowledge was useless when no one here could understand or appreciate it.
I was nothing.
No more than disposable trash in a brutal, medieval world.
But the rage inside me wouldn’t die.
I’d make that goddess regret what she did.
Somehow.
One day.
“CRACK!”
“You lazy bastard! I told you no slacking off!”
“S-sorry, boss!”
“Get the hell out of here! I don’t need useless workers like you!”
After zoning out, lost in thought, I got smacked by the boss and kicked out of the worksite.
And on top of that, despite working all morning, I didn’t even get paid.
Guess I’ll have to find a different job tomorrow.
But tonight… where the hell am I supposed to sleep?
*****
That night.
“H-h-hah… s-so cold…”
As I shivered, curled up in an alleyway trying to get some sleep, the sound of quiet voices reached my ears.
“…Is everything ready?”
“Yeah. Four crates’ worth. It’ll reach the destination within two days.”
“The quality’s guaranteed, right?”
“Of course. We wouldn’t cut corners when it comes to something this important.”
Their words were dripping with suspicion.
The voices sounded close, so I stayed still, barely opening my eyes to take a look around.
Just a few meters away, a group of people stood gathered — all wearing hooded robes.
Hanging around like that at this hour?
Yeah, this was definitely shady.
“It’s all packed with top-grade gunpowder from the eastern territories. One good detonation could take down the entire cathedral — the academy wouldn’t even stand a chance.”
“Perfect. We must thank the branch leader for this.”
“Just make sure to help us out with the mission later — that’ll be thanks enough.”
“…”
Gunpowder?
Were they planning some kind of terrorist attack?
That stuff doesn’t come cheap, and they were talking about crates of it.
This just kept getting more suspicious by the second.
“The costs must have been enormous. Are you sure your funds are sufficient? We could provide additional support if needed.”
“We’re not beggars. Our budget covered everything just fine. No need to worry.”
“If you say so.”
With that, they exchanged polite bows.
“All for the fall of the oppressors.”
“Yes. For the fall of the oppressors.”
After chanting their ominous slogan, the robed figures dispersed, each heading off in different directions — most likely to their respective hideouts or bases.
As I watched them leave, I started trembling.
Was it because of the cold?
Not a chance.
It was excitement.
Pure, unfiltered excitement.
‘Why didn’t I think of this sooner?’
One of the essential tropes in academy-type worlds is the presence of secret organizations — factions aiming to bring down the established system.
And this country?
With all its corruption and heavy taxes?
Of course groups like that would exist.
If I played this right… I could use them.
For my revenge.
‘I might not stand a chance on my own… but with an organization behind me?’
Their goal was clearly the collapse of the current social order.
And me?
I wanted that goddess to suffer — to regret ever dragging me here.
Our interests aligned perfectly.
If we threw this world into chaos, there was no way the goddess — who’d cared enough to summon me personally — wouldn’t be affected.
Of course, I couldn’t just walk up and ask them to take me in.
It wouldn’t be that easy.
But I was confident.
I didn’t become a professor at my age for nothing.
As long as I had a chance to prove myself, I could make them see my worth.
Because my mind?
It was a weapon.
I might not know how to make modern explosives or TNT, but when it came to the history of terrorism?
The art of creating ideological justifications for war?
Oh, I was an expert.
A real expert.
When it came to toppling governments and dismantling social systems, there wasn’t a soul in this world more knowledgeable than me.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — a lifeline I couldn’t afford to ignore.
“Let’s go.”
With hope burning in my chest, I rose to my feet — and set off in the direction the robed figures had gone.