It's a common story.
A child who excelled in sports or the arts, only to suffer an injury and never be able to pursue it again.
I never thought that story would become my own.
"It was a game called Summoner's Rift."
It all started when I followed a friend to a PC bang (internet café) and stumbled upon the game by chance.
—And fate may fall down upon you, while the devil is knocking, right at your door!
—So pocht das Schicksal an die Pforte!
The game began with a grand and thrilling soundtrack.
Just like fate, I was completely drawn into the world of gaming.
I loved the excitement it offered, the thrill it created.
Luckily, I had a natural talent, and I quickly stood out, even winning regional tournaments.
My mother was delighted, and even my father, who had initially opposed me gaming, began to support me wholeheartedly.
For the next two years, I devoted myself to gaming.
But now, I was no longer playing.
The game had been deleted, and the Summoner's Rift soundtrack no longer echoed through my room.
"Why not?"
"I injured my hand."
I had a bad accident where I collided with an electric scooter, and unfortunately, I hurt my right hand.
Along with it, my dream of becoming a professional was shattered.
Misfortune truly does come all at once. Around the same time, my father's business also collapsed.
My parents, who had failed in business, opened a tiny convenience store, barely ten square meters, to raise me.
Days of surviving on triangular kimbap and instant ramen followed.
"That's when I started to love processed foods."
Our financial situation was too poor to afford home-cooked meals, but this turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Having grown up under my traditional grandmother, I had only ever eaten classic Korean dishes.
I had never even tasted ramen until I entered middle school.
For a kid who had only known my grandmother's Siraegi-guk (Dried Radish Leaf Soup), a convenience store felt like heaven.
It was as if all the world's foods were gathered in one place.
The time when I lost my dream of becoming a pro gamer overlapped with this newfound world, making processed foods even more special to me.
I still can't forget the tingling taste of the cola I drank on my first day at the convenience store.
Even after reincarnating in another world, I couldn't forget that taste, leading me to recreate it from scratch.
"Were you disappointed?"
"Why do you think I would be?"
"Well, it's not a remarkable story, is it?"
"Most lives aren't all that remarkable."
I wondered if I shouldn't have said anything. The thought made me smile wryly, but...
"But it's not without value."
Christina's words made me tilt my head in confusion.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because of it, our Empire now has processed foods, doesn't it?"
"Hmm, when you put it that way, yes."
Because I loved processed foods and never forgot that taste, such foods existed in the Empire today.
If the flavors and memories had faded over time, processed foods might never have been created here.
The little memories, which I once thought insignificant, had actually shaped who I am today.
"So, what do you think?"
"Not bad at all."
We sat at a convenience store table, eating triangular kimbap and instant ramen.
Seoul had many landmarks, and while I remembered them all, Christina insisted on sharing my memories.
We walked around my old neighborhood, talking about mundane memories, sharing casual stories.
Like how I used to play soccer in that park as a kid, or how I went to school here...
These might seem like trivial conversations, but strangely, they made me feel good.
Rather than exploring a new world, it felt like she was focusing on me.
"Aren't you going to eat your kimchi?"
"It doesn't really suit my taste."
"I see."
Christina nodded.
"But I understand why you like it."
"Why is that?"
"Because it's spicy, isn't it?"
"?"
Is kimchi really spicy?
Seeing my confused look, Christina clicked her tongue.
"Next, you'll probably be eating raw chili peppers."
"Sometimes I do. They're great with a bit of Doenjang (Korean soybean paste)."
"Let's not talk about this anymore."
For some reason, I felt as if Christina was exasperated.
"Have you finished eating? Let's move on to the next place."
"Is there more to, see?"
"Oh, there's plenty."
While we had toured my old home, there were still many more things I wanted to show and share with her.
"Christina, would you believe me if I said you could travel thousands of kilometers in a day?"
"It seems like that might be possible."
"Yes, it's called a train."
*
The greatest revolution that transformed human history was the development of transportation.
From carriages to cars, from cars to steam trains, and eventually to airplanes...
Humanity's means of transportation continuously evolved, bringing about monumental change.
As railroads spread across the world, the volume of goods transported to foreign countries increased to unprecedented levels.
From local to national, and from national to continental, as demand grew, factories naturally ramped up production.
The scale of the economy began to expand.
"Culture will spread more quickly."
"Exactly. Once railroads connect countries, it will be much easier to share cultures."
Not to mention, vacations and travel would become more convenient...
Honk—!
A train running along a bridge, blaring its horn, appeared on the screen of the laptop I had envisioned.
"Hmm, if we have the technology to build mana-powered vehicles, creating trains should also be possible."
Christina showed a keen interest in trains.
True to her practical nature, she quickly recognized the value of trains.
We might not achieve high-speed rail like the KTX right away, but building trains was certainly within reach.
I continued to show her airplanes, submarines, bicycles, and even arcane-punk steamboats.
Just seeing these advancements could provide valuable insights.
'With the imperial family's investment, building trains could become a reality.'
If transportation improved, producing processed foods would become much easier than it was now.
There were quite a few products I couldn't realistically create due to supply chain issues.
Above all...
"Wouldn't it be fun to travel to another country in just a day?"
Christina chuckled softly.
"Was that your goal all along?"
"I wouldn't say no."
In an Empire with limited transportation, even traveling to a different region often meant risking one's life.
Not only did it take a long time, but there was also a high risk of encountering monsters or bandits along the way.
With trains, these problems could be solved all at once.
Trains provided the freedom of movement, allowing people to travel safely and comfortably wherever and whenever they wanted.
"Imagine eating a bento while watching the scenery pass by, dozing off, and waking up at your destination."
"It sounds like a dream."
"Yes, it really does."
I agreed with Christina.
In a continent where leaving the city meant constant danger, my words must have sounded like nothing but a fantasy.
But...
"If we develop trains, that dream could become a reality."
Train travel.
There were few phrases as romantic as that.
Especially on a continent where freedom of movement was so restricted.
*
The development of processed foods began as nothing more than a picky complaint about what I wanted to eat.
And even now, that hasn't changed.
I develop foods simply because I want to eat what I crave.
But beyond this personal motive, I also hoped for a world where everyone could enjoy the freedom to travel and eat whatever they desired.
On Earth, in my previous life, this was a given—but not in this world.
The cola I made, for example, was available in some places but was something others could only dream of tasting.
There were countless regions on the continent where processed foods simply did not exist.
However, knowing that this was beyond my power to solve, I had never seriously considered tackling the issue.
But now, I was beginning to think it might actually be possible.
The White Tower had made great strides over time.
I didn't know how long it would take, but if we laid down the rails, one by one, perhaps someday those tracks would circle the continent and connect back to where we started.
As the rails extended further, tangible changes in distribution would surely follow.
Processed foods could reach areas they never had before, and beyond just food, people could connect with one another.
Of course, for this dream to come true, we first needed to build the tracks for the trains to run on—an enormous challenge, to say the least.
But...
"I will help."
If Christina offered her support, everything would change.
With the backing of the imperial family, running trains across the continent was no longer just a dream.
"Do you think His Majesty will approve?"
"There are not many things in this Empire that I cannot do."
"I trust you."
"Of course, I'll expect a proper reward for my help."
"...May I ask what kind of reward?"
"I'll tell you when the time comes."
Christina smiled mischievously.
"And you must join me on the first train journey."
"I would be honored."
A dream was beginning to turn into reality.
***
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