Brief Summary
Danbi, a high school senior struggling with math, finds herself transported to a drought-stricken historical kingdom. Mistaken for a rainmaking deity, she uses her modern knowledge to help the kingdom, teaching math and science to the king and his court. As she grows closer to the king, she faces political intrigue and personal conflict, ultimately deciding whether to return to her own time or stay in the past. In the end, she returns to her own time and meets someone who looks like the king.
- A high school student travels back in time to a kingdom in need of rain.
- She uses her knowledge of math and science to help the kingdom.
- She develops a close relationship with the king.
- She must decide whether to stay in the past or return to her own time.
Danbi's Struggles and Unexpected Journey
Danbi, a high school senior, is terrible at math and struggles to focus in class, much to her teacher's frustration. With university entrance exams looming, she feels immense pressure from her mother and friends to succeed. One morning, running late for her exam, Danbi finds herself transported to a different world after stepping into a puddle. She encounters people praying for rain in a drought-stricken land.
Mistaken Identity and Royal Court
In this new world, Danbi is mistaken for a demon due to her strange clothes and behavior. She improvises, claiming to be a messenger sent to bring rain. She disguises herself as a temple priest and attends a meeting with the king, where a debate ensues between the king, who wants to study science and mathematics, and the chief priest, who insists on traditional rituals to end the drought. After being caught, Danbi is sentenced to execution, but she postpones it by solving a Pythagorean theorem problem, impressing the king with her mathematical skills.
Teaching the King and Palace Life
The king tasks Danbi, now known as Gosam, with teaching math to the people, starting with him. She faces the challenge of teaching him basic math concepts. As they prepare for a math contest against a rival city, Danbi's interactions with the king become more relaxed and even playful. She introduces him to instant noodles, leading to a humorous incident where he believes he's been cursed. She explains human anatomy to him and he starts to see her as a brilliant scholar.
Growing Closer and Political Intrigue
Danbi is asked to teach all the royal scholars science and agriculture. She becomes more comfortable in the palace, sharing tangerines casually with the king and playing ball with him. However, the king's upcoming marriage is a looming issue. After accidentally consuming a love potion meant for the king, Danbi behaves strangely. She is later arrested for mocking the king, but he intervenes, recognizing her valuable knowledge.
Proving Herself and Facing the Truth
Danbi is given two weeks to bring rain, and with the help of the palace musician, she builds a rainfall gauge. When rain finally comes, the king realizes Danbi will leave. He prepares a ship for her escape, but she refuses to run away again. The musician, secretly working for the high priest, attempts to kill Danbi, revealing that he knew she was a girl all along.
Choices and Confessions
The high priest tries to convince the king to destroy everything Danbi taught them, but the king refuses and searches for her. Danbi and the king reunite at the seashore, where they share a heartfelt moment. The king confesses his love for her and his desire to create a new, accessible language for the people. Danbi realizes the king will succeed when she sees his face on the currency of the future.
Conspiracy and Farewell
The king announces his plan to pay salaries to those who serve the people, but many in the court disagree with Danbi's influence. Danbi befriends the queen, and they share instant noodles. The queen mother wants Danbi to be one of the king's concubines. Danbi is prepared for a midday rest with the king, but she panics and runs away. The king assures her that he will not force her, but asks her to stay for appearances.
Torn Between Worlds and a Difficult Decision
Danbi is torn about returning to the future. The queen mother, who resembles her own mother, confronts her, causing Danbi to break down. The king shows Danbi the new astronomical system and the new alphabet he created. He asks her to stay with him forever, but she refuses, saying she must return to her mother. Heartbroken, the king lets her go.
Betrayal, Sacrifice, and Return
Danbi is attacked and left unconscious. The king risks his life to save her. He confronts the high priest, who admits to trying to stop the spread of the new language. As rain begins to fall, Danbi says goodbye to her friends and returns to her own world through the same pond.
Back to Reality and a Familiar Face
Danbi finds herself back in her own time, only moments after she left. She rushes to take her university entrance exam. Months later, as she leaves school, it begins to rain, and a man resembling the king of Joseon places an umbrella over her head, reminding her that she dropped it on the bus a long time ago.
