Chapter 3: The Second Wish
And just like that, my second wish was about to begin.
I exhaled slowly, trying to calm myself.
The first wish was already done.
Even now, I couldn't fully believe it actually worked.
All the powers from every anime character… it sounded ridiculous even thinking about it. But the woman in front of me had confirmed it without hesitation.
She was still watching me quietly.
"So," she said after a moment, "your second wish?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
I paused for a second.
This was the real turning point.
The first wish gave me power.
But power without structure was dangerous.
I needed something that could manage everything properly.
Something that could grow with me.
"I wish…" I said slowly, "to have the most powerful and unique system in existence."
The woman raised an eyebrow slightly.
"A system?"
"Yes."
I continued without hesitation.
"One that belongs only to me. No one else can ever copy it or create the same thing."
"I want it to manage all my abilities, powers, and growth."
"It should also let me activate, combine, and control my powers however I want."
I stopped for a second, thinking.
"And it should always evolve with me. No matter how strong I become, it should never become useless."
I looked at her.
"That's all."
The woman stayed silent for a moment.
For the first time, she didn't respond immediately.
"…You understand what you are asking for, right?" she said finally.
I shrugged slightly.
"I think so."
She studied me carefully.
"A system that manages infinite power… that is not something simple."
"I know," I replied. "That's why I asked for it."
A faint sigh escaped her lips.
"You really are strange."
I didn't answer that.
Instead, I simply waited.
After a few seconds, she raised her hand slightly.
"Wish accepted."
The moment she said that, something clicked inside my mind.
Not pain.
Not warmth.
Just a strange feeling… like something had connected to me.
A presence.
I instinctively closed my eyes.
And suddenly—
A transparent screen appeared in my vision.
---
[SYSTEM INITIALIZING…]
[USER DETECTED]
[CREATING UNIQUE SYSTEM…]
---
My eyes widened slightly.
It worked instantly.
"So this is it…" I muttered.
The woman looked at me with mild interest.
"It seems your wish has already begun functioning."
I nodded slowly.
"I can see it."
The screen in front of me flickered again.
---
[SYSTEM CORE ESTABLISHED]
[WAITING FOR NEXT PARAMETERS…]
---
I took a breath.
So this wasn't just a normal system.
It was mine.
Completely mine.
I looked back at the woman.
"That was wish number two."
She nodded slightly.
"You still have three left."
I smiled faintly.
"Yeah."
Now things were getting interesting.
Because if the system was already this real…
Then my remaining wishes would decide everything.
I clenched my fist slightly.
"I'm ready for the next one."
The woman tilted her head.
"Go on then."
I closed my eyes for a second.
I didn't need something basic.
If I was going to travel between worlds… I needed freedom.
"I wish…" I said slowly, "for a system mall."
The woman blinked.
"A what?"
I opened my eyes.
"A place where I can buy anything. Items, abilities, materials, concepts—anything that exists or even doesn't exist."
I paused.
"And it should all be free for me."
For the first time, the woman actually looked a bit surprised.
"…Even things that don't exist?"
"Yes."
She stared at me for a moment longer.
Then she shook her head slightly.
"You are really pushing this."
I shrugged.
"You said no limits."
She sighed again.
"Wish accepted."
The system screen in front of me flickered once more.
---
[SYSTEM UPDATE COMPLETE]
[SYSTEM MALL FUNCTION ADDED]
---
I felt it immediately.
Like another layer had been added to my mind.
A catalog.
Infinite.
Everything.
I didn't even dare to look too deep yet.
I let out a slow breath.
Two wishes done.
Three left.
The woman crossed her arms slightly.
"You still haven't asked the important question."
I looked at her.
"What question?"
She smiled faintly.
"What kind of life are you planning to live after all this power?"
I paused.
That question lingered for a moment.
Then I answered simply.
"I'll figure it out after I get everything I need."
She chuckled softly.
"Typical."
Silence returned again.
But now it felt different.
Heavier.
More serious.
Because I could feel it.
My remaining wishes were not just choices anymore.
They were shaping something much bigger than I originally thought.
And I was only halfway done.
I looked at her.
"Next wish."
And the real journey continued.