Chapter 4: === CHAPTER TITLE ===

=== CHAPTER CONTENT ===

A semi-transparent blue screen suddenly appeared before my eyes.

"Huh! Could this be... like an awakening or something from those webcomics?"

"......"

"No, maybe it's a dream? Am I seeing things because I'm in pain?"

"This world isn't even a hunter genre... an awakening..."

Even though I was looking at the screen in front of me, I couldn't believe it, so I waved my hand through the blue screen.

[Your worthiness has been verified.]

[Summoning a representative.]

The blue screen vanished, just like turning off a TV.

"See, I knew it was a dream. I've been reading too many comics..."

[Hello? Can you hear me?]

"Gah!"

A human voice suddenly echoed from the darkness, startling me so much I fell backward.

[It's rather dark here. Just a moment~ Don't be alarmed.]

Snap!

The sound of a finger snap rang out, and the interior of the bunker gradually brightened, revealing the figure standing before me.

"Huh? Aqua?"

Standing before me was a girl who looked exactly like Aqua from 'Konosuba', complete with the same sky-blue hair and outfit.

[I am not Aqua. For convenience, I have taken the form of a character from media you are familiar with to guide you.]

"'Customer'... Guidance? Guide me for what?"

[To put it simply, long ago, a certain god was enjoying creative works from another world. The world met its end before the stories concluded, which enraged this god greatly, leading to a fight with the world god who created those works. The fallout shook multiple dimensions so severely that other gods who had been standing by couldn't just watch and intervened to mediate. Long story short, a system was created with the meaning of giving worlds that produce good creative works one more chance.] 

"So, it's a system created because some god got pissed off after getting Togashi'd?"

[Well... yes. That's roughly correct.]

[Anyway, so if gods from other worlds come to browse that world's creative works or are on vacation, they pay a small fee by sharing a bit of their power. Those powers are gathered and stored, and if that world is ever doomed, they are transferred to the last intelligent survivor, with guidance and help to use it correctly. That's the reason this system was created.]

[It might be easier to think of it as an insurance company.] 

"I'm curious about one thing. Why the last survivor?"

[Actually, there was a lot of opposition when creating this system. Many gods believed 'it is right to just let things flow.' After long deliberations, the conclusion was: 'The system will decide whether to give a chance, but the choice of whether to accept the chance and attempt restoration is left to the last survivor who witnessed the world's end.']

"So, you're saying I could just take the power and not bother with restoration?" 

[Yes, that's correct.]

I guess it's because someone who has seen the end of the world knows all its dirty and ugly parts, so they're given the final choice.

"Then how do I use the power?"

[It is usually utilized in the form of wish coupons.]

"How many can I wish for?"

[That depends on the scale of the wish and the amount of power accumulated. Shall I check for you?]

"Sure."

[Hmm...]

The girl who looked just like Aqua seemed to be thinking about something, closing her eyes, making a thoughtful face, and stroking her chin. She looked so cute I ended up staring for a while.

'Come to think of it, I'm 48 years old and have zero romantic experience because I was too busy preparing for and surviving the apocalypse.'

A sudden wave of sadness hit me. 

'They say a 30-year-old virgin becomes a wizard. So, does that make me an archmage?' 

Then, as if her calculations were done, the Aqua look-alike spoke with a bright expression.

[Wow~ This world was truly loved by the gods!]

"Oh~ Really? How much can I borrow?"

[Enough to restore the world over 12 times and still have some left.]

[Hmm... So roughly enough for about 130 wishes like 'Make me a rich person who never has to worry about money for life!'] 

"Hmm..."

Seeing me look pensive,

[Huh? What's wrong?]

"I get that it's a lot, but I'm having trouble grasping what 'the scale of a wish' means..."

[Then why don't you tell me one wish? Maybe that will give you a rough idea?]

"Alright~"

I thought I'd mention the ability I envied most while watching all sorts of media.

"How about a 'Life of Play'? Oh, of course not on a phone, but like 'Solo Leveling,' with a semi-transparent window floating in the air that only I can see."

[Ha~ You certainly know how to ask for the most outrageous things!]

The Aqua look-alike made an expression of utter disbelief.

"Huh? Is it that ridiculous?"

[Of course! Think about it. 'Entering various worlds from creative works' is equivalent to 'creating various worlds.' That is power on par with the authority of a supreme god.]

"Eh~ So it's not possible?"

[Sigh~ Please wait a moment.]

[Hmm...]

[Given the immense amount of power accumulated, it is possible, but it would require power equivalent to restoring the world 10 times.] 

"Then do that for me."

[Huh? Oh... Yes.]

I made my wish without hesitation, and the Aqua look-alike seemed flustered for a moment, hesitating before gathering herself and placing her hand above my head.

Ding!

[[You have awakened the 'Life of Play'.]]

[What would you like to do with the remainder?]

"Hmm... Then,"

"Give me an ability that, upon seeing a target, analyzes them and copies their abilities, traits, techniques, skills, etc., turning them into skills or traits I can use easily."

[Another outrageous wish!]

[Impossible. A wish of that scale would require roughly the power for 5 restorations. You have about 2.5 restorations' worth left.] 

"Oh, really? What if I add restrictions? For example, change 'upon seeing a target' to 'upon touching them'?"

[Hmm... That would reduce it to about 4 restorations' worth, but it's still impossible.]

"Sigh~ Then I guess there's no choice... What if it's triggered by killing the target?"

[Ah! Then it becomes a 'Kill Steal' ability. That should be possible.]

Once again, the Aqua look-alike placed her hand above my head.

[[You have awakened the 'Kill Steal' ability.]]

[There's very little power left now. I recommend using it to restore your body.] 

"Alright. Do that for me."

Suddenly, vitality surged through my body. My emaciated frame returned to a normal weight, and my hair and teeth, which had all fallen out, began to grow back.

[After restoring your body, I converted the remainder into mana for you.] 

"Oh, thanks~ I feel strong for the first time in ages!"

[Well, that's it. You're the first client like this, but it was a somewhat enjoyable experience. Well then, good luck.~]

With those final words, the Aqua look-alike vanished. The bunker was once again filled only with darkness.

"......"

"Waaaaaaaaaaah~~~~~ Hell yeah! Perseverance wins in the end~~~~~~~~~~~~!"

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