The desert wind howled across the endless sea of sand.
Mario walked at an unhurried pace, each step carrying him closer to the colossal tiger’s head that loomed over the desert like an ancient god.
Even from a distance, the Cave of Wonders was overwhelming.
Its golden eyes burned against the night, illuminating the surrounding dunes with an eerie glow.
As he drew nearer, the scale became even more apparent.
Each fang was taller than a house.
The open jaws could swallow a castle gate whole.
Mario stopped several meters before the entrance.
The Cave was silent.
Its glowing eyes shifted downward, locking onto him.
For a brief moment…
Nothing happened.
Then the ancient guardian spoke.
Its voice wasn’t loud.
It was immense.
Every word seemed to vibrate through the desert itself.
“WHO DISTURBS MY SLUMBER?”
The sound rolled across the dunes like thunder.
Mario met its gaze without flinching.
“I seek neither gold nor power.”
The Cave remained silent.
Its eyes continued studying him.
Several long seconds passed before it spoke again.
“MANY HAVE SPOKEN THOSE WORDS.”
“ALL HAVE LIED.”
Mario didn’t argue.
Instead, he answered honestly.
“I came for only one thing.”
The tiger’s massive eyes narrowed.
“THE TREASURES OF THE CAVE ARE BEYOND COUNTING.”
“WHAT COULD YOU POSSIBLY DESIRE MORE?”
“The lamp.”
Silence.
The desert itself seemed to stop breathing.
Then—
The Cave laughed.
Not with amusement.
With curiosity.
A deep, rumbling sound echoed through the ancient chamber.
“YOU WOULD IGNORE A MOUNTAIN OF TREASURE…”
“…FOR A SINGLE WORTHLESS LAMP?”
Mario nodded.
“Yes.”
Another long silence followed.
The Cave continued watching him, as though peering beyond flesh and bone.
Into intention.
Into desire.
Into the part of a person they couldn’t hide.
Finally—
The tiger slowly lowered its head.
“YOUR HEART HOLDS NO GREED FOR THE TREASURE WITHIN.”
“YOUR DESIRE LIES ELSEWHERE.”
The enormous jaws opened wider.
Darkness stretched beyond them.
“ENTER.”
Mario inclined his head slightly.
“Thank you.”
Without another word, he stepped inside.
The moment he crossed the threshold, the temperature changed.
The cool night air vanished.
Warm, still air wrapped around him instead.
Then…
Light.
Countless reflections burst into view.
Gold.
Jewels.
Silver.
Mountains of treasure stretched farther than the eye could see, glittering beneath an unseen light source.
Golden goblets overflowed with emeralds.
Crowns lay carelessly atop hills of coins.
Swords adorned with gemstones rested beside ancient armor whose craftsmanship had long since been forgotten.
Mario gave it one glance.
Then kept walking.
His footsteps echoed softly through the cavern.
There was no temptation.
Money?
He could earn that.
Gold?
Useful, but replaceable.
The Genie?
Irreplaceable.
His destination lay at the very center of the cavern.
A small stone pedestal.
Compared to everything surrounding it, it looked almost laughably insignificant.
Resting atop the pedestal…
An old brass oil lamp.
Dull.
Scratched.
Ordinary.
If someone didn’t know what it was…
They’d probably walk past it without a second glance.
Mario smiled faintly.
“There you are.”
Just as he reached out—
Something brushed against his shoulder.
He instinctively stepped aside.
A colorful flying carpet drifted past him before circling back.
The Magic Carpet.
It hovered in front of Mario, tilting slightly as if studying him.
Mario studied it in return.
“So…”
“You’ve been watching me.”
The Carpet nodded.
Mario chuckled softly.
“I suppose I did ignore everything else.”
The Carpet gestured enthusiastically toward the mountains of treasure behind him before pointing back at the lamp.
“As if asking…*
‘Really?’
Mario laughed.
“I know.”
“It doesn’t look like much.”
The Carpet folded one corner of itself like crossed arms.
Clearly unconvinced.
Mario reached into his backpack and pulled out a small cloth.
The Carpet watched curiously.
Instead of grabbing the lamp immediately…
Mario carefully wiped decades of dust from its surface.
“You’ve been sitting here for a very long time.”
The brass regained a faint shine beneath the cloth.
“There.”
“That’s a little better.”
The Carpet bounced happily in the air.
Apparently approving.
Mario finally picked up the lamp.
It felt…
Surprisingly light.
He turned it over once.
Examining every scratch.
Every dent.
A plain object.
Containing one of the greatest powers in this world.
He looked toward the Carpet.
“Ready?”
The Carpet gave an enthusiastic flip.
Mario smiled.
“I hope you’re right.”
He placed one hand around the handle.
Then slowly rubbed the side of the lamp.
Nothing.
Nothing happened.
Then—
Blue smoke exploded from the spout.
The entire cavern shook.
A towering column of azure magic spiraled upward before gathering into the familiar form of a gigantic blue genie.
Golden cuffs.
Black beard.
A wide grin.
He stretched dramatically, cracking his neck before letting out an enormous yawn.
“Woooooo!”
He blinked.
Looked around.
Then looked down.
“…Huh.”
The Genie’s grin slowly disappeared.
“You…”
He pointed at Mario.
“…aren’t the kid I was expecting.”
Mario raised an eyebrow.
“You were expecting someone?”
The Genie scratched his chin.
“I don’t know.”
“I just had this weird feeling I’d wake up to a scrawny teenager.”
He shrugged.
“Guess fate changed its mind.”
Mario smiled politely.
“I’m sorry to disappoint.”
“Nah.”
The Genie’s grin returned almost instantly.
“This is way more interesting.”
He floated around Mario once.
“No wide eyes.”
“No screaming.”
“No ‘Holy cow, you’re a genie!'”
He folded his arms.
“You’re taking this suspiciously well.”
“I prepared for it.”
“…Prepared?”
“For this conversation.”
The Genie blinked twice.
Then burst into laughter.
“Oh, I like you already.”
He snapped his fingers, instantly producing a floating clipboard.
“Okay, let’s get the boring part out of the way.”
He cleared his throat dramatically.
“Phenomenal cosmic powers!”
“Itty-bitty living space.”
“Three wishes.”
“No killing.”
“No making people fall in love.”
“No bringing back the dead.”
He tossed the clipboard over his shoulder where it vanished into smoke.
“There.”
“Your turn.”
Mario nodded once.
“I only need three wishes.”
The Genie blinked.
“…That’s usually how this works.”
“I mean…”
Mario smiled faintly.
“I don’t need anything else.”
The Genie stared at him for a second.
Then slowly smiled.
“…Now you’ve got me curious.”
“Go on.”
Mario took a slow breath.
Months of planning…
Had led to this moment.
He already knew exactly what he was going to say.
End of Chapter 22