The question lingered in Mario’s mind long after he closed the notebook.
Would it choose me instead?
He leaned back in his chair, listening to the gentle breeze drifting across Taal Lake.
The Magic Carpet floated lazily overhead, occasionally performing an unnecessary spin simply because it could.
Nearby, Luna had reclaimed the sofa after breakfast, her tail lazily swaying from side to side.
The peaceful morning stood in stark contrast to the thoughts racing through his head.
A system.
The word alone carried enormous weight.
In countless novels, systems transformed ordinary people into legends.
They granted impossible abilities, accelerated growth, and handed out rewards that defied common sense.
But Mario had never viewed them the same way most readers did.
A system wasn’t just an opportunity.
It was also a risk.
He picked up his notebook again and wrote a single line.
Technology System
Then, beneath it, he drew a vertical line down the center of the page.
On the left…
Advantages.
On the right…
Risks.
His pen moved steadily.
Advantages
Access to advanced technology.
Scientific knowledge beyond Earth’s current era.
Accelerated research and development.
Long-term industrial advantage.
He paused before continuing.
Potentially…
Unlimited growth.
The list was impressive.
Almost too impressive.
Which only made the other side more important.
He moved his pen to the right.
Risks
Unknown creator.
Unknown purpose.
Hidden restrictions.
Forced missions.
Personality manipulation.
Surveillance.
Remote shutdown.
Loss of free will.
Mario tapped the end of his pen against the paper.
Every system had an origin.
Someone…
Or something…
Had created it.
Nothing appeared from nothing.
That simple fact bothered him.
If someone built the system…
Could they monitor it?
Could they control it?
Could they reclaim it?
He had no answers.
Only possibilities.
“…Never assume a gift is free.”
The quiet words disappeared into the morning breeze.
Mario closed his eyes.
Instead of thinking like a reader…
He thought like an engineer.
If someone developed an advanced artificial intelligence capable of selecting a host…
Would they truly release it without safeguards?
Unlikely.
Every valuable technology had limitations.
Permissions.
Security measures.
Administrator privileges.
Even modern smartphones worked that way.
How much more sophisticated would an interdimensional system be?
His fingers unconsciously touched the pendant resting against his chest.
The Sage’s Necklace.
An artifact designed to protect its wearer.
Then…
His thoughts shifted to his first wish.
Complete protection of his soul.
His mind.
His memories.
His identity.
If the system attempted to alter any of those… This story is hosted at g.com.
The wish should reject it.
Should.
Mario disliked that word.
There was only one way to know for certain.
He stood and walked inside.
A bookshelf occupied one corner of the living room.
Not because he enjoyed collecting books.
Because writing organized his thoughts better than relying solely on memory.
He pulled out another notebook.
A fresh one.
Across the cover, he wrote in neat block letters.
Future World Analysis
If he intended to continue traveling across fictional worlds…
Documentation would become increasingly important.
The first page contained only one title.
Getting a Technology System in Modern Day
Mario frowned.
“I wish I’d finished reading it.”
Unfortunately…
He never had.
From what he remembered, the story had been relatively grounded.
No cultivation.
No magic.
No monsters invading Earth.
Just modern technology.
And one young man named Aron Michael.
Everything changed because of one accident.
Or…
Was it an accident?
Mario stopped writing.
That question had never crossed his mind before.
The system had fallen from the sky.
Aron happened to be inside his bedroom.
The system entered his body.
The story moved on.
Simple.
Too simple.
Mario replayed the scene from memory again.
The more he thought about it…
The stranger it became.
“If the system had chosen Aron specifically…”
He tapped his pen against the notebook.
“…why descend from the sky at all?”
Wouldn’t it simply appear inside him?
Or teleport directly to its chosen host?
Why take the risk of missing?
Why travel through the atmosphere?
Why follow what looked suspiciously like…
A trajectory?
Mario slowly leaned back.
His eyes narrowed.
“A trajectory can be intercepted.”
The realization settled over him.
If the system truly traveled through physical space…
Then arriving at the right place…
At the right time…
Might be enough.
Not guaranteed.
But possible.
A soft thump interrupted his thoughts.
The Magic Carpet had floated over and landed beside him.
One corner lifted curiously.
Mario smiled.
“I’m thinking.”
The Carpet pointed toward the notebook.
“I know.”
Then it pointed toward him.
“Me?”
The Carpet nodded.
Mario chuckled.
“You’re wondering if this is dangerous.”
The Carpet nodded again.
“You’re smarter than you look.”
It proudly puffed itself flatter.
Mario laughed.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Luna, who had been pretending to sleep nearby, finally opened one eye.
“You’re talking to the carpet again.”
“It also encouraged your terrible idea.”
Mario looked toward her.
“You’ve been listening?”
“I have excellent hearing.”
She stretched lazily before hopping onto the dining table.
“If you’re considering another world this soon…”
Her golden eyes met his.
“…then you’ve already decided.”
Mario remained silent.
Luna knew him too well.
“I haven’t.”
“You have.”
“…”
“You only start making notebooks after you’ve made a decision.”
Mario glanced at the notebook in front of him.
She wasn’t wrong.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“I suppose I do.”
Luna sat down, wrapping her tail around her paws.
“So.”
“What’s bothering you?”
Mario answered honestly.
“The system.”
“I don’t know if it’s safe.”
Luna tilted her head.
“Then don’t take it.”
“I may never find another opportunity like it.”
Silence followed.
After a while, Luna spoke again.
“You’ve already planned for the risks.”
Mario looked at her.
“My necklace.”
He touched the pendant.
“My first wish.”
His hand lowered.
“And…”
He tapped the side of his temple.
“My Intelligence.”
If anything unusual happened during the binding…
He believed he would notice.
More importantly…
His soul protections would react first.
Luna watched him quietly.
Finally…
She sighed.
“I can already tell I won’t be able to stop you.”
Mario smiled apologetically.
“Probably not.”
She hopped down from the table.
“Then at least promise me one thing.”
“What is it?”
“Come back.”
Her voice was calm.
Matter-of-fact.
Not dramatic.
Not emotional.
Just…
Honest.
Mario nodded.
“I intend to.”
That evening, Mario stood alone on the balcony.
The sky above Tagaytay shimmered with countless stars.
The Magic Carpet hovered patiently beside him.
Luna remained inside the house, watching through the open sliding door.
Mario took one final look at the peaceful lake.
Then closed his eyes.
“Next destination…”
He exhaled slowly.
“…Getting a Technology System in Modern Day.”
A familiar white light began gathering before him.
The World Travel Gate slowly materialized, its surface rippling like liquid glass.
Mario stepped forward without hesitation.
If his deduction was correct…
Tomorrow…
He would attempt something no one in that world was ever supposed to do.
Intercept fate itself.
End of Chapter 25