Elias had always believed he was destined for greatness.
Not because he had talent. Not because he worked hard. Not because he had a plan.
No.
He believed he was destined for greatness because he once won a rock‑paper‑scissors tournament in third grade. Against the entire class. Including the teacher. In his mind, that was basically the universe whispering:
"You are chosen."
Unfortunately, the universe had spent every day since then proving it was just messing with him.
And today, the universe seemed determined to break its own record.
Elias woke up to the sound of his alarm clock screaming like a dying robot. He slapped it with the force of a man trying to kill a mosquito with a frying pan. The alarm survived. His dignity did not.
He rolled out of bed, hit the floor, and lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling with the expression of someone who had seen too much and accomplished too little.
"Another day," he muttered. "Another opportunity for life to disappoint me."
He dragged himself to the bathroom, stared at his reflection, and sighed.
Messy hair. Dark circles. A face that looked like it had been punched by reality one too many times.
He pointed at the mirror dramatically.
"Elias, today is the day you turn your life around."
The mirror did not believe him.
Neither did he.
But he wanted to believe it. Just once. Just one day where things didn't go wrong.
He wanted… something to change.
The universe heard him.
And laughed.
He missed the bus by three seconds. He stepped in something sticky. A bird pooped on his shoulder. A child pointed at him and said, "Mommy, look! A loser!"
The mother did not correct the child.
By the time Elias reached home again, he was exhausted, humiliated, and ready to file a complaint with the universe's customer service department.
He collapsed onto his couch and groaned.
"I just want my life to change," he said dramatically. "Is that too much to ask?"
Apparently, it wasn't.
Because at that exact moment, a glowing blue screen popped into existence in front of him.
[DESIRE SYSTEM INITIALIZING…]
Elias blinked.
"Uh… what?"
[CALIBRATING USER MENTAL STATE…][RESULT: PATHETIC]
"HEY!"
[CONFIRMATION: USER IS PATHETIC]
"STOP SAYING THAT!"
The blue screen ignored him.
[WELCOME, USER ELIAS.][YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR THE DESIRE SYSTEM.]
Elias sat up, eyes wide.
"A system? Like… like in those webnovels? Like a cheat system? Like a—"
[YES.]
"Oh my god." He grabbed the screen with both hands even though it was intangible. "This is it. This is my moment. This is my destiny. This is—"
[PLEASE STOP TOUCHING ME.]
He froze.
"Sorry."
The screen shifted.
[THE DESIRE SYSTEM OFFERS TWO PATHS.]
Elias leaned forward, heart pounding.
[PATH A: ONE TRUE DESIRE] Choose one desire. The system will help you fulfill it. Safe. Stable. Predictable.
[PATH B: AUTO‑DESIRE DETECTION] The system will automatically detect your deepest desire at any moment and fulfill it. Convenient. Hands‑free. No thinking required.
Elias stared.
"That's… that's amazing."
[WARNING: PATH B HAS UNDISCLOSED SIDE EFFECTS.]
He waved dismissively.
"Yeah, yeah, everything has side effects. Even vitamins. Even breathing. Even existing."
[RECOMMENDATION: CHOOSE PATH A.]
Elias puffed out his chest.
"System, listen. I am a genius. A visionary. A man of ambition. I don't need to think about my desires. I know myself. I am consistent. I am stable. I am—"
He tripped over his own foot while standing up.
"—I am fine."
[ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT PATH B?]
"Absolutely."
[CONFIRMATION: USER HAS CHOSEN PATH B — AUTO‑DESIRE DETECTION.]
Elias grinned.
"This is going to be great."
It was not.
[SCANNING USER'S DEEPEST DESIRE…]
Elias held his breath.
This was it. His destiny. His true calling. His innermost ambition.
[DEEPEST DESIRE DETECTED: "I WANT TO CHANGE MY LIFE."]
Elias blinked.
"…That's it?"
[YES.]
"That's so vague!"
[IT IS STILL YOUR DEEPEST DESIRE.]
"Fine. Whatever. What's the quest?"
[QUEST GENERATED.]
[QUEST: TAKE A STEP OUTSIDE.]Reward: +10 Motivation.
Elias stared.
"That's it? That's the quest? That's the life‑changing mission?"
[YES.]
He sighed, stood up, walked to the door, and stepped outside.
[QUEST COMPLETE.][REWARD: +10 MOTIVATION.]
A warm energy filled his body.
"Oh! Oh wow! I feel… slightly less miserable!"
[CONGRATULATIONS.]
Elias pumped his fist.
"This is amazing! I'm going to become unstoppable!"
He was not.
As Elias basked in his tiny victory, he noticed something across the street.
A girl.
A very pretty girl.
She was laughing with her friends, hair shining in the sunlight, smile radiant enough to power a small city.
Elias felt his heart skip a beat.
And then another.
And then it started breakdancing.
He whispered, "I… I want a girlfriend."
The system chimed.
[NEW DEEPEST DESIRE DETECTED.][DESIRE UPDATED: "I WANT A GIRLFRIEND."]
Elias froze.
"Wait. No. No, no, no—"
[RESETTING USER STATS.]
"NOOOOO—"
[ALL STATS RESET TO ZERO.]
Elias collapsed to his knees.
"I WAS STRONG FOR FIVE MINUTES!"
[INCORRECT. YOU WERE SLIGHTLY LESS PATHETIC FOR FIVE MINUTES.]
"YOU'RE NOT HELPING!"
Elias took a deep breath.
"Okay. Fine. Whatever. I want a girlfriend. That's normal. That's achievable. That's—"
[WARNING: CURRENT WORLD CONDITIONS DO NOT SUPPORT FULFILLMENT OF DESIRE.]
"…Excuse me?"
[ANALYSIS: USER'S CHANCES OF OBTAINING A GIRLFRIEND IN THIS WORLD ARE 0%.]
"HEY!"
[INITIATING WORLD TRANSFER.]
"WAIT, WHAT—"
The ground beneath him glowed. The air vibrated. His body lifted off the floor.
"NO, NO, NO, I DIDN'T MEAN IT LIKE THAT—"
[TRANSFERRING USER TO A WORLD WHERE DESIRE CAN BE FULFILLED.]
"STOP— I'M NOT THAT DESPERATE—"
[TRANSFER COMPLETE.]
Elias landed face‑first in grass.
He groaned, pushed himself up, and looked around.
He was in a fantasy world.
A literal fantasy world.
Floating islands drifted lazily across a lavender sky. Giant trees shimmered with bioluminescent leaves. A castle floated upside‑down in the distance. A dragon flew overhead, roaring like it was late for work.
Elias blinked.
"…Okay. This is cool."
The air smelled like flowers and danger. The ground hummed faintly with magic. Somewhere in the distance, something exploded.
Elias nodded.
"Yep. Fantasy world."
[NEW QUEST GENERATED.]
He braced himself.
[QUEST: TALK TO A GIRL.]Reward: +1 Confidence.
Elias stared at the screen.
"That's… that's the quest? That's the big mission? That's the—"
A girl walked by.
Elf ears. Silver hair. Armor. Sword. Beauty level: illegal.
Elias opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
He made a noise that sounded like a dying squirrel.
The elf girl stared at him.
"…Are you okay?"
Elias panicked.
His brain short‑circuited.
His deepest desire shifted.
[NEW DEEPEST DESIRE DETECTED.][DESIRE UPDATED: "I WANT TO RUN AWAY."]
"NO—"
[RESETTING USER STATS.]
"STOP—"
He vanished.
He reappeared in a dark room.
A single candle flickered.
A hooded figure sat across from him.
The figure leaned forward.
"Welcome, traveler," they said. "We have been expecting you."
Elias blinked.
"…Why?"
The figure smiled.
"Because you are the chosen one."
Elias pointed at himself.
"Me?"
"Yes."
Elias grinned.
"Finally! Someone who recognizes my greatness!"
[SCANNING USER'S DEEPEST DESIRE…]
Elias froze.
"No. No, no, no— don't you dare—"
[DEEPEST DESIRE DETECTED: "I WANT TO LOOK COOL."]
"NO—"
[RESETTING USER STATS.]
The hooded figure stared.
"…Are you okay?"
Elias screamed into the void.
The system chimed calmly.
[NEXT QUEST AVAILABLE.][PREPARE YOURSELF, USER ELIAS.]
The hooded figure stood.
"Your first trial begins now."
Elias whimpered.