Multivers, Leveling Up in the World I Created

A translucent blue screen suddenly appeared before my eyes.

"Whoa! Is this... like an awakening from a webtoon or something?"

"..."

"No way, is this a dream? Am I seeing things because I’m sick?"

"This world isn’t some hunter story... an awakening?"

I couldn’t believe it even as I stared at the screen, so I waved my hand through the blue window.

[Existence value has been verified.]

[Calling a staff member.]

The blue screen vanished as if someone had turned off a TV.

"Figures. It was a dream. I’ve watched too many comics..."

[Excuse me, can you hear me?]

"Eek!"

A voice suddenly came from the darkness. I was so startled I fell backward.

[It’s too dark in here. Just a moment—don’t be alarmed.]

Snap!

A finger snap echoed, and the bunker slowly brightened. The figure in front of me became visible.

"Huh? Aqua?"

A girl stood before me—identical to Aqua from KonoSuba, same light-blue hair, same outfit.

[I’m not Aqua. For your convenience, I’ve transformed into a character from a creation you’re very familiar with to guide you.]

"Customer... guide? What are you guiding me through?"

[To explain briefly: Long ago, a certain god was enjoying creations from another world. When that world was destroyed before the story could finish, the god became furious and fought the god who made that world.

The aftermath shook multiple dimensions. Other gods, who had been watching, couldn’t stand by and mediated the conflict. After much back-and-forth, they decided that worlds producing excellent creations deserve a second chance. That’s how this system was created.]

"So basically, some god got Togashi’d and was so pissed they made this system?"

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

[Anyway, when gods from other worlds view creations or go on vacation there, they pay a small usage fee from their own power. That power is collected. If that world gets destroyed, the accumulated power is transferred to the last intelligent survivor. This system exists to guide and help them use it properly.]

[Think of it like an insurance company.]

"I’ve got a question. Why the last survivor?"

[Actually, there was a lot of opposition when this system was made. Many gods believed ’things should just run their course.’ After long debate, they concluded: ’The system will evaluate whether to grant a chance, but the last survivor who witnessed the end of the world decides whether to accept it and restore the world.’]

"So I can just take the power and not restore anything? That’s fine?"

[Yes, that is correct.]

I guess they figured someone who saw the end of the world knows all the filthy, ugly parts of it, so they gave that person the final choice.

"Then how do I use the power?"

[Typically, it’s used in the form of wish grants.]

"How many wishes can I make?"

[That depends on the size of the wish and how much power has been accumulated. Shall I check for you?]

"Yeah."

[Hmm...]

The (tentative) Aqua closed her eyes, furrowed her brow, and rubbed her chin like she was thinking.

She looked so cute I just stared at her for a while.

Come to think of it, I spent my whole life preparing for the apocalypse and surviving. I’m 48 and I’ve never dated anyone.

I suddenly felt really sad.

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

Just then, (tentative) Aqua seemed to finish calculating and spoke brightly.

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

"Oh~ really? How many wishes can I make?"

[You have enough to restore the world twelve times over.]

[Hmm... roughly, it’s enough to wish ’Make me a billionaire who never has to worry about money!’ about 130 times.]

"Hmm..."

I looked conflicted, and she noticed.

[Huh? What’s wrong?]

"I get that it’s a lot, but I don’t have a sense of what ’size of a wish’ means..."

[Then tell me one wish. That way you’ll get a rough idea.]

"Alright~"

I decided to ask for the ability I envied most from all the creations I’d seen.

"How about Pleasure Life? And not the phone app version—like in Solo Leveling, where a translucent window pops up in front of me that only I can see."

[Hah~ You really know how to ask for the most absurd wishes!]

Aqua made an exasperated face.

"Huh? Is that really that absurd?"

[Of course it is! Think about it. ’Entering multiple worlds from creations’ is the same as ’creating multiple worlds.’ That’s power on par with a supreme god’s authority.]

"Eh~ so I can’t do it?"

[Haah~ Wait a moment.]

[Hmm...]

[There’s so much accumulated power that it’s possible, but you’ll have to spend enough to restore the world ten times.]

"Then do it."

[Huh? Ah... okay.]

When I made the wish without hesitation, Aqua flinched in surprise. She hesitated, then composed herself and placed her hand above my head.

Ding!

[[You have awakened Pleasure Life.]]

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

"Hmm... then,"

"Give me an ability that lets me analyze a target just by looking at them—copies their abilities, traits, techniques, skills, etc., and turns them into skills or traits I can use easily."

[You’re making another absurd wish!]

[Impossible. A wish of that level would require enough power to restore the world five times. You only have about 2.5 times left.]

"Oh, really? What if I add restrictions? For example, change ’just by looking at them’ to ’by touching them’?"

[Hmm... that would reduce it to about four times, but it’s still impossible.]

"Sigh~ can’t be helped then... What if I have to kill the target?"

[Ah! So it’s the Kill Steal ability. That would be possible.]

Once again, Aqua placed her hand above my head.

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

[You don’t have much power left. I recommend using it to restore your body.]

"Yeah. Do that."

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 regrow.

[I used the remaining power to restore your body and converted the rest into mana.]

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

[We’re finished now. You’re the first customer like this, but it was... a fun experience in its own way. Well then, good luck~]

With those words, Aqua disappeared. The bunker was filled with darkness again.

"..."