Seongjii sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the rectangular piece of paper in his hands. 10,000,000 Won. It felt heavier than the crystal trophy sitting on his desk.
"Thinking of starting a bank, mortal?" Araya's voice floated from the window sill, where she was swinging her legs. "I'm curious... why did the Han girl give you the entire amount? Wasn't she the one who did half the work?"
Seongjii looked up, a small smile playing on his lips. "I tried, Araya. I told her we should split it 50-50. But she just shook her head and said, 'Seongjii, my dream was to win, and I did that because of you. My father has more than enough money... you need this more than I do.' She didn't even let me argue."
Araya let out a soft hum. "Smart girl. She realized that while she won a trophy, you won a future for your family."
"That's exactly what I was thinking," Seongjii's eyes softened. "With this, I can clear the pending loans. I can pay off the EMIs that keep Mom and Dad awake at night. And maybe... I can finally buy them something they actually want."
"Nice idea, mortal," Araya teased. "Since you have 45 wishes left, you don't exactly need a retirement fund, do you? Are you trying to finish your wishes quickly so I can leave?"
Seongjii grinned, leaning back. "What? You're already dreaming of leaving me? I'm not letting you off that easy, Brat."
Araya's eyes narrowed, and she turned her head away quickly. "Hmph. As soon as possible, believe me." But for a split second, her expression wasn't one of annoyance—it was a flicker of something that looked almost like... sadness at the thought of leaving.
"Stop dreaming and let's go," Seongjii stood up. "I have a surprise to deliver."
The front door creaked open just as they reached the living room. Seongjii's father walked in, his shoulders slumped, his face etched with exhaustion.
"Welcome home, dear," Seongjii's mother greeted him, but her face clouded with worry. "You look exhausted today."
"Ah, the office was a mess," his father sighed, rubbing the small of his back. "And that old scooty... every bump on the road feels like a hammer to my spine. My back is killing me."
Seongjii stood in the hallway, his heart tightening. He exchanged a look with Araya. She nodded toward his pocket. Go on.
"Mom? Dad?" Seongjii stepped forward, his face turning a slight shade of red. "I... I went to a competition today. I ended up winning the top prize."
His father let out a weak chuckle. "A competition? That's great news, son. You just washed away half my tiredness."
"What did you win, dear? A gift voucher?" his mother asked kindly.
Seongjii reached into his pocket and handed her the check. "This... and the trophy on the table."
His mother squinted at the paper. "Oh, 10,000 Won? That's nice—wait." She froze. She rubbed her eyes and looked again. Her breath hitched. "Seongjii... there are too many zeros here. This... this says 10 Million Won!"
"What?!" His father practically jumped, forgetting his back pain. He snatched the check. "10 Million?! Is this a prank? What kind of competition gives this much money to a student?"
Araya stepped forward, her chest puffed out with pride. "Your son took over the Seoul Street Rhythm Grand Prix. He danced against the best in the city and made them look like amateurs."
"Dance?!" His mother gasped. "Seongjii? Dancing? Since when?"
"Did you... did you use a wish for this?" his father whispered, looking at Seongjii with wide eyes.
Seongjii rubbed the back of his neck, blushing furiously. "Something like that, Dad. It's a long story."
"And did he do it alone?" his mother asked. "Was Satoshi his partner?"
"No, Uncle," Araya interjected, her eyes dancing with mischief. "He had a very pretty partner named Rika Han."
"Rika... Han?" Seongjii's parents said in unison, their eyebrows shooting up.
"I mean—she's just a girl! I mean, a dance partner! Her name is Rika!" Seongjii stammered, his face turning beet-red. "Look, I'll explain the 'partner' part later! The point is, Dad, I want you to use this money. Pay off the loans. Clear the EMIs. And whatever is left, use it to repair the store."
His father looked at the check, then at his son. His eyes grew misty. "But Seongjii... this is your hard-earned money. You should keep it for your future."
Seongjii walked over and placed a hand on his father's shoulder. "Dad, I have 45 wishes. My future is already sorted. But my present... my present is you and Mom. What's mine is yours. Please, take it."
His mother pulled him into a sudden, tight hug, her tears dampening his shirt. "Our little boy... when did you grow up so much?"
"He's becoming a man, dear," his father said, his voice thick with emotion. He looked at Araya and then back at his son. "But remember this, Seongjii: Success is achieved through efforts, not just by wishes. Today, you showed us your effort."
Seongjii smiled, feeling a warmth in his chest that no 'system' could ever provide. "Fine, fine. Just make my favorite dinner tomorrow. And get this Araya brat some cheesecake, or she'll never let me hear the end of it."
As they walked back to his room, Araya whispered, "You've become quite the 'Sanskari' son, haven't you, mortal?"
Seongjii laughed, closing his bedroom door. But his expression soon turned serious. The air in the room shifted, turning heavy with magical energy.
"Araya," Seongjii said, his voice dropping an octave. "It's time. My next wish... I've decided what it is."
Araya's eyes glowed with a faint violet light. "I'm listening, Mortal. What is your wish?"
To be continued…..