Chapter 1312: Fully Automatic Wishing Machine

Midseashire, Limon City.

Jasmine wrapped a scarf around her face and exited the apartment.

She had heard that the annual Limon Carnival had begun, so she wanted to

visit it at the municipal square.

Because of the war last year, the carnival hadn't been held. This had

greatly disappointed Jasmine. After that, she suffered the greatest

trauma in her life. From then on, she hid at home and didn't dare to go

out.

Perhaps it was because she had been confined at home for too long---one

that was very cramped---Jasmine had been eager to go on the streets

recently. She wanted to walk around just like she did in the past.

As she turned her gaze, she saw her reflection in the large glass window

by the side of the street.

Her figure was pitch-black without any other color. Her long dress

reached her ankles, and the veil of her hat covered half of her face.

From the bottom of her eyes to her neck, there was a scarf wrapped

several times around her neck. Both of her hands were wearing a pair of

knitted gloves.

This was completely different from the cheerful and lively Jasmine in

her memories.

In the previous war, a cannonball had destroyed her original home and

resulted in a fire. She suffered burns to the face, causing her body to

be covered in wounds.

If not for the fact that she was lucky enough, Jasmine would've died

from the serious injuries. But even so, she felt like her life had ended

from that very moment.

Her nose had been burnt away, leaving only two black holes. There were

many traces left behind by the fire on her face, neck, and hands. If she

were to walk in the dark, she would pass off for a devil perfectly.

Jasmine clearly remembered one thing: on the first night of moving to

this apartment, she had washed up in the public bathroom before

sleeping. Just as she walked out of the door, she saw a youth walk over.

The youth had also seen her.

Under the crimson moonlight, the youth revealed an expression of extreme

horror, as if he would jump up at any moment. He turned around and ran

away.

Finally, he controlled himself and took a few steps to the side, not

daring to look at Jasmine's face again.

This pierced through Jasmine's fragile heart. From that day onwards, she

never left the house again. Even if she had to wash up, she would wait

until it was late at night.

In this aspect, she was very grateful to her parents because they didn't

say a word. They did their best to maintain their lives, relying on

their original savings and the work they later found to barely support

the family. They didn't need Jasmine to work outside for a salary.

After walking a distance, Jasmine saw the main venue of the

carnival---Lemon City Municipal Square.

There was a sea of heads and all kinds of reveling emotions. The

enthusiastic atmosphere made Jasmine subconsciously stop in her tracks.

She didn't dare approach, afraid that someone would notice that she was

dressed strangely, afraid that she might accidentally drop her scarf.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she finally stopped. She found a

clean spot by the street and sat down. She stared intently at the

municipal square.

After an unknown period of time, Jasmine sensed someone beside her.

It was a young man in a long black robe and a tall hat. He was like a

magician from a circus.

The municipal square is over there... Jasmine wanted to remind

him, but after she quivered her lips a few times, she didn't part them.

She didn't dare to speak to anyone.

However, the young man took the initiative to walk over. He took off his

hat and bowed slightly.

"Miss, do you know what this machine is for?"

Machine? Jasmine subconsciously looked up and dazedly followed

the young man's gaze.

Under the streetlamp, a small wardrobe-like machine was sitting there at

some point in time.

Its surface was a brass color with a few transparent glass, gears, and

bearings embedded in it. The components were exposed, looking very

crude.

Jasmine retracted her gaze and shook her head, indicating that she

didn't know what the machine was.

At the same time, this also expressed her intention to reject

conversing.

"It's called a 'Fully Automatic Wishing Machine,'" the young man

introduced with a smile. "It's my invention. It can automatically

fulfill the wish of someone who operates it. By the way, I forgot to

introduce myself. My name is Merlin Hermes, a wandering magician."

Fully Automatic Wishing Machine... Jasmine realized that she

could understand every single word but failed to understand the combined

name.

"You can give it a try. As the first user to experience it, it's free,"

Klein, who had taken on the identity of Merlin Hermes, said with a

smile.

Jasmine shook her head, refusing the conversation.

Klein didn't give up. He looked at her and said, "For example, you can

make a wish to be restored with your original looks."

These words were like a sharp arrow that shot into Jasmine's heart. She

stood up in shock and retreated hastily in an attempt to leave.

She suspected that he had already seen her current appearance.

"If you don't give it a try, how do you know that your wish won't come

true? It's free," Klein said unhurriedly as he looked past her into the

background.

Jasmine gradually slowed down and finally stopped.

If she could be restored with her original looks, even if she had to pay

a huge sum of money, she would still be willing to do so.

However, she knew that the wish in her heart couldn't be granted by

money.

*I don't have to pay anything... It's a free try... What if it comes

true...* Jasmine's thoughts were in an upheaval, and she slowly

turned around as if she was being enticed by a devil.

"Really?" she asked in a hoarse voice.

Klein pointed at the machine.

"I can retreat ten meters, and all you need to do is to turn the wrench

on the machine.

"You don't have to remove your hat and scarf."

The last sentence moved Jasmine into action as she quickly nodded and

said, "Okay."

Not long after Merlin retreated a certain distance, Jasmine moved closer

to the machine, gingerly grasping the wrench on the "door."

She was actually very worried that this was part of a prank that

involved pulling the wrench, such as being splashed by water. This was

something that would happen every year during the carnival. She and her

friends had often played such pranks on others, but compared to a wish

that could be fulfilled, she felt that it was an acceptable risk.

Even if it was proven that having her wish granted was impossible, it

could still be treated as her experience at the carnival.

"Remember to make your wish before you turn it," Klein reminded her from

not too far away.

Jasmine collected her thoughts and silently voiced her wish.

"I want to return to my former self before the burns."

With that, she turned the wrench nervously and expectantly.

In the next second, the "door" to the Fully Automatic Wishing Machine

opened. A normal wooden cane reached out and tapped Jasmine's forehead.

What Jasmine didn't notice was a golden ring embedded with rubies that

had appeared on her hand.

When the wooden cane retracted back into the Fully Automatic Wishing

Machine, the golden ring with the rubies disappeared as well.

As the gears turned, Jasmine saw the machine's "door" slowly close.

That's it? she thought blankly.

She didn't experience the feeling of having her wish fulfilled, nor was

she being pranked. Everything seemed so strange.

"Congratulations. Your wish has been granted." Klein walked back and

clapped gently like a witness to a magical event.

My wish has been granted... How is this possible... Just as

this thought flashed through her mind, she suddenly felt something

beneath her scarf.

The spot where there were only two black holes left had been propped up!

Jasmine slowly raised her hand and touched her face, clearly sensing the

presence of her nose.

And the quality of her breathing proved this point.

She suddenly turned around, her back facing Merlin Hermes. She walked to

a shop by the side of the street and cast her gaze at the glass window.

Then, she removed the scarf covering her face.

Eyes that weren't big, a nose that wasn't too well-defined, and her lips

that weren't too full---the freckled face of a girl was reflected on the

window.

Jasmine subconsciously raised her hand and covered her mouth. Her eyes

glistened.

After a few seconds, she raised her arm and wiped her face with her

sleeve. She turned to look at Merlin Hermes and said, "Are you a god?"

"I'm just a magician who likes to create miracles." Klein smiled as he

pointed at the machine beside him. "The thing you should thank the most

is that---the Fully Automatic Wishing Machine."

"Fully Automatic..." Jasmine's emotions stirred as she subconsciously

repeated.

Klein nodded and said, "Yes, a Fully Automatic Wishing Machine that can

operate without any external help.

"You can understand it as a gas meter. As long as you throw in a coin,

you can get a wish granted like how you obtain gas.

"The specific steps are very simple. Throw one penny in and make your

wish before turning the wrench.

"Remember, only three wishes can be fulfilled."

While explaining, Klein inwardly mocked himself, *If I were to

unfortunately die one day and become a Sealed Artifact, I hope it's

something similar to the Fully Automatic Wishing Machine.*

After leaving the capital of Midseashire, Constant City, Klein changed

the method of granting other people's wishes to prevent himself from

being too bored.

One had to learn to seek joy in mundane work.

How miraculous... Jasmine couldn't find the words to describe

how she felt inside.

Her exhilarated emotions calmed down a little.

"Will it... I mean will this Fully Automatic Wishing Machine stay here

forever?" Jasmine asked hesitantly.

Klein smiled and said, "No."

"It could stay here for three days, or maybe not that long. Perhaps it

would disappear when the sun rises.

"But it won't disappear forever. Perhaps one day, you will see it at the

corner of the street again."

Jasmine's mind was in a mess and she was unable to sort out her

thoughts. All she could do was bow to the machine and say seriously,

"Thank you, Mr. Fully Automatic Wishing Machine."

Then, she bowed at Klein.

"Thank you, Mr. Hermes."

As soon as she said that, Jasmine recalled the words Merlin Hermes had

just said. Filled with anticipation, surprise, and embarrassment, she

asked, "Three wishes can be granted?"

"Yes, but it won't be free in the future. You will need to pay a penny,"

Klein replied, unfazed by the question.