Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 437 allows multiple selections, but...

The fake Ron in the mirror was stunned:

"what?"

"We are fake, you are real."

Ron continued, his tone unwavering in conviction, as if he had convinced himself:

"Since you are real beings, you should come out and explore this wonderful wizarding world, and experience real adventures and challenges."

He bowed slightly, making an inviting gesture:

"And we counterfeiters should just stay obediently in this mirror maze and reflect on our own falsehood."

The fake Eve in the mirror began to panic:
"Wait a minute. If we go outside, who will be the real us in the mirror?"

Fake Ron was also confused:
"That's right! If we weren't in the mirrors, then these mirrors would lose their meaning!"

But if we don't go out, how can we prove that we're more authentic than those counterfeit goods outside?

The two hypothetical scenarios began to argue fiercely: "Should we go out or stay?"

"How should I know! You're the one who knows, you decide!"

"But if I were real, why would I listen to the opinion of a fake?"

"Then I don't know if I'm real or fake!"

Their argument grew increasingly heated, eventually escalating into a physical fight that disrupted the other reflections in the mirror.

While all the mirrors were in chaos, the mirror maze began to shake violently and eventually disappeared piece by piece.

A hearty laugh of great satisfaction echoed from the sky:

"Hahaha! Reverse psychology! I love it! Using paradox to solve paradox, using absurdity to fight absurdity!"

The tone of his voice gradually took on an almost appreciative quality:

"You've begun to understand that the boundary between truth and falsehood in my philosophy is inherently man-made!"

………………

The last test was more direct and more brutal than the previous ones.

A classic classroom suddenly appeared in front of the two of them.

A problem was written neatly in chalk on the blackboard:
The answer to this question is incorrect. What is the answer?

An owl wearing gold-rimmed glasses sat upright on the podium.

Its feathers were meticulously groomed, and it wore a sash around its neck symbolizing authority.

The owl said in a serious voice:
"Students, you have thirty seconds to answer this question."

Its eyes were as sharp as a hawk's.

"If you answer incorrectly, you will be punished by standing for ten thousand years."

Note that this is not ten thousand minutes, nor ten thousand hours, but a full ten thousand years!

Eve frowned when she heard about this time span:
"How do I answer that? If I say the answer is 'wrong,' then it means the answer to the question is wrong, which is the correct answer."
But if the answer is correct, it violates the premise of the question.

Her thoughts began to tangle:
"Saying it right is wrong, and saying it wrong is still wrong! It's an unsolvable vicious cycle!"

Professor Owl pushed up his glasses, revealing a rather threatening smile:

"There are 25 seconds left. I suggest you think about it quickly; being punished by standing for 10,000 years is no joke."

It pointed to the back of the classroom, where several petrified figures stood, clearly the victims who had answered the questions incorrectly earlier.

The expressions on the stone statues remained one of despair and pain, as if silently proclaiming the reality of this punishment.

Looking at the question, Ron suddenly recalled the ancient philosophical discussion about "liars".

He thought for a moment, then raised his hand: "Teacher, I have a question."

"what is the problem?"

Professor Owl pushed up his glasses, looking somewhat impatient:

"There are only fifteen seconds left, you'd better hurry."

Did you create this question?

"Of course."

Professor Owl replied matter-of-factly, "As a professor here, all the questions are carefully designed by me."

"So, if we answer correctly, does that mean you set a question with a correct answer?"

Ron's tone became aggressive:

"But the question itself says 'the answer is wrong,' so does that mean the premise of your question is wrong?"

Professor Owl began to realize something, and a look of panic appeared in his eyes:
"Wait a minute."

"If we answer incorrectly, does that mean you set a question with no correct answer?"

Ron continued to press:

"As a professor, why would you pose an unanswerable question to stump your students? Is such a professor competent?"

Professor Owl started sweating, and his feathers became somewhat ruffled.

"You can't question a teacher like that."

"Therefore, no matter how we answer, it shows that you, as the one who set the question, have a problem."

Ron's words became even sharper:
"Since the person who set the question has problems, the question loses its authority."

So why should we answer a question from an unreliable source?

He looked around the classroom and then said:

"To go further, if this classroom itself is a test set up by the King of Absurdity, then the identity of 'teacher' is also false."

Why should we take a question seriously if it's set by a fake teacher?

Professor Owl was completely dumbfounded; his gaze shifted from dignified to bewildered.

Suddenly, it burst into laughter:

"Hahaha! Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

The professor's voice began to change, gradually taking on the mocking tone characteristic of the person behind the scenes:
"You passed! This is the real answer!"

The classroom began to dissolve, and the owl's silhouette became blurred:
"Question the rationality of the problem itself, question the legitimacy of the authority, and even question the significance of the entire testing system!"

"This way of thinking is the true wisdom for surviving in this world!"

With these words, the fake classroom vanished completely, revealing the true core of the treasure trove.

But at that moment, Ron saw something deeper in the eyes of the vanishing owl.

That wasn't simple appreciation, but a jumbled mix of emotions:

It acknowledges the wisdom of the younger generation and reflects on the meaning of one's own existence.

There was even a hint of loneliness?

Did the King of Absurdity create these tests to screen visitors, or to find kindred spirits who could understand his inner loneliness?

………………

When the treasure vault was officially displayed, there were no traditional display stands or storage shelves at all.

Instead, all sorts of bizarre creatures are displaying their priceless treasures with their bodies.

The first thing Ron noticed was a giant mushroom.

At the very top of the mushroom cap, a box rests securely.

"Look at me! Look at me!"

The mushroom shouted in an excited, almost shrill voice:

"The box above me can grant any wish! Any wish! Want wealth? Beauty? Power? Or even immortality? It can give you everything!"

The mushrooms blinked their eyes and continued in a confused tone:

"But the price is... uh... what was it again? Never mind, it's terrifying! Hahaha! It's more terrifying than death! But not quite as terrifying as death! In short, it's very complicated!"

Ron carefully examined the box using his "supernatural perception".

In his perception, the inside of that seemingly exquisite container...

It held a strong allure for him, as if whispering sweet promises.

But at the same time, it also contains a chilling malice, like a hungry monster at the bottom of an abyss patiently waiting for its prey.

"That's the Otherworldly Treasure Box."

Eve explained in a low voice, her voice clearly tense:
"The ultimate creation in legend, capable of granting any wish, but the price of using it..."

She didn't finish speaking, but Ron read fear in her expression.

Recalling the truth he learned from Yutel during his treatment, he fully understood the source of this fear.

Just as they were observing the Otherworldly Box, a light tapping sound came from the air.

A winged desk flew over from the sky, with a thick ancient book spread out on its surface.

The desk's wings are pure white, and each feather shimmers with the light of wisdom.

But what's even more striking is that the desk is also adorned with a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, giving it a scholarly air.

"Look here! Look here!"

The desk, in a tone brimming with superiority, loudly proclaimed:

"What I am carrying is The Extraordinary Explanation—the wisest book in the entire universe!"

It contains the secrets of all extraordinary systems! Want to grasp the essence of power? Want to understand the laws of the universe? It can tell you everything!

The flying desk spun in the air, then added somewhat smugly:
"However, everyone who reads it goes bald!"
Why? Because it's too mind-bending! The flames of wisdom will set your hair on fire!
Haha! But baldness is a symbol of wisdom!

It paused for a moment, as if thinking about something:
"On the other hand, is being bald really unattractive?"

I think he's pretty handsome... after all, a smart head doesn't grow hair!

Ron stared at the book, his heart pounding.

"The Amazing Explained" held an irresistible attraction for him.

But the flying desk had a warning about "baldness." Although it sounded ridiculous, Ron's intuition told him that there might be real danger hidden within.

Excessive knowledge intake can often cause irreversible damage to one's mental health.

“Mentor, look over there.”

Eve pointed in another direction toward the treasure vault.

There, a giant python was coiled in a circle, like the ouroboros from ancient mythology.

In the center of the circle formed by the snake, an irregular crystal fragment floats.

"Young man, young woman..."

The giant snake greeted them in a mysterious tone, its voice carrying the distinctive accent of a diviner:

"Want to look at the future? This fragment of possibilities can show you all the possible paths in your life—successful, unsuccessful, sad, happy, you can see them all."

The snake's head swayed rhythmically, like a hypnotist:

"Only 99.999999...% sanity! Honest and fair! Excellent value for money!"
Imagine if you could foresee the future, you could avoid all the pitfalls and seize all the opportunities!

It added with a merchant-like enthusiasm:

"Of course, people who see too many possibilities often go crazy because of decision paralysis."

But madness can also be a sign of wisdom; it's better than ignorance.

Ron noticed that when the snake spoke, its eyes would flash with different colors, changing like a kaleidoscope.

Each color seems to represent a different timeline, a different possibility.

But the more he watched, the more he felt a deep sense of dizziness.

It felt as if my consciousness was being dragged into a vortex of countless parallel worlds.

"Mentor, don't stare into its eyes for too long."

Eve promptly reminded him:
“Even when displayed statically, fragments of possibility can still affect the observer.”

Just then, an elegant voice came from the side:
"Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to introduce you to a truly exquisite treasure."

The voice belonged to a penguin, but the penguin was dressed extremely formally.

It was dressed in a tailor-made tailcoat, white gloves, and a silk hat on its head.

The penguin stood tall and elegant like a gentleman, even holding an ivory cane.

"This is the paradoxical die."

The penguin gentlemanly removed his top hat and took out a seemingly ordinary six-sided die from inside:
"It can change your luck, reverse your destiny, and make the impossible possible!"

Want to turn the tide? Want to turn the tide? All it takes is a simple toss!

The penguin's voice became somewhat eerie:
"Of course, with each use, you'll become a little more...confused."

The current level of chaos is... let me see..."

It put on a monocle and carefully examined its surroundings:

"It's already reached the level of 'penguins can talk'."

"Well, that's alright. Compared to 'reversing gravity' or 'time travel,' this is a piece of cake."

The penguin put its top hat back on and gave an elegant bow.
"By the way, I used to be the steward of this palace."

But ever since the owner started using this die for renovations… well, here’s the result.”

As they ventured deeper into the vault, Ron and Eve discovered even more incredible and wondrous treasures.

"Look here! Look here!"

In a corner of the treasure vault, a carrot was shouting in an excited but slightly frantic tone:
"This is a mirror of truth that lies. It always speaks the opposite of what it means and shows only illusions."

But here's the key point! If you know it's lying, then the illusion it presents becomes the truth!

The mirror did not reflect Ron and Eve's images, but rather two completely unfamiliar people.

It was a bald old man and an old woman with a face full of wrinkles.

"See that? This is your 'fake' future!"

The carrot swayed its leaves triumphantly:

"But since it's fake, the truth is that you will never grow old! That's the beauty of the paradox!"

At this point, it muttered to itself, somewhat confused:

"But then again, if the fake becomes real, then doesn't the real become fake? That's a bit of a convoluted logic..."

"Never mind, it's just amazing!"

Further on, they came across a medicine bottle that was being used to scratch an itch.

The bottle has tiny hands and feet and is sitting on a soft cushion, its expression a mixture of happiness and pain.

The bottle contained a shimmering blue liquid, but bubbles were constantly rising to the surface of the liquid, as if it were boiling.

"Hahaha... Waaaaah... Hahaha..."

The bottle was laughing and crying at the same time, its voice sounding extremely contradictory.

"This is a potion of happiness mixed with sadness. Drinking it will make you very happy, but it will also make your tears flow uncontrollably, and you can only laugh through your tears..."

It explained while scratching itself:
"Happiness and sadness are the same feeling; we just give them different names."

Now I finally understand, but this realization has only confused me more. Hahaha... Waaaaah..."

………………

As Ron carefully examined these strange treasures and pondered which one he should choose...

The strange creatures suddenly fell silent, as if they were waiting for the arrival of some important person.

A figure slowly emerged from nothingness.

His upper body depicts a middle-aged gentleman in a formal suit, handsome with a gentle smile.

She also wore a white rose pinned to her chest, which made her look extremely elegant and proper.

But his lower body was a giant octopus.

Dozens of thick tentacles slowly wriggled on the ground, each radiating a strong magical energy.

The strangest thing was his face.

The left half is smiling, but the right half is crying.

Two distinctly different expressions coexisting on the same face create an unsettling sense of harmony.

"welcome!"

The king of absurdity clapped enthusiastically, but the applause sounded both like a celebration and like swatting some nasty insect:

"Finally, someone has come again. This treasure trove has not welcomed such... special visitors in far too long."

His tentacles swayed gently.

The surrounding biological display stands immediately lined up neatly, like soldiers being inspected.

"Ancestors..."

Eve's voice sounded a little nervous, and she instinctively moved closer to Ron.

Although the King of Absurdity was her ancestor, this legendary witch king was incredibly distant from her, so distant that she even felt a sense of fear.

"Little Eve! Hello!"

The octopus tentacles of the King of Absurdity waved in a friendly gesture.

The tearful right side of the face suddenly turned into a smile, while the smiling left side of the face began to tear up:
"You look good, how's your recovery going?"

"Yes, ancestor."

Eve replied respectfully, "Thanks to my mentor's help..."

"And this one... little Ron? Right?"

The King of Absurdity turned his gaze to Ron, a hint of excitement flickering in his contradictory eyes:

"My great-great ...

"We haven't..."

Eve blushed immediately, and her voice was barely audible.

"It's a small matter! It's a small matter!"

The King of Absurdity waved his tentacle, his tone carrying the teasing tone characteristic of an elder:
"Love is something that happens eventually! The important thing is..."

He began to slowly move within the spherical space, propelled by his octopus tentacles, as if swimming in water:

"You've all passed my test! Especially you, Ron!"

The King of Absurdity's tentacles pointed at Ron:
"Your philosophy of paradoxes aligns perfectly with mine! This excites me greatly!"

Ron sensed the terrifying pressure emanating from the other party, but he maintained his calm and rational thinking:
"Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty Saint Hector."

"so!"

The King of Absurdity suddenly announced excitedly:
"I've decided to give you a special choice!"

He snapped his fingers, and the crisp sound echoed in the spherical space.

The next moment, all the treasure display stands began to spin wildly, just like a carousel in an amusement park.

The mushroom's eyes spun so much they turned into mosquito coil shapes;

The flying desk spun in the air like a drunkard;

The rainbow snake, dizzy, spat out rainbow-colored bubbles;

The penguin gentleman's top hat flew off, revealing a bald head...

"Rules changed!"

The King of Absurdity excitedly announced, like a game host:
"To celebrate little Eve's recovery, you can both choose two treasures! But..."

He smiled eerily, a smile that was both gentle and terrifying, both benevolent and cruel:

"You have to choose with your eyes closed! Hahaha, that's what makes it fun..."

(End of this chapter)