One-Eyed Monster

Kadi was very excited after learning to tie a hunter’s knot. He kept jumping around, wishing he could immediately start dancing.

Unfortunately, his hand was tied to Igor’s other hand, and every excited swing would be yanked hard by Igor.

To cope with the changing weather of Ghost Wind Valley, Kadi specifically brought Igor to the place where he had picked Rum Fruits the day before and took two Rum Leaves. Those Rum Leaves were large and wide, water-repellent, and perfect for keeping the rain out.

It had to be said that Igor had gifted hands; he quickly turned the two large leaves into rain and windproof hats.

”Tell me, where did you learn these unique skills? Never mind the rope-making, you turned that leaf into a hat the moment you got it! How did you do that?” Kadi was amazed at Igor’s capabilities.

”These skills? Some were taught by Teacher Hadi at the academy, and others by the Rufe Brothers, hunters from the back mountain. They said that if you want to become an adventurer, you have to ensure you live well. You need to know a little bit about everything,” Igor answered Kadi.

Igor felt the valley was full of wonders. Besides the fluctuating hot and cold weather, the strangely growing trees were a real eye-opener for him.

”Knowing a little about everything... that phrase seems to make sense,” Kadi carefully savored the meaning of this sentence.

”Yes, they said that the outside world is wonderful, but it’s also very dangerous.”

”Kevin said something similar,” Kadi chuckled. ”It seems people who say this don’t want others to go out, huh.”

”Not necessarily. Teacher Hadi of Yonder Travel Academy has always encouraged us to go out. Teacher Hadi also said that the vast world outside needs young people to explore.”

”I really wish I could meet this teacher you’re talking about.” Kadi yearned for a life beyond Guru Mountain.

”You can come to Yonder Travel Academy with me.”

Kadi glanced at Igor and lowered his head in silence. It seemed Igor’s words had touched a deep pain within him.

Of course, Igor didn’t know what Kadi’s inner pain was. He continued, ”Really, you could think about it. Come to Yonder Travel Academy with me. It won’t disappoint you; there are lots of interesting things there.”

”I can’t leave Guru Mountain.” Kadi didn’t hide his inner thoughts too much. Although he hadn’t spent much time with Igor, Kadi felt this person before him was trustworthy.

”Why?” Igor naturally didn’t understand.

”No particular reason. Just because I am Kadi of Guru Mountain, I can only move around Guru Mountain for now. The furthest I can go is Dawn Peak,” Kadi told Igor.

”This...” Igor naturally couldn’t comprehend.

”Maybe it’s because I’m a monster.”

”What does that have to do with whether you’re a monster or not?”

”Of course, it’s related. Firstly, I’m different from you humans. If I appeared before you, you’d definitely be scared. Weren’t you frightened when you first met me?”

Igor’s face flushed red, but he quickly hid his embarrassment. Indeed, he had been startled when he first saw Kadi. However, this was something he preferred to keep to himself; if others knew, they would laugh at him. Igor recalled that night under the bright moonlight when he had spotted Kadi hiding in the bushes. Kadi’s pointed ears were twitching, and his single eye shimmered in the darkness—a scene that had taken the unprepared Igor by surprise. Truthfully, it was a normal reaction; anyone encountering Kadi, even if not frightened, would at least be stunned. After all, he was a monster.

But for Igor, who was determined to become an adventurer, retreating from such a minor scare felt like a disgrace. He had criticized himself at the time, but what had happened couldn’t be easily undone. Now, whenever the incident was mentioned, Igor would blush to the roots of his hair.

”Even if that’s a reason, you can still leave Guru Mountain. You just need to disguise yourself a little.”

”I suggested that before, but Kevin and the others said that no matter how I hide, a monster is a monster. That can’t be changed.”

”Uh...” This left Igor speechless.

”Maybe you can convince Kevin and the others then.” Kadi imagined Igor meeting Kevin. At the thought of Igor having a pleasant conversation with Kevin, Kadi couldn’t help but want to clap his hands in approval.

Unfortunately, just as he was about to clap, he felt a tug on the rope tied to his hand. It was clear Igor wanted him to be quiet again.

”You monsters sure have a lot of concerns! Even going down a mountain is so troublesome, with all these rules. Don’t tell me that if you monsters actually went down the mountain, you could really turn the world upside down?” Sometimes, Igor blurted things out without thinking.

”HEH-HEH. We can’t turn the world upside down,” Kadi gave a wry laugh. Igor could be surprisingly dense at times.

Monsters naturally couldn’t turn the world upside down, but conversely, the world could disintegrate monsters until nothing remained.

People are somewhat afraid of the unknown, and this fear can make them unusually united. Until this unknown is completely understood by people, it will always be considered a potential threat.

Humans are a very selfish species. As long as something threatens their own living space, people will form a united front. But when this threat is removed, that united front will also crumble.

Therefore, when a monster appears in people’s sight, it is destined to become a living target for them.

That was why Kevin and the others wouldn’t let Kadi leave Guru Mountain and go to the dangerous world below.

”So, I’m saying your leader’s thinking isn’t right. Won’t you get stifled living on this mountain all the time? When I meet your monster boss, I absolutely must have a good talk with him.”

”I hope you can convince him. I actually really want to go out for a walk. Going to Yonder Travel Academy with you sounds like a very nice trip.”

”Don’t worry, leave it to me. Your monster boss must be a reasonable person.” Igor was full of confidence about this, though he didn’t know where it came from.

Every beginning is difficult, but things will slowly get better. Igor firmly believed this.

”But before I meet your monster boss, you need to figure out how to get out of this valley. Look at those strange plants ahead—they’re practically bandits!”

”No need to worry. These walking trees don’t bite. HEH-HEH-HEH.”

”I’m serious.”

”So am I. Don’t worry about these walking trees. I am Kadi of Guru Mountain. In this territory, no matter what it is, it will more or less make way for me!”