One-Eyed Monster

Kadi, who had been feeling somewhat guilty, was reassured by Igor’s words. He was calm now, having decided to follow Igor no matter what.

Whatever decision Igor made, Kadi would support unconditionally. From now on, Kadi would be Igor’s faithful follower, going wherever Igor went, without a single hesitation.

This was the power of trust, a force that developed unconsciously over time, forged through inner trials. This trust was more solid than rock, steadier than a mountain range, unshakable and indestructible.

Igor’s gaze burned bright, as if he could see a new beginning.

To see through a disguise, one needs to understand the art of disguise. This was what Teacher Hadi from Yonder Travel Academy had taught him, and now he felt this sentiment was quite applicable here.

He now knew that the most basic art behind this Slumber Room was called the World Setting Technique. He understood a little about this technique, but he didn’t fully comprehend it. After all, he had only recently encountered this technique, and it was an Alchemist’s spell.

Previously, Igor had tiptoed gently around the cave, trying to find a connection to the outside world. However, he discovered the entire cave seemed to be a sealed space, completely different from the one on Dawn Peak. The cave on Dawn Peak even had a pond that supposedly led outside. However, Igor hadn’t tried it; he still doubted Liko and Pita’s words. After all, the idea that one could reach the other side of the mountain by simply jumping into that small pond was something no one would easily believe.

However, this wasn’t important. Igor later realized that even if he found a so-called connection to the outside in this cave, he couldn’t be sure if that connection was real. For example, the pond in the Dawn Peak cave was just a sight he had seen, although he could also hear the occasional sound of water from it. But Igor couldn’t confirm if these things were truly real, because they were all presented before him by the World Setting Technique.

The World Setting Technique could pass off the fake as genuine, making people unable to distinguish what was real from what was false, often trapping them inextricably. Sometimes, a World Setting Technique could trap a person with a weak will to death; the extent to which it could pass off the fake as genuine was truly evident.

Once Igor understood this, he stopped agonizing over finding signs of an exit. He shifted his focus to something else: he began to meditate, to immerse himself deeply in this environment.

Gradually, Igor discovered that the World Setting Technique was sometimes a type of Illusion Spell, very similar to those used by Wizards. The difference was that in an Illusionary Realm, a person’s mind was no longer under their own control. The World Setting Technique, however, was more sophisticated; it allowed people to maintain their self-awareness, merely causing intense changes to what their senses perceived.

Igor had experienced this once back in Ghost Wind Valley, but had subsequently forgotten about it. Now, re-examining it, he gained new insights.

Igor had a habit: whenever he came across an interesting idea, he loved sharing it with his companions.

Although this habit had earned him many scornful glances and doubtful questions, he remained steadfast. The moment he thought of something fun or a great idea, he couldn’t help but call out to those around him.

For instance, just now, he had excitedly called out to Kadi.

Although Kadi’s reaction was quite different from what he had imagined.

Fortunately, Igor’s few words dispelled the doubts in Kadi’s mind, and Kadi now displayed immense enthusiasm.

This soaring enthusiasm was naturally infectious, a spark ignited by Igor...

With that stone lifted from his heart, Kadi felt completely at ease. He no longer felt guilty; instead, he felt it was only right and proper. After all, he didn’t want to see anything untoward happen to the Great Mentor. He still had many things he wanted to ask the Great Mentor; how could he allow the Great Mentor to fall into such a disadvantageous situation? He had to face those invaders. He would join Kevin and the others to defeat them and ensure Guru Mountain remained a beautiful home...

Kadi’s thoughts raced far away, so far that he himself couldn’t find their limits.

However, a vast gap always exists between beautiful aspirations and reality. How large this gap was, probably no one could say. Similarly, the disparity felt when returning from fantasy to reality was also something no one could clearly articulate. Kadi didn’t care about these disparities. He was convinced Igor could help him, and he felt that as long as Igor succeeded, all his aspirations could be realized. It was just that what he needed to know now was slightly more important than those aspirations.

Kadi now needed to know Igor’s detailed plan; he needed to know what Igor intended to do. This was the World Setting Technique, after all. How were they going to get out of here? Although Igor had once broken a World Setting Technique in Ghost Wind Valley, the one here was somewhat different from the one there. Kadi didn’t know these things, nor did he understand the World Setting Technique much; he had only occasionally heard this fact from Kevin. The World Setting Technique in this Slumber Room had once left Kadi utterly helpless, so now he had absolutely no interest in it; perhaps all he felt was disgust. The first impression this thing had left on him was truly terrible—so terrible that the mere thought of the World Setting Technique made him want to sleep.

However, even if he felt repulsed now, he had to steel himself and think about it. Although he trusted Igor completely, he still felt he should try to share some of the burden, not just blindly rely on others all the time.

But racking his brain was still too complicated for him, the One-Eyed Monster; he wasn’t quite suited for such complex matters. So, after wrestling with the World Setting Technique in his mind for a while, he decisively gave up. He knew that if he persisted, there was a ninety-six point five percent chance he would fall fast asleep, just like Joseph and Kuren, who were sleeping soundly nearby in the Slumber Room.

Fortunately, Kadi was decisive enough. He abandoned this complicated matter and chose to ask Igor directly.

After all, Igor’s brain was much, much better than his…

”So, what exactly is your plan?” Kadi asked Igor. ”Do you have one? What can I do for you? Is there any way I can help?” This barrage of questions actually contained few of substance; they were all superficial, none with any depth. Igor could have chosen not to answer them, or simply given a generic reply that would have instantly settled the whole series of questions.

That generic answer was: *Let me think about it again!*

However, Igor wasn’t the kind of bastard who would fob someone off, even if Kadi was acting quite foolishly.

”My plan is very simple,” Igor said. ”But before I implement it, I think I first need to master this World Setting Technique!”

”What?” Kadi reacted as if he had suddenly stepped on a landmine, leaping up. His movement was so abrupt that it startled the sleeping people around him, causing them to turn over.