One-Eyed Monster

Kuren had figured it out—this Igor was planning to escape from this safe house.

This original intention was indeed unique, and after understanding it, Kuren was quite shocked.

He wondered why Igor would want to escape from this safe house. Was he genuinely trying to relieve some of the Great Mentor’s burden? However, Igor appeared so calm and composed, showing no signs of tension or anxiety, which made it somewhat implausible.

Could this guy be an enemy? Was he intentionally hiding his identity, infiltrating Guru Mountain, and then planning to breach outward at a critical moment, joining forces with the scoundrels outside?

That thought was so terrifying that Kuren dared not think further.

If everything before was a pretense, then what a formidable enemy Igor would be! His disguise was flawless; even an experienced man like Kuren had failed to detect any loopholes. Wouldn’t that be bone-chilling?

Even more critical was that Igor had muddled all of Kuren’s experience, rendering it unusable. If Igor was an enemy, then deliberately confusing this experience was highly probable. This, too, was a serious matter. Because now, when Kuren tried to draw upon it for judgment, the entire framework had lost its integrity. That was the problem with tearing down and rebuilding: the previous foundation became a ruin, no longer of any use to him.

Surprise, terror—these visceral impacts were like piercing gusts of cold wind, lashing Kuren’s face raw, the pain cutting straight to his heart. Yet, these were only the initial blows. Kuren knew more awaited him, such as fear. Of course, all of this hinged on the premise that Igor was an enemy.

Could this child, Igor, really be an enemy? If he were, wouldn’t all my previous gambles have been a complete loss? I can’t accept that!

One mistaken gamble was one thing. But to lose several consecutive bets? That wasn’t a matter of luck anymore; it was practically a matter of character. Kuren couldn’t believe that. He refused to believe there was something wrong with his character.

He was even more unwilling to believe his judgment could be flawed because, deep down, he felt Igor was an innocent youth, absolutely not some fiend skilled in deception.

He was convinced of this, yet he couldn’t be entirely certain. All the signs at this moment suggested Igor might indeed be on the opposing side. Of course, this assessment was somewhat arbitrary, as Kuren based it solely on Igor’s statement about wanting to escape this cave. Judging solely on this point would undoubtedly seem arbitrary in normal times. However, these were special times; it was better to err on the side of caution and misjudge than to overlook even the slightest suspicious circumstance.

So, Kuren was extremely cautious. He couldn’t afford to reveal any more information in his mind. Moreover, he had to erect a defense to prevent any active intrusion from Igor. At this critical juncture, he had to be on guard, even against the youth he considered innocent, because the Great Mentor’s safety was paramount.

Kuren meticulously reviewed the details. He realized that Igor had almost never actively intruded, which somewhat eased Kuren’s pressure. This observation hinted that Igor’s own intentions didn’t seem hostile.

Why would Kuren deem Igor an enemy merely because he spoke of escaping this safe house? Because the safe house itself was a secret. Moreover, it was a benevolent secret; all spells surrounding this safe house were designed to protect those within.

Yet Igor wanted to unravel this benevolent secret. This was enough to raise alarm bells. To suddenly expose a group of people, who were under protection, to everyone—what exactly was his intention? To claim it was to alleviate the Great Mentor’s burden? Only a fool would believe that reason; it was too far-fetched, impossible.

The only conceivable purpose for exposing everyone was to provide information to allies on the outside, fulfilling his mission as an undercover agent. This explanation was more convincing than any other.

Why would the Great Mentor arrange for Igor to be in this safe house? Could it be that this fellow’s acting was so superb he had fooled everyone completely? That’s too chilling, too terrifying! If someone could deceive even the Great Mentor, would anyone on this mountain be Igor’s match? Probably not. At least, in the art of deception, no one could compare to this youth.

This, naturally, was Kuren’s greatest worry. Yet, a sliver of hope remained. He felt Igor shouldn’t be the version he imagined, but rather the one he saw: normal, not some fiend.

Deep down, Kuren preferred to see an innocent Igor, rather than accept a fiendish one.

Firstly, it was his heart’s desire. Secondly, he still clung to a tiny sliver of hope for this world.

And this tiny sliver of hope was precisely what the Great Mentor Guzan had instilled in him. Otherwise, the Slaughterer within him would have long since torn him to shreds.

Kuren found the thought almost laughable, but there was nothing he could do. After all, he was that mentally and physically exhausted Guide, and everything under his guidance had already become a complete mess.

What exactly is Igor’s true nature? This was likely the matter Kuren needed to ponder for the time being. This was about being responsible to himself; only then could he determine if his gambles were a matter of luck or a reflection of his character. It was also about being responsible to the Great Mentor; discerning Igor’s true nature would enable him to better protect Guru Mountain for the Mentor. Naturally, it was also about being responsible to Guru Mountain, as doing so was tantamount to protecting their entire homeland. Finally, it was about being responsible to Igor. Kuren didn’t want to see this exceptionally talented youth become a tool of darkness, nor did he wish for the world to become even uglier as a result.

Kuren even thought that, if possible, after discerning Igor’s true nature, he would offer Igor some guidance. This guidance would definitely be different from before. This time, he would seek Kevin’s help, perhaps even the Great Mentor’s. As long as it could get Igor back on the right path, he was willing to do anything.

At this moment, Kuren was truly agonizing over Igor’s true nature.

He valued Igor’s exceptional talent; it couldn’t be helped. For so long, no one had genuinely shared the intricacies of the World Setting Technique with him. Igor was the first.

And for it to happen in such an environment... This situation filled him with myriad emotions. At the same time, he also became acutely aware of his own shortcomings.

If only I were a little stronger, I wouldn’t be agonizing like this. Igor’s true nature had truly put him in a dilemma.