One-Eyed Monster

”Wait.”

Igor suddenly interrupted the impending Storytelling Contest.

Kadi was getting more and more puzzled, wondering what Igor was doing and what he ultimately intended.

After such a long preamble, after all that incessant chatter, the Storytelling Contest, which had been on the verge of starting, was abruptly cut off.

Igor had interrupted the Dark Force for his own reasons. His goal was to save others, and in this case, it meant helping the lost Dark Force find its former self.

And the only things likely to stir reminiscences in the Dark Force were those stories buried deep within.

This approach of helping someone find their lost identity seemed quite feasible.

However, no one else was in on it. Everyone felt Igor was dallying around needlessly, disrupting what should have been a smooth process, making the whole thing distinctly insipid.

This was rather distasteful for the Dark Force.

His emotional state was in severe turmoil. He even felt an overwhelming urge for the Devouring of Igor; the Dark Force could barely tolerate the present indignity.

Could this brat not comprehend how impolite it was to arbitrarily interrupt someone telling a story?

I really can’t figure out what the heck this kid is thinking.

”What is it now?” an impatient voice rang out again. It was clear that the Dark Force did not appreciate this situation.

”We all need to understand one thing: for the stories to be exchanged, what is their value?”

Igor was clear: the Storytelling could proceed, but first, the rules had to be established. They couldn’t just tell stories randomly and then discover uneven standards; that would be a complete waste of breath and a grievous loss.

This made sense, but not everyone could understand it.

Kadi didn’t get it. What rules did a Storytelling Contest need? Did a real battle follow any rules? Wasn’t it always the most ruthless who prevailed in the end?

This seemed like some hare-brained scheme dreamt up by dimwits. Had Igor lost his mind?

The Dark Force was also perplexed. He had been ready to tell his story, but this youngster had abruptly interrupted him again, this time for the sake of the story’s worth...

What could a story be worth...?

Isn’t a Storytelling Contest just you telling a story and then me following with mine? The moment someone is unable to continue, isn’t that when the contest concludes?

The Dark Force was clueless about the tricks this youngster seemed to be playing.

”Are you intentionally stalling for time...?” This was the only reason the Dark Force could conjure up.

However, the accusation of stalling evidently had no standing.

Igor’s party was trying to save time; why would they waste it?

Besides, the concept of time was inconsequential to the Dark Force.

His time was so abundant that it was incomparable to anyone else’s.

If Igor and his team opted to stall for time at this moment, they would truly be courting their own demise.

Igor, no fool, understood this, so he hastily replied.

”How could I be? I’m not the sort to squander time.”

”Then what’s with all this dilly-dallying? Do you find it amusing?” The Dark Force voiced what was on many minds.

Kadi and the Little Black Hands all hoped the Storytelling Contest would begin at once, but Igor had been delaying and delaying.

The earlier setup could be forgiven, but now, at this crucial moment, Igor was still dithering, and no one knew what he was considering.

”My current slowness is only for the sake of the rhythm later. If some things aren’t clarified now, the rhythm might be disrupted. Do you prefer a constantly interrupted rhythm?”

Pondering Igor’s words, the Dark Force found they made some sense and was rendered momentarily speechless, seemingly agreeing.

”Hence, rules are important,” Igor added.

Kadi was baffled. Were rules necessary even in a fight? This was the first time he’d encountered such a thing.

What baffled Kadi more, though, was that the Dark Force actually agreed.

It seemed that these stories truly held an extraordinary allure for the Dark Force.

The Little Black Hands exchanged glances. They were mere rubberneckers who had waited so long, consuming considerable gossip, but had yet to hear a single good story...

”Then quickly explain how the value of a story is to be measured,” the Dark Force said, somewhat impatiently. He always felt an urge to both tell and hear stories.

”Actually, it’s simple. I just want to state that an ordinary story counts as one story, whereas a story about you or me is worth five ordinary stories.”

The rule Igor announced made the Dark Force pause, momentarily blank. He didn’t understand what constituted an ”ordinary story” or how it differed from ”a story about you or me.”

This time, Kadi understood as clearly as if looking into a mirror; Igor was indeed very clever.

The most crucial aspect of a fight is to know your enemy and yourself. Right now, they didn’t understand this Dark Force. Using these rules to gradually understand the opponent wasn’t a bad idea at all.

”What kind of story qualifies as an ordinary tale?”

”Any story that isn’t about you or me is an ordinary tale.”

”Then what type of story is considered ’about you or me’?” The Dark Force was still somewhat unclear about these categories.

”It means stories about ourselves, not someone else’s.”

”Our own stories?”

Igor was considerably patient; Kadi would have grown impatient by now. How many times would he have to explain before the Dark Force understood?

”Yes, stories about our own experiences, our own things.”

”This... this type of story, one is worth five?” The Dark Force found it hard to believe. What was so extraordinary about such stories that one was worth five?

”Yes.”

Kadi chuckled silently. Igor was trying to entice their opponent into revealing his secrets!

”On what grounds?” The Dark Force was clearly not satisfied with this rule.

”Because they are unique,” Igor blurted out without a second thought.

The Dark Force closed his eyes, pondering the meaning of the sentence. But it was to no avail; he couldn’t comprehend its meaning. To him, this was all too complex.

”In other words, if you tell one story about yourself, I need to respond with five ordinary stories,” Igor explained, still very patient.

Kadi watched this unfold, thinking this method was indeed quite effective.

”Conversely, if I tell a story about myself, you need to respond with five ordinary stories.”

”And if I don’t tell any?” The Dark Force suddenly adopted a roguish tone.

”Then it’s a pity. You won’t be able to listen to the story you’re craving.”

”Do you know what kind of story I want to hear?”

”No, but I know that a story you haven’t encountered before will definitely be to your liking.”

”I’ve heard so many stories. Why do you think your story would attract me?”

”I just know. You definitely haven’t heard this story.”

”Why is that?”

”Because it’s your story.”