One-Eyed Monster

The Spirit Book was waiting for Igor to ask just that.

Because then it would have the chance to speak.

”I know what happened, Master!” The Spirit Book was a savvy entity, realizing that now was not the time to prank Igor, so it chose to play it safe and flatter Igor as much as it could.

”So what happened?” Igor was quite exasperated. When would the Spirit Book stop with its annoying habit of calling him ”Master” all the time? It was unnerving.

”This wizard couldn’t handle the fear and collapsed,” the Spirit Book said, feeling it had described the situation perfectly.

Igor sighed and rubbed his forehead. Still as unreliable as ever.

Everyone knows the Great Witch collapsed; what they want to find out is why.

As with before, the Spirit Book only revealed the surface, but what everyone wanted was the process...

But at the moment, no one could consult the Great Witch because she was in a state of frenzy, not listening to anyone and entirely self-absorbed, paying no attention to anything else.

So even though Igor was extremely disappointed with the Spirit Book, he had to brace himself and keep asking.

”Why exactly did she collapse? Was it an attack, or was it something mysterious? You need to clarify. Everyone knows she collapsed, but do you know why?”

Several questions in a row, with a hint of reproach. Igor felt the Spirit Book should reflect on itself.

However, the Spirit Book confidently replied with a firm tone, ”I know!”

At that moment, Igor’s face darkened. He really wanted to sink into the ground. You know what...?

”Could you describe what happened at the time? I know you Spirit Books can sense Spirit Power and perceive the world through Spirit Sensing, something we can’t do as well as you.”

The words of the Great Mentor were more pleasing to the Spirit Book. Compared to Igor, the Great Mentor was more of the Spirit Book’s preferred master. However, as fate would have it, its master was now Igor, a young upstart.

”Ahem,” the Spirit Book coughed twice. The feeling of being flattered was quite enjoyable, so it felt a bit conceited and naturally cleared its throat before speaking, ”This wizard collapsed because she couldn’t bear the fear. I already mentioned earlier that it was the fear that brought her down.”

”Fear?” Most people were puzzled by the Spirit Book’s answer. They wanted to know what caused the fear.

”Yes, fear. She was afraid from the start, and it grew until she could no longer bear it, and then she collapsed,” the Spirit Book reiterated.

”We want to know what she was afraid of! Come on!” Igor couldn’t take it anymore and interjected. In his view, this Spirit Book was truly unreliable.

”You don’t know what she’s afraid of?” The Spirit Book was as shocked as it was when it sensed the Great Witch’s collapse.

The monsters exchanged glances, surprised. The Spirit Book made it sound like they should have known what she feared.

”We really don’t know,” the Great Mentor humbly admitted.

”Uh, then have you been discussing all this time without realizing that she was fearful of what you were discussing?” the Spirit Book retorted.

”Uh...” Indeed, this question surprised the monsters on Guru Mountain. They hadn’t paid much attention to the Great Witch, so the Spirit Book’s statement astonished them.

”It’s because of the wizard robe she’s wearing. She’s terrified, and I don’t even know why she’s afraid. It doesn’t serve any purpose other than being a symbol, so what’s there to worry about?”

That statement from the Spirit Book made the Great Mentor a bit clearer.

”Perhaps she’s worried about the uncertainty of this wizard robe. Maybe she fears that its peculiarity will lead her down a very different path.”

”Indeed, this wizard robe is unlike anything recorded in the Wizard Robe System; we debated for a long time but couldn’t discern its pattern. Perhaps that’s what’s causing her fear.”

After the Great Mentor speculated, others began to chime in. Clearly, they felt a bit guilty about the result. They hadn’t intended for the Great Witch to become afraid due to their discussion, but that was the reality, and there was no way to change it for the time being.

”I think we should find some way to help her now,” Kadi suggested. He had been very quiet during this time because he couldn’t interject.

”That’s right, once her mind is set at ease, everything will be fine,” the Spirit Book agreed.

”Are you seriously suggesting that you know what to do?” Igor looked at the Spirit Book with disdain, obviously distrustful of this unreliable entity.

”Yes, just tell her the wizard robe’s corresponding standards, and she can be relieved!”

”Ha. Are you trying to say that the wizard robe’s standards are rare and not complex?” Igor was clearly still miffed about the Spirit Book’s previous answer.

”Uh, Master, I’m not wrong, of course. This time, I can explain the wizard robe’s standards in more detail.”

”Hmph!” Igor was noncommittal. So many people had discussed it without any result; what new insights could this unreliable Spirit Book have?

But this time, the Spirit Book wasn’t wounded by the sarcasm because it was eagerly anticipating it could surprise Igor.

”Lord Soron once said that the wizard robe is merely a symbol, with no substantive effect, and it stifles many wizards’ nature. That wasn’t said for no reason.”

”We all know that, you’ve said before that the Wizard Robe System is just a tool focusing on combat attributes.”

”Yes, Lord Soron conducted extensive research. He also said that the wizard robe could ruin a wizard’s future. Something so meaningless destroyed someone’s future, depriving them of a possibility. Someone who could have thrived under the sun was changed entirely.” This was what the Spirit Book had used to provoke the Great Witch earlier; now, it repeated it, albeit more completely.

”What are you trying to say?” Igor was growing impatient; the Spirit Book was rambling again.

”I’m just saying, the wizard robe on the Great Witch also has corresponding standards; it’s just that this standard is rare, but it’s not complicated.”

”What on earth!” Igor was so baffled by this statement that he involuntarily raised his voice.

”Well, this shimmering wizard robe represents a rare phenomenon, meaning this wizard is unlikely to advance to the White Robe!”