One-Eyed Monster

Igor tiptoed into Teacher Hadi’s little cabin, and his stomach started growling nonstop, so when Teacher Hadi said everyone knew him, he wasn’t too convinced.

But Igor didn’t show much emotion; after all, he came here to seek answers from Teacher Hadi, and everything else was trivial.

”Shall we eat first or talk first?” Teacher Hadi tilted his head and looked at Igor, the typical image of an old rogue.

”I don’t see you have much to eat here...” Igor shrugged, thinking that eating and talking could go hand in hand.

”How do you know I don’t have much to eat here? If I had food, would I tell you?” Teacher Hadi acted like a child, standing toe to toe with Igor.

”Then why ask me about eating? Let’s just talk directly.”

”Forget it, considering your pathetic state, let’s eat first.” Teacher Hadi shook his head, not because he pitied Igor, but because his stomach growling was truly maddening.

Igor was curious about what delicacies Teacher Hadi might have; his stomach was already hungry, and now he craved even more.

Seeing that the Welcome the New Festival just ended, Teacher Hadi should have lots of good food, right?

Maybe some foie gras, buttered bread, sweet wine...

As he imagined, Igor’s mouth almost watered.

Bam—a soft but noticeable sound snapped Igor out of his gastronomic reverie.

Then, to his surprise, he found a clay bowl in front of him, with a piece of black bread quietly lying inside...

This... the contrast is too much!

”What’s wrong? I also have some jam; you can dip this thing in it. Although it’s a little hard, it fills the belly well enough.” Teacher Hadi said, taking a bite. It’s hard to understand how the old man could swallow something so tough.

”Uh...” Igor picked up the black bread from the clay bowl, exerting a bit of effort to tear off a piece. He cautiously put it in his mouth, fearing that this stone-hard thing would damage his teeth. The black bread indeed was hard; once in his mouth, it didn’t melt away but filled half of his face with its size. He chewed and chewed, and after a while, his teeth finally extracted some wheat flavor from the cold, hard black bread...

Ah, even breakfast was better than this...

”Don’t choke on it, there’s water over there, help yourself, don’t be shy here!” Teacher Hadi chuckled, chewing the black bread as Igor was.

Igor quickly poured himself some water and downed a gulp, feeling a cool sensation from his throat down to his toes!

”Why is it cold water?” Igor was surprised to find that Teacher Hadi’s place didn’t even have hot water!

”I poured the hot water out.” Teacher Hadi said while laughing, taking a steaming cup of hot water from the side and drinking.

Igor was unsettled; this Teacher Hadi was deliberately messing with him, wasn’t he?

”Hahaha, look at you, I only teased you for a bit, and you got all flustered.”

”No, Teacher Hadi, what good does it do to bully me like this? I’m already quite dull, and now with your pranks, I might get even duller.” Igor said helplessly.

”Hehe, I’m just reminding you, never let your guard down anywhere. Such is the world of an Adventurer. Despite relying on friends outside, ultimately it’s up to you to comprehend it yourself,” Teacher Hadi said meaningfully, now shedding his rogue façade for the demeanor of a wise elder.

”Thank you for the guidance, Master.” Igor was speechless; he could only use such a formal tone with Teacher Hadi now.

”Hahaha, very amusing.” Teacher Hadi laughed, seemingly having forgotten the time spent with Igor earlier. Now, Igor was like a stranger standing beside him.

Luckily, Igor knew Teacher Hadi very well, so he wasn’t too upset. Of course, he was quite baffled by Teacher Hadi’s pranks, but not because of why Hadi did it, but how Hadi managed it.

He thought that given Teacher Hadi’s level of practical joke, this was probably just the appetizer.

Just as Igor was on guard for a bigger prank from Teacher Hadi, Hadi, on the contrary, quieted down.

This made Igor feel quite uncomfortable...

He thought Teacher Hadi really didn’t play by the rules; when Igor was ready, Hadi wouldn’t attack, and when Igor let his guard down, Hadi would start his mischief. It left him unable to defend himself against it!

Igor was puzzled, wondering what exactly Teacher Hadi was up to!

”Sit down!” Teacher Hadi nodded, his humorous smile gone, once again taking on the appearance of a kind old man.

”Teacher!?” Igor was a bit confused.

”How’s your stomach, done growling?” Teacher Hadi stared at Igor, making him feel a bit embarrassed.

”Suddenly, I feel full!” Igor felt warmth coursing through his body, though he had eaten only a small bite. How could he feel so full now?

”This black bread was left by Perkins.” Teacher Hadi rolled his eyes at Igor, as if to say, utterly unworldly, being so surprised by a little thing, truly having no prospects.

”Uh... what’s so special about it?” Igor was quite curious; he didn’t understand why something left by Perkins was significant or special.

”This is food crafted by the Mantai People, a compressed bread. With just a small piece of black bread and water, a Mantai can go a week without eating.”

Igor gulped, this tiny piece of black bread was actually a Mantai person’s week’s worth of rations!

”What, surprised?” Teacher Hadi asked.

”I’m thinking, luckily I only took a small bite earlier. If I had wolfed it down, wouldn’t I have burst!”

”Hehehehahaha, yes, pity I didn’t get to witness that.” Teacher Hadi laughed, a bit disappointed, seemingly regretting that Igor didn’t fall for it.

Igor gulped again, realizing just how indefensible Teacher Hadi truly was, never changing his ways.

Having such a teacher, Igor found it odd that he still held much respect for him, knowing that this teacher would regularly set him up!

However, every time after a prank, Teacher Hadi would impart a wealth of knowledge to Igor, and these lessons always made the previous pranks feel worth it.

In Igor’s mind, Teacher Hadi held a supreme position because what Hadi gave him was beyond measure.