One-Eyed Monster

Igor and Kadi embarked on the journey to find the circus.

After parting ways with Stan Sol’s group in Gaga County, they headed to the next place, a slightly larger city.

Igor felt that organizations like the circus likely existed in crowded and lively places. In a place like Gaga County, a circus might not come even once a year, as there were few people and there wasn’t much entertainment demand. But big cities were different; there were lots of people and a variety of needs, with everyone thinking about how to spend their leisure time and enjoy life, even if the world outside was already engulfed in the chaos of war. Most people remained numb, trapped in their own lives, without any sense of compassion.

Although Igor couldn’t claim to have the benevolent heart of the Great Mentor, wishing to save the world from disaster, he could tell right from wrong. His thoughts weren’t complex; he just felt that they needed to strike against those invaders who threatened their living environment because he didn’t want them to live in ruins or forget about themselves in the end.

In Igor’s mind, perhaps in the end, you weren’t living just for yourself, but you would never forget who you are.

Sometimes, Igor envied Kadi, who was straightforward and unaffected by everything in the world. This guy always remained true to himself, never yielding to others, not even when faced with great temptations.

Kadi most hoped to find out where he came from and understand why he was so different… but the road ahead was long, and these two questions wouldn’t be answered easily for the time being.

Now they were on a path of exploration.

The deeper they traveled into the larger cities, the more Kadi’s bizarre outfit appeared normal, confirming Master Lao’s words that there was no need to hide one’s appearance.

Igor remained cautious; he didn’t want to take risks. The current situation showed that Kadi’s appearance wouldn’t cause those commoners to abandon him or point fingers, as the changes in the world over the past two years had indeed led many non-adventurers to embark on an adventurous path. These people, seeking higher goals, had left their original selves behind, transforming into figures that were neither human nor ghostly. Compared to them, Kadi’s face seemed much kinder…

But Kadi had only one eye, a distinguishing feature so pronounced that Igor worried it might attract the attention of the Soul Devourers who emerged from the Border Realm.

Soul Devourers had indeed emerged from the Border Realm for quite some time, occupying the bodies of unknown people. Hiding among the crowds, they made no movement, seemingly waiting for some new instructions.

Igor once heard in the Border Realm that Kadi was some kind of ’Agent of Destruction,’ and although discussions on Guru Mountain with the elders suggested Kadi had no harmful tendencies, Igor still worried that the Soul Devourer might target Kadi. In such times, he needed to protect Kadi from any harm.

”If I’d known this, I wouldn’t have taken those small roads with you earlier.” Kadi walked forward with his hands behind his head, tilting his head up. On this journey, whether staying at inns or entering taverns, his odd appearance drew no attention, making him seem like a perfectly ordinary person. It was only in the taverns that a few young people asked if they were Wandering Bards, otherwise, no one questioned them…

They seemed like thousands of ordinary adventurers, traveling along Yoweien Road, serving the Empire or working for some organization…

”You can’t predict these things!” Igor sighed powerlessly. This wasn’t his fault either. They’ve spent two years on the mountain, and although they knew a bit about what was happening below, they didn’t have complete information, so such situations were understandable.

”I’m not blaming you, I know you’re doing it for our good. But I still don’t understand why I have to wear this mask!”

”Uh…” Igor didn’t want to share his worries with Kadi for the time being, as he thought Kadi would definitely mock him after finding out, so he had to make up a reason that Kadi would believe. ”We, uh, our identity is that of Wandering Bards. You’re the performer, and I’m the singer. Wearing the mask is to protect our false identities.”

”Oh!” Kadi half-understood. He wasn’t quite familiar with these matters, only recently hearing about Wandering Bards.

”Remember, you’re a performer. When asked, you have to have exaggerated movements!” Igor didn’t forget to remind Kadi, as he had learned this false identity setup from the Spirit Book on him. At last, those Spirit Books proved useful.

Being a Wandering Bard was something Igor always wanted to try, having discussed it with Perkins about using the Wandering Bard’s storytelling method to recount Perkins’ strange adventures…

”You said earlier that Wandering Bards carry instruments. But where are our instruments?” Kadi curiously inquired. Indeed, they had no instruments, making their Wandering Bard persona a bit forced!

Igor had noted this problem. He initially thought there was no need to be too serious about disguising an identity, but after being questioned by the two young people in the tavern, he realized it was necessary to be a bit more serious.

Though they couldn’t completely fool others, they could at least reach a level where others couldn’t instantly tell it was fake.

So Igor felt it was necessary to buy a lute, making their appearance more convincing, so they wouldn’t be easily questioned. As for being asked to sing, he wasn’t too concerned, as he felt Kadi could completely bluff others in such matters…

The most important thing now was to buy a lute and continue the fake identity of Wandering Bards.

”Stop mentioning instruments. We’ll check for a suitable lute at a large market later, buy one, and make do for now…”

”I really don’t understand why you complicate things like this. Isn’t it better to just be open about it, rather than pretending…”

”Shh, we’re not pretending, we are! Don’t ever say that again!” Clearly, Igor was displeased with Kadi’s statement.