One-Eyed Monster

Guru Mountain, Ghost Wind Valley.

The initially awkward coughing had now become intermittent. It seemed that Lord Soron, in his Spirit Form, had gradually acclimated to Igor’s indifference.

Lord Soron had a myriad of questions about the young man, but he could not bring himself to ask any at that moment. This was because the scene of the youth’s appearance was nothing like what Soron had imagined.

In his Spirit Book, he had been silently awaiting the one who would awaken him. However, despite the Spirit Book changing hands through the years, he remained asleep, until this uncommon youth appeared today.

According to Lord Soron’s expectations, considering his reputation on the Yowein Continent, anyone who obtained the Spirit Book should cherish it and, logically, worship it.

Unfortunately, the book stayed with his old friend for years, its cover worn, and it had not received the deserved reverence. His friend later misplaced the book by accident, and it landed in the hands of a Dusk Market bookseller. Due to the book’s title, ”Yowein Continent’s Kayne Realm Travelogue,” many book collectors tossed it aside, even knowing it was authored by the famous Lord Soron. The title directly told these book collectors that this was merely Soron’s travel journal, something written to pass the time, with little practical value beyond cultivating one’s taste.

Clearly, a good title is essential for a book’s success. If the book were named ”Yowein Continent’s Kayne Realm Secret Techniques Study” or ”Yowein Continent’s Kayne Realm Taboo Study,” the effect might have been drastically different.

After all, those who purchase such books are looking for shortcuts. If the book were titled with one of those two names, it would be clear from the name itself that the book contained shortcuts to increase their strength. No matter the cost, they would find the purchase worthwhile. Moreover, if this shortcut was provided by the great Lord Soron, it would be even more worthy of their research.

However, the great Lord Soron named his life’s work the ”Travelogue,” which lowered the book’s standing by more than ten tiers. The book’s destiny plummeted along with its standing. From what should have been a highly regarded shortcut-method book, it became a dispensable travelogue. This change in grading turned a book that could have caused a sensation across the continent into a pile of neglected waste paper.

This turn of events also fostered the Spirit Book’s verbose, conceited, and arrogant personality...

Because of this turn of events, the book’s experiences became mundane. Its entire history, while uneventful, couldn’t even be described as rich. It lay in a corner of the bookseller’s attic, silently gathering dust for countless days and nights, until one day it was bought at a low price by a destitute wizard. This wizard hadn’t even reached the Gray Robe rank and bought the book merely to decorate her newly built Divination House, as she urgently needed a few thick books to impress visitors. This book’s thickness was just right.

And so, the Spirit Book spent countless more days and nights on Great Witch Biggs’s bookshelf. During this time, the Great Witch took it out and flipped through it a few times, but ultimately, she abandoned it. Even though it was a rare Spirit Book, the Great Witch still relegated it to a high shelf.

The story that followed is well-known: Igor’s few Artificial Rain Crystal Stones moved Biggs’s mortal heart, and she gave the book to Igor.

This, then, was the brief history of the Spirit Book. Nothing special, uneventful, as plain as could be.

The sleeping Lord Soron knew nothing of the book’s tribulations. He imagined that everything had gone according to his plan: the person who obtained the book would study it diligently, discover its peculiarity, then come to Guru Mountain and summon him with a heart full of utmost reverence and trepidation...

In any case, the one appearing before him should have been a follower, prostrating on the ground, weeping with gratitude. Or, at the very least, a diligent and eager student.

But this one before him couldn’t even see the Spirit Form completely, and worse, he had a dead-fish face, as indifferent as a brick dropped in a latrine—stinking and hard.

The shock was a bit much; he couldn’t quite process it for a moment. If not for the boy’s several decisive actions, he probably would have remained choked with frustration, not saying a word.

However, the young man’s several decisive actions had successfully caught his attention. He had originally thought this child had ample room for growth, and that his lifetime of knowledge could be passed down to him. But now, he found himself greatly disappointed.

This child didn’t even know who he was! And kept complaining he was too long-winded.

”Why would you, in Spirit Form, still be coughing so noticeably? Don’t tell me Spirit Forms have common mortal sensations too?”

”COUGH, COUGH…” The great Lord Soron didn’t know how to answer. His just-calmed mood was stirred up again. This young man’s train of thought was too different from ordinary people. It seemed he wasn’t interested in Lord Soron’s prestige, but rather… in the peculiar state of being a Spirit Form.

Indeed, Igor was interested in this Spirit Form. If one looked closely, one could even see the devouring light in his eyes.

”A Spirit Form is a type of advanced Spellcraft, right? I’ve heard of it before. Unfortunately, my Spirit Power reserves aren’t enough, so I can’t see you. I really wish I could see for myself what a Spirit Form actually looks like.”

It’s a good thing you can’t see. If you could, wouldn’t you just use those uniquely awkward words of yours to mock me again? Lord Soron felt a small sense of relief, glad that his crestfallen appearance hadn’t been seen by this boy.

Beside the young man was a bewildered Alien Species. It looked as if it had been tamed by humans, with no trace of wildness visible. This also piqued Lord Soron’s interest. Could this young man possess the ancient Hunter’s taming techniques? No, that’s not right. As he recalled, the ancient Hunter’s taming techniques were only effective on beasts without self-awareness. How could they be used on a conscious Alien Species? That shouldn’t be possible…

Lord Soron felt a touch of melancholy. Since his appearance, he hadn’t received a single word of praise, which was enough to sadden him for a long time. And now, unexpectedly discovering something he couldn’t quite comprehend made him feel even more emotional.

Times had changed. He hadn’t expected the world to transform so drastically in just a few short decades—so much so that people had already forgotten him…

Lost in sorrow, Lord Soron looked at Igor and Kadi before him and suddenly fell silent. The scene unfolding was not what he had imagined; familiar surroundings had become utterly alien. Nothing could be more saddening than this.

Unfortunately, his Spirit Form couldn’t be maintained for too long. If he didn’t make haste, he might not even have the chance to grieve…

”COUGH, COUGH…” The embarrassment was unavoidable. Lord Soron had to steel himself to properly receive these two oddities who had awakened him.