One-Eyed Monster

Let’s find the protagonist of this book, who seems to have been playing an insignificant role so far. Oh right, his name is Igor, and he’s currently accompanied by a one-eyed monster called Kadi.

They were in the depths of Guru Mountain, an area seldom visited. Though described as part of the deep mountains, the place looked ordinary, with nothing remarkable about it. Yet, no one had ever managed to reach it. Each time Treasure Hunters attempted to venture deeper, an inexplicable force would lead them astray, causing them to unwittingly deviate from the path into the mountain’s heart.

As a monster native to Guru Mountain, Kadi had naturally become their guide. His task was to lead Igor out of Ghost Wind Valley, but he proved to be completely unfit for the role. He actually managed to get lost—a guide, getting lost! It was beyond ridiculous. Although his getting lost could be attributed to peculiar spells cast in the area, it was still no excuse for his incompetence.

Fortunately, our protagonist wasn’t one to hold grudges. Igor didn’t mind such mishaps; in fact, he felt that these experiences had brought him abundant gains.

Indeed, no one had expected that the Spirit Book concealed an elder in a Spirit Power State who claimed to be Lord Soron. Though the old man’s long-winded appearance had only lasted a moment, it still gave Igor an inexplicable rush of excitement.

”It’s getting dark. Aren’t we going to spend the night here?” Igor smacked his lips, evidently hungry after the day’s commotion.

”No. If we walk a bit further, we’ll reach the foot of Grey Eagle Peak. We can stay overnight there. It’s a bit more normal compared to Ghost Wind Valley,” Kadi said, scratching his head. He had started to feel a certain aversion to Ghost Wind Valley, mainly due to his wounded pride.

To get lost in his own backyard, as a native of Guru Mountain! And not just lost, but unable to find the way out—it was utterly disgraceful!

What made it even more humiliating was that Igor, a traveler from afar, had been the one to solve the problem! How could he, a native, bear such a thing!

Whenever Kadi recalled how he had thumped his chest, guaranteeing he could lead Igor out of Ghost Wind Valley, he couldn’t help but blush.

He had unwittingly boasted too much, and now he felt too embarrassed to even speak to Igor.

To avoid this awkwardness, Kadi kept himself busy, hoping his constant activity would somewhat conceal his thoroughly flushed face.

Pebbles on the road? Hmph, a nuisance. I’ll kick them away for Igor.

Those low-hanging weeds? Annoying. I’ll clear them for Igor.

And these fallen leaves that rustle and crunch underfoot? Irritating. I’ll sweep them away for Igor.

...

Kadi didn’t stay idle for a moment on their journey. His tail constantly swept fallen leaves, his feet relentlessly kicked pebbles, and his hands continuously waved to push aside weeds.

His diligent efforts thoroughly baffled Igor.

Igor was, after all, an outsider; it was already remarkable that he had journeyed so far to reach this place. But Igor was also a hot-blooded young man—fearless, with a clear conscience, and therefore, free of anxieties. A journey undertaken with fewer anxieties would naturally be smoother. Thus, Igor’s unhindered arrival in the depths of Guru Mountain wasn’t solely due to luck; his pure-hearted nature played a part as well.

At the very least, Kadi had come to admire Igor to the core.

However, Kadi didn’t realize that his frantic attempts to hide his blushing were entirely unnecessary, because Igor couldn’t tell if he was blushing at all. Setting aside Igor’s innocent nature and his indifference to such matters, consider Kadi himself. His blue skin acted as a natural camouflage; he had no need for any pretense in front of Igor.

After all, who could tell if he was blushing beneath blue skin?

To Igor, Kadi just seemed overly excited, hopping and kicking as he walked. Where does he get all this energy? Igor wondered.

Igor was so hungry his stomach felt like it was stuck to his spine, yet Kadi ahead of him was still bounding about cheerfully, full of energy.

Monsters really do store Energy differently than ordinary people, Igor mused, a thought that had crossed his mind before.

”How much longer until we reach Grey Eagle Peak, like you said?” Igor’s stomach growled; he was exhausted.

”Er...” The already blushing Kadi was stumped by Igor’s question. His mind felt like an overturned spice rack, a jumble of emotions welling up.

I can’t disappoint Igor again! If I can’t answer, it’ll be a total humiliation. How will I ever face him after this?

Kadi’s mind raced, but he still didn’t know how to answer Igor’s question. Various answers tumbled through his thoughts, but he could only stammer, unable to voice a coherent reply.

”Hmm?” Am I too hungry to even hear him speak? Igor wondered.

”I... I... uh...” Kadi truly didn’t know what to say. Although he had been heading in the general direction of Grey Eagle Peak, when asked for a timeframe, he was utterly dumbfounded. He couldn’t form an answer and could only stammer.

”SIGH!” Igor let out a long breath and plopped down on the ground. ”I don’t care when we get there. I can’t walk anymore.”

”Huh?” Kadi was baffled by Igor’s sudden action, unsure what to do.

What a disastrous guide I am! I can’t even estimate how long the journey will take! Kadi’s tumultuous thoughts were filled with self-reproach.

”Ugh, unlike you monsters with your vast Energy reserves, I’m starving. If I don’t eat soon, I won’t even have the strength to speak.”

”Huh?” It was only then that Kadi felt a long-forgotten sensation: his own stomach was starting to grumble.

”This place is huge; there must be a pond around here somewhere. I think I can even hear flowing water...” Igor looked left and right. ”Where there’s water, there’s bound to be food. Looks like our luck is good.”

When Kadi heard Igor say this, his single large eye lit up as if he’d discovered something new. He quickly scanned the surroundings with his eye, his heart soaring with elation.

”Why are you so excited? I might have misheard. You know, when people get hungry enough, they start hallucinating...”

Before Igor could finish, Kadi suddenly grabbed him in a hug. Kadi danced with excitement, his earlier hunger completely forgotten.

”Igor, you’re amazing!”

”Hmm?” Igor was completely clueless about what was happening.

”HAHAHA! We made it! We’re at the foot of Grey Eagle Peak! We’re here!”

”Okay? So what?”

”This is Moonflow Stream! Moonflow Stream!” Kadi, unable to contain his surging excitement, yelled out.

But Igor, standing by, still had no idea what all the fuss was about.