One-Eyed Monster

Igor’s method of reverse thinking had never failed him, and this time was no exception.

He seemed to have grasped a hint of the profound secrets of the World Setting Technique. With this slight understanding, he confidently drew a conclusion. Regardless of whether this conclusion was correct, a fixed line of thinking had formed in his mind. This line of thinking was like a signpost, indicating the direction he should take.

Of course, all of this was merely a small premise. After forming this conclusion, the next step was to validate it. Once he successfully validated it step by step, he could, as usual, learn the basics of this technique...

This might seem like something that would naturally fall into place, but the process involved wasn’t that easy.

At least, someone like Kadi, with his conventional way of thinking, couldn’t grasp the intricacies. This was perhaps a unique trait of Igor’s; certainly, an ordinary person wouldn’t think the way he did. Kadi was still mulling over Igor’s earlier words. Overall, although Igor had reluctantly given Kadi the answers he sought, Kadi still felt something was amiss.

What exactly is wrong? Kadi couldn’t pinpoint it. He could only stare blankly, hoping for some new revelation.

However, it wasn’t that simple. Even someone as uniquely talented as Igor couldn’t produce insights instantly.

So, it was better to let things unfold naturally. Forcing things wouldn’t lead to unexpected boons; instead, maintaining a calm and ordinary mindset could yield different rewards.

This had always been Igor’s mentality, which was why he stood out and could acquire so many skills in such a short time. These skills, though seemingly insignificant, could be decisive at critical moments.

Although Igor considered his culinary skills subpar and was always reluctant to admit he had learned cooking, he had nothing to hide from Kadi and told him everything.

While Kadi didn’t appear overly distressed, his inner turmoil was palpable. It wasn’t just the communication breakdown with Igor; he also felt utterly useless.

Why can Igor learn anything he sets his mind to, while I, Kadi, can’t?

Kadi reflected on his past self, realizing he had been unmotivated and lacked persistence. He had retreated without hesitation when facing difficulties, even finding justifications for his cowardice back then.

Take this instance: when Igor first made his suggestion, Kadi’s immediate reaction was, Impossible! He declared it impossible without even trying—the mark of a loser. Defeated before even starting—the very picture of a coward! The more Kadi thought about it, the angrier he became. Why was my past self so weak, so fragile, so lacking in the courage to even face a challenge?

Some problems couldn’t be solved merely by thinking. Even though Kadi deeply regretted his past self, he couldn’t change the fact that he was still clueless. Even if he forced himself to gather the courage to challenge the technique of the Slumber Room, he would still be utterly lost and unable to achieve anything. Without a doubt, the end result would be him falling fast asleep...

Kadi shook his head, and hard. He didn’t want to think these thoughts, but they came unbidden. Some thoughts are like a gust of wind; even if unwelcome, they don’t change course. They blow over you, leaving you chilled, devoid of any warmth.

This sense of helplessness enveloped Kadi, leaving him somewhat disoriented. He was clearly influenced by Igor’s drive, but his own inner reserves weren’t as rich as Igor’s. He didn’t know which path to take, wandering aimlessly like a lost bird flitting through unfamiliar forests, unable to find its way.

Where did the profound secrets lie? Why could Igor see them, even understand them, while I, Kadi, am the complete opposite? I can’t see them, can’t hear them, let alone discern any pattern and draw conclusions.

Kadi grew anxious. Unable to comprehend these matters, he could only scratch his head in frustration.

Fortunately, Kadi was only absorbed in his own frustrations and didn’t disturb Igor’s train of thought. Igor, for his part, paid no mind to the various faint murmurs of complaint that occasionally arose nearby; they were so quiet one wouldn’t notice without listening intently.

Igor had already deduced a conclusion, but he wasn’t yet at the stage where he could freely verify it. He needed to bide his time, and this period of waiting involved accumulating Spirit Power. Only when his Spirit Power reached a certain level could he proceed with the next step of his plan.

However, this method of accumulating Spirit Power was rather dull. So dull, in fact, that Igor began to feel drowsy.

This wasn’t entirely Igor’s fault. In the past, when accumulating Spirit Power, he would chat with Kadi. Igor especially enjoyed sharing stories. He and Kadi would always share their respective encounters, no matter how trivial, offering each other mutual encouragement.

But now, Kadi was lost in deep thought. Igor couldn’t read minds, nor could he make deductions or perform Divination, so he had no way of knowing what troubled Kadi. Consequently, the process of accumulating Spirit Power, now lacking Kadi’s accompanying discussion, became incredibly tedious and drawn out. It truly felt a bit strange; Kadi, who had always been by his side, had suddenly changed, and so drastically. This wasn’t the Kadi Igor knew.

Where exactly does the profound secret lie? Igor surveyed his surroundings, still finding the World Setting Technique rather complex.

The conclusion he had initially formed was now beginning to waver, and this wavering was beyond Igor’s control...

If the conclusion changed, then Igor’s preliminary analysis would be rendered meaningless.

To prevent this from happening, Igor didn’t even have time to check in on Kadi. After all, Kadi had been dejected for quite a while, and it would be remiss not to say something. Yet, the current situation didn’t permit it, as the conclusion he had previously deduced was wavering. This put Igor in a difficult position...

He no longer knew what to prioritize: should I check on Kadi, or focus on contemplating the scene before me?

Reason offered no solution at this moment. Igor felt a pang of anxiety, a sensation entirely new to him. Perhaps it was because of Kadi.

Evidently, Kadi held a very significant place in Igor’s heart, important enough to be weighed against these profound techniques.

”Don’t get confused!” As Igor hesitated, unsure what to do, a resonant voice suddenly echoed in mid-air, catching him completely by surprise...