One-Eyed Monster

After giving his answer, Igor gazed silently at Kuren, hoping for an affirmative response that would justify his pondering.

Kuren’s expression didn’t change much, but this time he didn’t shake his head as he did previously. This was a good sign; at least Igor knew that his understanding hadn’t gone astray.

Kuren’s tense nerves loosened a bit. He seemed to catch a glimpse of the future outcome of his gamble. The aroma of the future was that of victory, and he found he could breathe easily. Igor had lived up to their expectations—those of the Great Mentor, Kuren himself, and even Joseph, who was continuously channeling Spirit Power. All the creatures on this mountain would feel a sense of relief, because the inheritance of the World Setting Technique meant that everything else would naturally follow suit...

This wasn’t a simple matter, but it didn’t seem complex anymore.

With a little guidance from Kuren, Igor could understand the true meaning of the technique. Now that he knew the significance of understanding this technique, all that was left was to teach him its true meaning to complete the inheritance process.

As for what would happen after inheriting this technique, Kuren couldn’t tell Igor yet. While these details weren’t exactly top secrets, revealing another aspect of the technique right away might be too much for Igor’s young mind to digest.

It was better to proceed step by step. This was the safest and most appropriate way; there was no need to rush. Kuren, who had been slightly anxious, had finally regained his composure. Looking at Igor, he had an indescribable feeling.

Hopefully, everything will be alright, Igor thought, also feeling a twinge of impatience during his wait. However, this fleeting moment of impatience passed quickly in his mind. He was a quick learner. After realizing the profound significance this technique must hold, Igor calmed down again and waited silently—his question had yet to be answered...

It was such a shame that Kadi couldn’t see what was happening. This beautiful time, when Igor and Kadi had advanced and retreated together, would be appreciated by Igor alone.

These experiences were precious, Igor’s greatest wealth. He viewed them as irreplaceable strength on his journey forward. These memories inspired him to explore continuously, and in that process, they would serve as his guiding light...

That’s why he put all these memories into the Inner World, carefully placing these precious legacies, one by one, into those Soap Bubbles.

These were the things Igor deemed important, so he placed them inside the Soap Bubbles.

Now, these Soap Bubbles kept colliding in the air, now here, now there—their trajectories rather reflective of Igor’s current state of mind.

Watching Igor’s slightly discomposed state, Kuren couldn’t help but reproach himself.

The situation wasn’t meant to be like this. It was his own deviation from the main topic that had led to Igor’s current slight confusion.

Kuren gave a bitter smile. He had to pull Igor back. He himself had dug this pit, and now he himself had to fill it.

”AHEM...” Kuren cleared his throat, partly to break the awkward silence. The recent stillness in the Inner World had indeed been uncomfortable; not a single sound had been uttered, making it a truly peculiar moment within an Inner World.

Kuren’s cough reminded Igor how foolish he had been. He was supposed to be heading towards the correct understanding, yet somehow, his thoughts had multiplied and strayed so far off course.

”We were discussing Kadi just now.” Igor scratched his head, looking somewhat apologetically at Kuren, hoping Kuren could forgive his flight of fancy.

However, perhaps this flight of fancy was exactly what Kuren was looking for.

”Igor, now that you’ve come to understand the real reason why Kadi can’t enter the Inner World Spell, do you feel that you’ve completely mastered the entire technique?” Kuren asked gently, already knowing what Igor’s answer would be.

”Well, sort of, but now I have some doubts. I’m a bit confused. Is this Inner World of ours created merely to show off illusions and imagination to others?” Igor’s response this time was rather elusive. He neither arrogantly claimed to have fully mastered the World Setting Technique, nor did he express complete diffidence by saying he had learned nothing.

Effectively, Igor had returned Kuren’s question, and quite forthrightly at that.

”You are a clever man. We are now in the deepest part of the Inner World, each exploring our own inner selves. I see that in your heart, Kadi is a strong bond; you have already made him your best friend...”

”You…” Igor felt entirely exposed, as if he had no secrets left, completely unconcealed before Kuren.

”Are you a Scholar, or perhaps a Wizard who can control others’ futures?” Igor quickly discarded his previous doubts as new ones arose. He didn’t understand how Kuren could perceive his inner thoughts so clearly.

”I’ve told you before, the Inner World is an exploration of the inner self. Entering the Inner World is essentially an exchange of innermost thoughts.”

”Ah…” Igor seemed to be starting to understand.

Peering into the heart within the Inner World? Is this the legendary mind-reading? If so, then in the future, wouldn’t I be able to... Igor even had some wicked thoughts for a moment, but on second thought, something still felt off.

The Soap Bubbles created by his boundless imagination were still colliding. However, unlike previous collisions where they bounced off each other, this time they seemed to have lost their resilience. Upon impact, they fused together; two Soap Bubbles instantly became one...

”These things you are displaying here, are they not the messages from your heart that you wish us to know?” Kuren said softly, pointing at a Soap Bubble.

”Yes, that’s right!”

”This is the ultimate mystery of the inner techniques within the World Setting Technique: sharing.”

”Sharing?” Igor said thoughtfully, as if he had understood something.

”Exactly, sharing. We cannot know the meaning that sharing brings, nor can we predict the power it yields. But sharing, no matter what, possesses a peculiar characteristic, one that you and I find ourselves unable to resist.”

”You’re right! That’s exactly how I feel. I always want to present these things in my heart for everyone to see. I truly can’t help myself,” Igor said excitedly.

”That is the essence of sharing.” Kuren nodded in satisfaction, a vision of his gamble’s complete success seemingly before his eyes.

This was truly something worth celebrating.