One-Eyed Monster

Igor only half-understood what the World Setting Technique said; in fact, the parts he didn’t understand slightly outweighed those he did.

But Igor was in no rush. He knew all of time was now his. If he waited patiently, he would eventually unravel these currently messy and incredible matters.

”What do you mean, ’the answers you spoke of will also awaken’?” Igor asked, still confused.

”You and I are currently in the Inner World, where everything is chaotic. You can imagine anything you wish, create whatever you like. As long as you can conceive of it, it can materialize here.”

”I know how things work in the Inner World. What I don’t understand is why you’re telling me about the Inner World now. Was everything you said before just an illusion?” Igor was puzzled. He felt that the World Setting Technique could no longer perfectly align with the spell system he described. Flaws seemed to be everywhere, so flimsy they looked like they would crumble with the slightest breeze.

However, the World Setting Technique again adopted an air of enigmatic profundity, fobbing Igor off with the same line: ”Your comprehension isn’t deep enough. Only when you reach that level will you understand the meaning of my words.” That sentence seemed to be a master key, fitting any lock.

It was only Igor, with his childlike innocence, who took the World Setting Technique at his word. Had it been anyone else at this moment, they probably would have jumped up and decried the World Setting Technique as a fraud.

Igor scratched his head, thinking hard. Such entanglement posed a certain risk; Kuren was a living example. Igor knew he couldn’t let himself get twisted up like Kuren. So, throughout his contemplation, he was extremely cautious, terrified of taking a wrong step and plunging into an abyss.

”Spells are things your kind created, an achievement of yours. We don’t deny that stuff is very powerful. But we were not created by you. We have existed in this world since ancient times; you could say even earlier than your kind.”

”You make it sound as if you’re ancient,” Igor said dismissively.

”Our concept of time is different from yours, so your perception is quite normal. I’m not surprised in the least.”

Igor was speechless. He felt he and this World Setting Technique were on completely different levels. Every single thing he said was thoroughly picked apart by this Technique.

”’Your kind,’ ’our kind’... what you’re saying seems very different from the world as I understand it.”

”That’s because your comprehension hasn’t reached that level yet. So, it’s quite normal.”

”Can you stop harping on about this ’comprehension’ business? Right now, you have before you someone with low comprehension. How are you going to convince him?” Igor tried using a goading tactic, though his attempt was amateurish and seemed to have no effect whatsoever.

However, life is unpredictable. The World Setting Technique seemed to take the bait. Without a second word, he replied to Igor, ”You seem to have a point. Persuading someone with such low comprehension would indeed be a challenge for me. This sort of thing actually sounds quite fun.”

”From your voice, I can tell you seem like a young fellow too. You’re nothing like that storytelling old granny. The old granny is very patient, not flighty like you.” Igor deduced this from the World Setting Technique’s voice.

”Your judgment is passable. My existence indeed hasn’t been very long. Compared to that other one within you, I am truly very young.”

”Then can you explain the question I raised earlier?” Igor returned to his starting point. For him, slowly resolving one question at a time was the most important thing right now.

If many questions were left piled up and ignored, he might very well end up like Kuren.

Igor did have some judgment regarding these matters. So, although he had a pile of questions, he hadn’t let them all get tangled together into an unsolvable mess like Kuren had.

”I understand your question. You’re wondering why someone who was just awakened is acting like an old hand, right? You think a fellow like me should behave like an infant, curious about everything in the world, correct?”

This series of questions from the World Setting Technique made Igor nod repeatedly. He was indeed, just as the World Setting Technique suggested, surprised and skeptical about these things.

”I knew you’d be interested in this. Of course, this is also typical of your kind’s way of thinking.”

”Then what’s different between your kind and ours?”

”Don’t be anxious. We’ll answer the questions one by one. You can’t build Rome in a day, and a river can’t be filled in a single day either. Since I promised to give you answers, I naturally will. Besides, you have plenty of time, don’t you?”

The World Setting Technique had once again peered into Igor’s mind. He knew everything Igor was thinking. Igor, on the other hand, had forgotten this point and was, at this moment, still foolishly thinking this World Setting Technique possessed some miraculous power of Divination.

When Igor realized this, his eyes widened in anger, which amused the World Setting Technique so much that he chuckled incessantly.

”It’s not right for you to fool people like this!” Igor was a bit indignant.

”HAHAHA, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to, really. It’s been so many years, and I finally encountered an Awakened One. I just had to tease you a bit.”

”Awakened One?” Igor heard another new term, and a storm raged in his mind.

”It’s nothing you would know about. There are probably very few people in this world who know of this matter anymore. But I can’t say for sure, because I was slumbering for a very long time and was only recently awakened by you.”

”Er...” Igor grew even more confused.

”Your kind enters the Eternal Tranquility Realm, and after some trials and tribulations, you can never return. This is something we envy about you all.”

The more Igor listened, the more something felt off.

”You must understand, Reincarnation is a torment for us. But as long as this world exists, we will always be here, either awake or slumbering. Those are our only two states of existence.”

The World Setting Technique seemed to be describing a colossal secret!

”Your spells are the key to our gates. However, for us to manifest before you, your kind must possess such a level of spiritual comprehension. Those of you who can converse with us, we call ’Awakened Ones.’ You are an Awakened One. And I see many different things in you.”

Igor remained unmoved. He felt as if he had completely entered another world.

”Stop with this ’your kind’ and ’our kind’ talk...”

”I know you don’t believe it. You think you’re in someone else’s mind, so this might be an Illusionary Realm, right? I can access your thoughts at any time, so you are transparent to me.”

”But—” Igor still wanted to argue, but the World Setting Technique cut him off again.

”No more ’buts.’ Don’t you just want to prove you’re right? That’s simple. Just have the master of these thoughts come and clarify things with you face-to-face. It’s not a difficult matter. Oh, I forgot to tell you, the master of these thoughts has already awakened.”

Igor was startled. He then quickly looked around, wanting to confirm the World Setting Technique’s words with his own eyes.