One-Eyed Monster

The hardest person to know in one’s lifetime is oneself.

When Igor was very young, he thought he should be a woodcutter, diligently following his father’s footsteps to the mountains to chop wood and sell it. At that time, he felt he was a woodcutter boy; life was tiring, but he was happy.

Soon after, Yonder Travel Academy entered his world, and he found himself interested in life beyond woodcutting; more and more new things came into view, making his desires expand. That desire, like wild grass, grew longer and longer, but the harsh reality told him those were not his to have, and he could only abide by being a woodcutter.

At that time, he felt like a boy who envied others, somewhat helpless and willing to accept reality.

Later, his father sent him to the back kitchen of Yonder Travel Academy, letting him learn culinary skills from the head chef, but his heart was not in it, nor were his hands skillful. He simply couldn’t learn the culinary arts and could only be a diligent kitchen apprentice. The head chef noticed the child had no talent in cooking and allowed Igor freedom. Yet, although this child yearned to run towards the academy, his body was honest—he remained a diligent kitchen apprentice.

At that time, Igor felt he was a boy with a severe lack of talent, with no hope to speak of.

After that, the head chef really didn’t know how to arrange Igor. The boy’s self-effort despite his freedom genuinely moved the chef.

So, in order to unleash Igor’s inner curiosity, the head chef gave Igor another task.

That was food delivery.

Delivering snacks between classes, lunch at noon, afternoon tea, and completing dinner... this time allowed Igor to engage with the academy’s main body, aiming to let Igor freely unleash his nature.

If Igor wanted to thank someone for bringing him into the world of Adventurers with Class, it had to be the head chef.

At that time, Igor felt like a child who hadn’t yet stepped into this world—honest and sincere, doing his own tasks.

When he encountered the world of Adventurers with Class, Igor fully unleashed his inner desires. Thanks to his good control skills, he did not lose his way. As a listener at Yonder Travel Academy, he maintained his identity as a food delivery boy, keeping a low profile while being practical.

Igor’s exceptional abilities caused many mentors to think he could become a leader in his profession, yet Igor insisted on choosing Adventurer, the most unpopular path.

At that time, Igor knew he was a boy walking his own path.

Within this Inner World, Igor witnessed his experiences, as if they all happened just yesterday.

He even felt many things were different from how he thought now.

Is this really my memory? Igor began to question himself. He couldn’t understand why he made such choices back then. Now, he thought he would choose a better way; for example, when the head chef set him free, he should go to the academy right away, and perhaps his progress would have been better at this moment...

At this moment, Igor’s vision began to blur; everything he once saw gradually became invisible.

”What’s happening?” Igor looked around; a black sky endlessly rotated above his head.

”Do you know where you are now?” Teacher Hadi asked, his voice intermittent, seeming somewhat distant.

”I don’t know, where am I?” Igor was a bit confused...

”Then do you know who you are?” Teacher Hadi’s voice became ethereal, unlike the voice of Teacher Hadi.

”I know who I am!” Igor became restless, ”I am Igor, who wants to become an Adventurer!”

”Then do you know where you come from and where you are going?” The ethereal voice turned hollow, seemingly devoid of emotion.

”I come from Yonder Travel Academy; I am going all over the world; I want to become an Adventurer!” Igor said decisively, without the slightest hesitation.

”Do you mean you are willing to give everything as long as it helps achieve this goal?” The emotionless voice turned into Symbols, jumping in front of Igor.

”You are not Teacher Hadi, who are you? I want to leave here!” Igor sensed something was wrong and wanted to struggle.

”Who I am is unimportant; what matters is whether you choose this path. I’ve already presented the choice for you. Just like what you just thought—it used to be an opportunity to contact Adventurers early on when you were young, but you missed it. Now you don’t want to miss it again, do you?”

”That thought?” Igor struggled to support himself, feeling he was in a strange loop. Deep inside, a voice constantly told him not to do this, but he insisted on coming for a look.

He was attracted, unable to control himself; whatever others said was what it was; he did not refute or reflect, stubbornly moving forward.

”Very good, by doing this, you are a pure self. I like this—simple, straightforward, reaching the goal.” Those Symbols suddenly transformed into ropes with spells, guiding him here and there.

I feel I am about to lose sight of what lies ahead...

I feel I am about to lose hearing...

I suddenly find myself feeble, on the verge of collapse...

Igor suddenly sensed a heavy change appearing in him, emerging naturally and without any sign.

The ropes dragged him, telling him the ahead result—you just need to achieve that result.

Igor wished to pause his steps; he didn’t want to proceed blindly ahead!

”I need to know why, I need to know where I am heading!”

The ropes ignored Igor’s roar, continuing to pull him.

Igor resisted; despite not seeing clearly, hearing not a sound, and being feeble, he chose to resist, even though such resistance seemed futile.

This is the path you chose yourself; this is the result you want; this is the Adventurer you wish to become...

A chain of Symbols drilled into Igor’s mind; experiences at Guru Mountain left him confused, unsure of where to go.

The lack of strength made him feel insufficient; he needed to gain strength and be the Adventurer he wished to become...

But is this Adventurer the one you initially wanted to become, Igor?

Suddenly, Igor heard a familiar voice—unexpectedly.

Originally, Igor felt he was about to lose consciousness, but the emergence of this voice rekindled his hope.