One-Eyed Monster

Igor smiled, realizing his unexpected success.

He didn’t expect to uncover the secret of the hidden method so quickly. Initially, he found it hard to understand, but suddenly he seemed to have an epiphany.

At that moment, he felt there was no need for Nonoa to explain more to him, as long as he had time to think.

And see, he figured it out after all.

”Hiding leaves seem different from what we’re doing now, but the principle is the same,” Igor said. Nonoa helped him understand the Border Realm, and now there were doubts, so he felt it necessary to clarify it for them. That was what he thought, which is why he was explaining.

”I don’t think we’re hiding like leaves at all!” Nonoa mainly found something strange here. He felt that the way they were hiding now wasn’t like blending in like a leaf; it was more like they were exposed right in front of the enemy.

”Hiding leaves is about having them constantly appear in front of people, and isn’t our method based on the same principle?”

”I don’t understand.”

”In a large pile of leaves, at one moment it belongs to this side, then the next moment to another, constantly being debated as to where it belongs because you never really know where it is exactly, surrounded by leaves everywhere which all look so similar.”

”But we’re not similar?” Nonoa seemed not to understand.

”What does this have to do with us?”

”If everything is leaves, they are always similar, while we Resistors are on the run, yet we’re not the least bit similar.”

”Well, your understanding is truly unique.” Igor finally realized what it felt like when someone’s understanding differed. He didn’t know that his unique thinking often puzzled many, leaving them unable to understand him.

Now, he had to patiently explain it to Nonoa.

”Nonoa, you haven’t really understood who is similar to whom.”

”What are you talking about?”

”You and yourself are definitely similar. You are the leaf, not just one leaf but the whole pile of leaves!”

”What do you mean?” Nonoa was about to collapse, feeling they were getting further from the point.

”It’s simple, ha-ha. Didn’t you say the Border Realm is vast? We’re just in a corner of this realm.”

”Yes, but what’s the relation here, I’m referring to the thing with the leaves.”

Nonoa once again seemed stuck, like sinking into a quagmire. It wasn’t that these things were inherently difficult for him to understand; he only had some trouble grasping them for a long time.

Igor had patience. Anyway, they were running now, constantly sprinting, so during the process, there was time to discuss these things.

Over and over...

Igor finally made Nonoa understand why their running method of hiding was akin to the leaf-hiding principle.

The Border Realm was vast, and when their consciousness ran, it was fast.

Often, as you ran here, in the blink of an eye, you ran elsewhere, and then the opponent would wonder how you appeared everywhere, at one moment here, then there, unable to pinpoint the real you!

Isn’t this similar to the way leaves are hidden?

After convincing Nonoa, he fell silent for a long time.

Igor, feeling thirsty, thought he’d done justice to Nonoa...

But just at this crucial moment, Igor suddenly discovered a serious problem.

The problem was that time seemed nonexistent here, without any reference point, so many people didn’t know what time it was or how long they’d been here...

Then, upon inquiry, Igor found out that staying here for too long could lead to aging and death, which was certainly not worth it.

Without the concept of time, Igor felt anxious.

Now, still with a youthful appearance, he worried that when he truly returned to the real world, his physical form might become that of an elderly man.

Just thinking about it was terrifying, making Igor tremble a little!

”Fortunately there’s you, otherwise I’d have no way to understand the connection between the two,” Nonoa genuinely appreciated having met someone like Igor.

However, Igor ignored him...

”What’s wrong with you? You seem strange; do you have some doubts within?” Nonoa said, ”I’ve explained most things, so there should be nothing wrong.”

”Yes, there is!” Igor said. Now, he felt that such a situation was terrifying, uncertain of how to overcome this fear.

”I see fear emerging from you, stop quickly, don’t let yourself fall like this,” Nonoa urged, anxious.

”I won’t devour others, but I’m worried about being devoured,” Igor said truthfully.

”Don’t worry, as Resistors, we’ll ensure you return safely. Soul Devourer hasn’t reached the point where they control everything,” Nonoa reassured Igor, telling him he had reliable companions by his side, easing his worries.

”What I’m worried about is being devoured by time,” Igor said.

This statement shocked Nonoa; indeed, the issue of time was one of the major concerns in the Border Realm. Here, without sunrise or sunset, there’s no way to know how much time has passed.

”If I return, facing myself at middle age or old age, what do you think we should do?” Igor continued to express his concerns, genuinely fearful in a way he hadn’t for a long time. This place was truly remarkable, awakening his hidden fears.

”The issue of time is indeed daunting, but you don’t need to worry. Just trust us; naturally, we won’t let you stay until the physical body ages,” Nonoa assured him, almost like a vow.

”How can I trust you?” Igor still felt uncertain.

”That’s the choice you have to make, Igor. Standing before you is the decision of either trusting us or succumbing to fear; there’s no shortcut for this,” Nonoa said.

”I’ve always trusted you, but I can’t shake off this new fear, so what’s the use of trusting you?”

”Once your heart truly makes a choice, you’ll understand what I mean,” Nonoa began to reveal less.