One-Eyed Monster

Grilled meat, hearty soup, and rum-infused drinks kept the area around the stone house by the edge of the White Swamp lively, even as night fell.

Everyone was indulging in grilled meat, sipping fine wine, singing, dancing, and sharing their hearts’ stories.

Amidst the joy, everyone was truly letting themselves go, turning this rare reunion into a moment of relaxation.

Igor bit into the grilled meat, ”I remember the first time I tasted this was by that big lake, right?”

”Heh, that was just a valley filled with water, between Dawn Peak and Grey Eagle Peak, not some big lake,” Joseph said with a sip of his drink.

”Yeah, and you had those breadcrumbs or whatever. I thought that stuff was delicious!” Kadi clearly recalled that experience too.

”Um...” Igor scratched his head, ”No, I don’t have any.”

”Hey, how could you not?” Kadi looked quite disappointed.

”Speaking of bread, I also miss buttered bread!” Kuren joined in, expressing his longing.

At the mention of buttered bread, Igor spontaneously remembered that he still had that piece of black bread with him, the Mantai-made compact food.

”I have a piece of black bread!” Igor declared and took out that piece of black bread, which Teacher Hadi had given him for emergencies on the road. It had a long shelf life, and after Igor concealed it on his person with a Concealment Spell, he hadn’t thought about it. Now, he realized sharing it with friends wouldn’t be a bad idea!

”Heh, Igor, that thing is so small. Who’s it enough for?” Garon’s first reaction upon seeing it was this.

”And it’s black bread, a tough thing to bite into,” Kuren chimed in dismissively.

”You guys are all so uninformed!” Goodley couldn’t help but mock them from the side, all the while laughing and drinking.

”Huh? What do you mean, Goodley?” Kevin’s curiosity was piqued.

In no time, all the quirky beasts gathered around. Previously singing and dancing, they now surrounded Igor, focusing on that piece of black bread, glancing between Xiso and Igor.

”Let Igor tell you guys, sigh!” Goodley took another sip of his drink, clearly finding the scene a bit exasperating.

”Oh, hahahaha, I get it now.” Yuga seemed to have caught on and burst into laughter.

”Ah, hahahah.” Others also realized what that black bread was, and they laughed awkwardly, a bit embarrassed.

Only Kadi and Garon were still puzzled, looking at the laughing ones with even more confusion, and then turning their innocent eyes towards Igor.

”Uh...” Confronted by these two’s innocent stares, Igor suddenly felt a lot of pressure. He felt that if he didn’t explain well, he’d let these two down. The warmth he felt was doused with cold water—a truly unpleasant sensation!

Igor swallowed hard. He knew he needed to organize his words well. Some things couldn’t be rushed; they had to be carefully pieced together.

”Ahem, this isn’t just any ordinary black bread. Someone, pass me an empty bowl.” Igor transformed into a lecturer, requesting a ceramic bowl.

Goodley and the others laughed along, happily assisting Igor with whatever he needed, fully cooperating with him.

”Look, we pour soup into the bowl, then I tear off a tiny piece of the black bread and drop it in.” Igor explained as he demonstrated, executing it smoothly, showcasing his familiarity with the process.

”Soon you’ll witness the miracle!” Igor chuckled, proving to be quite the engaging speaker, adept at stirring emotions.

In the ceramic bowl filled with soup, the thumb-sized black bread swiftly expanded, soon filling up the entire bowl.

”I...” Garon’s jaw dropped in awe, realizing the Mantai’s dried rations and getting embarrassed by his ignorance.

”I think I’ve seen this before!” Kadi exclaimed excitedly. ”Sol had something similar, some kind of root that swells up with hot water just like this!”

”You have a good memory!” Igor nodded, confirming that Kadi was right; this black bread indeed contained elements of the Thorny Roots.

”Of course, I wouldn’t forget such a fascinating thing. I’d never forget it.” Kadi puffed out his chest proudly, assuring himself.

Igor continued explaining the black bread’s backstory to Kadi, recounting everything he’d learned from Teacher Hadi. The conversation was lively, filled with laughter and exchange.

”Listening to you, it sounds like Russef Hadi told you all this.” The Grand Master Guzan, munching on grilled fish nearby, joined the chat.

”Yes, Teacher Hadi told me,” Igor replied with a smile to Master Guzan.

”Russef, that fellow, is quite the character, always eager to collect various items,” Master Guzan reminisced, finding joy in the memories.

”Speaking of which, Teacher Hadi gave me this black bread.” Igor noted as the piece had been torn into many pieces, now swimming in the soup-filled bowls.

”Though its taste is far from buttered bread, the soaked black bread has its unique flavor!” Kuren remarked while eating.

”We should try baking bread at Guru Mountain too. Since the area is already explored, maybe they’ll plant some wheat,” Joseph suggested.

”Why can’t we plant it ourselves?” Kadi swayed his head.

”You going to harvest it?” Kevin slapped Kadi on the head. ”Do you even know how to handle wheat?”

Hahaha, everyone was amused by Kevin’s action.

The truth was, none of them knew how to grow wheat, so getting to eat baked bread was a rarity, evoking memories of the past. On Guru Mountain, most had become meat-eaters, occasionally enjoying fruits and bits of roots, but fine plant-based foods, even basic bread, were seldom savored due to the lack of bread-making knowledge. Their appearances didn’t allow them to descend the mountain, lest they scare the townsfolk, leaving them with a diet of grilled meats, fish, and various fruits and roots.

The atmosphere was nothing but delightful; everyone indulged in eating and drinking, seemingly forgetting the purpose of their gathering.

”By the way, Master, who is the rare guest we’re expecting at Guru Mountain, requiring all the seniors here?” Igor hadn’t forgotten and seized this opportunity to ask.

This question changed the atmosphere immediately; everyone fell silent.

”Heh heh, as it happens, you know them,” Master Guzan, unfazed by the tense atmosphere, replied calmly.