One-Eyed Monster

Chapter 998 - 996: Awakening (Part 1)

Stim is an outstanding student at Yonder Travel Academy.

He was personally selected by the Dean himself.

His father is a merchant, constantly running across various places on the Yowein Continent, and every time he returns, he brings Stim many special things.

Local specialties and cultural landscapes from various regions are what immerse Stim, but his favorite things are the books his father brings back from different places across the Yowein Continent.

Books from each place are distinct; Ghost Realm’s books are typically exquisite, with beautiful bindings and wooden boxes crafted by Dwarves, while Vero Realm’s books are always leather-bound because the presence of Tree Spirits makes paper less popular there. As for books in Kayne Realm, they are somewhat ordinary without elaborate bindings or leather covers... But these external features don’t attract Stim; he’s always interested in the content within the books. Because the content in those books allows him to understand the world more quickly.

So when choosing a class at Yonder Travel Academy, he didn’t hesitate to choose Scholar, which made his father a bit disappointed because his father always hoped he would become an Adventurer. A merchant’s son could help expand his trade routes, while a Scholar—alas—would only complicate his trading path.

Although Stim’s father is a farsighted merchant, he ultimately cannot prevent his son from choosing his class. Stim thus became a student of Dean Hoffman because his talent in the realm of Scholarship is rather evident.

To put it accurately, he truly is a bookworm.

After the severe winter had arrived, the entire Yonder Travel Academy went on break, but Stim chose to stay behind to assist Dean Hoffman because such assistance could trade for some time in Dean Hoffman’s personal library. Being able to go to the Dean’s library is the dream of Scholar apprentices at Yonder Travel Academy; Stim eagerly awaits this reward. After all, he claims to have read many books, yet he hasn’t truly opened a single Spirit Book.

Spirit Books bought with Gold coins are mere decorations, constantly staying sealed; those Spirit-connected books simply ignore him, mostly sleeping away.

Stim most desires to genuinely open a Spirit Book. He never expected that what he wanted to do would be realized so quickly.

In recent days, he’s been cleaning up the Yonder Travel Academy—a task that mostly fell to him and a few outstanding students choosing to stay during this severe winter—for more learning. Things that academy workers normally do fell upon them: cleaning and maintaining the green spaces became their routines.

A few days ago, Stim received instructions from Dean Hoffman to stop his miscellaneous tasks and help in the Dean’s office. Out of respect for Dean Hoffman, Stim went without a second thought. Upon arriving, Dean Hoffman told him that everything had to be kept secret, and the reason he chose him was out of trust. Furthermore, completion of the task would allow him some time in the library, and if he did well enough, he might even get to interact with a Spirit Book.

Stim had not a single moment of hesitation regarding Dean Hoffman’s instructions. Any task from the Dean would be completed unconditionally because being a student of Dean Hoffman at this academy is an honor; how could he complain? Being able to interact with Dean Hoffman as a Scholar apprentice led to the envy of many apprentices... But when he went to execute the task entrusted by Dean Hoffman, he was dumbfounded...

Stim had always thought Dean Hoffman would have him transcribe books or manage the Spirit Books. Who would have known that Dean Hoffman merely asked him to take care of someone?

And he knew this person. In fact, no one at Yonder Travel Academy does not know this youth named Igor.

This youth, determined to be an Adventurer, has always been a figure of interest among academy students because he’s extremely famous at the academy. One moment he’s being punished by the Dean, the next he’s doing odd jobs in the kitchen. Overall, this auditing student is the academy’s source of delight, constantly able to create things that make people laugh. What’s more, during the Class Choice Test, every Spirit Power pool he passed remained incredibly calm. This indicates the youth’s extraordinary talent; he could excel in any profession.

Now this youth is actually lying in Dean Hoffman’s basement, and he is lying on an Ice Bed...

Stim isn’t lacking in knowledge; as an excellent student, he naturally recognizes that the basement stairs were crafted by Dwarves, and upon seeing the Ice Bed, he knows this youth named Igor must have experienced something extraordinary.

Because, despite lying on the Ice Bed, Igor still exudes heat, with steam continuously rising from around him like from a mist.

Stim’s task is to change the ice on this Ice Bed daily and at appropriate times, supplement the nutrition of this youth lying on the Ice Bed. How the nutrition was made, Stim isn’t aware, but judging by the usage, it must be a potion concocted by a Wizard.

This youth named Igor has been on the Ice Bed for an entire week, and aside from his body alternating between hot and cold, there are no signs of life from him—not even detectable breathing... At that moment, Stim thought it’s no wonder Dean Hoffman wanted him to keep everything about this task a secret; it’s entirely a Secret technique. As to what this secret technique entails, Stim wouldn’t ask, as it’s Dean Hoffman’s matter; he must not ask further.

Today Stim, like usual, picked up the nutritional potion and headed to the basement, intending to use a special grass to evenly apply the potion to Igor’s mouth and nose. Supposedly, this way, Igor could absorb the necessary energy at the right time. He’s been doing this for a week, becoming quite adept. On the stairs, he prepared the special grass—that is Mint Ice Grass, also icy cold. He had long been accustomed to such temperatures.

But as he reached the basement, the Mint Ice Grass in his hand dropped to the ground!

He was stunned!

The Ice Bed was empty!

The youth named Igor had vanished!

He had been taking care of this youth in here for the entire week without almost a single step away from this office!

How could this youth disappear!