One-Eyed Monster

No one can predict the arrival of disaster.

No one can understand why disaster comes.

Still less would anyone know the true cause of a disaster.

The world forever marches to its own rhythm, hour by hour, moving forward, oblivious to the unexpected occurrences in every minor detail. These surprises merely tickle its fancy.

It's like this: even if you were to wrap yourself in a blanket and continually stoke the fireplace with firewood on a day of Intense Chill, you still couldn't change the cold weather during the Intense Chill, though the burning firewood would indeed warm your body.

Yet, why do you still add wood to the fireplace?

Because you prepared for the Intense Chill beforehand; even if the severe cold is terrifying, you can manage to get through it.

But how did you know beforehand that the Intense Chill would be cold? Did you somehow know that this disaster of cold would arrive?

Yes, you knew, and yet you didn't.

You didn't know because you couldn't predict if this year's Intense Chill would be even colder than the last. You knew because you understood the continent's climate patterns.

Of course, you couldn't fathom why the Intense Chill comes, much less how it truly originates.

Because you're just an ordinary being among millions, living a life of routine like everyone else. You start your arduous day with the sunrise and live out each day ordinarily, under the known laws.

The villagers of Guru Mountain are no exception. Like you, they are muddled and completely unaware that many chaotic things have already happened on Guru Mountain recently.

You can probably see the village lord of Guru Village staring blankly as the villagers, on the cusp of the Intense Chill, cheerfully bustle about. Everyone knows that many festivals await celebration after the Intense Chill. If one doesn't prepare sufficiently now, when the Intense Chill arrives, they can only watch others celebrate.

Before known laws, everyone is equal. The only difference lies between the diligent and the lazy. Diligent people consistently follow the continent's climate patterns, laboring when it's time to labor and resting when it's time to rest. Lazy people, however, find both seasons of the year the same; in their eyes, there are only two options: trouble and more trouble.

But before unknown laws, people reveal their differences. It is precisely these differences that allow people to choose professions.

Master the laws of sensing Spirit Power, and you can join one of the continent's six major professions, thereby ceasing to be an ordinary commoner.

Master the laws of utilizing Spirit Power, and you can advance further in your chosen profession, becoming a High Rank, Super Rank, or even God Rank Adventurer with Class.

It sounds alluring, doesn't it? Yet, what can you do? You are still just one of the ordinary masses, unable to change anything.

Just as you can see Lord Rostellum, the governor of Gaga County, tugging his beard and glaring. He is merely envious and jealous of those who have mastered laws unknown to him. You can probably relate to this kind of envy and jealousy.

These unknown laws are indeed in the hands of a few.

You see the Golden Seats of the Alchemy Workshop, each unhurriedly and confidently setting up their Alchemy Arrays. Such calm and composure tell you this group possesses uncommon wisdom. Even if they haven't mastered this unknown law of Guru Mountain, they can deduce it when the time comes.

Maybe this is what makes that guy named Kuyi Tulan so terrifying.

Earlier, you saw the three leaders sent by the Black Crow, each acting independently in the Non Intoxication Tavern. Now you see these three fellows have parted ways. This tells you that the motives behind the Black Crow's actions are often inscrutable.

However, you know clearly in your heart that the Black Crow's actions are entirely for that law on Guru Mountain which is currently being unearthed.

You are just an ordinary fellow, unable to step forward and defend this mountain range. At the same time, you are also a greedy fellow; deep down, you've always wanted to know what kind of law Guru Mountain is so desperately trying to conceal.

This law has only revealed a sliver, a sliver that a few ill-intentioned individuals have seen. Time and again, they have tried to widen this sliver, but each time they were repelled by the Messenger.

No idea what's going to happen this time.

Perhaps, just as you said, disaster will descend.

You can still see the Black Mountain Organization on Guru Mountain preparing for some special matters. The few Crows are gathering all sorts of information. Those not-so-bright Earth Wolves have also become busy, and even the usually steadfast Spiders have begun to continuously build their webs. It seems as if everyone is preparing to deal with something.

Your gaze has swept around the foot of Guru Mountain several times, but you haven't discovered any pattern. You wander around the base of this mountain, day after day, truly an ordinary commoner.

However, why don't your eyes turn to Reed? Is it because you think Reed hasn't mastered any law, or is it because you yourself fear that Dark Wizard?

The darkness of night might truly frighten you, but the light of day will also help you. Even though you know nothing, you are just an ordinary citizen.

Don't feel aggrieved. If you don't want to be an ordinary citizen or a low-level Spirit Power user, you must pay a greater price.

This world is truly fair. Its fairness lies in everyone speaking with their own strength. If you have no strength, you are nothing.

Reed's difference from us lies in his pursuit of strength. He is so persistent in his pursuit of strength that he seeks shortcuts everywhere. But you should know, there are fundamentally no shortcuts in this world. All existing shortcuts are merely bait laid by the Devil.

Unknown laws might help Dark Wizards find suitable shortcuts, but unknown laws can never bring them deliverance. For those who have fallen into darkness, the only way to see the light again is to accept being burned.

So, what are you fearing?

Look, don't you see Elder Rostellum of Gaga County diligently making preparations? He has no idea what will happen next, yet he still arranges for Black Mountain and Guru Village to relentlessly prepare for any possible disaster.

That's right, this is also thanks to you. If it weren't for your loose tongue, they wouldn't be in this state of tension now.

You should know what happens when you beat the grass and startle the snake, shouldn't you?

Look now, everything here is a mess, without a shred of pattern to it. And you know, a lack of pattern is a terrifying thing. Not knowing the pattern means being unable to prepare for future events. To face such a situation unprepared is a sign of profound ignorance, as foolish as not knowing the climate pattern of the Intense Chill and thus failing to gather firewood for warmth.

Everything on Guru Mountain is a mess right now. I, for one, don't want to get mixed up with those low-level Spirit Power users; it's better to let them face this disaster themselves.

But I have my own mission. You understand the meaning of 'mission,' don't you?

So, tell me, what should I say about you, Kuruto?!

「Below Guru Mountain, at the Non Intoxication Tavern.」

A flamboyantly dressed Wizard had been chattering away to a mouse for a good while.