What is the author's attitude about his own role as the storyteller, and what does he ask of the listeners?

The author, identified as Hemad, adopts a position of profound humility regarding his role as the storyteller. He suggests his identity is just a "nickname" because Sai himself is the true speaker. In Chapter 47, he directly addresses the audience, stating, "though I am the speaker of this story, I am as empty as you are if I do not grasp the distilled essence here." He requests that listeners focus on the inner meaning and moral of the tale, rather than on the speaker. By doing so, he implies that both he and the audience are on a shared journey to find satisfaction and peace by absorbing the true essence of Sai's words.