I’m the Only One With a Different Genre - Chapter 53

The moment Jess realized Lian was gone, she tried to rush out of Mia’s mansion in search of him. Noah thwarted her attempt, but Jess didn’t give up and kept looking for an opportunity.

The chance came quickly. As they were expelled from the estate and abandoned in the Forest of Death, Noah couldn’t conceal her confusion, and Jess seized the moment to dash out in search of her master.

‘Master, Master…!’

From the moment Jess recognized Lian as her master, the two were bound by an unseen connection. Lian was unaware, but Jess felt it.

Instinctively, she could sense the direction in which she had to go to find Lian. She only knew the direction, not the distance.

Using her keen senses to avoid monsters, Jess quenched her thirst in clear streams, caught insects and weak monsters for food, and kept running.

After many cycles of running and resting, Jess emerged from the Forest of Death ahead of Noah. Still, she did not stop.

‘Master!’

The only thought in Jess’s head was of Lian. How long she ran, she couldn’t say, but it felt like more than a day or two.

After blisters formed and calluses thickened on her hands and feet, Jess finally reached Jiso’s territory.

It was the result of a terrifying determination.

‘Ah… I’m almost there…’

Jess sensed the once distant feeling of proximity getting closer and accelerated her pace.

That was as far as her luck would take her.

“Caught you!”

“Kahaha, we’ll get a nice price for this one!”

“Let go!”

Jess was captured by professional beastkin hunters and thrown into a cage. She had only eaten and drunk enough to keep going, so her strength was reduced to that of a child.

The hunters sold Jess directly to a slave trader. Jess looked for chances to escape, but it was futile.

“Grrr…”

Even after being caught while attempting to flee, Jess growled and bared her teeth, prompting the slave trader to chuckle.

“This one seems quite useful, doesn’t it?”

The next day, the slave trader sold Jess to a fighting arena for beasts. While Lian’s arena mainly featured matches between monsters and humans, the one Jess was sold to featured fights primarily among beastkin.

Beasts against beasts, or beastkin against beastkin.

The arena known for its cruelty treated beastkin like animals, forcibly injecting them with stimulants to fight vicious battles.

Jess had been sold to such a place.

“Today’s match features the red-haired cub against Tuoh!”

Jess faced a drugged, drooling beast, her fangs bared.

She had to survive. Survive to meet her master.

The moment Jess braced herself for a life-threatening fight, her noble bloodline awakened. Sharp cries of beasts echoed, and the thick smell of blood spread.

***

I stood in the training ground after a long while, holding the Demon Sword in my hand.

[ Now, throw it lightly. ]

‘Do I have to do this?’

[ Of course! It’s necessary for intimidation! ]

I sighed, looking down at the spear in my hand—a long body with a sharp blade glistening in the light.

[ Throw it now! ]

Following the Demon Sword’s command, I tossed the spear upwards. Despite a light toss, the spear soared three meters high.

Whirr!

The spear spun in mid-air, as if in a comic, and fell back into my hand neatly.

[ Oh! You should catch it without looking! ]

‘Is this some kind of adolescent fantasy?’

That time of life when everything seems to revolve around oneself, like being the center of the universe.

I didn’t worry about my thoughts transmitting to the Demon Sword since I had learned how to control them.

[ Throw it again! ]

I heard the excited voice of the Demon Sword and tossed the spear casually into the air. The sword spun like a trick, trailing a reddish aura in its wake, creating a spectacular arc.

“Gasp..”

“Huh..”

The training ground wasn’t just for my use; others were there too. They gasped at the Demon Sword’s spectacle.

‘It sure is a sight.’

A sword spinning and flipping in mid-air was not something you’d see every day.

[ Now let’s try spinning it in your hand! ]

‘How am I supposed to do that?’

[ Heh, trust the great me! Just follow along! ]

I was less annoyed as I watched the flashy movements of the Demon Sword. Curious about the next trick, I spun the spear lightly. The Demon Sword lifted from my hand and spun in the air.

The rotating Demon Sword created a breeze.

‘That’s just you spinning around.’

[ But it looks like you’re the one with the amazing strength from the outside! Now, catch it! ]

Being closely linked to the Demon Sword, I knew exactly when to catch it. I snatched it mid-spin, and the sword hummed with pleasure.

[ You’re the best partner! ]

The Demon Sword seemed thrilled. I felt a bit of excitement from the praise.

‘But I don’t know the first thing about spear fighting, is that okay?’

[ Huh..! I hadn’t thought about that. ]

The Demon Sword sounded serious, as if it had missed something crucial.

[ Hmm, try swinging it lightly. ]

‘Like this?’

As I attempted to swing the spear, the Demon Sword suddenly froze. I stood there, holding it up, like a person hung on the Demon Sword.

[ That’s not it! It’s not cool at all! ]

I sighed at the childish whining.

‘Of course it’s not. I’ve never properly swung a spear or a sword.’

[ Mmm… Then… Ah! ]

The Demon Sword exclaimed and started to shrink. It transformed into a small, round, ruby-like orb and climbed onto my hand, speaking.

[ When I enter, call me out to summon me immediately. Got it? ]

His cheery voice sounded like it had concocted a great idea. Curious about what he was planning now, I absorbed the Demon Sword into my hand and called ‘Gargandoa’ after a short wait. Then.

Whoom.

Neon-like lights emanated from the engraving on my hand, and blood surged up from the pattern. The languidly rising blood traveled up my wrist and arm. I shivered as it felt like waves were rolling over me.

In an instant, the blood-red fluid enveloped my body, and like some magical girl transformation, my outfit changed. It was the attire of an extravagant noble.

As the outfit took shape, the blood that had risen from my hand began to flow downwards, like gravity reclaiming it. Droplets fell from my fingertips and gathered in my palm, where it transformed back into the form of the Demon Sword.

[ Haha, how’s that for an amazing entrance! ]

It seemed he had finally succeeded in his desire to change clothes. I looked down at my outfit and thought to myself.

‘Isn’t this a bit too flashy? There are too many decorations.’

As I mumbled in my mind about the flashy uniform, the Demon Sword retorted.

[ It’s only right for you to proudly proclaim you’re my partner anywhere with this much flair! ]

It seemed to be the Demon Sword’s preference.

[ Now, try swinging the spear again. ]

Wondering if anything had changed, I prepared to swing the spear, but my body took a stance on its own.

[ Kukuk, it’s working! ]

“What, what is this?”

[ The clothes you’re wearing are made using a part of my power, so I can control them as I please! ]

“What?”

It was both unnerving and frustrating. I had barely gotten used to wielding the Demon Sword, and now I was being controlled by it?

‘Are you going to stop this?’

[ Hmm? Are you uncomfortable? It should fit perfectly. ]

The Demon Sword’s tone was confused, as if it didn’t understand the problem. I sighed inwardly.

‘If you do this, you’re no different from all those other contractors you’ve had.’

[ Nonsense! You’re a being of a different caliber from those contractors! ]

‘It’s the same if you’re controlling me. It’s really off-putting.’

[ Mmm, but this way you can wield the spear quickly and impressively… ]

The Demon Sword mumbled something, then spoke up brightly.

[ Then how about this! I, the Demon Sword Gargandoa, will only control Partner Lian’s body when he desires it, and will relinquish control whenever he wishes! How about that!? ]

The tone was so cheerful that my resistance melted away. The Demon Sword seemed to revel in showing off its swordsmanship.

‘Tsk tsk, if this guy were human, he’d have been swindled of everything from his family registry to his parents and friends in no time.’

In the world of comedy, a sucker doesn’t just lose organs but girlfriends, parents, friends, clothes, wallets, and sometimes even underwear.

The Demon Sword would probably have even its blade swindled if it ventured into that world.

‘Alright, go ahead, do as you wish.’

[ Ehehe, wise decision! ]

I spoke without much thought, but the result was far from light.

Rumble!

With a single swoop, the walls of the training ground crumbled down.