I’m the Only One With a Different Genre - Chapter 61

Before meeting Lian, Iris’s spirit was completely shattered; she had to block out all senses to protect herself, curling up in the dark, unable to distinguish today from tomorrow as time passed her by.

It was Lian who drew her out with tender care.

Like a child learning about the world for the first time, Iris walked towards it step by step, holding tightly to Lian’s hand.

The cruel world she lived in before meeting him felt like a dream, such was the sweetness of her life with Lian.

Iris went from simply being aware of her surroundings to gradually understanding the situations she was in.

She learned that Lian, who poured affection on her without asking for anything in return, was her brother, and the reality that they were family made even her own white hair, which she had once despised, feel endearing.

Just as she was basking in happiness that tickled her toes, the cruel reality loomed close.

Always smiling, but with scars and the smell of blood that increased when alone, the sight of him being summoned repeatedly by ‘important guests’ and returning soaked in a horrendous smell of blood…

Iris, who had only seen his smile, was choked by the reality she hadn’t been aware of.

‘It’s okay. Lian said it’s okay. So…’

Iris tried to erase her personal thoughts from her mind. She wanted to live like a living doll, so oblivious.

..Even though she wanted to live in such stupidity, Iris found herself unwittingly peering into the cruel reality.

Head bowed, Iris wondered.

‘Why is he so nice to me? Is this what families are like?’

Iris did not know what family was. She was confused, having never had one before.

‘Why doesn’t he say it hurts? Why doesn’t he resent?’

He always smiled as if it was natural, suffered alone when she wasn’t there. Lian endured it all because he was ‘big brother.’ Iris couldn’t understand him.

She lifted her head to the gentle hand stroking her hair. Lian was looking at her with eyes brimming with love and concern.

“Iris, are you hurting somewhere?”

The concern that came so naturally was sweet. She wanted to cry out in pain in his arms, clinging to him for comfort. The hand that tickled her forehead to check for a fever then gently swept across her cheek.

“No fever?”

The words hovering on her lips were swallowed back down her throat. She was afraid that revealing the secrets Lian kept so carefully hidden would shatter the relationship that was barely holding together.

If his lips held resentment towards her, if those loving eyes shattered into tears…

Iris did not want to be hated by Lian. So once again, she cleared her mind. She looked away.

“No, I’m okay.”
“Really? You’re sure?”
“Yeah, I want to eat more.”
“You do? Eat as much as you want.”

Yes, this will do.

Ignoring Lian’s hunger, the smell of blood, and the wounds as if they never existed, she just had to behave as he wanted.

She couldn’t live without Lian. It was a choice she had to make.

***

A peaceful afternoon.

I was speaking to an old man trembling on the floor, his bones rattling as if he was going to crawl.

“Huff, huff, huff…”
“Are you okay? This is… a bit embarrassing for me…”
“EEK…!”

The old man who had called for me after several days had flayed my skin with a blade, as if he was going to make me crawl on the floor.

As he pushed the knife against my skin and slid, my skin peeled off like fruit rind—along with my clothes and organs, they too piled up on the floor like peels.

Ever peeled a fruit so skillfully that the rind doesn’t break? The old man did just that to me, turning me into a skeleton.

Everything else was fine, but having holes all over my body was somewhat embarrassing. That’s why I asked for clothes, but the old man had collapsed on the floor, retreating further and further away.

‘Is he afraid of skeletons?’

There were such people even in the Gag world. Those who scream at the sight of zombies or skeletons. It seemed the old man was just like them.

‘I thought he was only frail in body, but his heart is delicate too.’

I thought to myself and watched the shivering old man, curled up. His pants seemed suspiciously damp… I quietly looked away.

“Is that all for today? Then, may I leave?”
“Eek..! Ge-get out!”

Having received permission, there was no reason to stay any longer. I left the white room and walked through the corridor.

‘Huh? No traps activated this time? Oh, maybe because I’m a skeleton?’

Unlike last time, I quickly exited the white space. I rummaged through a closet and put on a shirt and pants.

‘It’s because of that old man that I have no clothes. He’ll understand, right?’

Honestly, there was no other way to leave. My body was already back to normal, so I could leave the old man’s room without any issues.

As I walked towards the elevator, I came across a familiar face.

“Oh, hello?”
“…Hello.”

The man who had given me a full meal last time was standing in front of me. He seemed a bit flustered, then quickly put on a friendly face to return the greeting.

“I realized I never gave you my name. I’m Angsho. Please, feel free to call me that.”
“Alright, Angsho.”

My response seemed to trouble Angsho’s expression. It was as if he was shaking from an earthquake? I wasn’t sure why.

***

Angsho thought to himself.

‘Is he truly insane?’

Even though Angsho had given permission, it was the first time for him to encounter a slave who didn’t even attach ‘Mr.’ a sign of respect.

‘Could it be he’s not well-taught… but I heard he’s been in the arena for quite a while?’

Angsho took mental note of Lian’s displeasing behavior.

‘I’ll have to arrange for some proper training.’

He thought to himself, concealing his crumbling expression.

‘And besides… I would have expected him to come out in tatters after being summoned by Bansook. But he looks surprisingly well. Even his clothes are intact.’

Angsho slowly scanned Lian up and down. Lian’s too-well appearance after supposedly meeting Bansook irritated him.

‘Tsk, he should have been tortured as usual.’

Angsho had a plan the moment he heard Lian was summoned by Bansook. People are most emotionally vulnerable after experiencing great pain.

Whether it’s the pain of parting or physical pain… comforting them afterward often leaves a strong impression.

Angsho planned to take care of Lian coming out of torture, to raise his favorability. But Bansook, uncharacteristically, hadn’t hurt the slave, thwarting the plan.

“Thanks for last time. Because of you, my sister was able to eat a delicious meal to her heart’s content.”
“That’s good. But -… why are you here today?”

Angsho asked, hoping to learn if anything happened with Bansook.

“Oh, I was called by a guest for a talk. Seems like the person is both tenderhearted and frail in body.”
“Tenderhearted… and frail?”

Angsho stammered, clearly taken aback. Lian, unaware of his reaction, continued.

“Yes! He is easily shocked by little things, and seem to hurt all over. I’m not sure why he called me… perhaps just lonely?”

“Ah…”

Lian rattled on, thinking he had found an easygoing conversation partner.

‘What? Did he meet someone else, not Bansook?’

Angsho felt confused.

“What… did you do today?”
“Well, today I got my skin peeled.”
“…Excuse me?”
“It was quite sudden, I got a bit embarrassed. You know, when everything is showing. Just like that.”

“Ah…”

Angsho finally failed to keep his composure, his expression vacant like a student listening to a professor’s lecture.

“Anyway, that’s… Oh, the elevator’s here. I’ll be going now.”

After Lian left, Angsho remained beside the elevator, his mind unhinged. With a dazed expression, he pondered.

‘What on earth is he…?’

His usually well-oiled thought process seemed to have seized up. For the first time, Angsho felt dwarfed by the true ‘unknown’ he was facing.

“Ha, hahaha… it’s getting… more interesting.”

Angsho replaced his fear with anger and stubbornness, as people often do to forget their fears.

He was following the exact steps of the two who had been defeated before him.