I’m the Only One With a Different Genre - Chapter 63

“Uh..?”

Lian truly, absolutely hadn’t imagined that something like this would happen.

“Why, why just me…?”

To Lian’s puzzled question, the rodent creature spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“It’s because you’re stronger than your sister.”

“Then… I want to go back down.”

“That’s not allowed. It’s the rule.”

“Then bring Iris up here -…”

“That’s not allowed either.”

Thud!

Lian collapsed in the face of this unexpected and desperate situation.

‘What, what do I do now?’

Angsho had separated Lian and Iris merely to make his work easier. He hadn’t anticipated it would cause a mental breakdown.

Just as Lian was thrown into a panic, so too was Iris.

‘He isn’t coming…’

The sun set, and the time for Lian’s return passed, yet he did not come back. Iris sat in front of the door, staring at it and counting the days.

The next day, by pleading with the rodent creature, Lian managed to visit Iris’s floor for a very brief moment.

“…! Brother!”

Like a dog greeting its owner after a long absence, Iris ran to him and embraced him. Lian stroked her hair and repeatedly apologized.

“Why, yesterday..?”

Iris asked with an anxious voice.

“Sorry, Iris, the truth is -..”

No matter how much he wanted to be with her, as long as the rules of the arena existed, they could not be together. Lian explained this to her, step by step.

“We can’t be together…?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll figure something out.”

Lian recalled the frail old man, the tender-hearted zombie, and the kind Angsho.

‘Considering they’re called ‘important guests,’ they must have the power to interfere with the arena.’

Lian thought he should ask Angsho, who seemed the most likely to be able to communicate with him. As he was organizing his thoughts, Iris clutched her clothes tightly enough to wrinkle them and said,

“I’ll be alone? Without brother?”

“We’ll be able to see each other soon. You have to eat well, brush your teeth, and go to bed until we can see each other again, okay?”

As if they were truly parting, Iris clutched desperately at Lian’s clothes.

“Don’t, sob, don’t go.”

“Uh, oh… Iris, that’s…”

“Don’t, sob… don’t go!”

For the first time, Iris resisted Lian’s will. Holding onto his clothes, she let pear-like tears fall, refusing to let go of his embrace.

“I don’t want to go either!”

“…!”

As Lian began to cry rivers, Iris stopped her tears and looked up at him with wide eyes.

He always smiled for her, and now he was sobbing, seemingly in deep sorrow.

Like a child startled by a parent’s tears, Iris froze at the sight of Lian’s tears. She hugged him tightly, then in a mumbling voice said,

“I’ll be okay alone.”

“Really? Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“Yes, brother said he’d come. Soon.”

Iris held Lian’s clothes tightly as she looked up at him.

“Promise…?”

“I promise.”

Lian extended his pinkie, and Iris hooked hers around it, just like he had taught her when making a promise. It was such a simple gesture, but it reassured Iris.

“You have to come back quickly.”

“I will, I promise I’ll come back really soon!”

After Lian cleaned Iris’s face and fed her, he departed.

Thump.

Iris was alone once more.

“…”

She felt the magnitude of Lian’s absence.

***

One day, two days… a week, and then a month.

“Damn it, damn it…!”

Angsho, who usually kept himself pristine, was now a mess, frantically running his hands through his hair.

“Why, why doesn’t anything work?”

He had tried luring Lian with a beautiful woman, befriending him with a hearty man, and even staged a grand event where he bravely kept his loyalty in a dangerous situation.

But it all failed. Without exception.

“What is the problem..?”

Everyone who approached Lian came back pale-faced, having nearly lost their minds. They all refused to stay by his side, even if it meant their death.

It was only natural for the usually confident Angsho’s expression to crumple.

“I can’t believe this. How can I, I… fail to bring down a mere slave?”

Angsho had a past. He was born as the eldest son of a noble house, lived as a scoundrel, and was pushed aside by a bastard. In any case, he had a past filled with inferiority, and he was quenching that thirst through slaves.

For him, Lian was a reminder of that haunting past. As time passed, Angsho’s mind became more wasted.

Meanwhile, Lian came with a bright expression, asking to see his sister as if nothing Angsho had done bothered him.

It was as if he was mocking him; Angsho felt curses rising to his throat. A few days ago, Lian had asked, “You look very pale. Have you had some trouble recently?”

It felt like a taunt to Angsho who had been indulging in petty tricks—a sign that he was at his limit.

“Huh… That sister of his wants to see him, right?”

Angsho, worn out, stood up and walked towards the terrace.

“Wowwwww!”
“She has claimed victory once again!”
“Wooooo!”

Below the beast-like cheers, a girl with white hair swung her sword lightly, shaking off splashes of blood. It was Iris, who had been separated from Lian for being ‘weak’ and was now frantically competing in the arena at the behest of the rodent creature.

That brother’s sister.

Iris was becoming as natural at fighting as breathing.

“If she wants to see him, I should make it happen…”

Angsho smirked evilly, his eyes flashing. He left the terrace, cleaned himself up properly, and ordered a maid to fetch Lian.

Before long, Lian arrived at Angsho’s residence. Angsho approached Lian with a brighter smile than ever.

“Lian! I have finally found a way!”

“A way? What way?”

Bursting into the room, Lian looked at Angsho with wide, hopeful eyes.

“A way for you to stay with your sister! I’ve finally found it.”

“Really? What is it?”

Lian’s eyes sparkled as he gazed at Angsho. Angsho’s expression twisted slightly as he hesitated.

“Well, I’ve found a way, but…”

“Just tell me. I’ll do whatever it takes!”

Lian’s voice was urgent, betraying his anxiety. Angsho inwardly laughed wickedly.

“…There’s a competition that takes place every few months, and if you win, the higher-ups will grant almost any request. You just need to win one match, but it’s such a dangerous competition that…”

“I don’t care! When is it?”

Angsho spoke with feigned concern.

“Why not wait a little longer? It seems Iris will be moved up soon…”

“If there’s a way to see her now, I have to take it! Besides… I promised her I’d solve this quickly and meet her.”

Angsho, as if resigned, replied.

“The competition is scheduled for two days from now; I already mentioned your name just in case. It’s not a tournament, so you only need to win that one match. Remember, it’s quite a difficult match, so feel free to give up if you want.”

“Thank you, Angsho!”

Despite Lian’s failure to attach the respectful ‘Mr.’ to his name, Angsho wasn’t upset. It was not Angsho’s preferred method to conclude his ploys, but he was willing to resort to dirty tactics if it meant getting rid of the persistent thorn in his side, Lian.

‘I wonder what expression you’ll be wearing that day?’

***

“In two days, at the scheduled competition, if you win, you’ll be able to move to the floor you’ve been wanting.”

“…! Really?”

“Yes.”

Iris bit her lip, looking down.

Finally… finally… finally!

For Iris, who felt like that one month was a hellish eternity, the rodent creature’s words tasted like sweet rain in the middle of a desert.

‘I must win.’

And then she would see Lian. If that happened…

What are you going to do once you see Lian?

After all, he left you because he doesn’t need you anymore.

Even if you meet him again, he’ll just get upset, won’t he?

Who would like someone as bothersome as you?

Don’t you know how dreadful you are?

These words, threatening to take over her mind, would have to fade away. The cold blanket, the food that tasted of nothing—all of it, every single thing, would return to where it belonged.

“Lian…”

Iris whispered his name more desperately than ever.

As the days both Lian and Iris eagerly awaited passed, the day of the competition arrived.

Swoosh…

A red poisonous mist that confused the opponent’s sight and made everyone around seem like enemies filled the arena.