I'm the Only One With a Different Genre - Chapter 161

Chapter 161

Preparing to Leave

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The demonic sword, which had now transformed into a dazzling dagger, continued speaking.

“I’ve seen people like that before—those who suddenly grow stronger by leaping over their limits. They always overcame a great enemy, something so significant that it was called a ‘trial.'”

The demonic sword rambled on about the ‘heroes’ it had killed in the past, as if reminiscing fondly. Like the heroes from fairy tales, they grew stronger by overcoming countless trials, only to meet their end at its hands. The stories poured out endlessly.

Lian half-listened, like a child hearing an old tale from their grandmother, while thinking about the concept of ‘trials.’

“Trials… Right, there was something like that.”

Trials, obstacles, events meant for awakening—there were many terms for it, but they all boiled down to one thing: a process and history necessary for a hero to grow stronger.

For Iris, Jess, and Noah, who were born with the qualities of a hero, ‘trials’ were of utmost importance.

“I knew about it, but… I didn’t expect it to be this powerful.”

It was in moments like this that the difference in worldviews became apparent. In a gag world, consistent effort rarely got rewarded. Most of the time, the results were far from what one had hoped for.

Even if someone devoted half their life to mastering swordsmanship, the result would be something ridiculous like ‘accidentally tearing a beautiful woman’s clothes with a sword wind.’ The concept of ‘trials’ was unfamiliar in such a world.

What felt more familiar was something like, ‘I now have cheat abilities thanks to the combination of a body that heals infinitely and a demonic sword that grows stronger by drinking blood!’

“How does one go through a trial, anyway?”

Though the concept felt awkward, it wasn’t hard to find an answer, given Lian’s knowledge of the original story.

“You need a conflict or fight that doesn’t quite kill you.”

Just like when Noah fought the Forest Master, a barely surmountable obstacle would become a trial.

“And for that, the most important thing is…”

Lian furrowed his brow, unable to come up with an answer easily. Trials weren’t something that could be artificially created, and with the original story having been twisted, there wasn’t much knowledge he could use.

“Ugh, how do I find a trial for Gargandoa?”

“That’s simple. Just look for a strong enemy!”

“What if it’s hard to leave?”

“Hmm? Partner, weren’t you planning to leave this place?”

The demonic sword asked, its voice tinged with confusion, as if it had assumed Lian was seeking a trial to grow stronger.

“It’s not for me. I want Iris, Noah, or Jess to become stronger.”

“Ah, I see. Humans do have that instinct to protect their own.”

The demonic sword pondered for a moment before saying something unexpected.

“As long as you’re here, they probably won’t face any trials.”

“What?”

“Remember the research lab with the spirit, and the human city, Cardishian? Any event that could have been a trial was resolved by you, partner. As long as the strongest one—me, the demonic sword Gargandoa—is with you, no trial will manifest.”

Though the words were filled with arrogance, they weren’t wrong. Lian’s expression grew serious as he thought it over.

“Now that I think about it… Every life-threatening situation was always resolved by Gargandoa and me.”

Because Lian had always resolved any ‘crisis’ that arose, he hadn’t even realized the importance of trials.

“Could it be that I’ve taken away their chance to grow stronger?”

It might have been an exaggerated thought, but it wasn’t entirely wrong. If he had only understood the concept of trials intellectually, he wouldn’t have been so troubled by it.

Thud, crack!

The sight before him—the result of someone growing stronger through a trial—made his complicated feelings even heavier. The actions he had taken to protect them had, in turn, clipped their wings, preventing them from leaving the nest. Realizing this, Lian was able to firm up his wavering resolve.

“…I need to leave as soon as possible.”

He had planned to leave from the start, but it was hard not to waver when the people around him desperately tried to hold him back.

With the demonic sword capable of massacring monsters, should he just go and defeat the Demon King himself? The story had changed so much from the original that maybe he should take on the role of the hero instead?

If he did that, he could protect the people he cared about from up close, without having to watch from a distance with a pounding heart. Yet, despite these thoughts, he had given up on the idea quickly, thanks to the gag filter.

The ‘gag filter,’ which was endlessly merciful to allies but terrifyingly powerful against enemies, was one of the culprits that shattered the original story. This meant that even the happiness that was supposed to be guaranteed could be ruined.

If someone within the duchy started to oppose Lian, the gag filter could cause significant damage to the duchy. You might think, “Wouldn’t it just wipe out the enemies?” but the problem wasn’t that simple.

The moment someone perceived Lian as an ‘enemy,’ the gag filter would activate, meaning even those who had done nothing wrong could be caught up in it. Naturally, since they hadn’t committed any crimes, the duchess might side with the ‘enemy’ to protect her people.

Even if they had committed a crime, they might still oppose Lian simply because they were part of the duchy. Of course, given the duchess’s personality, she would likely cut off any wrongdoers without hesitation, but there was no guarantee that everyone in the duchy would act the same way.

If the duchy itself were to be judged as an ‘enemy,’ it would be a disaster. Lian vaguely remembered the mess that had been Cardishian. If Iris’s family ended up like that—just imagining it made him shudder.

For Iris’s happiness and the peace of the duchy, Lian needed to leave as soon as possible, but his heart wavered when Iris clung to him, crying. On top of that, he had grown close to the people of the duchy, leading to the complacent thought, “There’s no one here who opposes me, so maybe it’ll be fine?”

Whoosh!

That wavering heart was torn apart by Noah’s sword.

“…I’ll make preparations to leave as soon as we reach the duchy.”

As soon as he made his decision, he sensed a familiar presence approaching. It was the ranger unit. Silently, Lian erased his presence and left the area, leaving the duchess and Noah behind. By the time Lian reached the campsite, the duchess’s sword had begun to emit a different kind of glow, softly shining.

“…!”

Like a full moon rising over a cold, snowy mountain, a sharp and chilling attack struck Noah’s sword from behind. It was a simple, downward slash from above, quick but not impossible to dodge.

“Why…?!”

It was an attack she could have avoided, yet her body didn’t move. She thought it might be due to the killing intent, but it was something else. Despite knowing, she couldn’t avoid it—an attack of a different caliber had pinned her sword to the ground.

Boom!

With a loud crash, the ground caved in, forming a circular pit. At the center of the hole, Noah’s sword was embedded at an angle, like a sealed weapon. Noah looked up at the duchess with eyes filled with a mix of competitive spirit, excitement, and frustration.

The duchess, who possessed a noble beauty like the legendary flower that grew atop snowy peaks, looked down at Noah without a single breath out of place. Noah’s gaze shifted to the sword in the duchess’s hand.

“What… is that?”

Like the aurora painting the winter night sky, an elegant and beautiful light shimmered along the blade. It looked nothing like the sword aura created by merely using magic power skillfully and delicately.

“That is the path you must take, your goal.”

A wall beyond a wall.

Noah had leaped over a massive wall in an instant, enough to be considered arrogant, but even beyond that wall, a larger one still loomed. This meant there was still a way to grow stronger.

“I have to become stronger.”

Whether it was due to her intense movements or the excitement of knowing she could grow stronger, Noah’s breath came out in short gasps. Exhaling white puffs of breath, Noah asked,

“How can I… reach your level, Your Grace?”

Talent, effort, patience—only a genius who possessed everything needed for growth could speak such arrogance so freely. The duchess smiled faintly, pleased to see a junior swordsman following in her footsteps.

“You must train not your body, but here.”

The duchess pointed to her own head with her index finger.

“My mind… You mean my spirit?”

The duchess nodded and continued speaking.

“Magic is a part of nature, a product of will. Only a strong will and conviction can serve as the key to moving forward.”

As Noah was about to fall into deep thought, contemplating the advice that only those who had gone ahead could give, the duchess’s next words pulled her back to reality.

“The most important thing to remember is that excessive training can be poisonous.”

“Pardon?”

“The wall you’re trying to overcome is the first obstacle to transcending the human race, the soul itself. Just attempting to cross that wall could leave you crippled.”

The duchess spoke with a bitter expression.

“I’ve seen countless people break their wings while clinging to a higher level. Since then, I’ve tried to refrain from giving such advice… but those who have someone precious to protect, like you, don’t die easily, so I’m telling you.”

The duchess continued, looking at Noah, who stood frozen with a foolish expression, her eyes wide.

“To overcome that wall, what you need isn’t forced training, but time, experience, and the courage to face your own desires. Don’t rush, but work hard.”

With that, the duchess sheathed her sword and began walking toward the campsite. The commotion was growing, and the knights were quickly approaching.

Not long after the duchess left, a shadow swiftly descended in front of Noah, who was still lost in thought.

End of Chapter