I'm the Only One With a Different Genre - Chapter 188

Chapter 188

Mirror Ball and Cat

To the Demon King, Lian was like a lifeline thrown to her as she struggled in the depths of an unfathomable ocean.

Her father’s meaningless death, the forced succession to the title of ‘Demon King,’ and the gradual loss of her father’s loyal subordinates, one by one, to the Outsider.

She could only sit helplessly on the throne, like a puppet, watching it all unfold.

The thought that her father’s truth about the world would be buried with her death kept her alive, though she had lost the will to live.

Then one day, the chilling gaze of the Outsider disappeared. She didn’t know why, but the Outsider left her side.

Not long after, those who tormented her began to suffer punishment for reasons unknown.

‘Something is protecting me.’

From the moment that conviction took root in her, she could no longer suppress the emotions rising within her. She was furious and powerless in the face of her father’s death, yet fear soaked her to the core, rendering her immobile.

The longer she had been crushed under the weight of the Outsider’s presence, the more she clung to the salvation that had come to her.

When that salvation took shape and approached her, her obsession only grew stronger.

But it was far from a sweet emotion like ‘love.’

To her, Lian was a ‘sanctuary.’ The freedom from the Outsider’s gaze and the torment that plagued her all started with Lian.

In the Demon King’s castle, which was no different from her father’s grave, it was the only place where she could breathe.

To the Demon King, Lian was like a narcotic painkiller to a terminally ill patient. If she hadn’t known him from the start, it might have been different, but once she did, she could no longer live without him.

Her feelings for Lian were closer to ‘attachment and obsession’ than to a tender emotion like ‘love.’

Perhaps that was why she clung even more to Lian. Afraid of losing the only bond she couldn’t name, she wanted to leave her mark on him, to claim him as hers.

When the Outsider began to antagonize her last sanctuary, the suppressed fury, helplessness, and fear exploded, and she began searching for Lian like a madwoman.

“Woof woof! Wrong place!”

In stark contrast to the Demon King’s serious atmosphere, the goddess of the gag world appeared, tearing through space in the form of a cat wearing sunglasses. (Beyond the torn space was a filming set.)

She awkwardly retreated into the filming set.

Boom! Boom!

The mirror ball that had appeared with the goddess shot out beams of light, causing buildings to collapse wherever they landed. By the time the goddess had retreated into the set, both Lian and the Demon King had fallen into an unknown place deep underground.

“Ugh…”

As she staggered to her feet, she saw a place in the distance where light was pouring in.

“…!”

And standing in the midst of that light was a man with black hair. Though it was a face she had never seen before, she recognized him immediately.

‘Ah, I found him.’

Having been in the presence of beings far superior to her, the Demon King had developed the ability to sense the difference between souls, and she quickly realized that she had found her lost sanctuary.

Like someone possessed, she began walking toward Lian, who was shaking his head as if to clear it.

***

Just as Lian and the Demon King were about to embrace, a ferocious hand with long, sharp claws shot between them. Lian’s vision was suddenly filled with red hair, and the savage hand slashed at the Demon King.

In an instant, the Demon King, her expression cold, effortlessly deflected Jess’s attack with the sword she had drawn, stepping back in the process.

“Grrr…”

The growl that came from Jess was far more savage than the usual playful whine. She looked as though she might lunge at the Demon King and tear out her throat at any moment, and Lian quickly raised both hands.

“Wait—”

“Step aside, beast.”

Before Lian could stop them, the Demon King poured fuel on the fire. The Demon King was already furious at Jess for blocking her path to Lian, and her killing intent was palpable. Lian couldn’t easily intervene.

“He’s my ‘master’!”

“Huh? Jess, you—”

Lian stiffened at the word ‘master,’ which Jess enunciated clearly, no longer trying to hide it. Though Jess had always used her unique term ‘chu-in-nim’ since childhood as a special nickname, it wasn’t that she couldn’t say ‘master.’

When she wanted to emphasize the meaning of ‘master,’ she could pronounce it properly in a low, growling voice, as she did now.

It was as shocking to Lian as if a daughter who had always called him ‘dad’ suddenly started calling him ‘father.’ While Lian stood frozen, the Demon King and Jess, who had been glaring fiercely at each other, lunged at one another.

Jess moved like a nimble beast, zigzagging as she approached. Her fluid, animalistic movements were met with the Demon King’s precise, murderous swordsmanship.

Though the sword extended cleanly toward Jess, it missed its mark, grazing her. But then, the blade, which had maintained a solid form, twisted like a living snake. Jess’s eyes widened as the unexpected attack closed in on her.

Taat!

Jess barely dodged the incoming attack, retreating just in time, her eyes fixed on the Demon King’s fluid sword. As the Demon King casually flicked her sword, the writhing blade, which had resembled a whip or a cunning snake, returned to its original form.

It was one of those demonic swords whose blade could bend according to its wielder’s will.

‘A lower-tier demonic sword?’

Though its ability was far inferior compared to a true demonic sword, which could completely change its form, the sight of it made Jess briefly wonder how her own demonic sword was faring. Realizing this was no time for such thoughts, she quickly shook her head to clear her mind.

If the gag filter had been stronger, there might have been a flashback scene where her demonic sword said, “Partner, I’m not dead yet,” or “I told you, I’m still alive!” But instead, the fight between the Demon King and Jess intensified, leaving no room for such a conversation.

Though she lost the miraculous opportunity to have a conversation beyond the state of her demonic sword, she gained a chance to stop the two from fighting.

Lian was about to jump between them, but he couldn’t afford to strain his body right now, so he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted.

“Elensia! Jess! Calm down!”

The moment her name was called, the Demon King, Elensia, froze for a split second. Jess seized the opportunity, slashing with her claws. Though Jess also heard her name and tried to stop, there was no way to retract the already launched attack.

Crunch!

“Ugh!”

At the last moment, Jess managed to pull back slightly, avoiding a deep cut to the Demon King’s torso, but a large gash still appeared on her shoulder. Though it wasn’t deep enough to expose bone, the wound was large, and blood spurted out.

As the blood splattered, Jess’s eyes gleamed with excitement, but Lian’s command took precedence over her instincts, and she quickly retreated to stand by Lian’s side.

“Grrr…”

Jess bared her fangs, growling as if she wanted to end the Demon King’s life right then and there.

“Elensia!”

Lian immediately rushed to the Demon King’s side as she clutched her wound and sank to the ground. The Demon King, who had been frowning and bowing her head, looked up at the sound of Lian’s voice, their gazes meeting. Her previously rigid expression softened, revealing a deep, unidentifiable emotion.

Though Lian couldn’t tell what that emotion was, treating the wound took priority, so he pulled out some emergency supplies that Jess had packed.

“Let’s treat this wound first—huh?”

As soon as Lian approached, the Demon King wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into an embrace. Blood gushed from her arm, but she didn’t care. A wound like this was nothing to her.

Proof of this was that the gash on her shoulder began to heal rapidly, right before Lian’s eyes.

‘Thank goodness. I was worried because I don’t have healing abilities… Ah, if I had used healing magic on the Demon King, it would have been an attack.’

The sudden realization hit him. If he had carelessly cast a healing spell, the Demon King would have writhed in agony as if she were being burned. Lian inwardly broke out into a cold sweat, grateful that he hadn’t used any healing magic.

While Lian was silently relieved, the Demon King was meeting Jess’s cold gaze.

“…”

Their eyes met in silence, Jess glaring with narrowed eyes while the Demon King looked on indifferently. Then, the Demon King broke eye contact with Jess and buried her face in Lian’s shoulder. Right now, Lian was far more important to her than that bothersome beast.

Jess flinched, wanting nothing more than to separate Lian and the Demon King, but she held back, having quickly realized that the two had a close relationship.

Unaware of the deadly glares exchanged between the two, Lian wiped the cold sweat from his brow and thought to himself.

‘Maybe just leaving a letter and running away… was too much?’

End of Chapter