I'm the Only One With a Different Genre - Chapter 31

Chapter 31 – The Arena of Madness

“What?! He committed suicide? Who gave him permission!”

Gladiator fights, brutal contests where warriors armed with swords and monstrous creatures fiercely battled, inciting a feverish excitement among the audience.

The slave who had killed himself today, only 15 years old, was meant to be used as a sacrificial opening act for the gladiator games.

If a slave dies, another could easily take his place, but this time it wasn’t so simple.

“Damn it, we’re expecting an important guest!”
T hi s wa s c o p i e d f r o m ki n g m t l . org

Totojen, known as the Dark Merchant, was scheduled to visit to watch the gladiator fights today. He had particularly perverse tastes.

He took pleasure in beautiful or adorable children getting hurt.

His favorite was watching children who could be killed at any moment slay monsters, thus abandoning their innocence and descending into corruption. However, among those frail but cute children who met his aesthetic standards, none possessed the physical strength to tear apart a monster.

Instead, the plan was to put on a show of such delicate children being torn apart by monsters for his amusement.

His standards for appearance were very strict; even the slave who had just committed suicide had barely qualified.

“Damn it!”

But now that slave was dead, and there wasn’t enough time to find a replacement. This meant they were about to lose a big client.

‘I must do something..!’

Thinking of the money he received for pleasing Totojen, the Odol-like man’s eyes sparkled with an idea.

‘There must be at least one slave who fits the appearance standards… Ah!’

The Odol-like man recalled the slave he had imprisoned underground a few days ago.

‘Those kids would do…’

Muttering to himself, he then remembered Jiso’s order. The slaves were supposed to be used for an event and were not to be tampered with without permission.

‘Jiso would surely find this option more amusing.’

Chortling, the Odol-like man hurriedly spread out a piece of paper and wrote a letter to Jiso about the two slaves.

He quickly scribbled the letter and sent it by tying it to a crow’s leg. In less than an hour, he received a reply.

The letter simply said, ‘Do as you wish.’ The Odol-like man laughed nastily, flashing his yellow teeth.

***

“Iris, let’s eat.”

The darkness where one couldn’t see an inch in front of their face had settled… and the cell that should’ve been barren now bore a completely different look.

The walls and floor were completely black like before, made of dark rock, but now the ceiling had lights, and there was a usable small table in the middle of the room.

Two fist-sized rice balls were placed on the table. In situations akin to being stranded (or similar predicaments), the appearance of items necessary for survival was a too predictable rule.

Especially when caring for ‘pretty,’ ‘younger sisters,’ procuring food and essentials becomes remarkably easy. Thanks to this, we could survive without starving.

‘It seems likely the room will grow larger if we keep living like this.’

Already, one side of the room’s wall had transformed into mechanical gear. I hadn’t done anything particular. It just morphed on its own when Iris attempted to relieve herself on the floor, creating a toilet instead.

The comedic filter was all too kind to underage pretty girls. Perhaps given more time, it will upgrade to a full house.

“Iris, come on, eat.”

Iris was completely out of it, having experienced something unnerving. She barely chewed and swallowed food when I fed it to her mouthful by mouthful.

After swallowing, she would become still again with a vacant expression.

After feeding her all of the rice ball like one would feed baby food, I gave her half of my own rice ball too. Seeing her emaciated body, I couldn’t do otherwise.

After chewing and swallowing my half, I sat beside Iris and began to comb her tangled hair. She fiddled with her hands.

When I reached out to hold her hand, she grasped it quietly. After a few days of care, she started holding onto my sleeve or hand without a word.

‘I hope caring for her attentively will improve her condition.’

I was glad even for the small changes and spoke up.

“Iris, do you want to make rice balls yourself later? Where I used to live, kids learned to make food too. Oh, I taught them how. You’ll do well learning it, Iris.”

I kept reciting stories of living with the children, so Iris wouldn’t feel averse when later she meets Noah and the others.

Though I wasn’t sure if she was listening, it was better than doing nothing, so I continued to chatter about the kids.

This led me to reminisce about Noah. I wasn’t really worried about her or the kids.

Being original characters and with Julianna, an ‘adult,’ by their side, I was confident they would manage somehow.
T h i s w as c o p i ed fr o m ki n gm t l. o rg

My belief was based on the survival of the original protagonist, Iris. It was a relief to think that the leading characters don’t die, and as the story goes, Iris and Lian were meant to meet.

For these reasons, my worry for the kids was minor compared to my concern for Iris, who had completely checked out.

‘I should thank Pia when I get back.’

I wasn’t sure why Pia had suddenly pushed me away, but in any case, thanks to her, I was able to find Iris, so I planned to give her cookies later.

Clang.

Just then, the door that had been closed suddenly opened. The one who opened it wasn’t Jes, but a man with a face uncannily resembling an animal. The man had a rat-like face with a long tail.

“Hey, you two, come ou-… What’s this?”

The rat Therianthrope looked around the cell’s interior with a puzzled expression. I wanted to add a sound effect like ‘follow follow…’ with my mouth, but I resisted.

“Did Jiso specially arrange this? Ah, whatever. If I’m late again, he’ll throw a fit…”

The rat Therianthrope muttered to himself and then flicked his finger toward Iris and me, who had been holding hands.

“Follow me.”

Unsure of the situation but knowing that resistance would only make things worse, I stood up. As I rose, Iris got up along with me.
Th i s wa s c op ied f ro m k i n gmtl . o r g

Once outside, the rat Therianthrope locked the cell door and led the way forward.

We took the elevator we had descended in, going up and up. The floor we disembarked on was the same floor Iris had originally been confined to.

After stepping off the elevator, we headed straight ahead. The rat Therianthrope stopped in front of a massive door on the opposite side of the elevator.

He approached the wall and pulled on a rope that stretched lengthwise. Suddenly, a ringing bell echoed from beyond the door.

Koong.

As if it were a signal, the door opened.

Waaaaah -..!

A roar of cheers and the cacophony of shouting people resonated in my ears. I considered taking earplugs out of my pocket but decided it might attract attention and refrained.

The inside of the door was a short passage. At the end of the passage were stairs that seemed to have about 30 steps.

Bright light seeped through the end of the stairs, suggesting they led outside. However, barred with iron grates, there appeared to be no escape.

“Wait inside until the grate in front opens, then go out.”
“Is that all?”

The rat Therianthrope looked at me as if my question was absurd.

“Haven’t you been here long? Slaves don’t ask questions. Got it?”

He clicked his tongue and left through the opened door. Then the door shut with a koong. Iris and I were left alone in the space connected to the outside.

‘What’s this?’

Scratching the back of my head, I surveyed the surroundings. On one wall lay old weapons. There was no need to bother with grim-looking weapons, so I decided to go up the stairs.

I thought about leaving Iris briefly to check it out, but she wouldn’t let go of my hand, so I just took her along as we ascended the stairs together.

“Thank you! Thank you! Now, let us commence the real gladiator fight!”
“Wooooooo!”
“Phweeeee!”
T h is w a s c o p ie d f r o m k i n g m t l . o rg

A large, round space, ecstatic spectators, a man who appeared to be the announcer spoke in an exaggerated tone.

‘Don’t tell me this is… the Arena of Madness?!’

This was the fighting arena operated by Jiso, where you could watch bloody battles between creatures and humans, humans and humans, creatures and creatures.

However, the fights were unfair, and entertainment was the only rule; human beings were torn apart like toys.

‘Wait, wait, wait! Didn’t he say to go out when the grate opens?!’

My face turned pale. While I wouldn’t have much trouble, Iris, she might die.

Clang, chrrrrl!

In the midst of this, the iron grate opened upwards. I immediately backed away with Iris. Then, a muscular giant of a man standing outside picked up Iris and me and threw us into the arena.

“Aaaaah!”
T h is w a s c o p i e d fr o m k i n g m t l . o r g

Thi s w as c o p i e d f r o m ki n gm tl. o rg
I tumbled onto the floor while holding Iris tightly.

Clang.
T h is w a s c o p i e d f r o m king m t l . o r g

A sword fell in front of me where I had collapsed face down.

“It wouldn’t be fun if you just die. Try to struggle as much as you can.”

The man who had thrown me chuckled and then entered the passage we came out from. It seemed like he was the one who threw the sword. I wobbled as I stood up and looked around.

Enthused crowds and a heat so intense it burned the skin.

An artificial light created by Jiso’s magic brightly illuminated the arena.

“Now, the monster that will fight against this pitiful pair of siblings is…?! Introducing SnakeLion!”

Clang, chrrrrl!

The sound of the iron grate lifting came from the opposite side of where I stood. A lion with the tail of a snake as thick as an adult man’s arm snarled as it came out.

T h i s wa s c o p ie d f rom k in gm t l .o r g
I hastily grabbed the sword. It was so heavy that the tip drooped down.

‘Should I run and escape by climbing the wall, or should I use those words to somehow talk my way out?’
T his w a s c o p i e d f rom k i ng m tl . o rg

Th is w a s c o p ie d f ro m k i ngm tl . o r g
While I racked my brain for phrases that might help me get out of this predicament,

“Uh..?”

Iris snatched the sword from my hand. I startled and looked at her, freezing in place. Her eyes were flickering with pure white light.

The beautiful shimmer, a sign of a heroic attribute, was there in her eyes.

“…”

Quietly releasing my hand, Iris began walking forward. Before I could try to stop her…

Thud!

She shot forward.