I’m the Only One With a Different Genre

38 – I Must Protect Myself, the Contractor!

A man, covered in a robe as smooth and delicate as silk, pulled his body forward, tightly gripping the terrace railing.

At the end of his gaze was a boy with white hair, muttering something, and it was Lianne.

“Haah, haaa -… so beautiful, too beautiful!”

The voice flowing through the robe was bold and resonant. Behind, a half-bent figure, hands clasped like a butterfly, the otter, swallowing dry spit, spoke with a gravelly voice.

“This was a stage specially prepared for Totogen-nim. How was it?”

“Ah – really… it was a truly wonderful stage.”

The excited voice sounded like someone drunk. The otter rubbed his hands vigorously, appearing almost disgustingly happy. At that moment, Totogen, known as the Dark Merchant, pulled out a hefty money pouch from inside the robe and threw it.

“Ah, thank you! We will continue to prepare excellent stages in the future!”

The otter, with twinkling eyes, bowed deeply, showing caution as he pocketed the money pouch.

“Well, have a good time -“

“Wait.”

Before the otter could finish speaking, Totogen raised one hand to interrupt him.

“The ones with white hair.”

“Yes, yes.”

“I’ll buy them.”

“Yes…?”

“How much would that be?”

Slaves with exceptional looks and skills are rare. Every time they grace the stage, numerous giants claiming to be their fans come looking for them. Of course, these giants are not just there to watch the match for no reason.

Many come to use the ‘stars’ among the slaves as toys for a night.

Those who buy a gladiator slave for a night may force all sorts of cruel acts or use them for horrifying experiments.

Sometimes, the gladiator slave may die, but in such cases, they can receive more money than the gladiator slave earns throughout their lifetime.

If Toto-gen wants something like that, I can’t refuse, but buying it is a different story.

‘Considering the amount those guys will bring in the future…’

Is there really only one person who pays for a night with a gladiator slave? If someone sells a night to a giant like Toto-gen every day, they’ll surely be overflowing with money.

When you consider all of that, it really became a sum that would make a “thud” sound. No matter how rich Toto-gen is, this amount would undoubtedly be burdensome.

“Well, those two with white hair -… These guys that Lady Jisoo brought in specially might be difficult to sell. Haha…”

“Hmm… In that case, how about buying a night?”

“..! That is possible! However, if you use them too harshly, they might break because they’re still young slaves. In such cases -..”

“In that case, I’ll compensate for everything. Reserve them for the next year.”

“…..!!”

To monopolize a slave with star quality for a whole year is like pouring money like a waterfall, not just spending it like water.

The eyes of Ottugi, who was roughly tapping on a calculator, trembled aimlessly, and then a wide grin spread across his face.

“Then, we’ll do that! Which side of the slave do you prefer?”

“Can I choose after seeing them in person?”

“Of course!”

Ottugi nodded quickly. Toto-gen, who had calmed down somewhat from his excitement, left the terrace overlooking the arena and headed towards the spacious living room connected to the terrace.

As he sat on the sofa, his personal attendant and secretary brought him tea without him responding. Ottugi took a step back and spoke.

“If you need anything, please call me anytime! I’ll come running.”

Without a word from Toto-gen, the attendant tightened his neck with the tea the servant brought. Ottugi quickly left the room.

“Hurry up and make the white-haired guy who just fought and his brother into leaders!”

“Yes!”

As Ottugi’s excited orders were issued, those who were waiting hurriedly ran towards them.

***

After giving Iris plenty of snacks, I returned to the room, holding hands with Iris, who was determined not to let go.

From Noble mtl dot com

Whoosh!

As I opened the door, something flew towards me. It was the Demon Sword that I had thrown on the bed.

“Give me blood -… Aaargh!”

In an instant, the Demon Sword that was flying towards my stomach was caught by Iris, the handle firmly in her grip.

“Le-let go of this -…”

With the sound of the dying sword, it struggled while making a choking noise.

Snap!

Iris slammed the sword she was holding onto the ground.

[Ah…]

The cursed sword rolled on the floor dejectedly. Iris turned her face towards me and pointed at the sword with her fingertips.

Having been together all day, I could understand Iris’s intentions to some extent. So, I could sense that when Iris pointed at the cursed sword, it meant, “Can I break this sword?”

[Profit! Accursed spawn of the god! I am the mighty cursed sword Gargantua! How dare you show such disrespect to me -…!]

Ignoring the muttering of the cursed sword, I spoke to Iris.

“Don’t break that sword. Got it?”

[So, you’re saying… you want to break me?]

“Well…”

The cursed sword was startled by my words, and Iris looked disappointed. The cursed sword rolled towards me, approaching my feet. The handle and the side of the sword touched my calves.

[Hey, contract holder. You’re not really planning to break me, are you?]

“Since when was I a contract holder?”

[Well, that’s… Obviously, it’s from the moment you mercilessly swung me around and caught me!]

The cursed sword, not wanting to be annihilated, clung to me and whined. It looked somewhat like a person grabbing onto the hem of someone’s pants and collapsing.

Snap!

The moment the cursed sword acknowledged me as its contract holder, a strange pattern was engraved on the back of my hand. The crimson pattern looked like something a middle school student obsessed with adolescence might have carved.

[Even if you regret it now, it’s useless! The two of us are bound by a contract. The pattern on the back of your hand is the evidence… you have to take care of me, the contract holder!]

Like a mouse in front of a cat, every time Iris’s gaze fell on it, the cursed sword moved slightly and hid behind my ankles.

‘Playing around now… how delightful.’

Iris, with narrowed eyes, seemed to be chasing the cursed sword attached to my body as if a cat were turning its gaze around while following a puppy playing in the grass.

It was heartwarming to see the previously indifferent Iris now showing reactions to something else.

“Stop it now, or my ankles might get sliced.”

Although the side of the sword was touching my skin to prevent my ankles from getting hurt, if the cursed sword kept moving recklessly, it could still cause injury.

‘How troublesome it is to deal with this.’

Since dealing with blood was not a big deal, I raised the handle of the cursed sword. As Iris’s heated gaze fell on the cursed sword, it began to sweat cold drops.

[Ugh…! When you need me, just say Gargantua in your mind, contract holder! Got it?!]

“Uh? Yeah.”

Nodding in response to the urgent tone of the cursed sword, it transformed into light and entered my back of the hand. The pattern flashed ominously before settling down.

“Well, that’s convenient, isn’t it?”

As I stroked the back of my hand, preparing to silently call out Gargantua’s name.

Thunk!

The door suddenly opened, and a familiar rat-man entered. The rat-man glanced at me and Iris before stepping aside.

Behind him stood about ten people. They wore tight-fitting clothes and had turbans on their heads, covering their faces with thin cloth.

“The important guest has summoned you, so prepare properly.”

“Yes!”

They pushed their way in and lifted Iris and me as if we were feathers, carrying us away like they were handling delicate objects.

Iris, who didn’t separate from me, was staring at my hand without any noticeable reaction.

“Summoned by an important guest?”

I couldn’t grasp the situation, so I looked around. Before I knew it, we had arrived at an unfamiliar place.

It unmistakably looked like a bathhouse.

“After washing up, get dressed up. Dress them in the finest clothes!”

As the rat-man’s command echoed, Iris and I were placed on the floor. I sensed that we were going to be bathed with caution.

“Don’t resist here.”

I recalled the story about the “iron leash” I heard when I went for snacks earlier.

“There are all sorts of magic spells to easily handle rebellious slaves,” they said.

Not only electric shocks but also magic that made you feel the pain of being sliced by a knife all over your body. It was not worth rebelling here and risking harm to only the two of us.

“Iris can meet you again soon, so stay quiet. Understand?”

Unable to hold hands and bathe together, I quietly whispered to Iris while those covering their bodies prepared to wash them.

In response, Iris alternately looked at my hand and face, then bowed her head with a gloomy expression. Her hands, which had been moving meticulously, slowly dropped.

“Hurry up!”

Just in time, the rat-man’s urging voice was heard. Concerns about bathing together due to the setting of being siblings were pointless, as Iris and I were dragged into different rooms.

Listening to the casual conversations going back and forth, it seemed that the preparation process for men and women was different.

In an instant, clothes were taken off, and something fragrant was thrown into the hot tub. The embarrassment of having my clothes taken off in front of others didn’t last long.

“Huh?”

Someone combed my hair, and someone else washed my body. I floated in the warm water, thinking.

“It’s somewhat… like the therapy course I went with Mother?”

I floated like a happy sea otter in the water. Somehow, the hands washing me became even gentler.