I’m the Only One With a Different Genre

24 – The sensation of being soaked from head to toe.

The ghost’s expression changed into an indescribable one. Urged by me, the ghost started slowly unfolding his name and story with a bewildered expression. And not long after, the kitchen echoed not with the ghost’s, but with Julianna’s crying.

[Sniff, how much I loved him…!]

“He’s really a terrible guy.”

[He said we should get married!]

When the ghost’s anger subsided, he began to lament. Once given a space, he poured out emotions more excessively. After pouring out all the emotions, he became somewhat calmer.

[Sniff…!]

“Come on, eat this and calm down.”

[Sob, gulp…]

While Julianna was lamenting, I opened and closed the drawer several times. Finally, I obtained a cookie and put it in her mouth. She started eating the tear-soaked cookie with a sniff.

“Now, forget about that trash of a guy and start anew. How long will you live resenting and hating others?”

[Uh, don’t, please..]

“It wasn’t originally like that, right? Isn’t it?”

[Gulp, yes.. I wanted to become someone who could protect precious people.. sobs, but that jerk…!]

As Juliana’s eyes flickered, trying to be trapped again in the memories full of hatred, I reached out my hand.

“Oh, well, now that person is neither precious nor alive.”

[Heh, yes..]

“So forget about that trash and aim for something better now.”

[Should I..? Can I do it?]

“Hey, is there anything you can’t do? The strongest mercenary, Juliana, is here, you know?”

When I said “Whimp?”, Juliana, who had been sulking, raised her head and spoke.

[Yes.. I was once called the strongest mercenary!]

“Right? So don’t say weak things and start getting what you want from now on!”

[…Got it!]

“Now, now, eat this and live a good life without doing bad things anymore. Understand?”

Nodding her head, she took the cookie and ate it. I laughed as I watched Juliana quickly devour the cookie.

“That should solve it.”

Promises to the deceased are very important.

“After this is over, there’s something I want to tell you. I’ll make sure to tell you later.” When making a promise that implies a similar death, there is often a high chance of lingering regrets and becoming a ghost.

Living humans can easily break promises, but it is impossible for ghosts. Therefore, from the moment Juliana accepted the cookie I handed her, she became unable to harm others.

[What I wanted… What I really…]

She started murmuring to herself as if lost in thought. Leaving her like that, I stood up from the seat.

In situations like this, it was proper etiquette to leave the room.

“I should bring Mia some of the remaining cookies.”

Thinking of Mia, who didn’t seem to be in good condition, I put the leftover cookies on a plate and left the kitchen.

***

[Yes, I -… Huh?]

Juliana finally realized what she truly wanted and wanted to let Lian know. However, what awaited her, as she waited for him, was the silence that filled the kitchen.

[Ah…]

Having spent a long time as a ghost, she seemed unaware of the fact that a considerable amount of time had passed.

Silently, Juliana stared at the teacup in front of her, with her mouth shut.

[Strange Person]

She was a soul and curse bound to a book by a dark sorcerer. She was a being closer to a monster than a human, but thanks to Lian, she was able to maintain her sanity and engage in “thought.”

[At first, I thought I would die..]

As soon as she heard the strange question, “How do you fix the horizon coordinate system?” her vision instantly spun at an incomprehensible speed and her body flew around like leaves caught in a typhoon.

“Oh, so I’m going to disappear like this,” she thought, allowing her to look directly at her own existence.

It was like a human looking at a will-o’-the-wisp before dying.

From Noble mtl dot com

Though she regained the ability to see her own existence beyond flesh, nothing had changed. Something was passing by at an unimaginable speed, and she felt herself growing distant from the world and herself.

An overwhelming sensation that her existence was rejected by the world, surpassing annihilation.

Just as her hard-won sanity was about to be consumed by fear, her body, suspended on a rope, abruptly stopped mid-air as if it had fallen from a high place.

[Huh? Aaahhh!]

Just as she had flown back as if rewinding the rope, she began returning in the same manner.

Thump!

When she came to her senses, she had returned to the original study. The book in which she was sealed was falling from the wall as if someone had thrown it.

[Ugh…]

Juliana, who had experienced a dizzying adventure due to a comedic filter, felt extreme anger. However, it was not the same blind rage as before.

[Damn you..!]

It was only anger directed at Lian, who had caused such a dreadful experience, not a desire for vengeance that would kill someone.

[I won’t just let it go!]

Excessive fear had been distorted into anger, and it drove her mad. Juliana floated her original book in the empty air and flew out of the study, turning on the invisibility function to avoid being noticed by ordinary people, heading towards where she could sense Lian’s presence.

She had only one thought in her mind: revenge.

[In truth, I was born in an alleyway -..]

She had no intention of complaining while drinking tea. But strangely, in front of the child named Lian, her emotions began to sway uncontrollably, and she started crying like a fool.

Moreover, Lian treated her so naturally, as if she were a “living person.” That fact gently melted her frozen heart.

As the soul bound by a curse and resentment regained its freedom, it also regained clear reasoning.

It felt like waking up from a long dream.

Juliana broke free from her illusions and visualized what she truly desired.

[“I can’t atone for those who are already dead, but… I want to help those who have resolved to protect someone precious.”]

As she reached a conclusion, her task became clear. She entered the book, floating it in the empty air.

[“Lian, the girl who wanted to protect that child. Let’s help her.” ]

That was the best choice she could make. The floating book became transparent and flew towards Noah’s presence.

Noah, who followed Jess, was sitting in my room.

“I can do it!”

Every time Noah tried to help even a little, Jess, with her tail stiff, pushed him away, leaving him no choice but to ask Pia to follow her and leave the dining room.

Noah, returning to his room, was lost in thought.

“…It will be difficult to go back to the study today.”

Going back in was not difficult, but it had only been half a day since Leanne had dragged him out, warning him not to enter.

“If she finds out I went back to the study without waiting, she will definitely be disappointed in me. I don’t want to be disliked.”

Noah buried his face in his knees, lost in thought.

“How can I become stronger? Is there really no way other than cruel methods?”

Cruel and horrifying methods that could undoubtedly give him strength flashed before his eyes. Noah didn’t want to seek strength in such ways.

“Is it a spoiled thought?”

He wanted to save Nero. He wanted to protect him. His feelings were sincere. He believed he could endure any pain, but he didn’t want to harm another life for that reason.

“I must be a fool.”

His indecisiveness felt like a heavy burden. The eyes that once sparkled with a glint of light in the midst of melancholy emotions now sank into gloominess.

Tap.

“…?”

At that moment, something lightly fell on Noah’s instep. He raised his head, checking what had fallen.

“…!?”

A white book lay in front of her.

Swish.

Even though Noah didn’t open the book, it unfolded on its own. In an instant, more than half of the book flipped, and a white ghost, Julianna, popped out.

“Ah…”

Noah looked at the dream-like situation with a vacant expression.

[You wanted power, didn’t you?]

Unlike before, Julianna spoke with a slightly mischievous laugh.

[I can give you the power to protect your loved ones. Won’t you make a contract with me?]

Noah unconsciously nodded his head in agreement to the genuine tone and smile, not the smiling tone that Julianna used to enthrall the book opener.

[What if you nod without hearing the contract conditions? Well, I guess I’ll have to teach you a lot from now on.]

Noah acquired a mentor in that way.

***

As Mia’s mansion was a residence once used by nobility, there were quite a few places she didn’t use. One such place was the indoor training ground.

Since Mia had mentioned that it didn’t matter whether Noah used the training ground or not, he used it without hesitation.

“Haah, ha…”

[Once you’ve rested, run another lap quickly.]

“Ugh…!”

In the spacious training ground, Noah ran, sweating profusely.

‘He’s working hard.’

I smiled proudly, watching Noah, who was determined not to neglect his training, and Julianna, who stood beside him, constantly providing clues for endless training.

‘Indeed, a character from the original work…’

Suddenly, cold sweat began to trickle down.

‘From the original work…’

I felt my entire body drenched.

‘Ah….’

I had forgotten.

Thud, my strength left my legs, and I knelt down.

“I forgot about the protagonist!”