I’m the Only One With a Different Genre

26 – Like Magic

“Rich? No, no. I didn’t sense any magic of the undead. In that case—”

Unlike before, the room filled with books and manuscripts seemed more like a study than a laboratory.

‘Where did all these books come from?’

Nudging aside the stacked books with a hint of playfulness, she reached Mia. Placing a sandwich and cold water next to her, Mia instinctively took the sandwich and took a bite.

“Thanks. In the older records, there should be—”

“I’ll come to pick them up in a bit.”

After a reflexive expression of gratitude, Mia continued flipping through the books while munching on the sandwich. I quickly exited the room.

Creak.

As if signaling dinner time, the leather on my stomach vibrated. Gliding along my belly, I quickly moved towards the restaurant. Thanks to the swift movement, the entrance of the restaurant loomed in the distance.

“Huh?”

Next to the restaurant door, I saw a familiar figure standing with a vacant expression.

“Pia, what are you doing there?”

“…!”

When I called her name, Pia turned around, her body trembling. She seemed to be sweating coldly and shrinking.

“Why? Did you see something scary? A ghost, perhaps?”

“Uh… yes.”

Pia, as if wanting to explain something, hesitated with pursed lips but eventually nodded in agreement to my words. Clearly, if she had seen a frightening ghost, it would be difficult for her to articulate it properly.

‘Just like Juliana, are there many ghosts here? Is it some kind of cursed mansion or something?’

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With such thoughts, I spoke seriously to Pia.

“Pia, if such a ghost comes, say something like, ‘How do you fix the horizontal coordinates?'”

“What?”

Pia tilted her head, as if she couldn’t quite grasp what I was saying. I held onto Pia’s arms, trying to help my poor friend, and said,

“Come on, try it. ‘How do you fix the horizon coordinate system?'”

“…How do you fix the horizon…”

“Horizon coordinate system.”

“How do you fix the horizon coordinate system?”

“That’s it! If you say it like that, even ghosts will run away! If you can’t remember, stamp your feet and clap your hands while making monkey sounds.”

Doing something like that would definitely make the ghost go, “Oh, what’s that?” and run away.

“Pfft, hahaha!”

My words seemed to amuse Pia, and she burst into laughter, her expression visibly relaxed. But I was serious.

“Don’t forget, the horizon coordinate system and stamping your feet—”

“Haha, stop, it’s too funny, my stomach hurts…”

“This is a serious matter—”

Just as I was about to express my opinion to Pia, who was trying to brush it off with laughter, Noah opened the door and stepped out of the restaurant.

“Why aren’t you coming in?”

“Oh, we were discussing something very important.”

“Haha…”

Noah raised his eyebrows in surprise as he saw Pia, who usually smiled but rarely burst into laughter, holding her stomach and laughing.

“If it’s an interesting story, come inside and tell me. I want to hear it too.”

Noah, who had found some relaxation through training with Julianna, smiled and said, gesturing toward the table. I nodded and said,

“It’s definitely not something only Pia knows.”

After releasing Pia’s shoulders, I headed into the restaurant. I picked up two sandwiches on a plate and walked towards the spot where Nero and Lillie were sitting.

“Hey, Lian.”

“Yeah?”

Noah approached me quietly and spoke. I stopped my steps towards the dining table and leaned in to listen to Noah.

“The mentor suddenly screamed and ran away. Do you know why?”

“What? Suddenly ran away?”

“Yeah, just a little while ago.”

“Is there something dangerous around here… Oh.”

Suddenly, the ‘ghost repelling method’ that I had explained to Pia earnestly in front of the restaurant came to mind. Whether Noah instinctively sensed that he was discussing something dangerous or simply overheard, I wasn’t sure.

“Well, he’ll probably be back soon.”

“Do you think so?”

“Yeah.”

Engaging in casual conversation, I took a seat where I had originally intended. It wasn’t long before Pia entered the restaurant.

“Oh? Did something happen in the meantime?”

Pia’s complexion had unexpectedly turned pale. Given our recent discussion about ghost stories, Pia’s appearance concerned me.

Since Pia always sat beside Lily, she quietly ate her sandwich, waiting. As expected, Pia eventually approached our table.

“…Lily, is it tasty?”

“Sis, are you feeling unwell by any chance?”

“No?”

Pia nodded as if she was truly fine. I finished devouring my sandwich, stood up abruptly, and said,

“All of this is because of ghosts.”

“Ghosts?”

“Huh?! Ghosts?!”

The gazes of the kids, who were previously chattering while eating, suddenly focused on me. With a stern expression, I spoke,

“Since we don’t know where ghosts might appear, I’ll teach you how to deal with them.”

“Is that a thing?”

With a serious expression, I discussed the Cartesian coordinate system and mimicked monkey sounds while clapping my hands. In response, some kids, whose energy had recovered considerably, stood in a “mimic monkey” pose and started applauding with their feet.

“Yeah! That’s it!”

The kids were delighted as I applauded. Pia, meanwhile, had buried her face on the table and was trembling.

“Pia, don’t be scared. Let’s practice now. I’m sure you can beat all the ghosts.”

“Ugh, yeah…”

Pia made a sound as if crying while shrugging her shoulders, seemingly moved.

“Look at this, Jyun!”

“Wow! Jess, you’re amazing!”

“Amazing!”

Jess imitated me, moving around in a mimic monkey pose. Noah, seeing the kids attempting to mimic monkeys instead of having their meals, instructed them, “Let’s eat first and then play when we’re done.”

The chaotic atmosphere from the disrupted meal was restored, and the cheerful meal continued as if nothing had happened.

***

“Why are you crying alone and pretending to be okay? Is it intentional?”

Pia recalled the face she had seen a while ago, the traces of tears on the cheeks, tears lingering in the eye corners, and the reddened eyes that spoke of a cry. It was a visage marked by sorrow.

Seeing Pia in such a state after witnessing the scene, approaching with a smile didn’t sit well with her. Pia bit her lip.

‘Acting… it must be acting. Trying to gain sympathy with a pitiful appearance.’

Even as she thought so, a fixed notion that had nestled in her mind shattered. What if? Could it be true? The words surfaced, but Pia shook her head.

Lian is a villain, playing a role. Deceiving us. Resenting someone was as easy as breathing.

Pia sighed softly, thinking,

‘Phew… I shouldn’t act and think foolishly. To protect my sister, I must doubt more, more, and more.’

Pia, who had little interest in anything other than her sister, began to pay attention to her surroundings because of the prevailing peace. As the mind relaxed, there was room to spare for the gaze around. Yet, in the cruel world, a serene atmosphere was synonymous with death.

Pia repeatedly tried to firmly close the heart that sought to soften and raised her guard. However, Pia was still young. No matter how much she raised her guard, she couldn’t help but be influenced by the peaceful atmosphere one might find in a fairy tale.

Thanks to that, there was no need for Pia to hold a grudge against anyone to protect Lily.

Just as things continued like today, Pia would gradually find stability. Violent thoughts wouldn’t surface, and there would be no succumbing to trauma.

…if someone hadn’t touched her mind.

“Hmm… huhuhu…”

Pia turned the blanket over, letting out a suppressed sob.

{ Pia, you must protect your sister. }

{ You, as her sister, must protect her at all costs! }

An oppressive voice echoed in her ears. Pia tightly closed her eyes and covered her ears with both hands. It was an attempt to escape from the trauma, but it only dragged Pia further into the abyss.

With closed eyes and ears, ‘that scene’ began to unfold in her mind.

{ Sister… Sister, I’m cold… }

Eyes that couldn’t focus, unable to look directly at herself, a body losing warmth in her arms.

{ Sis… }

Tears that had been trapped in her sister’s eyes flowed down. Pia embraced her sister with trembling hands. Warm blood clung stickily to her hands compared to the cold body.

It felt like bugs were crawling in her head. Dizziness overcame her. Her stomach churned. The eye corners burned so intensely that they seemed about to melt.

{ Sister, don’t leave me. Sister… }

Her sister tightly grabbed Pia’s arm. There was no warmth in the face that came close to her nose. Through the meeting eyes, only ‘resentment,’ ‘hatred,’ and ‘disgust’ were conveyed.

{ You promised to protect me. You promised – you promised! You promised! You promised! You promised! You promised! You promised! You promised! You promised! You promised! You promised! You promised! You promised! }

Thunderous sounds echoed in her mind.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

{ Why did you do that? Why did you leave me? Why didn’t you protect me? You promised to protect me! I’m cold, sister, I’m too cold. Save me, sister, please save me. Save me! Save me, please! }

With a tearing sound, her sister grabbed Pia’s hair and pulled. It hurt, it hurt, it hurt.

“Unni!”

“Ugh…!”

At the sudden voice, Pia snapped to attention.

“Din…ner! To the dining room, now!”

The child seemed unfamiliar with the word ‘dining room,’ stumbling over the words.

“Uh-huh, thanks.”

As the child left the room, Pia was left alone, her face trembling. Tears welled up, her body shivered, and she struggled to breathe.

“Haah, ha…”

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Taking rough breaths, she wiped away tears on the blanket and got out of bed.

“If I skip a meal, Lily will worry…”

Thankfully, her face, seen through the window, seemed clean despite more sweat than tears. Pia staggered towards the dining area.

“Unni, why are you ignoring me?”

She flinched.

Despite having left the bed, her sister’s voice echoed.

“Why did you abandon me? Why did you leave me to die?”

Pia’s face turned pale. Her lips dried up, and her breath caught.

“I died like this, how can you continue living? It should have been you who died, not me!”

Pia halted in front of the dining room. Could it be right for me, who survived instead of my sister, to comfortably have a meal and breathe?

Would it be okay for someone like me to be alive?

At that moment when such thoughts engulfed her mind.

“Pia, what are you doing there?”

With a tender voice, the hallucination vanished instantly. As if by magic.