I’m the Only One With a Different Genre

2 – Hearty Feeding, Chucklesome

Now that Odil’s muttering was over, it was time to handle other chores. First and foremost, a meal was necessary.

“I should take care of the kids’ meals too.”

The master of the body casually threw a few potatoes into water for the meals of the kids brought here as experimental subjects. When feeling lazy, he also threw expired bread that seemed past its prime. Meanwhile, he himself had enjoyed soft bread and soup suitable for Odil.

“Now, there won’t be such a thing. Hehehe.”

Watching the soup boil with a mouthwatering aroma, he chuckled inwardly. It wasn’t a big deal for him, the one who, at the age of 5, first held a ladle upon seeing his mom’s freshly cooked egg fried rice.

“Feast before being rescued.”

Muttering to himself, he started cooking the appetizing soup. Holding the soup and bread seasoned with plenty of spices, he offered it to Odil.

“Leave it there.”

“Yes.”

Odil didn’t pay any attention to the meal, as he was focused on the experiment again. He left the room and returned to the kitchen.

Plop.

Placing a tray on top of a long and large pot meant for soup instead of a lid, he lifted the pot with a flourish. Then, he headed to the underground where the children might be waiting.

***

Inside the underground prison where cold water dripped. The children gathered closely, sharing warmth.

‘Mom…’

Lily, a girl with sunken cheeks, yawned to the point where her cheeks went in, thinking of her mom’s face.

Because it’s a girl, it’s more expensive, right? Look! It should be quite valuable!

Mmm, Mom’s voice echoed in her ears. Lily didn’t care much about her mom’s harsh words. She just wanted to return to the embrace of the ‘adult’ who had been her only support. Even though she knew she couldn’t go back, and even if she could, she wouldn’t be happy.

Plop.

Suddenly, footsteps were heard from above. The children huddled, pushing the floor with their feet. They trembled with fear.

Chin, plop.

Relieved that it wasn’t the sound of the sorcerer’s leather shoes, they still didn’t release the tension in their bodies.

‘That person…’

It was the man who threw tasteless bread during meal times. Sometimes, instead of the sorcerer, he would drag them out and take them away. Shaking at the thought of being dragged away, their bodies quivered.

Swoosh, at that moment, a warm embrace enveloped her.

“It’s okay. You have me, right?”

“Yeah.”

Lily buried her face in the arms of Pia, who hugged her with slender, bony arms. Although not biological siblings, the two were connected by a strong bond.

Thump, thud. A rustling sound.

“Sniff, sniff.”

“A delicious smell…”

As his footsteps approached, a savory aroma teased Lily’s nose. Unconsciously, she withdrew from Pia’s embrace and sniffed the air.

“L-Lily!”

“Sis, there’s a delicious smell.”

“Still, come this way. You might be drawn in!”

“Yeah.”

Terrified of being pulled away, Lily nodded and returned to Pia’s embrace.

Gurgle, gurgle.

Slurp.

Gulp.

Various sounds emanated from their hungry stomachs, resonating throughout the underground prison. After a long period of starvation, the numb senses of their bellies agitated, urging them to quickly eat the savory-smelling food.

Thud!

“…!”

While immersed in the scent, a pair of white feet descended the final step. Unlike usual, he carried a large pot. The aroma wafted from the pot.

Swallow.

The sound of someone swallowing saliva echoed.

Clang, approaching the front of the cell, Lian placed the pot beside the entrance.

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Click.

Then, reaching for the key bundle at his waist, he unlocked the door.

Clang.

“…!”

“Uwaaah!”

The children, who had cautiously approached the front, recoiled as the bodies that had started to move forward retreated. He always took one of them as an experiment whenever he opened the door. Like being swept away by a tsunami, Lily was pushed backward by the children. Due to the backlight, Lian’s face wasn’t clearly visible as he entered with the open door.

“Here, have some tea.”

Lian kicked the door open, holding a pot as he entered. Placing it on one side, he raised his hand to his waist and glanced in their direction.

Hmm.

Realizing their eyes had met, Lily huddled her shoulders and buried her face in Pia’s body.

Drip, splash!

Startled by a sound resembling something falling into water, Lily shivered and turned her gaze. Inside the pot emitting a delicious aroma, a wooden ladle was swirling around.

“Chup.”

Lily unconsciously swallowed the saliva that had burst out. Her throat, cracked from not even being able to drink water properly, felt parched.

Pong.

Lian, on one side, began to ladle soup into the wooden bowl on the tray he had set down.

Gurgle.

The sight of the appetizing soup slowly filling the bowl caught Lily’s gaze in a trance.

Sip.

At that moment, Pia glared fiercely at Lian, grinding her teeth.

‘He’s doing it on purpose…!’

Lian had mocked the children whimpering and huddled in the prison, making them dance or throwing trash at them. He had never brought such a fragrant meal into the prison, but he had scoffed at hungry children crawling on the ground while eating soft bread outside the prison.

Because of such incidents, Pia couldn’t be happy with Lian’s expression.

‘If he’s doing this on purpose…I’ll overturn the pot in its entirety.’

She might be taken as the next test subject, but at least Lily and the other children could taste the soup. Of course, they would have to lick the floor, but in this place, one had to eat like that to survive.

Just when Pia was glaring fiercely at Lian.

Bang, bang!

Lian lightly tapped the inside of the pot with the ladle.

“Everyone needs to eat, so come over here and line up.”

“…!”

“Ugh…”

Some children, driven by hunger, rushed out. Then, the children who had been stiffened with fear instinctively followed behind them.

“If you don’t line up, you won’t get any. You stand at the back, got it?”

Normally, Lian, who would find even the slightest touch to the children’s bodies disgusting, carefully grabbed the arms of the newcomers and made them stand in line. Witnessing an unimaginable scene, Pia stared at Lian with her mouth wide open.

“I’m coming too!”

“..! Lily!”

As Lily also rushed forward to join the line, Pia had no choice but to follow her. It wasn’t because she really wanted to eat.

“Be careful, it’s hot. Use the spoon and pass it on.”

With practiced skill, Lian ladled soup into bowls for the children. Fearful of losing their share, the children hurriedly retreated to corners, clutching their bowls, and devoured the soup hastily. Soon, it was Lily’s turn to receive the soup.

“Here.”

“…!”

Lily blinked, hastily took the bowl, and discreetly leaned against one side of the wall. Thankfully, not a single drop of soup spilled.

Sip, slurp!

“…!!”

Carefully spooning the soup into her mouth sent shivers down her spine. The warmth of the soup, perfect for savoring despite the warning of its heat, melted gently in her mouth. The potato soup, sweet and comforting, lacked any heaviness.

“Slurp, savor!”

Lily, in a hurry, consumed the soup. Tears welled up in her eyes as she chewed on the small meatballs scattered throughout. When she regained her senses, the bowl was empty. She sighed while licking the spoon and the bowl, savoring the last traces.

“Hooroop!”

Startled by the loud sound, Lily turned her head to see Pia, seated beside her, finishing the soup with loud gulps.

“Um, sister?”

“Oops…!”

Belatedly realizing Lily’s voice, Pia blushed, scraping the remaining soup with her spoon and swallowing it with a gulp, her face reddening.

“Since it’s hot, you should eat slowly, Lily.”

“Uh-huh.”

Lily discovered that Pia could speak mismatched words.

“We’ll have dinner later. Let’s eat just one bowl for lunch.”

In response to the soft voice tapping on her ear, Lily’s gaze turned towards the direction of the prison door. Lian, sitting with her back against the door, was coaxing a child to ask for another bowl. His voice and smile were so affectionate that the child froze.

“You ate well and cleaned your plate. Was it delicious?”

“Uh, yeah.”

Sold into slavery at a young age, the child replied awkwardly. Lian, seeming impressed, lightly patted the child’s hand and took the bowl away.

“If you suddenly eat a lot, your stomach might hurt. If it does, let me know, okay?”

“Uh…”

Why he had changed suddenly, why he was giving them delicious food – those reasons didn’t matter. In a situation where they couldn’t rely on any adults, warm gestures like his outstretched hand were something no child could refuse.

“Well, I’ll be going now, so stay quiet.”

“Uh!”

“Yes…”

In an instant, several children whose hearts had opened approached the bars and replied dutifully. Lian reached through the bars, gently stroking the children’s heads. As he did, their faces turned faintly red.

Chin, tap.

As the sound of footsteps faded, Pia bit her lip and hugged her knees. Despite pretending to be an adult to Lily, she was nothing more than a 13-year-old child.

‘Mercy does not exist in this hellish world.’

In the fallen kingdom of Escania, in the hands of the Demon King, humans were treated no differently than livestock. The only humans receiving slightly better treatment were as despicable as demons in their wretched morality.

‘Don’t expect, if you do, you’ll be betrayed again.’

Pia pressed her head between her knees, suppressing the unexpectedly surging emotions in her chest. Then, she recalled the repulsive image of the human who betrayed and abandoned her—the trash that smiled in front of her and sold her out behind her back.

Her anger unknowingly directed itself towards Lian.