Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 107

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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Pretending to Be Human: Episode 107

“Cough, cough…!”

Spewing dark crimson blood, Loreil barely managed to open his eyes. His body ached as though shattered into pieces, yet his mind remained remarkably clear.

‘Am I still alive?’

The sight before me was devastating. Whether from the blast’s aftermath or something else, the Manor lay in ruins—its ceiling and walls collapsed inward.

Through the dust-hazed vision, I noticed a masked figure blocking Asmo-rina’s path.

Though he wore a black mask, the moment I heard his voice, I recognized his identity.

“Step back, human. You’re in the way.”

‘That voice… Britz Jabok?’

It was Britz Jabok, the same man who had attended the banquet with Deina.

Before I could ask why he was here, I felt the demonic energy radiating from his body and broke into a cold sweat.

‘His magical power is on par with Asmo-rina’s?’

Unaware that Britz Jabok was actually Gregory, Deina’s subordinate, I could only perceive him as another monster.

Moreover, if those two were to join forces, the Empire’s destruction would be inevitable.

‘Did he shield me from that explosion just now? But looking at Asmo-rina’s minimal injuries, it seems he protected her as well. Could they possibly be…allies?’

My mind spiraled with confusion and questions.

Then, someone tapped my shoulder.

“You….”

“Come now, it’s dangerous here. Let’s move back.”

Like Gregory, the Masked Agent wore a mask, but his voice made his identity unmistakable.

A merchant who dealt in spirits of darkness—Grid.

He supported Loreil and led him out of the Manor. Once they reached a point where Gregory and Asmo-rina’s voices could no longer be heard, Grid rolled his shoulders as if exhausted.

“Phew, you’re heavy. I didn’t expect it, but Loreil, you’re quite the weight.”

“Why are you with Britz Jabok? And what happened to my subordinates? What is Britz Jabok’s true identity, and how did you even get here…”

“Hold on, hold on—too many questions. Let’s take this slowly.”

Grid patted Loreil reassuringly and withdrew a medicine bottle from his pocket.

“First, apply this. It’s a hemostatic agent.”

“…”

Loreil suspected Grid’s intentions, but he accepted the bottle nonetheless. The bleeding was far too severe to ignore.

Grid frowned as he watched Loreil apply the medicine to his torn skin without hesitation.

“Doesn’t that hurt? It must sting.”

“Stop talking nonsense and answer my questions.”

He shrugged and glanced at the ruined Manor as he spoke.

“First, as you’ve guessed, Britz Jabok and I are indeed on the same side. Not quite colleagues, though…I’d say we share the same employer.”

“Princess Deina?”

“Correct.”

Loreil let out a groan.

‘I thought Britz Jabok was trying to use Princess Deina…but it was the opposite.’

With subordinates like this, I couldn’t even begin to gauge the extent of Deina’s power.

“And Loreil’s subordinates have been moved to safety by my spirits. There are no critical injuries among them, so don’t worry. As for the Jabok’s true identity… it’s a secret, but you’ve probably already guessed, haven’t you?”

‘A demon, obviously.’

There was no need to say it aloud. No human could possess such magical power.

“The fact that you found me here… does that mean the Princess knows about this?”

“No, that’s not it. The Jabok came here entirely on his own initiative.”

“What?”

I furrowed my brow in confusion, and Grid trailed off as if the explanation was difficult.

“You could call it a coincidence, or perhaps we anticipated it… We were also tracking someone named Asmo-rina. And we suspected she had human collaborators.”

Given how mysterious her movements were, we concluded that someone among the Empire’s nobility must be erasing her traces.

I naturally predicted Grid’s next words.

“You raided a meeting with her human collaborator, and I happened to be there.”

“Exactly, Loreil. Precisely as expected.”

Grid’s lips curved upward as he continued.

“Actually, at first I intended to wait until the situation settled. It seemed like an internal conflict was occurring. But then the Jabok sensed an enormous amount of holy power and rushed in… and saved both of you.”

“Why did he save us?”

“Does saving lives require a reason? That’s what I’d like to say, but honestly… I don’t know either.”

Grid scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“To be frank, when I discovered that Asmo-rina and you were colluding, I thought you’d both die. Or perhaps only one would survive. But to save both of you…”

Either saving you out of consideration for your relationship with Deina, or saving Asmo-rina because of past connections.

But saving both was, in Grid’s view, the worst possible choice.

In the end, nothing was truly resolved.

“I didn’t think you were the type to be swayed by sentiment… but this is quite unexpected.”

“…That sounds like you’re hoping I’d die.”

“You caught me? Please understand, Lord Loreil. It’s not as though you’ve only caused a disturbance or two in the Black Market.”

Loreil asked one final question.

“Then I suppose I should report to Her Highness the Princess now. That I conspired with Asmo-rina to target you.”

“That remains undecided. It’s not my choice to make—it’s yours, Lord Jabok. Besides… I believe it would be better left unspoken.”

“Your reason?”

“From what I can see, the fact that such a formidable Asmo-rina hasn’t discovered Her Highness the Princess until now seems to be thanks to Lord Loreil.”

“….”

Loreil’s expression froze as the words struck home.

“After all, you’ve been helping her quietly while saying things like ‘not for Her Highness the Princess, but for my own purposes,’ haven’t you? If that’s the case, there’s no need to expose you.”

Loreil’s face hardened into stone.

Amused by that expression, Grid let out a smirk.

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice? That Lord Loreil cares for Her Highness the Princess—a sharp merchant like myself would…”

“I just heard the same thing from Ivan. You two think alike.”

“…That bastard again?”

Grid crumpled his face in irritation, as if this wasn’t the first time such a thing had happened.

Just as I was about to ask why—

“You damned mutt!”

A massive explosion echoed from the Manor, accompanied by Asmo-rina’s furious voice.

Grid and Loreil exchanged silent glances.

“…For now, let’s withdraw from this area.”

“I agree. I know a physician nearby—let’s tend to your wounds first.”

A detailed conversation could wait.

If they remained here, they risked being caught in the crossfire between those two.

They quickly relocated.

Asmo-rina’s expression darkened as she regarded Gregory, the Masked Agent.

This man had appeared without warning to save her, then not only spirited away Loreil—her intended target—but had the audacity to block her path.

“I’ll say it once more. Stand aside, Captain of the 2nd Legion.”

“Who do you think you’re ordering around? Do you still believe this is a military organization, you mangy Doglike Soldier?”

The Captain of the 1st Army—one who obeyed only the supreme commander—had earned that dishonorable epithet through his rigid military discipline: Doglike Soldier.

Gregory tilted his head in response to her crude language.

“Decades and centuries have passed, yet your tongue remains as coarse as ever.”

“You only play nice in front of your master, you obedient Doglike Soldier. More importantly, your presence here means… Asmodina must be nearby.”

Asmo-rina’s lips curled into a smile.

‘A human couldn’t possibly summon a Demon of Gregory’s caliber without sacrifices. This place doesn’t have the abundance of offerings that Kingdom does.’

Only their supreme commander, Asmodina, possessed the power to summon a Demon of Legion rank without requiring sacrificial offerings.

Gregory neither confirmed nor denied Asmo-rina’s deduction.

Instead, I repeated what I had said before, unwavering.

“Withdraw from this place, Captain of the 2nd Legion. I will not tolerate any further recklessness.”

“Who are you to tell me that? I will find Asmodina, no matter what. So step aside.”

“No. That man is necessary to us. I cannot hand him over to you.”

“Then tell me where Asmodina is. You know, don’t you?”

“I cannot say.”

Still, there was no reasoning with him. Watching him refuse so stubbornly, Asmo-rina’s teeth ground together.

“You know why I’m searching for Asmodina. So why are you refusing? Do you really think I’m wandering around this tedious Human Realm because I enjoy it?”

“….”

“Bring Asmodina to me. Otherwise, I’ll tell her I’m here—and then I’ll let that irritating human go free!”

Her emotions ignited her demonic power, which surged explosively once more.

Gregory seemed to realize there was no avoiding this any longer, and he paused carefully before speaking.

“She… has refused to meet with you.”

“…What did you just say?”

“That is why I cannot tell you. Stand down, Captain of the 2nd Legion.”

In that instant, the color drained from Asmo-rina’s face.

‘Asmodina… refuses to see me?’

For the first time in her existence—across centuries spent together—she heard such a refusal.

Seeing her expression, Gregory seemed to realize his mistake and hurriedly added more.

“It’s not that she dislikes you. It’s simply that the current situation….”

“…Where.”

“What?”

“Where is she now.”

Asmo-rina’s magical power erupted once more.

“Where is my mother right now, you mangy mutt!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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