Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 11

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Struggling to Pretend to Be Human Today Episode 011

Since the topic came up, I immediately took Ruslara to the rear of the Separate Palace. It was a place that used to have stables and walking paths, but had become an empty lot due to lack of maintenance.

Ruslara looked bewildered that such a place existed in the Imperial Palace.

“But that nobleman who bought the abandoned mine is quite peculiar. Are there gems hidden there or something?”

“No. It’s a desolate mine with no gold or gems. It’s a neutral zone, not part of the Empire’s territory. That’s why we established our base there.”

“Hmm…”

Thinking about it, there were many suspicious points. While it was common for nobles to seize the territories of indigenous people in neutral zones, it was rare to buy useless land like an abandoned mine.

‘And saying they’ll return the land if we win the Arena. They might as well ask for money instead.’

The Arena prize money was substantial, but not enough to buy and sell land.

“Do they want the championship medal, or do they want the prize money?”

“Probably the prize money?”

“Probably?”

I looked at Ruslara with disbelief at her uncertain answer.

Then Ruslara drooped her shoulders as if ashamed and said.

“It wasn’t a situation where I could ask proper questions. They said they’d kick us out immediately if we didn’t comply, so I hastily accepted…”

Well, Ruslara didn’t have any choice anyway. If she didn’t agree to the deal, her family would die.

‘I don’t think they’d go through all this trouble for just one championship medal. I really don’t know.’

There were too few clues to make any deductions. I clicked my tongue briefly and asked one last question.

“Did you hear anything else during the deal?”

Ruslara thought for a moment and then said.

“Ah, they said if I gave up on winning, they’d change it to a different contract.”

“What kind of contract?”

“I’m not sure exactly… but they said they have a superior, and told me to become his subordinate.”

She naturally said she didn’t know who the superior was. I sighed at this problem that still had no conclusion.

Then Ruslara smiled bitterly and said.

“Actually, if I can’t win this year either, I was planning to accept that offer. I don’t seem to have any talent for swordsmanship.”

“…Did you tell Mihilda about this too?”

“No.”

“That’s fortunate. If she had heard that story, she would have shed tears of blood.”

“…What?”

“Ruslara, you heard what kind of warrior Mihilda was, yet you give up so easily?”

I picked up a tree branch that was lying in the empty lot and swung it around appropriately. Fortunately, it seemed I could easily demonstrate basic swordsmanship without using magic power.

“The Baobhan sith were the weakest race among the Demon Clan. They had a lot of magic power, but their physical abilities were frail.”

Even if they were stronger compared to humans, fairies were still fairies in the end. Due to their innate limitations, the Baobhan sith were always in a position of being hunted by other demons.

But they didn’t give up.

For the freedom of their race, for peace, they made deals with the Demon Army and entered battles without fear of death.

“The Baobhan sith I know don’t give up. They don’t bow their heads to enemies who try to drive them out. Because they’re excellent warriors.”

“…”

“But Ruslara, you’re different.”

You’re not a warrior.

Perhaps understanding the meaning, Ruslara’s face contorted. I sighed and pointed at her with the tip of the tree branch.

“I was planning to help you just enough to win… but I’ve changed my mind.”

I couldn’t just watch Mihilda’s descendant fall into such defeatism.

Moreover, Ruslara’s appearance reminded me of my own powerless self from a few days ago, accepting death.

That made me incredibly angry.

“For Mihilda’s sake too, I need to fix your mindset.”

I gestured with my chin toward another tree branch rolling on the ground.

“Pick it up, let’s begin.”

“Begin what…”

“Training, of course.”

Ruslara picked up the tree branch with a bewildered expression.

“Tell me if it hurts. I can’t use healing magic, so if you become disabled, well, sorry in advance.”

“…Sorry?”

It was a jumbled explanation, but Ruslara seemed to understand well enough.

Her face turned pale white, and at the same time…

Whack-!

My tree branch flew toward her head.

“First training rule. Don’t take your eyes off your opponent’s sword.”

“B-but a tree branch isn’t a sword…”

“Second rule, don’t talk back to your instructor.”

Whack-!

“Ahhh!”

Training soldiers had begun after a long time.

* * *

“…So that’s how you ended up like this.”

“U-uh huh.”

At Liribel’s incredulous voice, I slightly averted my gaze.

Time had somehow reached evening, and Liribel and I were examining Ruslara, who was collapsed on the bed.

She was unconscious with a completely pale face.

It was because I had gotten too enthusiastic and failed to control my strength.

‘I didn’t know she’d be this weak.’

My training was thoroughly practical. Since there wasn’t much time for physical conditioning, I repeated duels to increase real combat experience.

Since I wasn’t in great physical condition either, I kept the matches short…

‘Your legs have no strength. Again.’

‘This time your hands have no strength. Are you dying to drop your sword? Again.’

‘Lift your head. Did you drop money on the ground? Again.’

…I did push her relentlessly like that.

Whether she was confused by the constant scolding, or because it was her first time receiving proper training, Ruslara eventually fainted after just 5 hours.

“You should go easier on her…”

Liribel wiped Ruslara’s face with a wet cloth. Feeling awkward, I said defensively.

“It wasn’t hard training. I didn’t even move a single step to begin with.”

Rather, wasn’t it Ruslara’s fault for not being able to make me move? The words rose to the tip of my tongue.

But I held back, thinking it wasn’t something to say in front of an unconscious person.

After finishing wiping Ruslara’s face, Liribel put the wet cloth in the basin and asked.

“So what are this person’s prospects? She absolutely must win, right?”

“Yeah. She’s not without talent. If she suffers like this for about a week, she can definitely win.”

At my words, she looked at me with wonder.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because it’s amazing. Were you actually a knight, Your Highness?”

She knew me as a black mage hiding my power. So it seemed surprising that I was also good at swordsmanship.

“It’s just a minor skill.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say that I was more confident in swordsmanship than magic.

Liribel’s eyes lit up as if there might be some amazing secret, but I avoided her gaze and kept my mouth shut. It was still too early to tell her about the Demon Clan.

“Anyway, we’ll be training from tomorrow morning, so prepare meals for Ruslara too…”

Just as I was about to tell Liribel about tomorrow’s schedule, someone knocked on the door.

“Your Highness, it’s Emma.”

“What is it?”

When I opened the door, head maid Emma came in, greeted me, and stated her business.

Since our last conversation, her attitude had become uncomfortably respectful.

“A visitor has come to see you.”

“A guest?”

“From the Prime Minister’s Family….”

‘Ah, is it Loreil?’

Just from that much, I could tell who it was. I could roughly guess why he had come too. I ordered Emma to escort him to the reception room, then spoke to Liribel.

“Take good care of Ruslara. When she wakes up, tell her to review what she learned today.”

“Yes!”

Then I immediately headed out.

Loreil, whom I finally met, greeted me with that faint smile that seemed like a mask, just as before.

“I apologize for visiting so suddenly, Your Highness. And for not being able to accompany you on the arena inspection….”

“It’s fine. I heard you were busy with work.”

I also answered with a bright smile.

“Instead, I sent a knight I trust as an escort, but I’m worried you might have found it rude.”

“They were reliable people. They seemed quite skilled too.”

It was meaningless small talk, but it was sincere enough. His escort knights had far superior overall abilities compared to the soldiers and knights patrolling around the Separate Palace.

I thought it would be quite difficult to fend them off if they tried to assassinate me.

“I also heard you’ve brought the Armored Fighter into the Separate Palace.”

“That’s right. He said he didn’t have a proper place to train, so I decided to lend him the training ground. But what brings you all the way to the Separate Palace…?”

It was a question asking if he hadn’t come just to talk about such trivial matters. Loreil immediately understood the implication and revealed his reason for coming.

“Word seems to have spread about Your Highness’s outing. An invitation came through our family.”

“I haven’t returned to society yet, so I wouldn’t be able to participate in other events.”

“It’s not an invitation to a banquet. Someone has simply requested a visit.”

When I tilted my head as if asking who it was, he erased his smile and spoke with a stiffly hardened expression.

“Her Majesty the Empress.”

“…Her Majesty the Empress is calling for me?”

Empress Chersil.

A name I never could have imagined came up.

‘Why would that Empress, who had no interest in me whatsoever, be looking for me?’

Among the Emperor’s children, I was the only one who wasn’t Empress Chersil’s biological child. That’s why I could count on my fingers the number of times we’d had proper conversations.

As I couldn’t even continue speaking due to the sudden news, Loreil explained step by step.

“The invitation’s content was simple. It said she could help Your Highness, and asked you to please come visit.”

“But why did that letter come to you, Lord Loreil….”

“It must be to keep it hidden.”

The question “from whom?” wasn’t necessary.

There was only one person from whom eyes could be averted solely through the Prime Minister’s Family.

‘The Emperor.’

If so, was the Empress going against the Emperor’s will?

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