Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 112
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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 112
‘If that hadn’t been a true divine power, Asmo-rina and Gregory would never have suffered defeat.’
I exhaled deeply.
Then, noticing our darkening mood, Liribel asked carefully.
“By the way, Princess, what exactly is this divine power you’re talking about?”
“Ah, I never explained it in detail to you, did I?”
It wasn’t just her. Ruslara and Ivan beside me were also subtly listening in.
For the sake of our future plans, I should explain, but the circumstances were complicated, making it difficult to speak.
“Hmm…”
After a moment of deliberation, I made my decision and spoke to Liribel.
“Bring Emma here. Chloe should be at the Main Palace by now, so fetch her as well. And lastly…”
I never thought I’d be drawing this person into this situation. But given the current circumstances, excluding him posed a greater risk.
“Call Loreil too.”
Loreil was the only one who knew the truth about Asmo-rina.
My resolve seemed to have conveyed itself, as Liribel nodded with a firm expression.
Shortly after, the Reception Room of the Separate Palace filled with everyone who knew about this incident and my power.
Liribel and Emma, residents of the Separate Palace, as well as Ruslara and Ivan, my subordinate Gregory, my business associate Grid, Chloe, and finally Loreil.
For reference, I called Chloe because she was someone who could communicate directly with deities. She would have more knowledge about divine affairs than I would.
This situation required Chloe’s assistance.
“Thank you so much for calling me!”
Chloe was so delighted at becoming an ally that her eyes glistened with tears. I calmed her down and turned my gaze toward Loreil, who stood alone leaning against the wall.
His condition was not good. Multiple layers of bandages wrapped around his abdomen, and his complexion was noticeably pale. It must have been from the battle with Asmo-rina.
“Loreil, thank you for coming.”
“It is no trouble.”
He bowed his head in response to my greeting.
“You understand why I called you here, don’t you?”
“…I have some idea of it.”
His expression hardened coldly, but fortunately, I sensed no hostility.
With everyone’s attention fixed on me, I slowly opened my mouth.
“First, since some of you may not know the full situation, I’ll briefly summarize what has happened so far.”
I began by explaining the incident involving Gregory, Asmo-rina, and Loreil. Only Chloe had been unaware of everything, so naturally she was the most shocked.
“I-impossible… The Emperor of the Empire possesses such power….”
The revelation that the Emperor wielded divine authority was certainly shocking enough for Chloe, a princess from another nation.
Next, I revealed my true identity.
“Many of you have likely already guessed, but… in my past life, I was a Demon. A Demon and a soldier.”
This time, no one expressed surprise. Even Chloe, having heard something from the Lake Deity, simply nodded quietly.
“I realized I had been reincarnated when I nearly died from poison last year. I reached the threshold of death, but when I returned to life, my memories came back.”
Liribel murmured as if recalling that time.
“Ah, so that was when you were revived back then….”
“That’s right. That was the moment I awakened to my reincarnation.”
I continued calmly.
“Even though I’ve been reincarnated, I am human now. I wish to remain human going forward. That’s why, even after returning as Princess, I’ve strived to live as a human without revealing my true identity.”
But nothing unfolded as I had anticipated.
I glanced at Loreil.
“Eventually, problems arose. Someone began to suspect me of being a Demon, and a Demon from my past life even revealed herself. Honestly, I was prepared for people’s suspicions. But the real problem was that Demon.”
I paused for a moment before uttering the name.
“That Demon’s name is Asmo-rina. Like Gregory, she is my subordinate and… my daughter.”
At that moment, several people wore expressions of bewilderment. They seemed not to have anticipated a family connection.
“She is the daughter of a mentor I deeply respected. After my mentor passed away, I adopted her. So while I cannot claim to be her true mother… she is undoubtedly my precious daughter.”
Then, Grid, who had been listening, raised his hand as if something seemed odd.
“…But why is that daughter targeting the Princess? She seemed far too aggressive to be a daughter searching for her mother.”
Gregory answered in my stead.
“The 2nd Legion Commander intends to kill Her Highness the Princess and bring her back to the Demon Realm. She seems to believe the soul is trapped within a human body.”
“Even so, attempting to kill one’s own parent seems far from normal.”
“The 2nd Legion Commander has always been that way.”
Grid cast a questioning glance, but I could only laugh bitterly. Asmo-rina’s violent nature was a problem I hadn’t been able to correct even over hundreds of years.
“In any case, after Asmo-rina crossed over to the Human Realm through some means, she began cooperating with humans to find me. That human is none other than Loreil.”
“…Yes, I won’t deny it.”
Loreil chose his words carefully for a moment.
“I made a contract with Asmo-rina. She would grant my request, and in exchange, I intended to hand over information about the Princess.”
In that instant, the atmosphere in the room turned glacial.
Several of them radiated killing intent as if ready to strike Loreil down on the spot. I warned them with a glance, then spoke to Loreil again.
“But you never actually handed it over, did you? Grid told me—that you blocked my information from reaching Asmo-rina’s ears.”
When Loreil’s gaze turned toward Grid, he shrugged his shoulders.
Loreil exhaled a deep sigh and nodded.
“That’s correct. As a citizen of the Empire, I couldn’t allow Asmo-rina to meet the Princess. All I wanted was her power.”
Loreil then briefly explained the method by which he had used Asmo-rina.
He had spread false rumors that my information existed, luring her to annihilate that location. It was simple, but an undeniably effective strategy.
“But ultimately, it was exposed. She discovered traces of Baban Si within the Imperial Palace, and based on that evidence, she became convinced that Asmodina was inside the palace.”
“Traces of Baban Si?”
This was information I hadn’t heard before. My eyes widened as I looked at Ruslara, and she shook her head, indicating she knew nothing.
Loreil nodded as if to say, “As expected,” and continued.
“Apparently, traces of brainwashing by a fairy named Baban Si were found on some exceptional assassin.”
All eyes focused on Ivan. Ivan’s brow furrowed.
“Huh? I’ve never even met that Demon named Asmo-rina.”
“Right, which means it wasn’t you. It means there exists someone in the Imperial Palace who wields Baban Si’s power.”
Faced with this unexpected turn of events, I furrowed my brow.
“That can’t be. Baban Si was my direct subordinate. Besides me, there is no one else who had Baban Si as a subordinate….”
No one.
But there was someone I suspected.
In that moment, Ruslara and I locked eyes simultaneously.
‘Could it be… Baban Si, who orchestrated the Arena incident?’
Back then, I had become certain upon witnessing Ruslara’s contract method. This was no human conception—it was a contract designed by Baban Si.
The method of brainwashing the other party was identical to Baban Si’s.
If Baban Si, who had designed that contract, was colluding with someone in the Imperial Palace…?
‘Who could it possibly be? A member of the Imperial Family? Or a high-ranking nobleman?’
It could even be the Emperor. If he wielded the Sun God’s power and kept Baban Si as a subordinate… there could be no worse scenario.
As shock rendered me speechless, Loreil continued his explanation calmly.
“Judging by the Princess’s reaction, that trace of Baban Si does not appear to be intentional.”
“That’s right. To begin with, I have brainwashed someone before… but I’ve never been caught.”
I glanced at Ivan. I had already heard from Ruslara that his brainwashing had been undone. He grinned foolishly and waved his hand.
“In any case, I aimed for mutual destruction with Asmo-rina to prevent her rampage. Though I failed, stopped by that man called a viscount… or rather, Gregory.”
Loreil’s gaze turned toward Gregory.
Gregory answered briefly.
“I did not help out of goodwill. I acted only because you had acquaintance with the Princess.”
“How gracious of you. Though it would have been better had you not provoked Asmo-rina afterward.”
“…That is not your concern, human.”
“….”
“….”
As my words trailed off, a chill settled between the two men.
What had transpired in my absence? Their eyes gleamed with an undisguised hostility that neither could conceal.
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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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