Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 121

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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 121
The moment Ivan drew a dagger from his waist, the Village Chief’s face drained of all color, and he hastily opened his mouth.
“Ah, I understand! Properly… Yes! Yes! I’m sorry!”
“Just this once, I’ll let it slide.”
I smiled and accepted his apology. Watching the Village Chief exhale in relief, I judged that the first button had been fastened correctly.
‘Now he’ll convince himself that he answered of his own accord, not under duress.’
It was merely a difference in mindset, but this would loosen his tongue considerably.
The room appeared to serve as a reception area, with a large table and chairs positioned in the center.
I took the seat of honor and placed the Village Chief across from me. Behind him stood Ivan, devoid of any trace of amusement.
The Village Chief lacked the courage to turn around, keeping his gaze fixed on me without so much as a twitch.
“I suppose introductions are unnecessary? You knew I was coming and even went so far as to remove all the expensive furniture.”
My words caused the Village Chief’s body to flinch.
Yet he refrained from making the mistake of answering hastily.
“So then, Village Chief, my first question: you conspired with the Former Administrator and….”
I tilted my head at an angle.
“You killed people, didn’t you?”
“…!”
I had permitted only two answers: ‘Yes’ and ‘I’m sorry.’
There was no ‘No’ among them.
Unable to deny even if he wished to, the Village Chief’s pupils trembled violently with indignation.
I pressed on without regard.
“And you removed the furniture to erase evidence of the murders. I suspect somewhere on the Back Mountain, you’ve buried the murder weapon and blood-stained furniture.”
“…!”
“According to the reports, twenty people have vanished from this village, all of them connected to you. Impressive—even in the Capital, I’ve never encountered someone who murdered so many.”
Ivan’s expression behind me had grown peculiar.
His face read, ‘Really? This old man did that?’
“The Former Administrator confessed long ago that you were the root cause of everything. Henceforth, you will be executed according to Imperial Law, and through the principle of collective punishment, your relatives and children will all be sent to the gallows….”
Finally unable to endure any longer, the Village Chief rose from his chair and fell to his knees.
“No, no, that’s not true…! Your Highness, truly it’s not! I could never have done such a thing…!”
He dragged himself forward on his knees, inching closer. His palms fumbled across the ground before finally stopping near my feet.
“I, I didn’t kill anyone. I swear, I swear! My hands have never been stained with blood!”
“I clearly said there were only two acceptable answers.”
“I’m, I’m sorry! But, but I really didn’t do it! Please, just believe me on this one thing!”
The Village Chief continued in a flustered rush. His voice cracked, and something—tears or mucus—streamed down his cheeks.
“I did conspire with that bastard to receive some gold… Yes, that’s true, I was wrong about that. But that’s all! With no way to make a living, I truly only took the gold!”
Ivan’s eyes questioned whether I wanted him to cut off the man’s fingers now. But I shook my head.
‘That’s enough. This is what I wanted.’
When people are burdened with unjust accusations, they eventually confess to lesser crimes in hopes of leniency. It was a common criminal psychology.
From this point forward, the Village Chief’s testimony would be far more truthful.
I arranged my expression to appear intrigued and spoke to the Village Chief.
“Hmm. That’s different from what I was briefed on… explain from the beginning.”
“W-well, you see…”
Only then could I hear the truth about the corruption that had unfolded in this Direct Dominion.

* * *
I sank into a chair in what barely resembled an office, exhaling heavily.
Seeing my exhaustion, Viscount Gorden spoke carefully.
“What shall we do about the Village Chief? If it pleases Your Highness, we could convene a summary trial immediately.”
“Leave him for now. We’ll need him to coordinate with the other villages, so it’s better if he remains in position.”
The crimes the Village Chief had confessed to were grave.
Embezzlement of public funds, turning a blind eye to the Former Administrator’s corruption, silencing the voices of residents pleading their grievances—crimes that, while not warranting execution, would justify decades of imprisonment without protest.
Yet without him as our liaison, managing the Direct Dominion immediately would become difficult. It was more rational to use him now and punish him later.
“We can gather evidence easily enough. Let’s hold the trial once the village stabilizes.”
“Understood.”
“The real problem is the Domain’s financial situation right now…”
I wanted nothing more than to hunt down the Former Administrator and force him to disgorge every coin he’d stolen, but circumstances were against us.
According to what I’d learned, the Former Administrator had fled roughly a month ago. By now, he’d likely crossed the Border and vanished into another nation—pursuing him was far too late.
‘Thanks to Viscount Gorden’s support, we can manage food supplies for the immediate term. But lasting until autumn’s harvest will be impossible.’
With roughly two thousand residents, even what the mountains could provide had its limits. Moreover, the Village Chief had mentioned that the surrounding wildlife had already been hunted to extinction.
Self-sufficiency was out of the question.
It was no coincidence the Former Administrator had fled the moment the year began.
‘If only a gold mine suddenly appeared like in The City of the Baron of Golden… but this place has no such resources.’
What we needed was vast sums of money.
Had our enemy been a formidable foe, I would have gladly drawn my sword. But faced with insufficient funds, even I was helpless.
“…So, does anyone have a decent idea? I’d like to hear your thoughts. What do you all think?”
I looked around at the people gathered in the office.
Emma, Liribel, Ivan, Ruslara, and Viscount Gorden.
Grid, who seemed most capable for this sort of matter, had begged off due to recent pressing business. Gregory was recovering.
Emma was the first to speak.
“The practical approach would be to liquidate assets. If Your Highness were to sell the jewels and dresses you possess, we could generate a month’s budget. However…”
Emma paused, choosing her words carefully before continuing hesitantly.
“I wouldn’t recommend it. Since only other nobles buy luxury goods, word would spread quickly.”
And such rumors would certainly reach the Emperor’s ears. I had no desire to show him any weakness.
Next came Ivan.
“Want me to take on some assassination contracts? I could make decent money from it.”
“Absolutely not.”
This didn’t even warrant consideration. Choosing murder as a means to an end—it was the very thing I despised most.
Ivan pouted, and Viscount Gorden stepped forward instead.
“Perhaps it would be better if I arranged additional funds from my Domain?”
“No. You’ve already given us a substantial amount.”
Though Viscount Gorden was wealthy, accepting additional funds to procure several months’ worth of provisions would ultimately burden his own city.
I couldn’t starve one place to save another.
“…If there’s truly no other way, I’ll ask then. Thank you for even considering it.”
“Understood.”
Viscount Gorden withdrew with a bitter smile.
Soon, all eyes naturally turned toward Ruslara and Liribel.
Ruslara shook her head and spoke.
“I’m sorry, but nothing comes to mind.”
Meanwhile, Liribel hesitated before carefully opening her mouth.
“Well… the current problem arose because the Former Administrator embezzled the funds, didn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then, wouldn’t it work to target where that money went?”
“…?”
As everyone expressed their confusion with their eyes, Liribel clasped her hands and continued.
“What I mean is, there’s a Loan Shark who lent money to the Administrator, right? The money that person took was ultimately embezzled funds anyway, so if we recover it… wouldn’t that work?”
“That is….”
Viscount Gorden paused to think, then nodded.
“It’s not a bad approach. After all, the money the Administrator sent was Imperial public funds, so there’s legal grounds to reclaim it. Of course, recovering the full amount will be difficult.”
In essence, since the money paid by the debtor—the Former Administrator—belonged to the Empire, we would reclaim it and then settle accounts anew.
“Wait, then who does the Loan Shark collect from?”
“From the original debtor, the Former Administrator, of course. Count Iwan, the previous transactions are nullified, and you’re to establish a new debt relationship between yourselves.”
“Ah, I see.”
Though he didn’t fully understand, Ivan nodded along anyway.
But Emma, sensing something amiss, furrowed her brow and spoke.
“Even if the legal interpretation is sound, would they actually comply? A creditor who can float this much capital surely has escape routes prepared.”
“Hmm, true enough. Even if it works, who knows how long it’ll take to recover the funds. Opening a trial to settle the matter would take forever too….”
What we needed was immediate cash, so this plan had its limitations.
“But there’s no other way, is there.”
Rising from my seat, I withdrew a letter from my pocket. It was the threatening letter the Loan Shark had sent.
“Let’s meet with this Loan Shark first. If we can’t recover the money immediately… we’ll borrow it.”
“Your Majesty! Borrowing money, surely you don’t mean….”
“Of course I’m not foolish enough to make a deal like the Former Administrator did.”
I let my lips curl upward.
“What I want is an interest-free loan.”
If my opponent is a thug operating outside the law, then I have no choice but to use means outside the law as well.

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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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