Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 122

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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 122
The city where the Loan Shark lived wasn’t far from Monos. A day and a half’s journey by carriage.
Since there was no need to bring Servants, I set out quickly with only Ivan and Ruslara as my escort.
Thanks to using magical power to accelerate our pace, we arrived in half a day.
‘The difference between this place and Monos is like night and day.’
Unlike Monos, which perfectly fit the description of a remote mountain village, this was quite a substantial Trading City. According to Viscount Gorden, it was a commercial hub where merchants traveling through the Southern Region gathered.
True to his words, wide avenues and massive Buildings lined the streets.
‘The Lord is Count Bindani. I’ve never met him before. His political stance is neutral, and he rarely visits the Capital.’
Since it was a neighboring Domain, it would have been worth meeting him at some point, but this was an unofficial visit.
We carefully infiltrated deeper into the city, avoiding the guards’ eyes.
It was late night. Normally the Streets should have been quiet, but near our destination, it was actually more lively.
‘So this is the Entertainment District.’
Cramped alleys were packed with shops of unknown purpose, and menacing-looking people loitered about. I could even sense killing intent in places.
The darkness of the city. And the Southern Region’s largest Entertainment District, where the Loan Shark lived.
Ivan, glancing around, whistled.
“Quite a charming place.”
“Does the Capital have places like this?”
“Yeah, wider and more glamorous though. The Princess has been to the Black Market because of that divine descent thing, right? It’s around there.”
Unlike Ivan, who seemed at ease, Ruslara looked distinctly uncomfortable. She frowned and spoke.
“I would prefer we move quickly, Princess. There are several who would target us.”
Though we covered ourselves with robes, it was clear to the Entertainment District’s residents that we were outsiders. Gazes hungry for our purses followed us from every direction, and sinister energy emanated from each alley.
I nodded and moved toward the Building where the Loan Shark supposedly lived.
It was unusually large even for this cramped Street. There was no sign, but instead an iron door hung in its place.
I pushed the door open without even knocking and stepped inside.
“…Who are you?”
Rough-looking Intruders who appeared to be Guards greeted us. They revealed their hostility toward the sudden intrusion.
I spoke briefly to Ivan and Ruslara.
“Take care of them.”
The two immediately threw themselves at the Intruders. What followed was one-sided suppression.
“Ah, aaaah!”
“Who are you… ugh!”
In mere seconds, all the Guards inside were sprawled across the Ground.
‘These two seem to have grown stronger since I last saw them.’
The abilities of these two were such that calling them Demon Army Soldiers would be an understatement—they were commander-class.
After the cleanup, people came down from the second floor, apparently noticing the commotion on the first.
“What’s all this noise?”
“What on earth…”
Unlike the Guards at the entrance, they wore quite refined uniforms. At first glance, they looked like bankers.
‘For a Loan Shark operation, they’ve put in considerable effort.’
I spoke toward them.
“I’ve come from Monos. Bring me the person who conducted business with Monos’s Former Administrator.”
At that, the oldest man in the group stepped forward.
“Who are you?”
“Are you the one who conducted business with the Former Administrator?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Then I have nothing to discuss with you. Bring me the person in charge.”
“…Please wait a moment.”
He was perceptive enough not to ask why I’d knocked out the guards. He’d realized this wasn’t a situation for casual conversation.
He quickly ascended to the second floor.
Not long after, a woman in a more ornate uniform than the others appeared.
“Good day. I am Nereba, branch manager of the Golden Plains.”
She didn’t spare a glance at the fallen guards, instead standing before us with a respectful bow—her etiquette so flawless one might mistake her for nobility.
I instinctively began to respond in the manner of the Imperial Family, then stopped myself. Instead, I replied in a cold voice.
“Are you the person in charge of transactions in Monos?”
“No. However, the previous person in charge retired long ago, and I currently handle those duties.”
“Did you send this?”
I pulled the threatening letter from my pocket and showed it to her. A smile played at the corners of her mouth.
“Yes. The actual writing was done by a subordinate, but I was the one who ordered it sent.”
“I have something to say regarding this transaction.”
“I understand. I’ll have a room prepared. Please, this way.”
I followed her up to the second floor. The staff watched us with expressions tinged with hostility and fear, but I paid them no mind.
‘It seems the show of force is working well.’
In places like this, power was the rule, not courtesy. For outsiders like us to seize control of the conversation, such straightforward methods were most effective.
She led us to a room on the third floor—apparently one reserved for receiving distinguished guests.
‘The second floor had the same layout as a bank. They’ve put considerable effort into appearances despite their illegal dealings.’
It was almost amusing—thugs who extorted multiple times the interest and resorted to blackmail, yet masqueraded as a bank.
“Please, be seated.”
The branch manager and I sat facing each other. She spoke with a smile on her face.
“You said you came because of Monos’s Former Administrator.”
“That’s right. You must know he’s disappeared.”
“Of course. The Former Administrator, Hans, repaid all his debts to us, and then suddenly vanished. Unfortunately, we have no knowledge of his whereabouts either.”
She seemed to believe I’d come here to find Hans.
‘So the administrator’s name was Hans. My former Chamberlain’s name was also Hans… I suppose it’s a common name.’
I shook my head and spoke.
“Where he is doesn’t concern me. I came here to address the transaction itself, not the Former Administrator.”
“The transaction, you say…?”
“The Former Administrator used Imperial funds to settle his debts. Therefore, you will repay all those amounts to the Empire.”
“….”
The branch manager’s face went cold in an instant. She’d become certain we were unwelcome intruders, not customers.
“Since you’re posing as a bank, you should understand well enough. No debt, no claim, can take priority over Imperial funds and taxes.”
“I’m well aware. Senior creditors have the right to be paid before any other guarantee. But sir, how exactly do you plan to prove that?”
“What?”
She leaned back in her chair with her arms crossed, her expression dripping with arrogance.
“How will you verify that the money Hans gave us was public funds? Do the embezzlement records and our deposit logs match exactly? And what is the precise amount?”
“You think an individual could have gathered such an enormous sum?”
“It’s impossible to say. Hans may have come into unexpected profits. Without clear evidence, the Golden Plains cannot agree to void the transaction.”
The branch manager nodded without the slightest hesitation.
“Of course, obtaining evidence won’t be easy. Hans has disappeared, and the employee who handled the contract with him retired long ago.”
‘So that’s why they said there was no responsible party.’
I couldn’t even be certain if the retirement was genuine. There was no way for me to verify it.
In the end, the only concrete evidence of the transaction was the blackmail letter. The ledgers remaining in Monos were written solely by the administrator, making it difficult to establish objectivity.
‘They must have dealt with problems like this more than once or twice. They’re remarkably skilled at this.’
Even if I forced the matter to trial, they would likely drag out the process by demanding evidence.
But I had already anticipated this resistance.
I gazed at the composed branch manager and spoke quietly.
“Then I have no choice. If you won’t return the money, I can’t remain idle either.”
“Are you threatening violence?”
“You know well. It’s your favorite method, after all.”
She let out a cold laugh, as if exasperated.
“You seem unaware of the powerful people backing the Golden Plains.”
“I’m sure they’re impressive. That’s probably why you can lend such enormous sums—enough to destroy an entire village. But here’s the thing.”
I removed the robe I had been wearing. The branch manager’s eyes widened as she saw my face.
“Surely not… the Princess…!”
She clearly hadn’t imagined the Princess herself would come to a place like this.
“My backing is no less formidable than yours. Care to wager? When I judge all the criminals in this place, will your backers blame you, or will they abandon you?”
If the other party sought to evade Imperial Law, then I could simply respond according to the rules of the underworld.
The branch manager’s brow furrowed.
“You think doing such a thing will get your money back…!”
“I’m not doing this to get the money back.”
I smiled calmly.
“It’s simply venting my anger. But once my venting begins, I can’t guarantee your safety in this room.”
Her face went pale. She clearly hadn’t expected a murder threat to be issued right before her eyes.
“W-what do you want?”
“Lend me the money.”
“…Pardon?”
“Interest-free, with your life as collateral. The amount is roughly this much.”
I stated the sum equivalent to what the Former Administrator had borrowed.

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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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