Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 126

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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 126

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There was little to prepare for this expedition—my constant companions were only Ivan and Ruslara, after all.
Instead, to make it clear to anyone watching that this was an official outing, I dressed both of them in ornate knight’s armor. Of course, I myself donned a dress adorned with golden thread to appear as a saint.
Once we were dressed, a rather impressive entourage of a saint had been completed.
Ivan, confirming his appearance in the mirror, spoke with an excited voice.
“Don’t I look just like a knight from a fairy tale? Wow, this is the first time I’ve ever worn armor like this.”
“Isn’t it uncomfortable? It must be quite heavy.”
At my question, he bounced in place a few times before breaking into a grin.
“It’s fine. It’s not like I’m going to assassinate anyone.”
If he said it was fine, then so be it.
We unfolded the map Chloe had brought and headed toward where the saint was needed.
Viscount Gorden asked if we needed horses or a carriage, but I declined. With the three of us moving, running directly would be faster anyway.
During our journey, Ivan asked a question.
“But Princess, how should I act like a saint? Do I grant blessings or something?”
“I don’t have such skills. That’s why I plan to show people solving problems right before their eyes.”
“So we fight directly?”
At that, Ruslara frowned as if she could no longer bear it.
“Does that even make sense? Fighting is our duty. Your Highness will only step in to resolve the matter.”
“So how exactly will that ‘resolution’ happen? Will you reason with the demon beasts?”
‘Well, I didn’t explain it, so of course she’s confused.’
I chuckled softly and shook my head, telling her not to worry.
“It’s simple. Just bring the enemy before me. I’ll handle the rest.”
“…?”
And Ivan’s confusion was resolved immediately upon arriving at the first village.
Our first destination was a small village in the neighboring domain, rumored to be suffering from demon beasts.
I went straight to the village chief’s house and conveyed that I had come to resolve the demon beast problem. The village chief welcomed me as if he had witnessed a miracle.
“Oh, the legendary saint truly exists…! Have you really come to save us? Even the Temple ignored our pleas….”
I shook my head.
“I am no saint. I merely heard the voices of suffering citizens reach my ears.”
After forcing out a saintly response, I spoke to Ivan and Ruslara.
“I sense faint magical power in the forest. It really does seem to be a demon beast. It’s in the northwest of the village, so drive it toward the entrance.”
Ivan and Ruslara nodded, then rushed into the forest. I stood at the entrance, waiting for the two of them to drive their prey toward me.
In the meantime, word had spread, and the villagers began appearing one by one. They glanced at me and whispered among themselves.
“Is that person really a saint? Her eyes look strange….”
“Wasn’t the Imperial Family supposed to have platinum hair? No wait, wasn’t that a former prince?”
“Come on, when was that cursed rumor from?”
As befitted a rural village, all manner of rumors were mixed together.
Instead of answering, I waited with my arms crossed.
Soon, a beast’s ear-piercing shriek erupted from the forest as Ivan and Ruslara drove the demon creature into view.
[Kyaaaaaaagh-!]
The demon was a colossal wolf, easily large enough to swallow a human whole. From the sheer number of humans it had devoured, the stench of vengeful spirits clung thickly to the air around it.
‘Whether it became a demon by slaughtering so many people, or by consuming magical power from somewhere else….’
Either way, it hardly mattered. What mattered was that this creature was a demon tormenting humans, and that this world belonged to mankind.
There was no one in this realm who would tolerate a beast that devoured humans.
“Your Highness!”
Ruslara called out to me urgently.
The demon bared its fangs in rage and charged toward me.
“For a demon, it’s rather small… but this should certainly generate some rumors.”
I extended my right hand toward the demon. At the same moment, the villagers watching anxiously from behind let out a scream.
“Kyaaaagh!”
“S-someone stop it!”
They must have thought I was offering my arm to the demon.
But that was not why I had extended this hand.
‘About this distance should do.’
The moment the demon drew near, I whispered a quiet incantation.
[Shadow.]
As the language of the Demon Realm slipped from my lips, a needle woven from shadow rose up from the ground—at an angle invisible to the villagers behind me.
The needle pierced through the demon’s jaw and skull in one fluid motion.
[Gaaaaack…!]
With its head pierced, the demon could barely cry out before it collapsed before me.
I caught the falling demon tenderly in my embrace.
To the villagers, it would appear as though the demon had knelt of its own accord and leaned against me.
Then, clearing my throat softly, I spoke with the grace of a saint.
“Let us end this now. Return to the side of the Divine.”
Of course, the demon gave no answer. I stroked its head as though in blessing, while concealing the hole in its skull with shadow.
A corpse without a single drop of blood spilled—complete.
Moments later, once the villagers confirmed the demon had gone silent, they cautiously approached.
“G-good heavens… the demon knelt before the saint!”
“Is it dead? It’s not breathing…”
“It must have been purified by divine power!”
The murmurs of the crowd grew louder. And naturally, all eyes turned toward me.
As though I truly were a saint who had performed a miracle.
I patted the demon a few times, then rose to my feet.
“The Sun God has claimed this child. He will surely mete out fitting punishment. And all the souls wounded by this creature will also be gathered by the Sun God.”
Of course, this was a lie. The Sun God has no authority to judge souls. Souls merely return to the cycle of reincarnation.
Yet one thing was true: all the vengeful spirits that had clung to the demon had vanished, and the victims had found their peace.
“Ah… then our child will also go to the side of the Sun God….”
“Thank you, thank you.”
“Peace has finally come to our village…”
Relief and tears mingled on the villagers’ faces. Some bowed repeatedly, thanking me profusely.
I turned to face them with a compassionate gaze and spoke.
“I merely fulfilled my duty. As a member of the Imperial Family sworn to protect the Empire’s people, I apologize for arriving so late.”
And without ever uttering the word “saint,” I quietly withdrew from among them.
I left the village, turning away from the Village Chief who approached to offer his gratitude.
Behind me, I heard the villagers’ voices.
“Saint Deina, long live you!”
“Saint, thank you!”
Their cheers grew fainter and fainter.
‘Something like this should do the trick.’
It was somewhat childish as a finale, but the effect was undeniable. I pressed my fingertips against my stiffened facial muscles to relax them.
Then I felt the gazes of Ivan and Ruslara, who had been following beside me. Both of them stared with eyes wide as if they’d seen a ghost.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Well… I’d say it was remarkable. Wouldn’t you?”
At Ivan’s question, Ruslara nodded somewhat reluctantly.
“I too believed only the Princess could embody a saint… but I never expected it to be this convincing.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Of course. I was simply amazed at how perfectly you played the saint.”
‘Did I really act that well?’
In truth, I had spoken while incredibly tense, careful not to misspeak, yet the two of them seemed quite impressed.
Ivan even gestured as he spoke.
“You were truly amazing! For a moment, I thought a halo appeared behind you! If I hadn’t seen you pierce the beast’s head with that mana needle just before, I would’ve genuinely believed you purified it!”
But what amazed Ivan differed slightly from what impressed Ruslara.
“That invisible attack that flashed past—it was incredible! If something like that came at me, I wouldn’t even know how to dodge it!”
Even in this moment, Ivan was thinking about evasion first. That was so very like him.
I exhaled softly.
“We’ll continue solving things this way. The goal is to clean up everything around here by tomorrow and return, so don’t dawdle.”
The two responded energetically.
“Got it!”
“Understood.”
Satisfied with the Guard’s reliable response, I estimated the total amount of mana I had just expended.
‘This should be fine. I need to maintain the saint act, and it would be troublesome if I coughed up blood for no reason.’
I murmured to myself and quickened my pace.
Our next destination was the mountain village where the mad sorcerer supposedly lived.
“By the way, Princess.”
Ivan, walking beside me, tilted his head.
“What if the opponent is human? Killing them wouldn’t be very saintly.”
“Destroying their magical nerves will suffice.”
I answered without hesitation.
“I won’t be able to use magic for the rest of my life because of the aftereffects, but at least I’m not dead.”
“…Your tone doesn’t sound very saintly at all.”
“Be quiet.”

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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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