Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 131

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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 131
Gregory nodded.
“The Commander has issued an order. Stop the battle with the 2nd Legion Commander.”
“What? Now you’re having second thoughts…? Wait, so you weren’t fighting me because of an order?”
Asmo-rina’s expression turned bewildered.
Among all the soldiers she knew, Gregory was the most principled and rigid. During her military days, even when Asmo-rina had provoked him dozens of times, he had never once responded.
The thought of such a Gregory acting independently in battle was unbelievable.
“I judged that the 2nd Legion Commander’s disappearance would benefit the Commander. Therefore, I am prepared to accept punishment for disobeying orders.”
“I don’t care what punishment you receive… Why are you preventing Asmodina from returning to the Demon Realm? What reason is there to live in this garbage of a world?”
“You don’t understand.”
There it was again.
Asmo-rina irritably scratched her head. Every conversation with Gregory went like this. He would answer questions but provide absolutely no additional explanation.
“Whether I understand or not, just explain yourself. Don’t tell me it’s because of the war? The Demon Realm is at peace now! Why are you hesitating about returning!”
After the Demon Army’s Commander disappeared, peace had descended upon the Demon Realm. The Divine Race and the Demon Clan had signed a ceasefire agreement, and the devastated lands were gradually beginning to show signs of vitality.
Of course, in regions where the scars of war still lingered, sporadic clashes continued. But such matters could be adequately resolved at the Legion Commander level.
In other words, there was no reason for war to break out again simply because Asmodina returned to the Demon Realm.
“The peace you’ve yearned for your entire life is right before your eyes, yet you cling to the Human Realm! From what I see, this place is far filthier than the Demon Realm!”
Through Loreil, her former ally, she had come to understand just how vile the Human Realm truly was.
One could not call the Demon Clan a virtuous race, but at least they were not as treacherous as humans. Moreover, this world still bore the remnants of that despicable Sun God, did it not?
Yet Gregory merely sighed deeply, as though disappointed by her words.
“As expected, you understand nothing.”
“Damn it. Then explain yourself properly!”
She wanted to throw a punch, but her body was in such poor condition that even approaching him was difficult.
At Asmo-rina’s curse, Gregory pondered for a moment before speaking quietly.
“Very well. I will explain why the Commander prevents your return. But you must make me a promise in return.”
“What?”
“Answer my questions. We exchange one question each.”
Just as Asmo-rina was about to nod eagerly, Gregory added firmly.
“No lies. Swear by your soul.”
“…Your soul?”
“Yes. You will surely try to evade my questions, so such precautions are necessary.”
Gregory entered deeper into the cave and picked up a mana stone that had fallen to the ground, extending it toward her.
“First, recover your mana. We’ll talk after that.”
“…Hmph.”
She was reluctant to absorb Gregory’s mana, but if she could learn the secret, it was a price worth paying.
Asmo-rina snatched the stone and rapidly absorbed its mana.
“So what do you want to know about me?”
“My answer comes first. Listen quietly.”
“Yes, yes, how considerate of you.”
She pouted and nodded. For a moment, Gregory’s eyes softened faintly, but she, focused on absorbing mana, failed to notice the change.
“…First, the reason Captain shouldn’t return to the Demon Realm isn’t simply due to personal feelings. To be precise, it’s because of the Demon Realm’s circumstances.”
“The Demon Realm’s circumstances?”
“Commander of the 2nd Legion. Do you remember at what point the war came to a halt?”
The events were so distant that my memories had grown hazy. Asmo-rina pondered briefly before answering.
“Perhaps… the Battle of Durandel? The war where we defeated that Sun God and destroyed one of the Divine Race’s strongholds.”
“You remember well. But to be precise, the problem wasn’t the Battle of Durandel itself, but rather Captain’s disappearance around that time was the cause.”
“What are you talking about? You’re saying the war ended because Captain vanished?”
“Yes.”
“That makes no sense… the sequence of events is completely reversed!”
Immediately after the Battle of Durandel ended, Asmodina suddenly declared her retirement and disappeared from sight. Not long after, ceasefire negotiations began.
The Divine Race, having suffered tremendous losses at Asmodina’s hands, desired a ceasefire, and the Demon Clan, having achieved sufficient military gains, accepted their proposal.
At least, that’s what Asmo-rina had believed.
But Gregory firmly denied it.
“Think carefully, Commander of the 2nd Legion. All this time, we’ve proposed ceasefire negotiations to the Divine Race countless times. Yet they’ve never accepted even once. So why do you think they sent a proposal first this time?”
“Well, they suffered heavy losses too….”
“There were many times before when they suffered near-annihilation. But each time, they resisted to the end. It means the Battle of Durandel alone wasn’t the reason.”
Asmo-rina irritably scratched her head.
“Damn it, stop beating around the bush and be clear. So you’re saying right now that the Divine Race withdrew because Asmodina disappeared?”
“Yes. To be precise, their will to fight vanished the moment Captain disappeared.”
“…What?”
Just then, all the magical energy contained in the stone was exhausted. Gregory placed the next stone in her hand and continued.
“The Divine Race takes to the battlefield proclaiming unwavering conviction and justice. But that isn’t the nature of their race. It’s a will to fight arbitrarily imposed by someone. And when that someone confirmed Captain’s disappearance, they withdrew that will.”
“Are you saying the gods weren’t targeting the Demon Clan, but Asmodina herself?”
Gregory shook his head.
“It means they came to hate the Demon Clan because Captain existed. In other words, if Captain isn’t in the Demon Realm, there’s no reason for them to hate the Demon Clan.”
It was a story utterly impossible to believe. I couldn’t even fathom where such an assumption came from.
Asmo-rina, bewildered, even stumbled over her words.
“W-wait. Then who gave the gods that will to fight? They don’t have a leader like a Demon King.”
“That’s a question beyond our agreement. I cannot answer.”
“You stubborn fool…! Then what’s your basis? Do you have evidence?”
“That too is similarly something I cannot….”
“Hey!”
She threw the stone whose magical energy had been depleted at Gregory. This time too, he irritatingly caught it and continued speaking quietly.
“That’s precisely why Captain cannot return to the Demon Realm. Not merely because of personal feelings.”
“…Wait, if what you’re saying is true, could it be that Asmodina herself knows about this absurd condition?”
Gregory fell silent. But from his eyes alone, the answer could be inferred. Deep regret and guilt were evident in his gaze.
‘I’ve believed all this time that Asmodina came to the Human Realm through some method. I thought coming to the Human Realm was the purpose from the start. But what if the real purpose wasn’t the Human Realm, but simply to disappear from the Demon Realm?’
Her concealment wasn’t for the sake of departing to the Human Realm….
“She hid her body to take her own life?”
And only after confirming Asmodina’s demise did the gods’ will finally cease, and the war stopped?
Gregory nodded slowly as he observed Asmo-rina, her complexion drained of all color.
An immortal general who fell to no attack.
The mightiest Demon who led wars to victory, the hope of the Demon Realm itself.
And yet her final choice was to take her own life.
‘This cannot be. If that’s truly what happened, why didn’t she tell me anything?’
Asmo-rina could not gather her wits in the face of her Mother’s horrific end. Before her, unable even to form words, Gregory knelt on one knee.
“I will entertain no further questions. I kept my promise. Now you must honor yours.”
“What exactly are you—”
“There is a truth I wish to hear from you. Asmo-rina, how did you cross over into the Human Realm? Who summoned you?”
‘So that’s what he wanted to know.’
It was a question she had never anticipated.
Her mind was already in turmoil, and now he sought to unearth the very secret she most wished to conceal.
“Ah, that question is far too broad. Allow me to simplify it for you so it’s easier to answer.”
Gregory seized Asmo-rina’s chin, forcing her to meet his gaze as she tried to look away.
“Hundreds, thousands of citizens were slaughtered in Jins Kingdom. The Royal Family used them as sacrifices to complete some dark ritual, did they not?”
“….”
“That dark ritual, Asmo-rina—was it to summon you? Or was it something else?”
He finished his words with deliberate weight.
“Was it to summon our Commander?”
Asmo-rina bit her lip.

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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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