Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 149

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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 149
Though startled for a moment, Jeina quickly regained her composure and opened the window.
Beyond the window lay a small garden, and from there, the Countess walked slowly toward me.
“I greet you, Princess Jeina.”
At the Countess’s courteous greeting, Jeina’s expression darkened.
“I never knew the esteemed Countess of Adonia had a hobby of eavesdropping.”
“There were unavoidable circumstances. I hope you’ll forgive my intrusion. Originally, I had intended to speak with you after allowing more time, but….”
The Countess paused, choosing her words carefully.
“It appeared that Your Highness was approaching the truth faster than anticipated, so I came without warning.”
‘The truth, she says.’
The corners of Jeina’s mouth lifted slightly.
“You speak as though you possess all the answers.”
“At least more than Your Highness does.”
….
The Countess stood across from Jeina. The two women, separated by the open window, differed in age but shared strikingly similar features.
Jeina gazed at the platinum-blonde hair that mirrored her own and pondered.
‘The Countess’s maternal lineage was said to be a cadet branch of the Imperial Family. She certainly carries strong Imperial blood.’
It made sense that High Society had praised her beauty. Though she now appeared worn by the misfortunes she’d endured, she must have been a captivating beauty in her past.
“Then, what brings you here? To boast that you know everything? Or to enlighten this foolish princess with the truth?”
“Neither. I’ve come to propose a deal with Your Highness.”
“…A deal.”
Jeina tilted her head, inviting further explanation. The Countess then glanced toward the Guard Knight waiting behind her.
“I believe this conversation would be better conducted between just the two of us.”
“You’re asking me to dismiss my guard?”
“I’ve brought no attendants myself.”
At that moment, Guard Knight Liam called out to Jeina briefly.
“Your Majesty, this is not the Imperial Palace.”
“…Wait outside. I’ll call for you again.”
“Your Majesty.”
Showing no intention of reconsidering, Jeina did not answer twice. Eventually, Liam offered a brief salute and left the room.
Only after his presence had faded did the Countess speak again.
“Your Highness must be curious about the true identity of Asmo-rina, whom you met on the street?”
“And you also wish to know the purpose of the Golden Hand. The fact that you’ve approached me at this moment means you’ve prepared answers to those questions as well, doesn’t it?”
“Of course.”
The Countess nodded calmly and withdrew a single sheet of paper from her bosom.
“Do you know what this is?”
“…Is it a cipher?”
What was written on the paper was a series of short sentences.
[Execution date: Full moon. 4. Minimum 1000.]
As she pondered whether it might be an operational order of some kind, the Countess offered a brief explanation.
“This is the operational directive of the Golden Hand that Princess Deina discovered.”
‘So she took Deina’s findings without permission. Bringing classified information about another member of the Imperial Family before me—she has some nerve.’
Of course, it wasn’t a compliment. If anything, my wariness toward the Countess of Adonia rose another notch.
“The Golden Hand was attempting to conduct a ritual in the Monos Direct Territory. They would sacrifice residents from the four cardinal directions, producing souls brimming with resentment and malice.”
“…And the victims would number at least a thousand?”
“Precisely.”
‘This mad old fool.’
I’d always known the Emperor possessed the temperament of a tyrant, but this exceeded all bounds. Jeina’s brow furrowed as a certain legend suddenly came to mind.
‘There’s a tale that Demons are drawn to human resentment and malice. And the Emperor previously attempted to drive out Demons….’
The connection formed effortlessly.
“You intended to lure out the Demons by sacrificing the residents of Monos.”
“Correct.”
“And the truth connected to this story is… I see. Is Asmo-rina a Demon?”
“Your insight is remarkable, as expected. Hardly inferior to Princess Deina’s.”
Hearing her praise Deina didn’t sit poorly with me.
The Countess continued slowly.
“Through Princess Deina’s quick thinking, His Majesty’s plan failed. The Golden Hand withdrew and has remained silent ever since.”
The ritual had failed. There were no casualties among the residents, and no resentful spirits of the kind Demons would covet appeared in the area.
Yet the Demon called Asmo-rina appeared nonetheless.
“Do you believe it was mere coincidence…?”
At Jeina’s question, the Countess tilted her head and fell into thought.
“I cannot say for certain. It seems too convenient to dismiss as coincidence, but… unfortunately, Princess Deina and I have encountered such irrational misfortune far too often.”
A succession of calamities beyond individual control.
For Deina and the Countess, such things had become an inescapable constant of life.
Though its intensity had weakened over time, this misfortune may well have summoned Asmo-rina once again.
“But how are you so certain that Asmo-rina is a Demon?”
“Because I, like His Majesty, have been searching for her.”
The Countess’s eyes gleamed with fierce intensity. Jeina instinctively grasped that Asmo-rina was the condition of the deal she’d mentioned.
“I am aware that His Majesty engaged in combat with a Demon. Though I did not witness it directly, by controlling information in the surrounding areas, I was able to identify that the Demon was a woman with violet hair.”
An information network spanning not merely the Capital but the entire realm. That was the true source of the Countess’s power.
She had been blocking the Emperor’s pursuit of Asmo-rina while simultaneously tracking her movements herself.
“It was no simple task. She proved adept at concealing her appearance and movements. Just as I was about to abandon the effort and seek another approach… she made contact with a certain group. The family of a young girl named Lua.”
By joining the group, Asmo-rina naturally left traces behind.
Believing I had finally caught her trail, I was preparing to make contact when…
“She suddenly came to Monos.”
All my investigative efforts rendered meaningless as she appeared here.
And then, by another twist of fate, she encountered you and Deina.
“…That is the situation as it stands.”
Having heard the full explanation, Jeina fell into contemplation with a complicated expression.
‘There are no contradictions in her account. But if this is the truth, then the identity of Asmodina, whom Asmo-rina claims is family, is….’
Demon.
And if I applied the assumption that Asmodina was Deina herself, then an unprecedented situation would unfold—the Imperial Family was actually Demon.
‘Then perhaps in a previous life, I was Demon?’
At that moment, the Countess spoke, observing Jeina lost in thought.
“I have something I desire from Asmo-rina. To achieve it, I am seeking collaborators. That is why I have revealed so much information.”
“You’ve already revealed everything before I even agreed to any transaction.”
“I am aware that Your Highness would not be satisfied with merely this much information. Ultimately, what matters most is whether this creature called Asmo-rina becomes an obstacle to Princess Deina, does it not?”
….
Her tone was as if she had peered into my very soul. Since it was not something I wished to deny, Jeina waited with crossed arms, gesturing for her to continue.
“I will uncover Asmo-rina’s true purpose. And I shall report to both Princess Deina and Your Highness whether she is a person of benefit.”
“…What is it that you desire, Countess?”
“The power of Demon.”
The Countess continued with a blasphemous statement that should never be uttered before the Imperial Family.
“I wish to become Demon for certain reasons. To do so, I require the blood and magical power of an exceptionally strong Demon. Asmo-rina meets those conditions perfectly.”
‘That means it would be impossible with anyone else.’
If Deina were a true Demon, I would have asked her instead. Or perhaps I would have refused the request.
The Countess’s intention was becoming clear at last.
“What exactly do you wish me to do? Are you asking me to capture her?”
“No. From what I’ve heard of her movements, Asmo-rina is quite a ferocious individual. Therefore, appropriate protection is necessary.”
“Protection, you say….”
“I am aware that Your Highness possesses numerous relics of the Sun God. With the power of those relics, protecting oneself from Demon would be simple enough.”
‘…Absurd information gathering.’
That I had acquired countless relics to research the Sun God’s power was a secret even the Emperor did not know. I could not even fathom how vast the Countess’s intelligence network truly was.
“To borrow power sufficient to withstand Demon, I would inevitably need to make contact with the Temple. But they….”
“Would never aid someone seeking to become Demon. And since powerful individuals capable of defeating Demon are hardly common, I must have been your optimal trading partner.”
“Precisely.”
Jeina fell silent, contemplating.

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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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