Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 150

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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 150
‘Agreeing to the Countess’s deal isn’t difficult. Those relics are just dead weight to me anyway. But what troubles me is….’
I regarded the Countess with Jeina’s sharp gaze.
“Can’t you tell me why you wish to become a Demon?”
“I cannot reveal everything. However, to ease the Princess’s suspicions, I will share one thing: it is for my family.”
The Countess’s family had long since perished, sleeping beneath the earth. Did she intend to resurrect them by becoming a Demon?
‘At least it’s not to threaten Deina. Besides, she too is someone participating in Deina’s great cause….’
The scales in Jeina’s mind tipped back and forth.
Should I help her, or should I not?
If I were to help her, what would become of Asmo-rina?
‘I cannot make a hasty judgment on any of this. If only I could learn Deina’s secrets.’
The moment of choice had arrived.
Jeina hardened her expression and slowly opened her mouth.
“Countess, I….”

* * *
“…and that’s the situation unfolding. What should we do about it?”
Grid spoke to me with an intrigued expression.
I was finishing today’s work in my Office when I heard his report, and I let out a deep sigh.
“So the Countess and Jeina have joined forces….”
They believed their conversation had proceeded in secret, but in truth, everything had reached my ears.
Thanks to Grid’s spirit.
The Dark Spirit, lacking combat ability but specialized in illusions, eavesdropping, and concealment, had conveyed their conversation to me without difficulty.
‘The Countess still hasn’t abandoned her dream of becoming a Demon.’
Since she hadn’t mentioned it recently, I’d harbored a futile hope that perhaps she’d given up, but it was all for nothing.
I didn’t believe she harbored malice toward me.
She and Viscount Gorden were the outsiders who had helped me the most, and I relied on her as well.
Her silence about Asmo-rina was likely born from consideration—a desire to resolve her own problems herself.
If she truly intended to betray me, she would have sided with the Emperor instead. The Emperor, like the Countess, sought to exploit Demonic power, making cooperation far easier.
‘I was already trying to decide what to do about Asmo-rina….’
I lifted my eyes from the documents and leaned back in my chair.
It felt as though someone were pushing my back, urging me to stop delaying and settle this once and for all.
“What do you all think?”
I asked for opinions from the others in my Office. Grid shrugged as if he didn’t want to get involved, and Ivan beside him rolled his eyes before speaking.
“So… what exactly are you asking? Should we stop the Countess, or should we fight that Demon called Asmo-rina?”
Then Ruslara, sitting across from him, sighed and interjected.
“You’re not asking us to choose a combat opponent. You’re deliberating which side to take and how to respond. For instance, preparing for what might happen if we overlook the Countess.”
“Aren’t you overthinking this? Just let them do as they wish, and if you don’t like how it turns out, you can always overturn it later.”
“That assumes we’ll be able to manage the fallout when the time comes.”
Ruslara continued with a frown.
“From what I’ve observed, Asmo-rina is a demon without qualms about using violence. If her intention to target the Princess remains unchanged, it would be more efficient to obstruct the Countess’s plan instead.”
“So you’re saying we wait until Asmo-rina leaves Monos on her own…?”
“Precisely. It’s the best way to avoid combat.”
Ruslara’s reasoning held merit. If I stood between the Countess and Jeina, Asmo-rina would leave Monos without obtaining any real leads. It was the safe choice—maintaining the status quo.
I laughed bitterly and shook my head.
“But I don’t think I’ll choose that path, Ruslara.”
“…I suspected you would say that.”
Ruslara nodded with a complicated expression, as if she’d sensed my resolve not to turn away from Asmo-rina.
Once, I had hoped Asmo-rina would return to the Demon Realm of her own accord—that she would grow weary of the human world and relinquish her attachment to me.
But the moment I encountered her at the tea shop, I understood.
This child would never abandon me.
If that were true, then I could not run forever either.
‘Eventually, I’ll have to face her. The real concern is the people caught in between….’
Jeina and the Countess—unexpected players who had complicated everything.
As Ivan had warned, leaving them alone and merely observing posed considerable danger.
Primarily because I believed Asmo-rina would never comply with the Countess’s demands.
‘Asmo-rina, who despises humans, making a stranger like the Countess her tool? That’s absurd… Wait. But there’s Lua’s case too. Could it be different?’
Lua’s face suddenly flashed through my mind.
If that child had caused Asmo-rina to open her heart even slightly to humans… then her dealings with the Countess might proceed smoothly after all.
As I was considering various possibilities, Emma, who had been listening, spoke hesitantly.
“But Your Highness, does that mean revealing your identity to Asmo-rina is inevitable?”
“Yes. I have no intention of running.”
“Then wouldn’t it be better if you, who can control both the Countess and Asmo-rina, stepped forward as a mediator?”
“A mediator?”
Emma nodded.
“Your Highness is worried whether Asmo-rina will harm the Countess, or whether the Princess Jeina will regard Asmo-rina as an enemy, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then perhaps it would be good for you to step forward as both the Princess and Asmodina, preventing the incident before it occurs.”
In other words, she was suggesting I reveal my identity first, then mediate between the two parties’ transaction.
‘It’s a rough method, but… it might actually work.’
Even in the worst scenario, Asmo-rina’s target would be me alone, so she wouldn’t drag others into it.
Most importantly, I could protect the Countess.
However, the two Guard Knights reacted poorly.
“That’s basically making Your Highness the bait.”
“Correct. Only Your Highness bears the increased risk, not the parties conducting the transaction.”
Emma, showing no sign of withdrawing her opinion, frowned as she spoke.
“But unless we send Asmo-rina away, this is the safest method.”
“Safe? Only Your Highness is in danger.”
“That’s precisely why, if Your Highness mediates….”
The conversation was beginning to heat up. I raised my voice to calm them down.
“Enough! Let’s set aside our differences for now and consolidate what we know.”
Ruslara wants me to stay out of danger, while Emma believes I should take the lead but control the confrontation.
‘These aren’t completely opposite positions. If we’re clever, we might find common ground.’
After a moment’s consideration, I arrived at my own solution.
“…What about something like this?”
After hearing my proposal, Ruslara looked somewhat worried, but she nodded in agreement nonetheless.
“Indeed, that approach would allow us to avoid immediate conflict.”
Emma, on the other hand, appeared satisfied.
“How fitting for the Princess. Since it won’t harm the residents, I believe it’s acceptable.”
The deliberation was lengthy, but the decision came swiftly.
I spoke with a hardened expression.
“Then let’s proceed with this plan. I don’t know how it will end, but we have to give it our best effort.”
Sensing my resolve, everyone nodded with serious faces.
I immediately issued follow-up instructions.
“First, Ivan and Ruslara—prioritize the residents’ safety above all else. Ruslara especially, be careful not to draw Asmo-rina’s attention. And Grid….”
The operation would commence tomorrow night.
I would move in sync with the Countess’s schedule.

* * *
Early morning, in a small inn in Monos.
Asmo-rina awoke parched and, while drinking water, discovered a letter placed at her bedside.
‘What is this? Did Lua leave it?’
However, Lua, who occupied the adjacent bed, was fast asleep.
Sensing something amiss, she immediately opened the letter. The moment she read its contents, her eyes widened.
[It’s been a while, Rina.]
[I heard you’ve been looking for me.]
The familiar handwriting, the familiar Demon Realm tongue.
It was a letter left by her mother, Asmodina.

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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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