Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 152

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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 152

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The night of the final confrontation had arrived.
Beneath an abandoned Bell Tower in the north of Monos.
Since Deina had advised against bringing Guards nearby, Jeina and the Countess faced Asmo-rina alone.
“What, just the two of you? I thought at least a warrior would show up, but….”
Unlike the two who had been waiting in tension, Asmo-rina let out a sigh as if disappointed.
She had expected a formidable warrior as Asmodina’s associate, but what appeared before her was merely an ordinary human, leaving her visibly let down.
‘So that’s what she meant by not provoking her competitive spirit….’
Witnessing this, Jeina realized the validity of Deina’s counsel. Bringing a powerful Guard Knight would have invited unnecessary complications.
‘Though I haven’t left myself completely unprepared.’
Jeina’s eyes flickered toward the large box positioned behind the Countess.
Within it lay dozens of sacred relics potent enough to vanquish Demons.
As Asmo-rina drew closer, she sensed the aura of divine power and her brow furrowed.
“That nauseating stench…. Don’t tell me you’re priests?”
Then the Countess stepped forward and spoke.
“No. These are merely precautions prepared for contingencies. Please pay them no mind.”
At her composed demeanor, Asmo-rina regarded her with bewilderment for a moment before letting out a slight laugh.
“Audacious…. Fine, I never expected you to come unprepared anyway.”
At her relaxed attitude, the Countess broke into a cold sweat. An anxiety crept over her—what if the countermeasures they had prepared proved utterly useless against her?
Meanwhile, Asmo-rina was equally surprised.
‘They really came alone. And Asmodina didn’t even send a watcher.’
She had known Asmodina herself wouldn’t come, but she had never imagined that merely two humans would meet her.
Under different circumstances, she might have deemed them quite bold.
Between these two harboring contradictory thoughts, Jeina spoke first.
“It seems Asmodina is the one who invited us to this place, is that correct?”
‘Hmm, that voice…. Where have I heard it before?’
Though they had crossed paths once at the Tea Shop, Asmo-rina had not bothered to remember the particulars of an uninteresting human. She nodded casually.
“That’s right. Asmodina sent me a letter asking me to meet with you.”
“Then there’s no need for lengthy explanations. We, the Demon Asmo-rina, wish to conduct a transaction with you.”
Asmo-rina also disliked wasting time with idle chatter. She lifted her chin, signaling for them to continue.
It was the Countess who spoke next.
“Asmo-rina, you know the method by which humans become Demons, do you not?”
“…. What, was that what you wanted?”
Asmo-rina’s expression hardened coldly. Contempt filled her eyes that had been listening with interest.
“Why do humans always seek to gain power so easily…. Do you understand what it means to become a Demon? If you fail, there is no turning back. In the first place….”
“I am aware. Should I fail, my soul will be annihilated, and even if I am reborn as a Demon, there is no guarantee I will retain my sanity.”
Yet the Countess continued without hesitation, speaking calmly.
“Regardless, I do not intend to retreat. Even if I transform into something so base it cannot be called a Demon, or if I fail and my soul is obliterated, I will not step back.”
Asmo-rina’s brow furrowed at the Countess’s extraordinary composure.
No human she had ever encountered could be so resolute in the face of death.
“Why would you need to become a Demon?”
“If I explain, will you accept the deal?”
“It would help me decide.”
In truth, Asmo-rina had already resolved to refuse the deal.
This was a transaction that would earn Asmodina’s resentment regardless of acceptance.
‘There’s no way Asmodina would permit such a foolish arrangement. This must be the result of that woman’s stubbornness. The wisest course is to refuse the deal here and send her back.’
It was the best way to avoid Asmodina’s displeasure and spare herself troublesome complications.
Yet hearing such unwavering resolve, I found myself curious about her reasons.
The Countess paused briefly in thought.
‘Fabricating a plausible excuse wouldn’t be amiss. There’s nothing to gain from Princess Jeina discovering my weakness. But if Asmo-rina is the person I believe her to be….’
I made my decision quickly.
“To see my family again.”
“…Your family?”
The Countess began explaining her circumstances without a shred of deception.
The misfortune that had befallen her in the past, the family members she had lost because of it.
And finally, her youngest daughter, Biki, who had become a vengeful spirit lingering around her.
The story was so shocking that Princess Jeina’s eyes trembled violently as she listened.
She seemed unable to have imagined the Empress’s darkness in the Imperial Social Circle ran so deep.
Meanwhile, Asmo-rina’s eyes grew distant and heavy.
She had expected there might be unforeseen circumstances, but the content felt far too familiar.
‘A mother willing to sacrifice her own life for her child…’
A forgotten memory suddenly brushed across her mind.
In childhood, when Asmo-rina was still an inexperienced warrior. The image of her mother extending a hand toward her, breaking through countless magical attacks.
The Countess reminded me of Asmodina from that time.
“…Your daughter won’t want you to become a Demon. Will you do it anyway?”
At Asmo-rina’s question, the Countess nodded without hesitation.
“You may think me selfish. Even if my daughter resents me, I cannot abandon that child alone.”
‘That’s the complete opposite of us.’
Though the words were not directed at me, the Countess’s resolve cut deep into my heart.
Asmo-rina let out a laugh, pretending to wash her face.
‘What am I to do? I was trying to ignore this, but if I leave it like this, it’ll gnaw at me. It was the same with Lua, and lately I keep meeting these strange humans.’
I hadn’t anticipated hitting such an obstacle before even meeting Asmodina.
But my deliberation was brief. The moment I heard her circumstances, the outcome was already decided.
‘Just this once, let me trust a human.’
Transforming a stranger into a Demon was a heavy burden, even for Asmo-rina weakened by prolonged residence in the Human World.
My past self would have shouted at me not to commit such foolishness.
But I chose to place my hope in the Countess’s resolve.
The mother’s love the Countess had shown had captured my heart.
“Fine, human. I accept your deal.”
As the Countess’s expression brightened, Asmo-rina continued slowly.
“Then tell me first what you’ll offer as the price of this transaction.”
Her tone remained sharp, yet unlike our first meeting, there was no hostility in it.
Had her mother been present at this moment, she would surely have wept with joy at this transformation.

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After the deal concluded, Asmo-rina returned to her lodging.
Though she hadn’t met with Asmodina, her steps were light.
Even she found it difficult to explain why her mood was so good. The deal hadn’t succeeded enough to call it complete, and she hadn’t even gathered information about Asmodina from Jeina and the Countess.
Yet a corner of her heart felt strangely warm.
She didn’t yet know that this warmth came from the small comfort born of a good deed.
‘I should explain to Lua soon that we’re parting ways. Since I owe those people a debt, perhaps I should repay them.’
Her family seemed to be struggling with money lately, so it wouldn’t be bad to gather some suitable treasure from nearby and give it to them.
If the Countess was the one who gave humans reason for hope, then it was Lua’s family who had broken down Asmo-rina’s prejudices.
‘Of course, their ancestor is a Demon, but.’
In any case, they were undoubtedly the benefactors who helped her adapt to the Human World.
Though parting ways felt somewhat regrettable, given their nature, they would surely greet her lightly next time with words about meeting again.
Thinking thus, Asmo-rina arrived at her lodging, and the moment she opened the door, an strange sensation made her senses sharpen.
The dim interior revealed nothing.
‘…Blood scent.’
Instead, the familiar smell of blood pierced her nostrils.
Without hesitation, she drew up her magical power and conjured flames. Light flickering like a torch pushed back the darkness.
What came into view was blood and flesh staining the ground and walls, and familiar faces of people collapsed on the floor.
They were Lua’s family.

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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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