Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 154

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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 154
“What….”
The startled men looked up at the sky in unison.
The thick dark clouds parted, and moonlight poured down in a single beam. Beneath that light, the owner of the voice revealed herself.
Hair the color of a lake, and platinum eyes that gleamed even sharper than divine power.
Upon confirming her appearance, the Leader muttered in disbelief.
“…Princess Deina?”
That bewildered reaction delayed their response to what was about to unfold.
Princess Deina, now visible, did not answer. Instead, she brushed her hand through the air as if shaking off dust.
In that instant, shadows from the ground surged upward like awls, targeting the men wielding daggers. The Leader, who held Lua captive, was no exception.
“Ggh…!”
The Leader barely twisted his body to evade the attack, but the others could not. The shadows had already seized their legs.
The mysterious shadows that blocked the attack aimed at Asmo-rina must have been hers as well.
“Ahhh!”
“M-my arm!”
Dozens, hundreds of awl-like shadows pierced through the men. Not only those whose limbs were pierced, but many also fell instantly with shadows driving through their chests and heads.
The Leader, belatedly grasping the situation, gritted his teeth and shouted.
“Everyone scatter! Get away from the shadows!”
And he threw himself forward again to seize Lua. Even in this chaos, he did not forget his objective to capture her.
But Princess Deina was not one to simply watch.
“Did you think I’d allow that?”
“…!”
Princess Deina flew forward in an instant, blocking the Leader’s path. She closed in on him as he attempted to swing his blade, then threw a punch without hesitation.
“Kgh…!”
The fist driving into his chest carried immeasurable demonic power. With the sound of bones shattering, the Leader’s body was hurled through the air.
“A-aim for the Princess!”
But they were not a group that would collapse with the Leader’s disappearance. At someone’s cry, those lying in wait in the brush revealed themselves and targeted Princess Deina.
They simultaneously nocked arrows to their bowstrings.
Seeing this, Asmo-rina’s expression turned to shock as her mouth fell open.
‘No, the arrows are infused with divine power too…!’
She felt divine power honed as sharply as a golden blade. If they struck, any demon would suffer a fatal wound.
She tried to shout a warning to flee, but the arrows left the bowstrings first.
“So this is their trump card, then.”
But Princess Deina showed no alarm whatsoever. As she watched the arrows pour down, she lightly shifted her body as if there was no need to use her power.
She wove through the gaps between the arrows, letting every single one slip past without a single hit.
At her movements, as if reading the future itself, Asmo-rina recalled someone’s image.
‘Those movements… could it be, that person….’
Asmodina.
The Demon Realm’s mightiest warrior, and the one who had become her goal—her mother.
Though her appearance was different, her form overlapped with hers.
“Don’t stop! Keep firing!”
Those who’d regained their senses rushed at me one by one. It was a valiant assault, even willing to take friendly fire, but none of them ever reached me.
I struck them down one after another, as though brushing away annoying insects.
Shadow spikes erupting from the ground, combined with my powerful fists, made short work of them.
The enemies flew backward without even managing a proper scream, or collapsed to the ground.
As the dark clouds parted and moonlight poured down, Asmo-rina finally noticed something odd about my clothing.
‘Is that… a nightgown?’
I was wearing a plain white dress devoid of any ornament.
It would have looked shabby under normal circumstances, but on this blood-soaked battlefield, it created an otherworldly atmosphere.
‘It’s like watching a dance.’
Beneath the pale moonlight, a white phantom dancing with indescribable movements. Blood splattered across the space I passed through, yet even that seemed part of the composition.
A realm beyond imitation. The swordplay of men honed over decades felt like child’s play.
Judging the situation hopeless, some of those holding bows discarded their weapons and began to flee.
Of course, it wasn’t simply to survive.
They desperately chose to escape to report the fact that Princess Deina was a Demon.
But unfortunately, that purpose would never be fulfilled.
“Deina, orders.”
“Humans cannot leave.”
From the darkness where moonlight hadn’t yet reached, the sound of beasts—*squeak squeak*—echoed where they fled.
“W-what! Rabbits…!”
“Aaahhh!”
They were the Black Rabbits that had followed me.
The Black Rabbits tore at the throats of those trying to flee with their weapons abandoned. The enemies fell helplessly into the darkness without even a chance to resist.
After some time had passed.
In the brightly lit Open Clearing, only Asmo-rina, Deina, and Lua remained.
Lua, having regained her freedom, sat dazed for a moment before coming to her senses and rushing toward Asmo-rina.
“R-Rina sister! Are you alright? You’re bleeding so much…!”
“Huh? Oh, yes.”
Only then did Asmo-rina realize her body was growing progressively colder. Wounds inflicted by holy power didn’t heal easily. Magical energy continued to leak through the wound.
Her internal magical reserves were already depleted. With the wound compounding matters, recovery could only be slow.
“…Just what are you—”
Then, having finished off all the enemies, Deina approached Asmo-rina.
With the moon at her back, her expression wasn’t visible, but her voice carried deep anger.
“What were you thinking being so reckless? Did you forget this is the Demon Realm? Do you have allies nearby who could rescue you?”
“I, that is…”
Struck by the sudden rebuke, Asmo-rina instinctively averted her gaze.
She’d wanted to ask if it was Asmodina, why she’d appeared only now, but her mind had gone blank.
“Didn’t Gregory teach you what to do when enemies have taken a hostage? The basic rule is to discreetly alert your allies first, then buy as much time as possible!”
“I, well… those bastards told me not to tell anyone and to come alone…”
“Then you should have left a trail! Didn’t you think about your allies who’d come searching for you?”
‘Why would I leave something behind when I don’t even have comrades like in the Demon Realm?!’
The words rose to the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak them. I knew all too well that making excuses at a time like this would only earn me more scolding.
As Asmo-rina hung her head, Deina arrived moments later.
And she spoke with unwavering resolve.
“Your hand.”
“Huh? Y-yes?”
“Give me your hand.”
As Asmo-rina carefully raised her injured arm, Deina grasped her hand firmly.
Soon after, her magical power began to flow into Asmo-rina.
‘This power… it really is Asmodina.’
A magic so dense and profound it was incomparable to ordinary demons—the kind that made you feel as though you were plummeting into an abyss the moment it touched you.
The sensation of my mother’s touch, buried deep within distant memories.
Faced with such a cherished presence, Asmo-rina felt tears welling up.
Then, Deina spoke softly.
“It was such a foolish fight. …But.”
“…?”
“You did well. You endured to the very end to protect this child. That’s enough. I’m truly proud of you.”
Asmo-rina lifted her head to look at Deina.
Now that she was close, her face came into sharp focus.
The cold expression that had swept across the battlefield moments before was gone.
What remained in its place was only one thing.
The tender gaze of a mother looking upon her daughter.
Even if faces changed, even if races differed, I could recognize it.
That she still loved me.
“M… Mom.”
Asmo-rina spoke that word again for the first time in decades, perhaps centuries. In the past, shame had kept her from ever uttering it, but now it felt more precious and desperate than any other word.
“Mom… right?”
“Yes, my foolish daughter.”
Sensing that Asmo-rina’s magical power had fully recovered, Deina opened her arms and embraced her.
As the warmth she had searched for so desperately enveloped her body, tears streamed down without pause.
‘Ah, finally…’
Why she had abandoned me and left.
What the truth of the Demon Realm truly was.
Whether she still considered me family.
There were countless questions I wanted to ask, but for now, I simply remained in Deina’s embrace, unwilling to let go of this warmth.
Praying that this warmth would never leave me again.
Asmo-rina simply wept endlessly.

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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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