Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 159

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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 159
My mind went completely blank.
I was the cause of the escalating war.
It felt like my memories of dedicating myself entirely to peace in the Demon Realm were being denied.
At that moment, Mirinai, who had been listening to the story, spoke carefully.
“B-but the war continued even before Captain was born. It’s hard to say Captain is the cause….”
The Lake Deity let out a scoff.
“You don’t understand, Mirinai. The wars back then were child’s play compared to now. There were ceasefires every few centuries, and there were even periods of brief exchange. But what about now? Have you ever seen a deity who is friendly toward Demons besides Johan?”
“….”
Mirinai couldn’t bring herself to answer.
She knew such a deity couldn’t possibly exist.
The rift between the two races had grown far too deep.
“…Then, if I die, this problem will be resolved?”
“It would be a noble sacrifice, but unfortunately it won’t solve anything. Magical power doesn’t disappear when a Demon dies. It’s not like ice melting makes water vanish, is it?”
When a Demon dies, their magical power returns to nature. Even if I took my own life, the imbalance in the Demon Realm wouldn’t be resolved.
“For instance, if Captain returned to the Demon Realm, Mirinai and Johan’s world would soon regain balance. The magical power itself would be gone. But the Demon Realm wouldn’t be the same. The vast magical power left without a master would simply scatter into the air.”
“So balance would only return if all the magical power were destroyed or transferred to another space.”
“That’s merely a hypothesis. The principle of action might be correct, but there’s no guarantee the solution is. Besides, magical power annihilation isn’t exactly a common occurrence.”
The Lake Deity laughed as if relieved.
“Ah, I’ve finally been able to explain this frustrating truth. Not only is there no evidence, but among the deities, no one would listen to me. To think I’d find understanding among Demons.”
I thought the Lake Deity’s lack of credibility stemmed from his own demeanor, but this wasn’t the time to point that out.
I needed to prove this hypothesis in the Demon Realm immediately, and I had to protect Mirinai from Johan.
“Mirinai, you have no intention of returning to the Demon Realm?”
“What? Of course not! I’m happy living with Johan!”
Seeing the determination in her eyes, I nodded.
“Understood. Then I’ll leave this place right away. If what the Lake Deity says is true, once the balance of this space is restored, Johan will return to normal too. So….”
“Well, I wonder about that?”
At that moment, the Lake Deity’s playful voice interjected. I glared at him sharply, but he continued undeterred.
“Just because the source of hatred disappears doesn’t mean the memories disappear. People nurture hatred anew by dwelling on their memories. Will Johan truly be able to love Mirinai again?”
I was about to snap at him to stop speaking carelessly about something he doesn’t understand, when Mirinai spoke first in a sharp voice.
“Don’t disrespect Johan! He’s not someone who would be consumed by hatred!”
“Hmm, we’ll see.”
Leaving the chuckling Lake Deity behind, Mirinai grasped my hand.
“Don’t worry, Captain. I believe Johan will return to his true self.”
“…Yes. If anything dangerous happens, call for me. I’ll draw a magic circle so you can summon me anytime.”
In this world, there wasn’t enough magical power to summon my true form, but I could send a fragment of my soul or my power.
Mirinai smiled and nodded.
“Thank you. I’ll never forget Captain’s help for as long as I live.”
“Help? I feel like I’ve only caused trouble.”
“That’s not true. I’ve always received help from Captain. You may not remember… but you saved me back then too.”
“Back then?”
I thought we had first met here, but had we crossed paths before?
Mirinai’s face flushed with embarrassment.
“It was right after I enlisted. A retreat order came down, and the entire army was falling back to avoid the Divine Race… At that moment, you held back the enemies from the rear.”
‘Ah, when the Legion Commanders held me back.’
When we fell into the Divine Race’s trap and I ordered a retreat toward the rear, there was a time I held back the pursuing enemies alone.
The Legion Commanders tried to stop me, saying I shouldn’t sacrifice myself, but I insisted I would never die and remained at the rear to face the enemies.
“At the time, I was an inexperienced private and fell behind during the retreat. I was nearly killed by the Divine Race when you appeared. And when I apologized to you, you said this to me.”
‘If you have time to say that, run!’
‘It does seem familiar.’
The situation was so urgent that I must have blurted it out without even distinguishing between subordinate or civilian. For me, it was a fleeting moment that passed by, but for Mirinai, it seemed to be something that remained in her memory for life.
“I know you fight to end the war. That you don’t hate the Divine Race. So… don’t blame yourself.”
Sincerity flowed from her tightly clasped hand. I worked my lips for a moment, then slowly nodded.
After that, I drew a summoning magic circle and headed back to the Demon Realm where the blizzard raged. Mirinai tried to see me off to the end, but at my words to stay by Johan’s side, she nodded and simply waved from where she stood.
Facing the fierce blizzard once more, I made a firm resolve.
‘If the Lake Deity’s words are true, peace can come to the Demon Realm too. When that happens, people like Mirinai and Johan will increase.’
A world where war disappears and the Divine and Demons achieve harmony together.
A sight I wish to see even if it costs my life.
‘Thank you for your support, Mirinai. I will surely make it happen.’
Though the moment of parting was not pleasant, the sight of Mirinai and Johan was the ideal world I dreamed of.
I prayed for their happiness as I headed toward the Demon Realm, toward the Battlefield.

* * *
…And decades later.
Having found a way to restore balance, I sent a specially created familiar to convey my message to Mirinai.
And the scene from within Paradise that the familiar sent back was….
Mirinai’s corpse, grotesquely desecrated, and Johan, who had ended his life by hanging.

* * *
When the terrible nightmare finally ended, I forced my heavy eyelids open.
After sleeping for what felt like an eternity, my throat was parched and my body felt as heavy as if weighted down by sandbags.
“Ugh….”
The moment I barely managed to lift my head and survey my surroundings, Liribel’s urgent voice came from the direction of the door.
“Your Highness, the Princess has awakened!”
I wanted to ask her not to shout since my head was pounding, but the instant her words left her lips, a tremendous commotion erupted.
“Your Highness, are you well!”
“What is this, why are you only waking up now!”
My vision was too blurred to identify everyone who had come to see me. I forced myself to wave my hand, trying to calm them down.
Liribel, with her keen intuition, promptly offered me a cup filled with warm water.
Only after slowly draining the entire cup did my vision become clear.
‘Ivan, Ruslara, Viscount Gorden, Liribel, and….’
My eyes met those of Asmo-rina, who stood leaning crookedly against the wall. She had been chewing her lips intently, and the moment she saw me, she seemed about to say something before abruptly turning her head away.
Then Liribel approached me with a tearful expression.
“Thank goodness, Your Highness! Truly, this time I thought you wouldn’t wake up….”
“How long was I asleep?”
“A month! You didn’t move at all, just slept the entire time! Are you feeling alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine. No problems.”
Aside from a slight hunger, I felt healthy.
For an ordinary human, that span of time would have meant death, but my body, infused with demonic power, had endured it well.
‘Though I do seem to have lost some weight.’
It was likely due to all the blood I had coughed up.
The thought that I might have died from excessive hemorrhage sent a chill down my spine.
“Ah… first, I’d like to understand the situation. What happened to the Golden Hand?”
“They were completely annihilated. There are no signs of reinforcements arriving yet, but His Majesty the Emperor has likely noticed the disturbance by now.”
It was Viscount Gorden who answered. He appeared to have suffered greatly during this time, his complexion now haggard and drawn.
“However, I believe His Majesty suspected that Demons were in Monos. In fact, there are rumors that the High Priests of the Sun Cult have been gathering in the Capital.”
‘There’s nothing to be done about that. I resolved myself for this the moment I promised to meet with Asmo-rina.’
At least my true nature as a Demon hadn’t been exposed. Given the Emperor’s temperament, the moment he learned I was a Demon, he would have issued an imperial decree to summon me to the Capital.
By now, he must be wondering which of us—me or Jeina—was conspiring with the Demons.
“Also, the Countess of Adonia has returned to her County.”
“Is that so? Has something happened in the County….”
“She suddenly collapsed. And the cause is likely….”
Viscount Gorden glanced sideways at Asmo-rina.
I immediately grasped the meaning of that look.
‘She turned the Countess into a Demon.’

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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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