Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 19

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Struggling to Pretend to Be Human Today Episode 019

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The match began immediately.

Contrary to my worries about barely reaching the championship bracket, Ruslara smoothly continued winning.

‘They said if it goes to overtime, it could last up to four days… At this rate, it’ll definitely end in three days.’

Far from overtime, the matches that followed weren’t even worth discussing in terms of outcome.

“My goodness, Armored Fighter! Your performance is completely different from your career record! You’re knocking down every opponent you face!”

Most of the Armored Fighter Ruslara’s matches were decided with a single blow.

Against opponents who attacked first, she dove into their embrace and struck vital points to claim victory, and against fighters who kept their distance to probe, she threw her sword to create openings.

It was an efficient combat method created from the training she received from me and the results of sparring with Ivan.

‘The fighters’ skill level is lower than I thought.’

Seeing her win so easily made me feel sorry for Ruslara. If I had known it would be this easy, I thought I shouldn’t have tormented her with such harsh training.

“Yes, match over! The first day of the Arena has concluded!”

And so the first day ended.

There were a total of 8 officially registered fighters in the tournament, including Ruslara, and they naturally qualified to advance to the upper matches. Additionally, 24 general participants qualified, completing a bracket of 32 total contestants.

’32 in name only – all the general participants are just there for show.’

The consideration to ensure not all general participants were eliminated was obvious from the bracket arrangement.

From now on the bracket would be mixed, so by the semifinals, only the professional fighters would remain.

“Let’s head back now.”

“Yes, Princess!”

I stood up from my seat following the guidance of the staff and Liribel. As I was leaving the arena, I suddenly felt a strange aura and stopped walking.

‘What was that just now?’

I turned my head to look around. But perhaps due to the commotion of spectators crowding around the fighters, the strange aura disappeared in an instant.

‘It was an incredibly ominous and disgusting aura.’

It felt like passing by a sewer reeking with the stench of filth.

But all I could see were numerous spectators and carts moving the fighters’ equipment.

“…Was it my imagination?”

Hearing my muttering, Liribel approached.

“What’s wrong, Princess?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s go back.”

“Yes! Ah, it would be better to go around that way.”

“Why?”

“There’s a twin… ugly noble young master making a fuss at this exit. The path is blocked, so let’s go another way.”

‘She definitely almost added “bastard” to that, didn’t she?’

It was probably one of the nobles who had mocked me earlier.

I pretended not to hear and moved on.

And the next day, the second day of the arena.

The main tournament to narrow it down to 4 fighters.

Ruslara in the first match continued her winning streak.

The opponent she faced this time seemed quite skilled, as it wasn’t decided in one blow. Though they still couldn’t last even a minute.

“My, my goodness. No one can stop the Armored Fighter! Victory is seized from last tournament’s champion! Will his decades-long arena career be crowned with victory today! Truly a golden debut!”

The announcer, seemingly captivated by the Armored Fighter, naturally created a narrative.

‘I like it. I’ll overlook yesterday’s rudeness.’

It seemed I wasn’t the only one who thought so. Liribel behind me nodded and muttered.

“You get one stamp.”

What kind of stamp?

I didn’t want to ask.

‘But it’s strange. If the fighters’ skill level is this much, Ruslara should have been able to win at least once.’

The arena’s registered fighters didn’t always participate in every tournament. Since large and small competitions were held more than 10 times a year, I heard they took turns participating.

Ruslara’s previous skill level was below average among them.

In tournaments with many general participants, I felt that even weak Ruslara should have been able to win at least once.

Yet Ruslara had never won.

No matter how lacking her skills were, she wasn’t that weak.

‘There’s definitely some kind of trap…’

Still, surely they wouldn’t set an obvious trap while a princess was watching.

While thinking this and watching the match.

‘…There it is again, this feeling.’

The disgusting aura I felt when leaving yesterday rose from somewhere.

It was so chilling that goosebumps formed on my arms inside my coat.

“Liribel.”

With my vision limited by the veil, I called Liribel.

“Yes, Princess?”

“Do you notice anything strange around us? Like intruders, or suspicious objects…”

After a moment, Liribel spoke in a troubled voice.

“I don’t see anything like that. Should I call the staff?”

“No, it’s fine.”

I had an ominous premonition. I moved Liribel back first, then surveyed the arena again.

‘There are too many people to pinpoint it. Where exactly is it?’

While earnestly turning my gaze around.

“Now then, the first match of the round of 16! Armored Fighter enters!”

‘…Why?’

With Ruslara’s appearance, I was able to identify the source of that aura.

‘Why are you carrying that?’

Ruslara, who had shown perfect performance until just the previous match, staggered onto the arena floor as if drunk.

People murmured wondering if her stamina had run out, but I knew the cause.

‘It’s imbued with holy power.’

The sword in her hands was emanating holy power.

Looking closer, it wasn’t just the sword.

The armor, boots, and shield were the same.

The source of the disgusting aura I felt was the equipment Ruslara was carrying.

‘Those are all weapons provided by the arena.’

For fairness, everyone in the arena used the same weapons. Naturally provided by the arena.

Only then did I realize that the source of the aura I felt yesterday was the cart containing the weapons.

‘Why? Why are they suddenly giving out such weapons? If it’s like this, demons like Ruslara can’t use their strength…’

At that moment, the conversation I had with Ruslara flashed through my mind.

‘If I gave up on winning, he said he’d change it to a different contract.’

‘What kind of contract?’

‘I’m not sure exactly… but he said he has a superior, so I should become his subordinate.’

The strange contract made in the abandoned mine with an unknown purpose.

Ruslara’s pride, broken by continuous failures.

And Baban Si’s abilities.

Blood-sucking, disguise, and brainwashing.

Countless clues swirled through my mind.

‘Why didn’t I realize this until now.’

I had let my guard down thinking this was the human realm.

It was my fault for thinking that since humans can’t sense magic power, they naturally couldn’t distinguish demons.

It was my fault for assuming the noble who proposed this contract was naturally ‘human.’

‘I was only thinking about hiding Ruslara’s identity. It’s the opposite. Finding out the opponent’s identity was more important.’

Once one question was resolved, the puzzle pieces began falling into place in a chain reaction.

How did that noble accurately target and purchase the abandoned mine where Baban Si lived?

The characteristic of Baban Si living underground is something humans couldn’t possibly know, yet they pinpointed the location of those secretly hiding. The probability is too slim to call it coincidence.

And why did they make a contract saying ‘become my subordinate if you want to give up’?

If they really needed a subordinate, they could have simply threatened by taking family members hostage instead of this troublesome addition. It was a process that seemed deliberately designed to instill a sense of defeat in the target.

When connecting all those questions and clues, the most plausible figure as the contractor… no, the demon is.

‘Baban Si.’

A Baban Si like Ruslara.

Moreover, a Baban Si who knows the location of hideouts, understands the characteristics of the race, and is trying to brainwash Ruslara by achieving the condition of ‘giving defeat to brainwash.’

One of their own kind is trying to make another of their kind into a slave.

It was a problem I should have noticed long ago. If I had just a little, just a tiny bit more of a clue, I would have seen through this secret.

‘If I had just thought a little more about why the Baban Si were being attacked…!’

I bit my lips. Despite my concerns, Ruslara’s opponent confidently began pressing her hard.

“Aah-! The Armored Fighter is losing! Could it be the same ending as last year again! His pitiful habit of crumbling in every important match…!”

‘No, this is a match Ruslara should rightfully win.’

That’s not Ruslara’s true ability. I, who taught her, know this best.

Having never experienced the Demon Realm war and never been struck by holy power, she probably thinks she’s losing because she’s inadequate.

‘She even makes inexplicable mistakes whenever it’s an important match.’

‘That’s not true. Your defeats are rigged.’

Blood flowed from my bitten lips. At the same time, I saw transparent droplets falling beneath Ruslara’s helmet.

She’s losing again. Meeting the same defeat she’s repeated for decades.

Unable to repay the kindness of someone who helped her, she falls like this.

‘No, I cannot allow such an ending.’

Those who are desperate should receive opportunities.

Those who work hard should receive rewards.

I decided to live as a human to personally prove that premise.

So I won’t stand by and watch my subordinate lose.

“Liribel.”

“Yes?”

“Prepare handkerchiefs. As many as possible.”

Leaving Liribel with question marks in her eyes, I slowly began chanting a spell.

[Shadows.]

The target is the entire Arena.

I needed to cause a commotion large enough to halt the match.

After a long time, mana flowed out of me as the shadows beneath my feet awaited my command.

[Turn everything upside down.]

The shadows struck the Arena.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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