Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 22

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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 022

The third day of the arena, that is, the day when the semifinals and finals would be held, had arrived.

I finished the matches without being discovered until the very end, and only after returning to the Separate Palace could I return to my true form.

At that moment, Liribel, who was helping me get dressed, asked in a tearful voice.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Though I’m a bit short on blood, I’m actually healthier than before.”

Coughing up blood also meant that my body was adapting to magical power. Today I bled quite a bit, but as time passes and I get used to this, I’ll be able to withstand strong magical power well.

But it was difficult to make them understand that concept. Both Liribel and Ruslara still looked worried, as if they couldn’t believe my words.

“More importantly, was there any trouble on the way back? Like seeing the nobleman you made a contract with at the arena.”

Ruslara shook his head.

“There were no suspicious individuals. Instead, an arena staff member handed me this.”

“What’s this? A check?”

What Ruslara handed me was an arena betting slip. When I looked at him questioningly about why he was giving this to me, Ruslara spoke carefully.

“This is the sponsorship money you gave me before. So…”

“Ah, Ruslara made it to the semifinals so the betting payout came in.”

It was a kind of gambling prize money. For reference, Ruslara’s odds were at the level of a civilian participant.

Since I sponsored all the money I borrowed from Loreil…

‘I could buy a mansion in the Capital with this.’

The payout had returned as quite an astronomical amount. I handed it to Ruslara.

“I only need the principal back, so Ruslara can use the rest.”

“But…”

“You need money to send to your family too, don’t you? They’re still imprisoned, right? While you’re gaining freedom, send them a gift or something. Or buy another neutral territory to make a new home.”

Ruslara hesitated as if he couldn’t possibly accept it. But that was only for a moment, and with a determined expression, he respectfully accepted the check.

“I understand. I will use it well so as not to bring shame to Your Highness’s honor.”

“Y-yes.”

‘There’s no need to be so solemnly determined about it.’

Anyway, I was glad he accepted it.

“Phew, I’m tired. I should sleep early today. Ruslara, you sleep at the Separate Palace tonight too. We don’t know what those guys might try to pull.”

“Understood. But Your Highness, may I go out briefly at dawn tomorrow?”

“Where are you going?”

“I want to use some of this money.”

Was he already planning to send gifts for his family?

I gave him permission to handle it as he saw fit.

After that, Liribel and Ruslara left the room, telling me to rest well now. Left alone, I buried my face in the pillow.

‘Since I participated anyway, victory is guaranteed. I just need to not get caught until the very end.’

It was a strange feeling. Problems that couldn’t be solved in any way as a human were resolved instantly when using the power of the Demon Clan.

I could understand why humans wanted power by making contracts with demons.

‘Come to think of it, contracts… I wonder what kind of demon would appear if I made a contract?’

Humans seemed to think difficult conditions were needed to meet higher-ranking demons, but in reality, most of it was fate.

Just as humans have soulmates, the demons who respond to contracts are also predetermined.

Then what kind of demon would be summoned for a demon reincarnated as a human?

‘Summoned demons can also be reverse-summoned as needed… so calling one as a worker wouldn’t be bad either.’

Humans often got into trouble by carving contract marks on their bodies only to be discovered by priests, but I knew a contract method that didn’t require such marks.

I thought I should remember to summon a convenient one, then closed my eyes. Perhaps because I used a lot of magical power after a long time, a pleasant fatigue washed over my entire body.

I surrendered myself to the touch of sleep.

…without even imagining what would happen the next day.

* * *

The final day of the arena, when the semifinals and finals would be held.

Today was also the day when Ruslara’s and my fate would be decided.

I headed to the arena’s waiting room, while Ruslara went to the hosting seat with Liribel.

At times like this, I was glad to be wearing a veil. Even if she was somewhat bad at acting with her expressions, there was no chance of being caught.

Just before competing, I checked my armor.

‘Still plenty of divine power on it. Fine, I didn’t expect otherwise anyway.’

Then I checked the tournament bracket.

‘The semifinal opponent is a civilian participant. Surprisingly, someone survived.’

Then it seemed I could win the semifinal without pretending to be weak.

The problem was the final opponent.

‘The expected opponent is the arena’s youngest champion and holder of the most championship records… the opposite of Ruslara.’

A man who became a fighter as soon as he reached adulthood and got his name in the hall of fame.

He even had exactly the same arena career period as Ruslara.

If I beat this guy and won the championship, no one would question Ruslara’s skills.

Of course, I would be the one fighting.

“Now we’ll begin the semifinals! The Armored Fighter is entering!”

Just then, the announcer’s voice was heard. I picked up my weapons and headed to the arena.

“Yes! As expected, there were no upsets! Though a civilian participant, he fought well! The first to advance to the finals is the Armored Fighter!”

Naturally, I grasped victory, and as expected, it was decided that the most championship winner would advance on the other side.

‘Come to think of it, that announcer never says Ruslara’s real name. Is there some reason for that?’

While having such idle thoughts and returning to the waiting room, I heard the announcer’s flustered voice from the arena.

“Huh, what? Is the Armored Fighter already entering? It’s rest time right now… Ah, you don’t need it?”

‘What?’

I was right now in front of the waiting room corridor, but suddenly I heard that the Armored Fighter had reappeared.

Just as I was wondering if I had misheard and was about to go back to the arena.

“Your Highness!”

“Liribel?”

Liribel blocked my path.

In her hands was the dress I wore when I was the princess.

“If you’re here, then… don’t tell me, the one in the arena is Ruslara?”

“That’s right. He said he wanted to fight the final match himself.”

“Wait, what about the weapons and armor?”

“They’re still the ones imbued with divine power. The staff had already put away the regular armor and weapons…”

This is ridiculous.

When I couldn’t hide my bewilderment at such a foolish act, Liribel spoke carefully.

“Sir Ruslara thought he had to win with his own strength at the end. He said he didn’t want to trouble Your Highness…”

“What trouble is that! The ones who did wrong are others, so why should Ruslara…”

“He said that’s the only way he could convince himself. Only by winning with his own hands could he escape from this sense of defeat.”

“That’s…”

Fighting to maintain one’s own standards when no one else acknowledges it.

That was a resolution similar to my own determination to live as a human.

“He asked me to tell Your Highness he’s sorry. He said he feels ashamed for acting selfishly after you went to the trouble of saving him…”

Actually, I could understand him going out without consulting me. If it were me, I probably would have tried to help in some way.

‘But Ruslara wanted to refuse even small help.’

I took off my helmet and irritably ran my hand through my hair.

“Why is he apologizing to me? If he loses, he’s the one who suffers the loss.”

For me, whether Ruslara won or lost didn’t matter since I had achieved my purpose. The arena event had ended as scheduled. I would soon return to the Empress and high society, and regain my freedom.

But Ruslara was different.

Didn’t she need the championship?

“No, Your Highness. It’s okay if he loses.”

But Liribel shook her head, telling me not to worry.

“I don’t know the details, but he said as long as he doesn’t give up, he can challenge again anytime?”

“That’s… true.”

Since the contract only activates when one accepts defeat, as long as his spirit wasn’t broken, he could challenge again.

“So Sir Ruslara told him. That even if he loses, he can challenge again. Challenge as many times as it takes, and if he wins even once, that’s victory.”

“…That’s really.”

‘What a truly admirable thing to say, like a real subordinate.’

It sounded just like what my subordinates used to say when they secured retreat routes on the battlefield. That we weren’t being defeated, but merely falling back temporarily to achieve victory.

I let out a hollow laugh.

He probably learned those words from the past Mihilda, his grandmother.

If he was going this far, I had no grounds to interfere.

“And also.”

Liribel glanced around cautiously, then approached me and whispered.

“He really wanted to give a victory speech himself.”

“…Is that something to be so secretive about?”

“He seemed terribly embarrassed about it. He told me not to tell Your Highness.”

“But you just did.”

“I’m on Your Highness’s side, after all.”

The same person who blocked me from going up to the arena that day now shows such cunning behavior.

I narrowed my eyes as I looked at Liribel.

“So… what will you do, Your Highness?”

“Sigh, I have no choice. Let’s go back.”

I took the dress from her hands.

“I’m used to subordinates acting on their own anyway.”

At times like this, I should act like a proper leader and wait until my subordinate achieves results.

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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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