Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 23

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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 023

Liribel and I returned to the hosting seat. After changing into outdoor dresses, I realized anew that armor was indeed more comfortable.

“But what kind of victory speech does Ruslara want to give?”

“I didn’t hear that far.”

Liribel rolled her eyes as if trying to recall the memory.

“Instead, I heard she’s going to dress up really prettily for today.”

“…Dress up?”

“Yes, so she asked me to recommend a beautician. I happen to have a friend I know at the Royal Palace Wardrobe… Why are you making that face?”

Liribel tilted her head upon seeing my displeased expression.

“You know Ruslara is from a different race, right?”

“Yes, I heard she’s a fairy.”

“Those fairies express it as putting on makeup when they go into important battles.”

“Like the war paint that northern tribes do?”

“It’s a bit different from that.”

Unlike the northern tribes who imbue religious meaning, the makeup done by Baobhan sith was ordinary makeup that emphasized beauty.

The reason they do such makeup on the battlefield is.

‘To enchant their enemies.’

It was their strategy of using their unique beauty to win.

But the Arena proceeded with helmets on, so there was no opportunity to show Ruslara’s beauty.

Then who was she equipping her beauty to fight against?

‘Besides, if she reveals her face, her age will be exposed too. People would think the Armored Fighter who fought in the Arena for decades is middle-aged, right?’

Wrapped in doubt, I looked toward the Arena.

-The final match! The battle to determine the ultimate victor begins!

Just then, the championship match was starting.

* * *

Ruslara raised her head and surveyed the spectator seats.

The cheers from the audience, which she had never received in decades, were directed at her.

“Win, Rosten! My salary is riding on you!”

“This time for sure, win, Armored Fighter!”

In the past, she might have been moved. She would have been overwhelmed that she had finally reached this position.

But now that she knew the truth, all of it felt hypocritical.

‘Among them must be accomplices who conspired for my elimination.’

Fellow Baobhan sith who would be eagerly waiting for her defeat.

Ruslara gripped her sword and shield tightly.

The divine power contained in the weapons drained her strength. Like being drunk, her power weakened and her motivation faded.

If Deina hadn’t told her it was because of divine power, she would have thought it was lethargy brought on by nerves and poor condition.

‘Who would have thought the weapons were the problem.’

She had suspected that someone had cursed her, or that special magic was cast on the Arena.

But since Ruslara was a Baobhan sith sensitive to magic, she was confident there were no such traps.

So she thought this was entirely her own fault.

That meager confidence had created this ridiculous situation.

“…I won’t be fooled twice.”

She deliberately steadied her breathing and looked at the enemy who had made it to the finals.

His name was Rosten, nicknamed the Captain.

He debuted in a large-scale Arena with hundreds of participants and earned the nickname by achieving the youngest championship victory.

‘I would have gotten a different nickname if I had won too.’

The nickname born from not removing her helmet, Armored Fighter.

She could have taken off her helmet anytime, but the most glorious moment would be removing the helmet to receive the medal around her neck.

She had never thought of showing her face to humans, but today was different.

‘I’ll win and take the medal.’

For my master, for my god.

It was time to abandon the nickname Armored Fighter.

“…This makes it the fifth time we’ve met like this, Armored Fighter.”

While the announcer was enthusiastically talking about the Captain’s record, he quietly spoke to Ruslara.

“It’s an honor that you’re the opponent for my final match.”

“…Final?”

She tried to ignore him, but ended up speaking at the concerning expression. The Captain seemed quite pleased that Ruslara had responded, speaking in an excited voice.

“It’s my retirement match.”

“You don’t look old enough for that.”

“I’ve already gained enough honor and wealth. From now on, I plan to pursue my dream. The dream of becoming a knight.”

A knight.

It was a profession like a dream for fighters who battled in the Arena.

‘Well, someone of the Captain’s caliber could easily take the knight’s oath.’

It was a fitting retirement for someone with his excellent record.

“I think you’re a fine warrior, contrary to what’s known publicly. Though you’ve had the misfortune of losing in important matches… you’re always growing.”

“…Thanks.”

Upon receiving the lukewarm praise, the Captain spoke in an excited voice.

“So there’s something I’d like to propose to you. After this match ends, won’t you join me?”

“Join you?”

“I explained about you to the lord I’ll be serving. Then, he said he wanted to see you. Won’t you become a knight together with me?”

“What?”

At such an unexpected proposal, Ruslara unconsciously raised her voice. She coughed, worried her gender might have been discovered, but fortunately the Captain didn’t seem to notice.

“I know your skills best. You could become an excellent knight. So let’s leave this Arena and become knights together.”

“Is this pity?”

“Of course not. If it were pity, I wouldn’t have said it here.”

He seemed confident that Ruslara would accept his proposal. Indeed, if it had been before meeting Deina, she would have been swayed by that proposal.

She too had yearned to become a knight.

Of course, her target was different from the Captain’s.

‘My loyalty is only for my god.’

Right now that god is beside me.

Therefore, the current Ruslara was not bewitched by the word knight.

“I don’t know why you rate me so highly. But your judgment is wrong.”

“What?”

“I’ve already decided who my master will be.”

The strongest person in this world, who must be watching me from above.

Just then, the announcer was about to signal the start of the match.

Ruslara took her stance, reawakening her fighting spirit that was fading due to divine power.

“And you said this was your retirement match? Let me apologize in advance.”

-Then let the finals begin!

“Because your final match in life will end in defeat.”

And she charged vigorously toward the Captain.

“Kugh…!”

The match that would be the last for both fighters began.

The Captain, not expecting Ruslara to attack so aggressively, hastily raised his shield to block the attack.

‘As expected, it won’t be easy.’

Partly due to being weakened by divine power, but the Captain was far stronger than other fighters. Even at full strength, she probably couldn’t have won easily.

“I have no choice, if you won’t listen to me…!”

The Captain, realizing Ruslara’s sincerity, also raised his momentum again. The situation instantly reversed.

The Captain attacking fiercely, Ruslara barely managing to defend.

The outcome of the match seemed obvious.

But Ruslara didn’t panic and persistently watched for an opportunity.

‘I just need to win once. Remember the training with Ivan.’

After the assassin Ivan became Deina’s subordinate, Ruslara had trained with him repeatedly.

Though she had won by exploiting an opening, he was clearly stronger than Ruslara. So she tried to find things to learn from him, but Ivan said with disbelief:

‘What is there to learn from sparring with an assassin? You dim-witted knight, for an assassin, victory means killing. You have nothing to learn from me.’

The combat of an assassin who takes lives with a single victory was different in nature from the combat of knights that Ruslara admired.

But Ruslara didn’t give up. A warrior lacking in skill like herself wasn’t in a position to be picky about learning.

‘Abandoning a knight’s pride to seek teachings from an assassin? …Fine, then I’ll teach you an assassin’s movements.’

Seemingly not disliking Ruslara’s honest request, Ivan grudgingly taught her assassin techniques.

They weren’t extraordinary techniques, but they were sufficiently useful for Ruslara’s current situation.

“Gah, what kind of movement is…!”

The Captain was flustered by the peculiar movement that dodged his sword by a paper’s width while never giving ground and staying close.

To those looking down at the scene, Ruslara appeared to be dancing.

‘My strength has weakened so defense is difficult, but evasion is possible.’

If she were a real assassin, she would have thrust a dagger after this precarious evasion, but the current her had no such luxury.

But she persistently watched for an opening.

Just once would be enough. Even with an overwhelming difference in power that meant certain defeat, a single opportunity would come.

A single moment’s gap where her blade could reach.

‘The Captain’s skill is top-tier among fighters. But his weakness is clear. He has an impatient personality.’

The flaw of overconfidence in his abilities—once he started feeling even slightly frustrated, he would hastily try to decide the match.

“I won’t go easy on you anymore!”

‘Now’s the time.’

As expected, his weakness was revealed.

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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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