Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 28

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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 028

 

“Though it feels refreshing inside.”

 

Just then, Ivan slipped into the conversation.

 

“What if they end up saying strange things to their master? Like how they felt tremendous power from the Princess…”

 

“Would they believe that? They’d think it was nonsense made up to save their own skin.”

 

“Well, that’s true too.”

 

Just a month ago, I couldn’t even walk on my own, and now I’d become someone scary enough to threaten servants – it was too absurd a story.

 

A report saying the Princess actually used black magic would be more realistic.

 

‘That’s just a rumor that’s always circulating anyway, so it doesn’t matter.’

 

I left the lobby with a light heart. Ivan, who had been following behind, spoke as if something had just occurred to him.

 

“But is it okay to fire so many people? What about handovers and such?”

 

It was a useful question for once in a while.

 

“It’s fine. The Separate Palace wasn’t well-managed anyway, so the newly hired people should be able to manage things well together. Emma and Liribel will handle my personal care.”

 

The chaos that would arise from hiring new servants was something I had anticipated. Ivan nodded, saying “I see” to my words.

 

“Oh, Emma. There’s a merchant among the people you called, right?”

 

“Yes, the necessary supplies have also been included in the letter to be sent to Her Majesty the Empress. A professional merchant guild will come.”

 

Ivan, who had heard our conversation, interjected again.

 

“What’s this about a merchant now?”

 

‘Why is he so curious about everything today?’

 

I glanced at him sideways and explained with a sigh.

 

“There are many things needed for the Separate Palace, so I’m trying to find a merchant guild to handle it. There are limits to requesting everything from the Main Palace.”

 

“Is it okay to just let outsiders in?”

 

“It’s a privilege of the Imperial Family.”

 

Seeing that the Empress had permitted it meant this level of privilege was acceptable to exercise.

 

“Heh, merchant guild, merchants…”

 

Thinking his curiosity was now satisfied, I headed toward the study to conduct interviews, but Ivan fell into thought, muttering the word “merchant.”

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“No, it feels like I’m forgetting something. What was it.”

 

Eventually, he shook his head saying it probably wasn’t anything important, and followed me.

 

Upon arriving at the study, we began preparing for the interviews.

 

We placed a roster with the servants’ personal information on the table, and had Liribel stand in the corridor to bring in the waiting servants one by one.

 

Emma and Ivan stood behind me.

 

For reference, Ivan was briefed to signal me if he spotted anyone who looked like a spy.

 

“Well, since we’re talking about it, shall we see the merchant first?”

 

“Yes! I’ll bring them in right away!”

 

At my words, Liribel said she’d be right back and headed toward the dining hall.

 

Shortly after, guided by Liribel, a young man entered the study.

 

‘White hair?’

 

He was a man with unusual features.

 

His thin eyes that reminded me of a fox, his slightly upturned mouth corners, and his deep green eyes were impressive, but his white hair, brighter than the Imperial Family’s golden hair, drew attention.

 

I heard that snow-colored foxes live in the north – if such a beast became human, it would probably have exactly that kind of face.

 

I first checked his roster.

 

‘He just became an adult, deals in textiles and grains, and his merchant guild is called Coco… quite ordinary experience compared to his appearance.’

 

Both his trade items and guild size were mediocre. Should I call it barely meeting the threshold for merchant guilds that enter the Imperial Palace?

 

By the time I finished reading the brief roster, the white-haired man who had arrived before me greeted me with a smiling face.

 

“It’s my first time meeting you, Princess… ah, is this greeting against etiquette?”

 

“It’s fine, do as you’re comfortable.”

 

I wasn’t particularly fond of greetings involving the sun and such. The man bowed his head gratefully and continued his greeting.

 

“It’s an honor to be invited here. I’m Grid, the guild master of Coco Guild!”

 

At that moment, Ivan, who was standing behind me, began coughing unnaturally.

 

“Cough, ahem!”

 

‘Why is he acting like that?’

 

It was different from the signal we had arranged beforehand. When I looked at him wondering if he had choked on something, he avoided my gaze while breaking out in cold sweat.

 

He looked like a puppy avoiding its owner’s eyes after causing a major accident.

 

‘What did he do this time?’

 

But I couldn’t ask during an interview. I made a mental note to interrogate him later and faced the white-haired man, Grid, again.

 

“Nice to meet you, Grid. First, have you ever done business with the Imperial Palace?”

 

“No, this is my first time.”

 

“Then…”

 

The formal speech I hadn’t used in a while felt awkward, but I somehow managed to continue the interview smoothly.

 

But the answers I received were quite strange.

 

“I see grains are your main product. Where are your main trading partners?”

 

“Mercenary groups. I preferably smuggle to mercenary groups far from supply bases. The hungrier they are, the higher price they pay.”

 

…Like making subtly immoral jokes.

 

“The Western Region is famous for textiles. Do you travel back and forth there?”

 

“No, but I hired sewing artisans from the west.”

 

“…What does that have to do with anything?”

 

“If you embroider Western Family names on cheap textiles, the price doubles. Did you know? According to Imperial Law, even if something is produced in the south, if the processor is from the west, it can be sold as a Western Region specialty.”

 

…Like explaining business methods that crossed between illegal and legal.

 

‘What kind of person is this?’

 

Despite his young age, his money-making skills were wickedly excellent. Even I was impressed by some aspects of what I heard.

 

But these weren’t suitable answers for an interview. Who would proudly speak of their immorality when meeting Imperial Family?

 

Just as I was thinking to send him away, thinking what a strange merchant this was, Grid grinned and said:

 

“So Princess, whatever you desire, I can definitely obtain it for you.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Whether it’s black magic materials or forbidden herbs, I will definitely sell them to you. Fulfilling the client’s desires by any means necessary… that’s my rule.”

 

‘He sounds just like a demon.’

 

For me, a former demon clan member, to hear such a proposal felt strange. It was like a foreigner offering to guide me around my hometown where I’d lived for hundreds of years.

 

Naturally, I couldn’t sense any demon clan magic power from Grid. There was another kind of energy hidden, but it was the complete opposite of demon clan power.

 

I answered with a dubious expression.

 

“That doesn’t seem like something a merchant should say.”

 

“Hey, are you going to keep pretending not to know? You know my identity, don’t you?”

 

“Know what?”

 

At my vague question, Grid seemed to think something was strange and tilted his head.

 

“I’m the black market’s top merchant… though.”

 

I tilted my head back at him.

 

“…?”

 

“…Wait, you really didn’t know?”

 

“How would I know that?”

 

I was so dumbfounded that my usual speech pattern came out without thinking.

 

“How would you not know… Didn’t you hear it from that gentleman behind you?”

 

“Why would Ivan?”

 

“Because he followed me from the arena.”

 

‘What is he talking about now?’

 

I immediately turned my head to look at Ivan. Ivan, who had been avoiding my gaze while sweating coldly earlier, was now trying to escape through the study window.

 

Naturally, I grabbed him by the collar to stop him.

 

“He followed you?”

 

“Yes. And since that person reeked of the underworld atmosphere, I naturally thought he was following me knowing my identity… Wait, you didn’t receive a report?”

 

Only then seeming to grasp the situation, Grid opened his mouth wide in surprise.

 

Overwhelmed by shame and anger, I pulled Ivan’s collar right up to my face and said:

 

“Hey, Ivan.”

 

“Yes, yes.”

 

The guy who wouldn’t listen no matter how much I told him to use formal speech was now using it properly.

 

“You were worrying about forgetting something before you came to the study earlier.”

 

“That, that’s right.”

 

“Don’t tell me that was a report about that merchant Grid?”

 

“….”

 

Ivan shut his mouth like a squirrel with an acorn in its cheeks.

 

I grabbed his collar tightly and spoke again.

 

“Answer.”

 

“That’s correct.”

 

‘This stupid assassin.’

 

To think this is what passes for a promising assassin – Black Hand truly deserves to be destroyed.

 

“Explain from the beginning, in detail.”

 

“Yes….”

 

Ivan politely clasped his hands together and explained the situation to my ear.

 

‘So… during the Arena medal ceremony, he spotted a group whispering while looking at Ruslara, and that was Grid? Grid is a famous major merchant in the black market.’

 

Ivan, the self-proclaimed capable assassin, noticed Grid’s identity and thought he should report it to me immediately.

 

But after sleeping at the Separate Palace, he completely forgot about it when he woke up.

 

‘This is what I call a subordinate.’

 

Even Liribel’s maid information network would be superior to this. I suppressed the urge to flick his forehead.

 

Ivan had his eyes tightly shut as if bracing to get hit.

 

“Sigh… Do you have anything else to report besides that?”

 

“Uh, no.”

 

“Then go stand over there. Until the next interview.”

 

“Yes.”

 

He headed to the corner of the study without complaint.

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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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