Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 29

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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 029

 

“Um…”

 

Grid, who had been quietly observing the situation, cautiously raised his hand and spoke.

 

“If I may ask, how did Your Highness understand what I’ve been saying all this time…”

 

“A novice merchant showing off, trying to brag about how to make money.”

 

“Ah, I suppose that would be it?”

 

If I had known his true identity from the start, I would have thought ‘as expected of a black market merchant.’

 

When you know nothing, the conversation content could only be misunderstood.

 

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, I averted my gaze slightly and asked.

 

“Sorry for bringing this up now, but could you explain how you came to be here?”

 

“Ah, about that.”

 

Perhaps wanting to clear his name as well, Grid obediently explained the situation.

 

According to him, he had been interested in Ruslara for quite some time. Having keen insight, he had perceived something extraordinary about her.

 

“I knew that Armored Fighter was bound by some kind of contract. I have connections… contacts at the Arena.”

 

Grid, who couldn’t resist rare talent, had thrown the Captain as bait to recruit her. He planned to first employ her as his guard, then use money to break her contract.

 

‘Money, huh. In a way, that would be the most peaceful solution.’

 

True to his reputation as a famous merchant in the black market, Grid said he was prepared to invest a massive amount of money.

 

But contrary to expectations, Ruslara rejected the Captain’s recruitment, instead defeating him and winning the tournament. And she chose me as her master.

 

“Unfortunately, what could I do? Your Highness also seemed to be an extraordinary person, so I was going to quietly withdraw. Then I noticed that person was following me.”

 

Grid glanced at Ivan, who was crumpled in the corner of the study.

 

“Right after that, I suddenly heard news that the Imperial Palace was recruiting merchants. Even from the Separate Palace where Your Highness resides. Since that person is Your Highness’s subordinate, I naturally thought you had designated me…”

 

“Wait, how did you know Ivan was my subordinate?”

 

Grid shrugged his shoulders.

 

“I saw him returning to Your Highness’s side.”

 

“What, what!”

 

At that moment, Ivan, who had been listening quietly, shot up.

 

“How could someone like you recognize me! And it’s been strange since earlier, you didn’t even notice me at the Arena…!”

 

“Ivan, I didn’t tell you to open your mouth.”

 

“Yes.”

 

He crumpled back down.

 

I sighed and said.

 

“Don’t get worked up over something like that. Anyway, it wasn’t his ability, but borrowing the power of something that was beside him.”

 

“…!”

 

Grid’s eyes wavered for a moment. Though he quickly composed his expression, he couldn’t avoid my gaze.

 

‘He must have thought only he possessed that ability?’

 

There was no need to tell him specifically, so I gestured for him to continue his explanation.

 

“…Anyway, after learning that person was Your Highness’s subordinate, I thought this merchant recruitment was also targeting me.”

 

“That makes sense.”

 

A princess who had been following him, a black market merchant. That same princess suddenly began recruiting merchants.

 

Anyone would have thought it was recruitment aimed at them.

 

“Didn’t you think it was a trap?”

 

“Then this interview would have been much more enjoyable.”

 

It was an answer filled with arrogance. But since those who used that ability were generally eccentric, I felt no particular emotion.

 

“I understand why you confidently revealed your identity. But what’s your real purpose?”

 

Now it was time to make the atmosphere serious again.

 

I lowered my voice, and Grid also straightened his posture.

 

“As I mentioned, to contract with Your Highness.”

 

“What’s the reason? Among the Imperial Family, I have the weakest influence and the worst reputation.”

 

“That’s correct. There was even an ominous atmosphere surrounding you, so I tried to avoid approaching. You seemed dangerous. But when I thought about it carefully, it was the opposite.”

 

“Opposite?”

 

He raised the corners of his mouth.

 

“I realized anew that merchants must stay close to danger to gain great profits. Just as merchants always prosper after wars end.”

 

‘This sounds familiar from somewhere.’

 

Even as I recalled my memory, Grid continued speaking at length.

 

“So I wanted to stand by Your Highness’s side. I thought it was a golden opportunity to sit in the front row seat. Like sitting in the eye of a typhoon and controlling the typhoon.”

 

“…Ah.”

 

Only then did I realize the origin of this story.

 

“Kuk.”

 

It was Ivan, letting out a cowardly laugh from that corner.

 

Perhaps noticing something from Ivan’s laughter, wrinkles appeared on Grid’s clean brow.

 

“Don’t tell me, that bastard said this first?”

 

The designation changed from ‘that person’ to ‘that bastard.’

 

I nodded awkwardly.

 

“Yeah, exactly the same.”

 

“The earlier words too?”

 

“Yeah. The part about opportunity and such was exactly the same too.”

 

“…”

 

A long silence followed.

 

Unable to hurt his pride any further, I also kept my mouth shut.

 

* * *

 

Fortunately, the interviews after Grid proceeded smoothly.

 

Ivan diligently filtered out the spies, and thanks to that, I was able to keep only those with clean records in the Separate Palace.

 

After that, Emma, the head maid, took charge of their education. Of course, there were complaints about having to follow the words of Emma, who was a maid, but they soon died down.

 

It seemed rumors about the servants I had expelled had spread.

 

“Her Highness is incredibly strict! She fired dozens of people at once!”

 

“My goodness… if I get kicked out of here, I’ll really end up in the stables!”

 

Not being a spy meant having no connections with nobles. The male and female servants resolved to be careful, swearing they absolutely couldn’t be fired, and the attendants and maids who learned of the spies’ fate decided to work while reading the mood.

 

Either way, it was good news for me.

 

With the servant recruitment all finished, only one final decision remained.

 

‘What to do about Grid.’

 

It was the matter of hiring the black market merchant, Grid.

 

“That guy is too cunning. You absolutely shouldn’t let him into the Separate Palace. You understand, Your Highness?”

 

Ivan kept requesting that Grid shouldn’t be let in. Of course, I let it go in one ear and out the other. From my perspective, that was anger stemming from hatred of his own kind.

 

‘Well, he probably didn’t expect there to be two eccentrics like himself.’

 

Though their goals were different, their boldness in stepping directly into dangerous places and their way of thinking were identical.

 

“Besides, I heard merchants are good at lying too. So…”

 

“An assassin who kills people is criticizing lying. Stop it already. Are you that hurt in your pride that your surveillance was discovered?”

 

“Ugh…! I told you that guy didn’t notice!”

 

Ivan threw a tantrum and got angry.

 

“He must have done something underhanded!”

 

“Well, I wouldn’t say underhanded…”

 

“Your Highness knows what that guy did, right? What exactly was it?”

 

“Hmm…”

 

“Tell me, please!”

 

Thinking he would continue being noisy if left alone, I calmed Ivan down and slowly explained.

 

“As I said earlier, it’s not his own ability. It’s thanks to the spirit around Grid.”

 

“Spirit? Those things really exist?”

 

“Of course.”

 

‘If fairies exist, why wouldn’t spirits?’

 

Well, spirits weren’t commonly seen beings in the human world.

 

Spirits possessed reason but were close to nature spirits. That reason was also at a child’s level, and thanks to that, their ability to perceive themselves was also lacking.

 

You could say they were souls like wind or water with just a bit of will.

 

Among them, spirits born with particularly strong power would make contracts with people whose wavelengths matched theirs.

 

These were the spirit users passed down as fairy tales in the human world.

 

‘To be born with Grid’s level of talent in the Human World where mana is sparse… maybe one person every hundred years?’

 

In a way, you could say he was a human rarer than even a reincarnated member of the Demon Clan.

 

“That spirit found me?”

 

“It must have. The spirit beside Grid was a darkness spirit. Since it’s a spirit that lives in crevices and shadows, it would have easily discovered you.”

 

So it was natural that Ivan was certain Grid definitely hadn’t noticed him on his own. In reality, the spirit must have secretly informed Grid.

 

“Damn, that bastard was acting cocky when it wasn’t even his own ability.”

 

Leaving him grinding his teeth behind me, I checked Grid’s profile on the desk again.

 

Though I hadn’t told Ivan, my mind was already leaning toward hiring him.

 

It was because I needed materials that ordinary merchants couldn’t obtain. A black market dealer would be able to get them easily. Most importantly, I liked that I could hide the information that I was searching for those materials.

 

‘Honestly, the fact that Grid’s spirit is a darkness spirit is a bit unsettling.’

 

Spirits make contracts with people whose wavelengths match theirs.

 

And darkness spirits were typical hedonists and perverts.

 

“I should tail that guy once more next time! You said it was a darkness spirit? I’d rather do it in broad daylight…!”

 

I glanced at Ivan, who was still fuming.

 

‘Actually, doesn’t Ivan also have good compatibility with darkness spirits?’

 

That meant Grid and Ivan would get along quite well too.

 

The saying that if you have a noisy and restless son, the answer is to make him a younger sibling to play with suddenly came to mind.

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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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