Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 30

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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 030

 

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Dark night.

 

Grid left the Main Palace carrying a single document.

 

‘To think I need such documents just to come and go, the Imperial Palace really is different.’

 

The document in his hand was a permit from the Main Palace that freely allowed entry and exit. This was also proof that he was an exclusive merchant of the Imperial Family.

 

‘With this, I can now stand beside that princess.’

 

Recalling her face made his spine tingle for no reason.

 

Though their first meeting was light and amusing like a joke, Grid had actually been tense throughout.

 

It was due to the pressure he felt as a spirit user.

 

‘I’ll have to get used to it. While I’m at it, I’ll just ignore the words of that insolent assassin who was beside her.’

 

To ease the fear from that time, Grid recalled Ivan’s face. He couldn’t understand why Deina kept such a frivolous assassin by her side, but since he had decided to work together, he had to endure it.

 

‘Now then, shall I complete the princess’s first request?’

 

Just as he was about to leave the Imperial Palace with light steps, a man appeared at the crossroads and blocked Grid’s path.

 

A height that was a span taller than himself. Grid looked up to check the other person’s face.

 

“…Well, this is quite unexpected, it’s been a long time, young master of the Delchis family.”

 

The identity of the one blocking his path was Loreil, the heir of the Delchis Prime Minister’s Family.

 

Grid smiled brightly as he met the red eyes that glowed eerily in the moonlight.

 

“To meet like this in the middle of the night, in this vast Imperial Palace, what a coincidence. How nice…”

 

“I told you not to call me that, Grid.”

 

‘He’s still someone who only says what he wants to say.’

 

Grid shrugged his shoulders and corrected his form of address.

 

“…Yes, Lord Loreil. I forgot. My apologies.”

 

Then Loreil looked down at the document Grid was holding and said.

 

“So you’ve finally become Princess Deina’s exclusive merchant.”

 

“That’s right. Your information is quite fast.”

 

“What do you think the Prime Minister’s Family’s work entails?”

 

‘How could I not know?’

 

Since the Delchis Prime Minister’s Family had a firm grip on the Empire’s financial veins, of course they would know.

 

It was just a formal question anyway.

 

“What methods did you use? With your meager surface identity, you would have been insufficient to be selected as an exclusive merchant. Did you reveal your identity as a shadow merchant?”

 

“There’s no way I would do that. I obtained this through fair competition. Why would Her Highness deal with a shadow merchant?”

 

Once a deal was concluded, strictly maintaining the client’s secrets was a merchant’s basic principle.

 

Loreil didn’t seem to think Grid would give a meaningful answer either, so he changed his question.

 

“Then, while conversing with that person, didn’t you feel something?”

 

“Something?”

 

“You have good instincts. Since you carry around something strange. I’m asking if your instincts picked up on anything.”

 

‘There was, quite a lot actually.’

 

Pretending to ponder his answer with a “Well,” Grid recalled the time he met Deina.

 

The shabby study, the somehow eerie guide maid, the extraordinary man and woman standing beside her… More impressive than all of those was Deina herself, sitting in an ordinary dress with a languid expression.

 

The moment he entered the study, the dark spirit that always chattered on his shoulder fell silent.

 

And after a while, it whispered in his ear with an anxious voice.

 

[Let’s run away, Grid. This place is scary. That thing is scary.]

 

Though he had met many people with powerful abilities, his spirit had never been so frightened. When Grid tried to calm it with his thoughts, the spirit answered while shedding tears.

 

[You mustn’t approach. It’s divine punishment. It’s a monster. Everyone will die.]

 

‘Die? What are you talking about? Are you saying Her Highness will kill us?’

 

[Already killed many. Killed countless. It’s a mountain, a mountain of corpses, a mountain of monsters… the one who toppled the summit.]

 

Cold sweat broke out at the expression “summit.”

 

Among all the humans he had met so far, the spirit had used the title “summit” exactly twice.

 

First was the one standing at the summit of evil will, Emperor Lifeon.

 

Second was the one who climbed to the summit of the Horn Tower, the Beast King.

 

Even when observing those two from afar and giving them such nicknames, it hadn’t been this afraid.

 

But Deina was different.

 

The spirit trembled like a small animal facing a natural disaster.

 

Even calling her “the one who toppled the summit.” Wasn’t that an expression as if she had killed a king?

 

‘Even if not that, it could be a prophetic title about the future.’

 

The spirit’s abstract expressions were sometimes similar to revelations from the temple.

 

The aging Emperor would die soon. Time was a certain death sentence that God had given to humans.

 

But if the one delivering that sentence was not time, but a human…

 

‘Sorry, Coco. Hearing that makes it even more impossible for me to run away.’

 

They say people actually smile when faced with intense fear.

 

Grid comforted his spirit Coco while actually steeling his resolve.

 

‘It’s a chance to get front row seats, Coco. Even if death is beside me, I can’t miss this opportunity.’

 

He didn’t even think of asking foolish questions like how she had noticed Coco’s existence. What was more important was whether that power was on his side or not.

 

Thus, ignoring Coco’s screams, he concluded the contract with Deina. It was also the first time in his life he had ignored Coco’s advice.

 

‘…I can’t tell this man about such circumstances.’

 

Having finished his recollection in an instant, Grid made a troubled expression and answered.

 

“I’m not sure. Other than her unusual hair color and eyes, I didn’t notice anything strange about Her Highness.”

 

“…”

 

Loreil narrowed his eyes. His expression suggested that couldn’t be true.

 

‘Since he also has keen senses like me, he must have felt something when he saw Her Highness. But I have no intention of working with him.’

 

Since Loreil had decided to work with the Prime Minister’s Family, he would never cooperate with him.

 

Loreil frowned and said.

 

“There might be dangers lurking beyond what you think. Do you still intend to hide the truth?”

 

“I have no idea what you’ve been talking about…”

 

“…Tsk.”

 

Judging that it was no longer getting through, Loreil clicked his tongue and stepped back. Thanks to that, the path opened.

 

“Well then, I’ll be going now.”

 

Grid offered his farewell and tried to leave. But just as they were about to pass each other at the crossroads, Loreil stopped him again.

 

“I heard all the servants at the Separate Palace were replaced.”

 

“Yes, is there some problem?”

 

“…Tell the new servants to clean up the garden first.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

What was this about now?

 

Grid blinked at the sudden topic.

 

Loreil walked toward the dark path without even looking at him and said.

 

“It’s too much of a jungle there for having tea.”

 

Leaving behind words whose meaning was unclear, he disappeared like that.

 

Grid, who had been staring blankly into the darkness, muttered quietly.

 

“…I should tell her directly.”

 

Somehow, he thought what he felt from Loreil wasn’t just wariness.

 

* * *

 

Finally, the Emperor’s decree arrived.

 

[Three days from now in the evening, you are permitted to attend the banquet. Suitable… sent two sets… partner…]

 

Though it was a short decree of less than 500 characters, I didn’t have the energy to interpret its contents in detail.

 

Part of the reason the text was messy was due to the conditions attached all over it, but the biggest problem was the woman staring straight at me from in front of my eyes.

 

The person who brought the Emperor’s decree directly, she was none other than…

 

“Are you done reading, Deina? You understand what it says, right?”

 

“…Yes, I understand, Jeina.”

 

My younger sister, the Fourth Princess Jeina.

 

I smiled bitterly at my younger sister who didn’t even blink.

 

‘Jeina still hasn’t changed at all.’

 

The most recent time we met was five years ago, wasn’t it? The only thing that had changed since then was her hairstyle.

 

She was still the same younger sister, a bundle of brilliant confidence, justice, and Imperial Family pride.

 

“This is an imperial decree from His Majesty the Emperor, so make sure you follow it. You haven’t forgotten your dining etiquette just because it’s been so long since you attended a banquet, have you?”

 

“I remember everything, so don’t worry.”

 

“No, I can’t be certain. I’ll call an etiquette instructor to verify. If you don’t meet the standards, I’ll speak directly to His Majesty and postpone the banquet.”

 

And she was still the same stubborn person who wouldn’t listen to reason.

 

I stepped back, telling her to do as she pleased. There was no way to stop Jeina when she acted on her own whims.

 

“Jeina, did you come all the way to the Separate Palace personally to check if I’m doing well?”

 

“As if.”

 

I asked with a faint hope, but as expected, the answer that came back was negative.

 

“Being invited to a banquet is proof that you’ve recovered. So there’s no need to check on that. I came here to confirm whether you’re qualified to be called a member of the Imperial Family.”

 

‘Qualified.’

 

It was a word I hadn’t heard in a long time, one that drove nails into my heart.

 

Jeina had used that exact same word in the past as well.

 

‘You’re below expectations. I was foolish to have expected anything from you. From now on, you have no qualifications as a member of the Imperial Family. Today will be the last time I call you sister.’

 

It had happened five years ago, when she last visited the Separate Palace.

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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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