Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 34

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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 034

 

“Hi, hiiek! Don’t come, don’t come near me!”

 

“Don’t feel so wronged. After killing people like that, didn’t you know your turn would come?”

 

Britz tried to run away, but he couldn’t move an inch due to my magic power binding his limbs.

 

‘This isn’t easy either. If I do this too long, there’ll be aftereffects again.’

 

It would be fine if I used it for destruction, but complex actions seemed to cause severe backlash.

 

I restrained my magic power as much as possible and commanded Gregory once more.

 

“Finish it quickly.”

 

[Yes.]

 

Gregory burrowed into Britz’s mind.

 

“Agh, aaaaagh!”

 

Britz, who had been screaming, suddenly hung his head low.

 

After a moment, when he raised his head, his face showed a rigid expression and dry eyes unlike before.

 

These were Gregory’s characteristics that I remembered.

 

“It’s been a while, Gregory. Do you remember me?”

 

“Of course. Legion Commander Gregory, reporting for duty.”

 

Watching him salute, I briefly introduced myself in a voice Ivan couldn’t hear.

 

“My name is Deina Ripeon. I’m a princess living as a human, so keep that in mind.”

 

“Is that the setting?”

 

‘…I’ve heard this question somewhere before.’

 

It wasn’t wrong, so I nodded reluctantly.

 

Gregory, now in Britz’s body, untied the ropes by himself and stood up.

 

Though only the soul had changed, somehow he seemed to have grown taller.

 

“What happened to Britz’s soul?”

 

“It should be wandering around this room as a wandering spirit. I didn’t kill it just in case…”

 

“That’s fine. That would be more painful than peacefully passing on.”

 

This room was full of vengeful spirits who died unjustly. They would repay Britz as much as they had suffered.

 

‘Though I shouldn’t be the one to say this, being a demon… I hope they resolve their grudges and find peace.’

 

These were people with no relatives to even pray for their souls. I should have Gregory make graves for them later.

 

Ivan, who had been watching the situation with interest, quickly approached.

 

“Hello! Junior! I’m called Ivan.”

 

“…Junior?”

 

“I became Her Highness’s subordinate first, so I’m the senior. Right?”

 

Anyone could tell it was a joke, but unfortunately, the other party was Gregory. He politely bowed and said.

 

“Is that so. Nice to meet you, please call me Gregory.”

 

“Uh… huh?”

 

Not expecting such a reaction, Ivan made an awkward expression.

 

“Don’t tease Gregory. He’s a born soldier, so jokes don’t work on him.”

 

“What, he was a soldier? We probably won’t get along well. But wait, if this person is a soldier, then Your Highness is actually…?”

 

Before Ivan could voice his speculation, I spoke to Gregory.

 

“How are the memories? I heard possession makes it difficult to fully absorb the body’s memories.”

 

“There is some confusion, but there’s no problem with activities.”

 

That was fortunate. If I had to teach imperial etiquette from scratch, it would have been quite daunting.

 

I pointed to the passage leading to the surface and said.

 

“Let’s talk while we go up. There’s a lot to explain.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Even thinking about it now, it was really fortunate that Gregory was summoned. Since he never objected to any orders, unnecessary confusion didn’t arise.

 

‘If it had been the Second Legion Commander… I don’t even want to imagine.’

 

She would have definitely tried to strangle me as soon as she saw me, shouting ‘You damn bastard!’ She would have turned a city upside down in rage, asking where I dared to go leaving her behind.

 

After leaving the manor, I told Ivan to guard the surroundings. Only after Ivan had moved far enough that voices couldn’t be heard did I explain the situation.

 

“Actually, I came to be reincarnated as a human…”

 

How I remembered my past life after returning from death’s door, the relationship between the Emperor and me, and the current situation where I needed a partner.

 

I tried to explain as briefly as possible, but when it was over, half an hour had passed. Gregory, who had been listening in silence throughout, nodded in understanding.

 

“I understand.”

 

“Do you really understand? This isn’t the Demon Realm, so it must be quite unfamiliar. Besides, you’ve never been summoned to the Human Realm before.”

 

“Whatever world it is, the fact that I follow Asmodina remains unchanged. I simply follow orders.”

 

It was a very Gregory-like answer.

 

“Come to think of it, what are the other legion commanders doing?”

 

“Some are guarding their units, some have retired and returned to their hometowns. And…”

 

He paused to choose his words.

 

“Some are searching throughout the Demon Realm looking for Asmodina.”

 

“…I see.”

 

I could guess who that was. I smiled bitterly. Still, it meant they were doing well, which was fortunate.

 

“Aren’t you curious, Gregory? About why I suddenly disappeared from the Demon Realm?”

 

I didn’t know why I was reincarnated, but I still clearly remembered my last memory in the Demon Realm.

 

At my words, Gregory pondered for a moment then shook his head.

 

“It would be a lie to say I’m not curious. But if you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t ask. What’s important is that Asmodina and I are together here.”

 

He was still a loyal subordinate.

 

I suddenly felt guilty for disappearing without saying anything to him.

 

The legion commander guarding his unit was probably referring to himself.

 

“Honestly, I’m curious about the Demon Realm too, but I won’t ask. I’m going to live as a human from now on.”

 

“Understood. I’ll keep that in mind and act accordingly.”

 

“Good.”

 

Not arguing was Gregory’s strong point. I patted his shoulder, saying I was counting on him.

 

He bowed his head and said.

 

“So, when should we gather the troops?”

 

“Huh? Troops?”

 

“You said you’re attending the banquet. We need to prepare troops for that…”

 

“What are you talking about? Why would we need soldiers for a banquet?”

 

Gregory frowned as if it was strange.

 

“Isn’t this the Vilroy’s Trojan Horse operation?”

 

Vilroy’s Trojan Horse was a famous infiltration operation in the Demon Realm where you pretend to be a guest at a banquet hall, then cause chaos from within.

 

I answered with an incredulous expression.

 

“What did you think you heard in my explanation? I said I’m going to live as a human! I don’t want that kind of bloody situation!”

 

“Then… is it the Rotitute operation? A deception strategy…”

 

“No! I’m just going to eat normally at the banquet and come back.”

 

Gregory opened his mouth in bewilderment and blinked. In the Demon Realm he looked like a bear, but making that expression with Britz Jabok’s face was quite cute.

 

“But then we can’t conquer the Empire, can we? I thought Asmodina would naturally use all this as a stepping stone for conquering the Empire…”

 

“Forget all memories from when I was Asmodina. I’m Deina now.”

 

“But… war, conquest, guerrilla…”

 

He still couldn’t break the habit of connecting everything to war.

 

It wasn’t for nothing that the Second Legion Commander called Gregory ‘a war-crazed glutton.’

 

After that, I spent a long time explaining to him about the attitude and behavior he needed to have as a human.

 

* * *

 

Finally, the day of the Emperor’s banquet arrived.

 

During this time, I helped Gregory live naturally as Britz Jabok and prepared clothes to wear to the banquet.

 

Fortunately, the Empress helped with this.

 

‘She came right after Jeina left, so I wondered if she had some scheme…’

 

At the time, she had come to warn me not to set my sights on Loreil. When I replied not to worry, she smiled satisfactorily and provided various support.

 

‘Honestly, the clothes Princess Deina wears are too old-fashioned. They might suit someone older, but they’re not good for someone young to wear. So, I’ll tell you about the dress shop I frequent.’

 

Though she added an evaluation I didn’t particularly want to hear, she still paid for the dress, so I endured it with a smiling face.

 

When Ivan saw me wearing a new dress for the first time in over ten years thanks to the Empress, his jaw dropped as he said:

 

‘So you really were a princess after all.’

 

I was so dumbfounded that I made him roll around on the training ground for an hour for the first time in a while. Seeing this, Gregory wore an expression moved with emotion as if it had been too long.

 

Anyway, the time for the banquet had arrived.

 

I visited the Main Palace together with Gregory.

 

‘How many years has it been since I officially entered the Main Palace?’

 

By now, I could barely remember what the inside of the Main Palace looked like.

 

Having entered the Main Palace so awkwardly, throughout our walk the gazes of administrators and servants persistently followed me. Sensing their stares, Gregory whispered to me.

 

“Shall we wage war?”

 

“I said no.”

 

Don’t try to subtly tempt me.

 

And don’t look disappointed by yourself either.

 

I tapped his shoulder telling him to snap out of it, and quickly made my way to the banquet hall.

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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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