Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 48

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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 048

 

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Just before departing on our journey, I couldn’t help but be horrified at the sight of Ruslara that Grid had brought.

 

“Good heavens, who did this to her!”

 

Perhaps I had unconsciously shouted with magical power infused in my voice, as the people around me staggered. Grid, covered in dust, waved his hands dismissively and said.

 

“It’s bad for the patient, so tone down your energy a bit. And she’s not dead.”

 

Saying he had finished the emergency treatment, he laid Ruslara, whom he had been carrying, onto the sofa. With her bloodied legs and bruised neck that had turned blue, she looked like a wounded soldier on the brink of death.

 

As memories of the past stirred my heart and I reached out with trembling hands to check on her, Gregory, who was beside me, stopped me.

 

“Your Highness, I’ll do it.”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

Unlike me, the composed Gregory examined Ruslara’s condition.

 

“The bleeding is severe, but it’s not life-threatening. Though she’ll need to recuperate for a couple of months before she can walk again.”

 

“I told you, I did the emergency treatment.”

 

Grid slumped onto the opposite sofa with a tired expression. Uncharacteristically for him, his face was deeply etched with fatigue.

 

He stretched wearily and said.

 

“There’s no trustworthy doctor in the Imperial Palace anyway, right? A doctor disguised as my employee will arrive soon. You can leave it to him.”

 

“I only asked you to go out and escort her here, but what on earth happened?”

 

After the oracle business had ended successfully, I had entrusted Grid with escorting Ruslara since her arrival seemed to be delayed beyond schedule.

 

But to return in such a state.

 

“Well…”

 

Grid pondered for a moment before opening his mouth.

 

“I encountered someone called Asmo-rina.”

 

“…!”

 

At the unexpected name, both Gregory’s and my eyes widened. Confirming our reaction, Grid slowly continued.

 

“She seemed to be looking for someone called Asmodina. She was disappointed when she realized the woman lying there wasn’t a soldier.”

 

Then he briefly summarized the subsequent situation. How Asmo-rina had threatened Ruslara, asking if she knew my location, and how this had driven her to the brink of death.

 

If I hadn’t sent Grid, by now Ruslara would have been…

 

‘Rina, that damned brat.’

 

To think I’d witness her tyranny here too, which had been an everyday occurrence in the Demon Realm. I let out a deep sigh.

 

After finishing his explanation, Grid looked at my expression and said.

 

“My spirit screamed when it saw Asmo-rina. Calling her a monster and telling me to run. Thanks to that, I became curious about her true identity… Do you happen to know anything about her, Princess?”

 

“…Yes, since it’s come to this, I’ll explain.”

 

Since he had even saved Ruslara’s life, it was only natural to inform him of this much.

 

I briefly explained the relationship between Asmo-rina and myself. I didn’t specifically use the word “demon,” but Grid had probably already figured it out.

 

Asmo-rina’s actions in seeking me for revenge, and the rebellion she had instigated in the Jins Kingdom… After hearing the entire story, Grid stroked his chin with an intrigued expression.

 

“You’re quite popular, Princess.”

 

“I’m not in the mood for jokes.”

 

“I’m serious. You don’t really think her purpose is actually revenge, do you?”

 

“…Huh?”

 

“What?”

 

Grid’s eyes widened as he asked back, as if my reaction was strange. Then for some reason, Gregory, who was beside us, stopped Grid, saying ‘She won’t understand even if you put it that way.’

 

Grid nodded, going ‘Ah~ that kind of setting.’

 

“Anyway, thank you for explaining. Thanks to that, I can prepare countermeasures to some degree.”

 

“Countermeasures?”

 

“First, I’ll block your information from reaching her and spread false rumors. I’ll plant the name Asmodina all across the continent. So that no matter how much she searches, it’ll be futile.”

 

He added that he would also spread rumors using her physical characteristics, claiming she was a criminal who had crossed over from the Jins Kingdom.

 

That should somewhat curb her tyranny.

 

It was an effective but quite emotional response. When I looked at him with surprise, he grinned, showing his teeth.

 

“I can’t let such a thug run wild in my territory. She treats human lives like flies, so if left alone, she’ll likely cause major incidents.”

 

“That’s… I’m sorry about that.”

 

A merchant’s intuition was excellent. Even I couldn’t predict what would happen if Asmo-rina was left unchecked.

 

I wanted to punish her directly myself, but circumstances wouldn’t allow it.

 

‘But still, how did she know I was in the Empire and cross over here from the Jins Kingdom? And why did she target Baban Si?’

 

Questions arose one after another, but there were insufficient clues for now.

 

I turned my gaze toward Gregory.

 

“When do you think Ruslara will wake up?”

 

“Once her stamina recovers, she should regain consciousness quickly, but… it’s hard to estimate.”

 

Moreover, Gregory pointed to Ruslara’s leg.

 

“Even if she wakes up, accompanying us on this journey would be impossible.”

 

“Of course.”

 

There would be a gap in our security, but it couldn’t be helped for her recovery.

 

Then Gregory spoke cautiously.

 

“Perhaps I should join as a guard…”

 

“Don’t say such nonsense. There are already all sorts of rumors just from being partners at the banquet, and now you want to travel together too?”

 

Even if it was the Emperor’s mission, if an unmarried noble man and woman traveled together, scandals would surely follow.

 

“Then there might even be talk of marriage.”

 

“I don’t mind…”

 

Just then, someone burst through the window and appeared.

 

“It’s fine! I’m here!”

 

It was Ivan, who had been eavesdropping on our conversation.

 

I had sensed his presence, but I didn’t expect him to burst out so suddenly.

 

He blocked Gregory’s path and said with a confident expression.

 

“I don’t have a problem even if scandals arise.”

 

‘Wasn’t it supposed to be fine because of your skills?’

 

Somehow his words seemed unreliable, so I was looking at him suspiciously when someone knocked on the door.

 

It was Liribel.

 

“Princess~ The packing is all finished.”

 

“Right, the time!”

 

We had postponed our departure waiting for Grid’s arrival, but we had already far exceeded the scheduled time.

 

Since I had already contacted the princess, we couldn’t delay any longer.

 

‘I should at least do this.’

 

I approached Ivan and drew the dagger from his waist.

 

“Uh, huh?”

 

Leaving the flustered Ivan behind, I placed the blade of the dagger on my arm.

 

“Wait…!”

 

The three men tried to stop me simultaneously, but the dagger had already grazed my skin.

 

‘This should be enough.’

 

Then I brought the wounded area to Ruslara’s lips. Worried she might not be able to swallow, I gently pressed both her cheeks with my other hand to open her lips.

 

She sweetly swallowed my flowing blood like someone who had found sweet water in a desert.

 

Since Baban Si recover magical power through blood, this should be somewhat helpful.

 

“Princess.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Had I given about half a cup of blood? I was wondering if I should open the wound more when Gregory suddenly grabbed my shoulder. Then he made me step away from Ruslara.

 

“If blood is needed, I can provide it. There’s no need for you to do this, Princess.”

 

“No, but I have the strongest magical power here…”

 

“Your Highness.”

 

Gregory looked down at me with an eerie gleam in his eyes and said.

 

“That’s not what this means.”

 

“Uh, uhh.”

 

The atmosphere wasn’t right for asking what he meant then. The others’ reactions weren’t good either. Ivan was showing irritation, and Grid was standing askew, tilting his head with half-closed eyes.

 

‘Ah, does giving blood to humans feel uncomfortable?’

 

Even among demons, blood-sucking was a rejected trait. I thought it would be fine since everyone found out my identity through this incident.

 

“Sorry, I’ll be more careful from now on.”

 

“I don’t sense even a bit of sincerity in that…”

 

Gregory let out a short sigh and released my arm.

 

In any case, it was now truly time to depart.

 

I spoke to Grid and Gregory, who would remain in the capital.

 

“I’ll be back. Please take care of Ruslara.”

 

“More importantly, you should stop the bleeding first…”

 

“I’ll do it on the way. There’s a first aid kit in the carriage.”

 

Leaving behind the two men who seemed to have much to say, I walked toward the carriage outside the Separate Palace.

 

Ivan, the only one among the men who would be leaving with me, quietly approached and asked me.

 

“Um, by any chance… is the Princess’s blood sweet?”

 

“Stop talking nonsense and go disguise yourself.”

 

“But…”

 

His fidgeting was frustrating. Wondering why he was acting like this again, I wiped the remaining blood on my arm with my finger and held it out to his face.

 

“Look, it just smells like blood, right? To you guys, it’s just ordinary…”

 

Just as I was about to say it was just blood, Ivan bit my finger with his mouth.

 

“…”

 

I was shocked, wondering what kind of bizarre behavior this was, when Ivan, who had lightly sucked my fingertip to taste the blood, muttered in a disappointed voice.

 

“It’s not sweet.”

 

“Of course not, you fool!”

 

The thought of having to take this lacking assassin as a guard was giving me a headache.

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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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