Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 51

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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Pretending to Be Human: Episode 051

Perhaps because I’d dodged the arrows so effortlessly, the enemies began to include me in their attack range.

Had they only fired arrows, I could have continued evading by pretending to pick up fallen coins or tie my shoelaces. But with five blades thrusting at me simultaneously, I had no choice but to move.

So I shifted my position with a light step.

“What are you doing!”

I’d stepped directly in front of Loreil.

Loreil, already occupied with a dozen or so enemies, seemed flustered as I appeared before him and bit down on his sword.

“I’m terribly sorry, Loreil. I was so frightened that I… I cannot defeat these enemies myself, so I must ask for your assistance.”

Since I had no sword, I was telling him to handle it himself.

“Behind that Large Tree, no one will be able to see. In front of me, do not interfere!”

If I went over there, I’d be out of his sight—he was telling me to go fight and come back.

“I’m afraid of the darkness, you see.”

In other words, I didn’t want to go.

“Ugh…!”

I didn’t need to interpret that. His eyes turned a vivid crimson—though they were already red—as he glared at me before turning his blade back toward the enemies.

I moved my body with subtle precision, staying just outside his attack range while directing the enemies’ strikes toward him.

I moved so close to Loreil that it seemed as though I was nearly embracing him, and to any observer, we must have appeared to be dancing together.

Loreil probably thought I was playing games, but I had my reasons.

‘Ivan could handle this level of threat, but if Loreil sees through my identity, things will become complicated.’

Currently, Ivan was guarding the Carriage with movements that didn’t seem like those of an Assassin. If a full-scale battle erupted, Loreil might observe his technique and deduce his true nature.

The other Guards lacked sufficient skill, so ultimately I had no choice but to entrust the matter to Loreil.

‘Still, Loreil’s abilities are quite impressive.’

I found myself genuinely impressed by Loreil’s prowess, which exceeded my expectations.

When I first met him, I thought his strength was considerable, but I still categorized it as within human limits.

Yet his actual power, witnessed firsthand, proved remarkably formidable.

‘At this level, he’s not merely a Demon Soldier—he’s Knight-class.’

Unable to wield magical power, his swordsmanship was flawless. What struck me most was that his skill wasn’t born from refined technique alone, but from power thoroughly honed through actual combat.

I wouldn’t have been surprised to learn he’d spent the last decade rolling across battlefields.

“Hah… huff…”

Even for someone of Loreil’s caliber, dispatching roughly twenty enemies alone proved taxing. By the time the battle concluded, his breath came in ragged gasps.

‘His skill deserves commendation, but this carelessness is troubling.’

He planted his sword in the ground and bent forward to catch his breath, but unfortunately, the battle was far from over.

“…Die!”

One final Assassin remained, waiting for Loreil’s strength to wane. He burst from the darkness and swung his blade toward Loreil.

“Damn…!”

Even for Loreil, counterattacking with his sword lowered was no simple feat. He hastily raised his arm to ward off the lethal strike.

‘This is precisely why one must never lower their guard until the very end.’

Seeing such a lapse in his defense, I realized he still had much to learn.

I stepped forward before him without hesitation.

“Your Highness…!”

Startled, he tried to stop me, but I was already advancing toward the enemy.

“Biki, if you don’t—!”

“Ah, the dizziness from seeing so much blood!”

I staggered deliberately, bending my body forward. Then I burrowed into the Assassin’s embrace, seizing the arm that held his blade.

“…!”

I spun him around and hurled him to the ground. The Intruder never imagined he’d be thrown by a woman in a dress, and he crashed hard into the earth.

“Ugh!”

I planted my foot on his wrist to keep him from rising again. Then I turned to Loreil.

“Lord Loreil, this man simply fell over!”

“…Ha.”

He let out a hollow laugh, drew the blade embedded in the ground, and approached to finish the Assassin in my stead. I stepped back to avoid the blood, then clapped my hands in admiration of his skill.

“Impressive. Fortune truly favors you, Lord Loreil.”

“How long do you think such an absurd excuse will hold?”

He shook the blood from his blade and frowned. I tilted my head as if I didn’t understand what he meant.

“Lord Loreil, I’m simply not good at lying.”

His lips twisted, and then he sighed. He passed me and walked toward where his Carriage was stationed.

“I’ll go check on my Subordinates.”

“Very well.”

“And…”

He paused briefly, speaking in a whisper.

“Thank you for your help.”

By the time I turned my head, he was already descending toward the Slope. I watched his retreating figure and murmured to myself.

“Certainly, he doesn’t seem like a bad person.”

If I could set aside my suspicions about him being a Demon, we might have become friends. It was a shame.

* * *

Fortunately, thanks to the supplies I’d prepared in advance, I was able to repair Loreil’s Carriage smoothly.

However, the attack had caused delays, and by the time the repairs were complete, it had become late evening. I’d intended to suggest he stay at the Campsite for the night, but Loreil refused.

“I told you I would depart first, didn’t I?”

“But there was an attack….”

“It’s fine. I cannot impose further.”

Being the type to honor his word, he insisted on departing down the Road by torchlight.

Unable to break his stubbornness, I offered to let the wounded remain at the Campsite.

Fortunately, the rescue team would arrive by morning, so it wasn’t a significant burden for us.

Loreil seemed hesitant for a moment, but eventually relented, saying he would be grateful.

Perhaps feeling indebted because I’d helped him, his demeanor was softer than it had been during our conversation earlier that day.

‘In the end, he never revealed where those Soldiers targeting him came from. Though I suppose it’s not my place to pry.’

I was curious, but I had no intention of asking. I might become entangled in some pointless political intrigue.

After seeing Loreil off that way, the next day arrived. I handed over the wounded to the rescue team at the Campsite and headed toward the Next Destination.

Since this was a single Road, Loreil would have taken the same route the previous day.

‘Who was the Nobleman in charge of the Next Domain again? Would they hold a brief banquet upon my arrival? Or perhaps a formal dinner….’

As befitted a Princess, I was reviewing my schedule when suddenly the carriage window swung open and Ivan poked his head through.

“Your Highness, a moment.”

“What is it?”

“That young master of yours. He’s quite strong, isn’t he?”

By “young master,” he meant Loreil. Perhaps because he had once been his employer, Ivan still referred to him by that title.

“Yes, his skills are impressive.”

“More than me?”

“What?”

I furrowed my brow and turned my gaze toward him. Ivan’s eyes darted about as he spoke.

“Well, I was just wondering—if you compared us, who would be stronger?”

“You can gauge that yourself, can’t you?”

“I’d like to hear someone else’s assessment too.”

I answered without hesitation, as though there was nothing more to deliberate.

“Loreil is stronger. Fight a hundred times, and you’d lose all hundred.”

“…I see.”

Ivan closed the window with a nod. He didn’t seem displeased at being called weaker. Rather, his expression bore a strange solemnity, as though he had resolved something.

‘What is he thinking now?’

The hearts of human men like Ivan and Loreil were difficult to predict.

Thinking he would speak again if he had something to say, I attempted to return my attention to my schedule when someone knocked on the opposite window.

“Your Highness, a problem has arisen.”

He was one of the Soldiers assigned to guide us.

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s difficult to explain… I think you should come see for yourself.”

Following the Soldier’s words, I opened the window and peered ahead. Across the Road, I could see the City we were supposed to visit.

A Hill and a small Lake, with Buildings both large and small scattered about—a leisurely little City… The exterior seemed unremarkable, but a sign posted by the roadside blocking our Carriage caught my eye.

[No Entry.]

[Plague spreading.]

Red paint that looked as though it had been written in blood. And the word “curse” had been hastily scratched out and replaced with “plague.”

I pointed at the half-erased word “curse” and asked.

“That’s not referring to me, is it?”

A welcome sign for a cursed Princess?

At that, Ivan, who was mounted on horseback, and Liribel, who sat beside the Carriage Driver, cried out in unison.

“Of course not!”

“That couldn’t possibly be!”

“U-um, yes.”

Indeed, how would they have known when I was arriving to make such a sign?

I nodded awkwardly at their outburst.

“Ivan, let’s get a sense of the City’s situation first…”

“I already sent someone. They should arrive soon.”

Ivan had apparently already dispatched his Subordinates to scout the situation. A few minutes later, a Subordinate who had returned from the City stood before Ivan and me to begin his report.

The contents were shocking.

“Four days ago, a mysterious plague swept through the City, or so they say. The symptoms, from what I’ve heard….”

He glanced at me and added carefully.

“Paralysis in the legs, and the eyes… they say they turn golden.”

Golden eyes.

When those two words came together, the name that naturally came to mind first was, of course, mine—Deina.

“….”

This time, everyone in our party fell silent.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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