Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 52

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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 052

 

What kind of bizarre situation is this now?

 

I let out a short sigh and ordered him to explain the situation in detail.

 

“There was someone who appeared to be a soldier from the Marquis’ family waiting at the city entrance. It seems Loreil gave orders to wait there to send us back.”

 

The situation in the city that the soldier explained was as follows.

 

About four days ago, a sudden epidemic swept through the city. As mentioned earlier, leg paralysis and eyes gradually turning yellow were the main symptoms, and the epidemic that started with three or four people took over the city before anyone could respond.

 

Some residents called it a curse due to the unheard-of symptoms, but the name changed when the lord declared it an epidemic.

 

“Is the lord still inside the city now?”

 

“Yes. He’s said to be caring for the residents in the castle.”

 

‘A nobleman rarely seen in the Empire.’

 

I was secretly impressed that such a nobleman remained in the Empire.

 

Anyway, due to the city’s situation, they had sent a rescue request to the capital. However, since the distance to the capital was so far, it would take more than three days for medical staff or priests to arrive.

 

“Can’t support come from other cities?”

 

“This city is the most prosperous in the vicinity. Even if support comes from elsewhere…”

 

It meant there were no outstanding medical staff in the area.

 

‘Not surprising, but the Empire’s medical level is the worst.’

 

I couldn’t even make excuses as a member of the imperial family.

 

“Loreil is said to have headed straight to the next city. After donating support funds to the lord.”

 

Loreil’s soldier reportedly gave directions for a route that bypasses the city. It would take about two more days than planned, but it was a safe path unaffected by the epidemic.

 

If it weren’t for Loreil’s soldier, we would have entered the city knowing nothing.

 

I told him to convey my thanks to that soldier, then called Ivan and Emma.

 

“Since we can’t help even if we enter the city, let’s turn back too. How’s our food situation?”

 

Emma pondered for a moment before nodding.

 

“It’s tight, but we can make it to the next city.”

 

Ivan also got back on his horse, saying he’d inform the coachmen.

 

‘If we had a doctor with us, I would have at least sent support, but it can’t be helped.’

 

Gregory might know, but I was ignorant about diseases. I could only hope the priests and medical staff coming from the capital would arrive quickly.

 

Just as we were about to set off again, I saw several people running from the direction of the city.

 

“That’s…”

 

“Princess, step back.”

 

Ivan tried to get me back into the carriage, but I stopped moving the moment I saw them.

 

It looked like two adults and one child, with one person carrying the child in their arms. Both seemed to have trouble with their legs, limping yet running desperately.

 

“No-nobleman, sir!”

 

Eventually, the person who ran ahead first knelt in front of the carriage and bowed.

 

Only after hearing the voice did I realize it was a woman.

 

“You’re a nobleman from outside, aren’t you? I have a request, please, please!”

 

“Look here, blocking the road like this…”

 

“Please just listen to my story, please!”

 

The man who arrived afterward carrying the child also knelt in front of the carriage.

 

Both were wearing worn clothes despite it being winter, and their entire bodies were stained with sweat and mud.

 

“Princess, the disease might be contagious. First, get in the carriage…”

 

“No, wait a moment.”

 

I pushed aside Ivan’s restraint and approached them.

 

‘This aura, could it be…’

 

Because I could faintly sense the true nature of that disease.

 

Perhaps realizing I was the highest-ranking person in this group, the man and woman bowed their heads even deeper.

 

They seemed momentarily startled when they saw my eyes, but they weren’t foolish enough to mention it aloud.

 

“Sir! Please, our request…”

 

“Speak. What’s the matter?”

 

The woman, whose complexion brightened, began to stammer as she explained their situation.

 

“A cu-curse… no, an epidemic is spreading in the city! We’re all infected with the disease, but this child isn’t yet. So please, couldn’t you take this child to the village in the north? If we leave things as they are, this child will also get sick!”

 

“Our family home is there. If you would just take the child there, we’ll give you all our wealth!”

 

The man holding the child took out a small pouch from his clothes. Copper and silver coins filled about half of it.

 

An amount that couldn’t even buy one wheel of the carriage, but precious wealth that could feed a commoner for a year.

 

I chose my words carefully before speaking to them.

 

“Your request is to take care of the child?”

 

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

 

“You two must be a couple.”

 

“Yes, we’ve lived in this city for 10 years.”

 

Perhaps thinking I would take the child, Emma, who had been watching the situation, approached behind me and whispered.

 

“It’s a pitiful situation, but it’s dangerous. Even if epidemic symptoms don’t show outwardly, one could still be infected…”

 

“I know that much. And I have no intention of taking the child and leaving either.”

 

Emma bowed her head and stepped back, while conversely, the couple’s faces turned pale.

 

“No! Please, we’ll do anything…!”

 

“If you need it, we can bring more wealth from our family home!”

 

“That’s not what I mean, so stop. I’m not saying I won’t help.”

 

I sighed and crouched down. Then I reached out my hand toward the child the man was holding.

 

“Child, let me see.”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

I heard shocked gasps from Ivan and Liribel behind me, but I ignored them and took the child in my arms. Although the couple’s clothes were dirty, the blanket wrapping the child was clean and thick.

 

The soundly sleeping child appeared to be about ten years old.

 

‘No fever, and the skin is normal too. But this aura I’m sensing…’

 

I could clearly tell what the epidemic tormenting them was. Feeling a headache coming on after a long time, I spoke to the couple.

 

“Unfortunately, this child is indeed infected with the disease.”

 

“Oh no, surely not!”

 

“No! The eyes, aren’t the eyes fine!”

 

I shook my head while wrapping the sleeping child in the blanket again.

 

“It has nothing to do with the eyes. It’s true that I can sense the disease’s aura. So… this child, I will treat.”

 

“Tr-treat?”

 

The couple couldn’t contain their amazement, their mouths hanging open. I approached them while holding the child in my arms. Then I removed the rag-like robes they were wearing and looked directly into their eyes.

 

Their eyes had whites that had turned yellow. To call this golden eyes – I was dismayed at the level of common sense among the Empire’s people.

 

‘What golden eyes. It’s just jaundice.’

 

They simply had yellowed eyes due to diseased internal organs. Probably the condition of people inside the city wouldn’t be much different.

 

‘No, wait, didn’t they say the lord stopped false rumors about it being a curse earlier? Then at least the lord knows about jaundice symptoms.’

 

Thanks to having a lord with some sense, it seemed they could prevent the situation from worsening further. If the lord had truly believed these symptoms were a real curse, he would have chosen burning at the stake rather than treatment.

 

I stood up from my spot and spoke to the servants who were staring at me blankly from behind.

 

“I’m going into the carriage to treat this child. Help these two people warm themselves by a campfire or something. They seem cold. …And Ivan, Liribel. Follow me.”

 

“Ah, yes!”

 

When I entered the carriage, Ivan and Liribel followed behind me.

 

After closing the door, I laid the child on the carriage seat.

 

Then, Ivan, feeling frustrated, spoke first.

 

“Princess, what do you mean by treatment? Since when have you been a doctor?”

 

Liribel seemed anxious about me caring for the child and kept trying to stop me.

 

“Ep-epidemics are really scary, Princess! If you touch like that… I’ll do it instead!”

 

“I’m fine, so both of you wait a moment. I’ll explain.”

 

After wiping the dirt from the child’s cheek with a handkerchief, I turned my head toward Ivan and Liribel.

 

“First, this isn’t a contagious disease. So there’s no problem with touching.”

 

“What? But it spread in just three days…”

 

“There’s just a source. Looking at the spread rate, it’s probably water or soil.”

 

Seeing how it devoured the city in an instant, it was likely a waterborne epidemic. Since explaining the concept wouldn’t be easy, I explained it simply.

 

“In other words, places like lakes or wells have been contaminated. Since this city happens to have a small lake, there’s a high chance that’s the contaminated area.”

 

“So what you’re saying, Your Highness, is that these people were affected by some kind of poison?”

 

“Similar. Except it’s not a poison that’s harmful to the body.”

 

“Then what the hell is it!”

 

I sighed and calmed down the impatient Ivan.

 

“Mana.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“They’re intoxicated by mana. If we translate this disease into the Empire’s language… it would be ‘Mana Sickness.'”

 

The mana sickness that Ruslara’s ancestor had contracted, an incurable disease originating from the Demon Realm, was the true identity of the epidemic that had consumed this city.

 

‘And probably, I’ll be able to cure this disease.’

 

That was also the reason I had brought this child into the carriage.

 

I had grumbled about how bothersome it was to play the role of a princess, and now I ended up having to play the role of a saint, which didn’t suit me at all.

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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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