Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 52

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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 052

What sort of absurd situation was this?

I exhaled a short breath and ordered the soldier to explain the circumstances in detail.

“A soldier who appeared to be from the Marquis’ family was waiting at the city entrance. It seems Lord Loreil ordered them to stand by to turn us away.”

The situation in the city, as the soldier explained it, was this:

Approximately four days ago, a plague had suddenly erupted and swept through the city. As mentioned earlier, the typical symptoms were paralysis of the legs and eyes gradually turning yellow. What began with just a handful of cases had overwhelmed the city before any countermeasures could be implemented.

Some residents called it a curse due to the unfamiliar symptoms, but the Lord had declared it a plague, and the name had changed accordingly.

“Is the Lord still within the city?”

“Yes. He is currently caring for the residents in the Castle.”

‘A nobleman rarely seen in the Empire.’

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

In any case, given the city’s condition, a request for aid had been sent to the Capital. However, due to the considerable distance, it would take at least four days for medical personnel or Priests to arrive.

“Could reinforcements come from another city?”

“This city is the most prosperous in the surrounding region. Even if support came from elsewhere….”

He meant there were no skilled medical professionals in the vicinity.

‘Fresh as the realization was, the Empire’s medical standards were abysmal.’

As a member of the Imperial Family, I could not even make excuses for it.

“Lord Loreil proceeded directly to the Next City. He provided financial support to the Lord first.”

Loreil’s soldier had also provided directions for a route that bypassed the city. It would take approximately two days longer than planned, but it was a safe path unaffected by the plague.

Without Loreil’s soldier, I would have entered the city without knowing anything.

I told the Soldier to convey my gratitude, then called for Ivan and Emma.

“Since we can’t help once they enter the city, let’s head back. How are our provisions?”

Emma pondered for a moment before nodding.

“We’re stretched thin, but we can make it to the Next City.”

Ivan remounted his horse, saying he’d inform the Carriage Drivers.

‘If we had a physician among us, I would have sent aid. But there’s nothing to be done.’

Unlike Gregory, I was ignorant of medicine. All I could do was hope the Priests and medical staff from the Capital arrived swiftly.

Just as we were about to depart, I spotted several figures rushing toward us from the City.

“What is that…?”

“Your Highness, step back.”

Ivan tried to help me back into the Carriage, but I froze the moment I saw them clearly.

Two adults and a Child—one of them cradled the Child in their arms. Both moved with difficulty, limping desperately as they ran.

“N-Noble Lord!”

The one who reached us first dropped to their knees before the Carriage and bowed deeply.

Only after hearing their voice did I realize they were a Woman.

“You are a nobleman from outside, are you not? I beg of you, please, I implore you!”

“Now, blocking the Road like this won’t—”

“Please, just hear me out, I beg you!”

The man holding the Child soon followed, dropping to his knees before the Carriage as well.

Both wore tattered clothes despite the winter cold, their bodies caked with sweat and mud.

“Your Highness, the illness may be contagious. Perhaps we should return to the carriage….”

“No, wait a moment.”

I brushed aside Ivan’s objections and approached them.

‘This aura… could it be….’

I could faintly sense the true nature of their illness.

Realizing I held the highest rank among our group, the man and woman bowed even more deeply.

They seemed to falter upon meeting my gaze, but they weren’t foolish enough to voice their observations.

“My Lord! Please, we beg of you….”

“Speak. What is your situation?”

The woman’s expression brightened as she began haltingly explaining their circumstances.

“A c-curse—no, a plague is spreading through the city! We are all afflicted, but this child remains uninfected. Please, could you not take this child to the village in the north? If things continue as they are, the child will surely fall ill as well!”

“Our family home is there. If you would only take the child to them, we shall give you all our possessions!”

The man holding the child withdrew a small pouch from his garments. Copper and silver coins filled roughly half of it.

Not enough to purchase even a single carriage wheel, yet for commoners, a fortune sufficient to sustain them for a year.

I paused to choose my words carefully before speaking to them.

“So your request is that I take the child into my care?”

“Y-yes, that is so.”

“You two are a couple, then.”

“Yes, we have lived in this city for ten years.”

Apparently believing I would accept the child, Emma approached from behind me and whispered.

“It’s unfortunate, but it’s dangerous. A plague can exist in someone even without visible symptoms showing….”

“I’m aware of that much. And I have no intention of leaving with the Child either.”

Emma lowered her head and stepped back, while the Couple’s faces turned ashen.

“No, no! Please, I’ll do anything…!”

“If you need it, we can bring more wealth from our Family Home!”

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

I exhaled deeply and lowered my body. Then I extended my hand toward the Child the man was holding.

“Give me the Child.”

“Ah, yes.”

Behind me, I heard Ivan and Liribel gasp in alarm, but I ignored them and took the Child into my arms. Though the Couple’s clothes were filthy, the blanket wrapped around the Child was clean and thick.

The Child, sleeping soundly, appeared to be around ten years old.

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

I could clearly discern what plague was afflicting these people. Feeling a headache arise for the first time in ages, I spoke to the Couple.

“Unfortunately, this Child is indeed infected.”

“No, surely not!”

“That can’t be! His eyes are perfectly fine, aren’t they!”

I wrapped the sleeping Child back in the blanket and shook my head.

“The eyes have nothing to do with it. The aura of the plague is real. So… I will treat this Child.”

“Tr, treat?”

The Couple stood frozen in astonishment, their mouths agape. Still cradling the Child, I approached them, pushed aside the tattered robe-like cloth they wore, and met their eyes directly.

Their eyes had yellowed at the sclera—calling this “golden irises” was a testament to the Empire’s appalling lack of medical knowledge.

‘This isn’t golden irises at all. It’s just jaundice.’

Their organs had deteriorated, causing their eyes to yellow—nothing more. The condition of those within the City was likely no different.

‘Wait, didn’t the Lord suppress rumors of a curse spreading earlier? That means at least the Lord understands what jaundice is.’

The Lord possessed enough sense to prevent the situation from spiraling further. Had he truly believed this was a curse, he would have chosen immolation over treatment.

I rose from my seat and addressed the Servants who stood behind me in vacant confusion.

“I’m going into the Carriage to treat this Child. Help these two warm themselves by a fire—their bodies are cold. And Ivan, Liribel. Come with me.”

“Yes, of course!”

As I entered the Carriage, Ivan and Liribel followed close behind.

After closing the door, I laid the Child across one of the Carriage’s seats.

Ivan, growing impatient, spoke first.

“Your Highness, treatment? What do you mean? Since when are you a physician?”

Liribel seemed anxious about my tending to the Child and kept trying to intervene.

“Please, Your Highness, contagion is terribly dangerous! If you touch them like this… let me do it instead!”

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

After wiping the grime from the Child’s cheeks with a handkerchief, I turned to face Ivan and Liribel.

“First, this isn’t a contagious disease. So there’s no danger in touching them.”

“But it spread in just three days…”

“There’s a source. Based on the spread rate, it’s likely water or soil.”

Given how rapidly it had consumed the City, waterborne illness seemed most probable. Rather than attempt to convey complex concepts, I kept my explanation simple.

“In other words, a Lake or Well—something like that—has been contaminated. Since this City happens to have a small Lake, there’s a high probability that’s the source of the infection.”

“So what you’re saying, Your Highness, is that these people were poisoned by something like that?”

“Similar, but not quite. It’s not a poison that’s harmful to the body in the traditional sense.”

“Then what exactly is it!”

I exhaled a long breath and tried to calm the impatient Ivan.

“Magical energy.”

“Huh?”

“They’ve been intoxicated by magical energy. If I translate this illness into the Empire’s language… it would be ‘Mana Sickness.'”

The Mana Sickness that Ruslara’s ancestor had contracted—an incurable plague originating from the Demon Realm—was the true identity of the epidemic consuming this City.

‘And perhaps, I can cure this illness.’

That was also the reason I had brought this Child to the Carriage.

I had complained that playing the Princess was tedious, and now I found myself playing the role of a Saint—a role that didn’t suit me at all.

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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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