Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 53

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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 053

 

“Liribel, did you hear why Ruslara left her hometown and moved here?”

 

“Ah, something about an incurable disease…”

 

“That’s exactly mana sickness. It’s an incurable disease that gradually worsens as the mana in the air accumulates in the body.”

 

For those living in the Demon Realm, mana sickness was fatal. The mana in the Demon Realm was so concentrated compared to the Human Realm that just breathing could lead to death.

 

That’s why Ruslara’s ancestors, the Baobhan sith, chose to migrate to the Human Realm.

 

For reference, diseased organs and paralysis starting from the extremities were typical symptoms. That’s why the city residents showed jaundice on their faces and paralysis in their legs.

 

After hearing the explanation of mana sickness, Ivan tilted his head as if finding it strange.

 

“But is that a disease humans can catch too? I’ve never heard of anyone getting poisoned by mana in my entire life.”

 

“It’s not a disease humans can’t catch. It’s just that mana is extremely sparse in this world, so there’s no chance to see it.”

 

Actually, humans with lower mana resistance had a much higher chance of developing it than demons.

 

“Then why on earth did those city people catch it?”

 

Just as I was about to answer, Liribel raised her hand high as if she had realized something.

 

“Ah! You mentioned there was a contaminated area earlier! The lake or well was contaminated with mana, and people who drank from it all got sick at once!”

 

“Correct. Liribel understood faster again this time.”

 

When Ivan and Liribel listened to explanations together, Liribel usually understood faster. Defeated again this time, Ivan clutched his head saying “No way!”

 

“As I said earlier, this isn’t a disease that spreads between people. The cause is air, water, or soil.”

 

Since there was no change in the air or ground, what remained was the water source.

 

And the city had a lake of just the right size.

 

“I don’t know the exact circumstances, but there’s a high possibility the lake was contaminated with concentrated mana.”

 

Setting aside whether such mana could be contained in the Human Realm, this was the only way to cause simultaneous outbreaks in so many people.

 

‘If Loreil had gone deep into the city, he would have noticed the cause… but he said he just provided support and immediately left the city.’

 

If Loreil had discovered the cause of this disease, wouldn’t he have stayed to research rather than leave? Mana was also a clue to finding demons.

 

“Hmm, I roughly understand. Then what do you mean by saying Your Highness can treat this child?”

 

“Treating mana sickness is simple. Extract the mana from the body and avoid concentrated mana in the future. I can solve both problems.”

 

‘Both were impossible in the Demon Realm.’

 

For residents of the Demon Realm, mana was like blood, and prevention methods didn’t work because the air was thick with mana. That’s why it was called an incurable disease.

 

But this was the Human Realm, and the patient was even a human who could function without mana.

 

Someone like me who handled mana well could certainly treat it.

 

Ivan muttered in an admiring voice.

 

“…I’m reminded anew that Your Highness is an amazing person.”

 

Well, it was only amazing to humans; it wasn’t even difficult for demons.

 

‘I can’t just ignore this and pass by. If left alone, everyone living in the city will die.’

 

There was no way humans could treat mana sickness. Even if they discovered a treatment method, it would barely be resolved only with an archmage-level person.

 

I wasn’t callous enough to leave so many victims behind and depart.

 

‘The problem is how the world will view the fact that I’m treating them.’

 

Treating them was easy. I just had to absorb the mana and eliminate the contamination source in the lake.

 

But the nobles would be more curious about how such a thing was possible rather than the good deed I had done.

 

Perhaps conspiracy theories might emerge suggesting I deliberately spread the epidemic for my own prestige.

 

‘Hiding my identity even now would be… useless. The spies are watching all my movements too.’

 

I had dealt with the spies who came close, but I couldn’t stop those watching the carriage’s route from afar. In the first place, nobles traveling with such a large party were rare to even see.

 

‘But it can’t be helped.’

 

That didn’t mean I wanted to give up on saving lives. Like the lord rescuing people in the city, as royalty I should naturally step forward to save the empire’s citizens.

 

It’s not that I lack patriotism, but that I lack humanity.

 

“Anyway, that’s how it is, so we’re going to enter the city. The other servants might get scared, so I’d like to take only a few…”

 

“It’s okay, Your Highness. Everyone will follow.”

 

“Huh? Really?”

 

Liribel nodded as if it were obvious.

 

“All the servants here together respect Your Highness!”

 

‘I don’t think I’ve ever bestowed any great favors.’

 

But since Liribel knew the servants’ sentiments better than I did, I didn’t bother asking again.

 

Ivan also said not to worry.

 

“My subordinates would follow even if I told them to go to hell, so it’s fine!”

 

“Then I understand. Let’s all go together.”

 

The two clenched their fists tightly as if they had succeeded.

 

I didn’t know what they were so happy about, but for now there was something that needed priority.

 

“Mmm…”

 

It was treating the disease of the child sleeping right in front of me.

 

I placed my hand on the child’s forehead and whispered quietly.

 

“Bear with it a little. It’ll be over soon.”

 

Mana flowed from my hand and entered the child’s body. My mana absorbed all the residual mana remaining in the child’s body, then returned to me.

 

“There, finished.”

 

“Already?”

 

“I told you it was easy. Now let’s treat this child’s parents. Bring them here.”

 

After that, I treated the child’s parents as well. The parents tried to express their gratitude to me while shedding tears. They even tried to offer their possessions, so I firmly refused saying it wasn’t necessary.

 

“I merely followed my duty as royalty. If I receive compensation for such an obvious task, those who need treatment in the future will feel burdened. So step back.”

 

They bowed several times with even more moved expressions. Only after the servants helped them up could we move the carriage.

 

“Now then… let’s go to the city.”

 

I never dreamed I’d be doing such priest-like, saintly work.

 

Somehow there seem to be many incidents and accidents for a first trip. I let out a short sigh and got back on the carriage.

 

* * *

 

The city’s lord, Viscount Gorden, despaired as he looked at himself in the mirror.

 

Finally, jaundice symptoms had appeared in his own eyes too.

 

‘As expected, all the internal medicines were useless too.’

 

He had gathered and tried all medicines said to treat jaundice symptoms, but none had any effect. Since the epidemic had finally spread to him who had tried the medicines first, the residents’ situation wouldn’t be different either.

 

He swept his face with a miserable expression. Seeing his legs starting to feel stiff, it seemed he’d have to be bedridden in three or four days.

 

“Ah, Sun God, why on earth…”

 

He cursed the Sun God he had believed in his entire life for the first time. Though he had overcome any problem by thinking of it as a trial sent by the Sun God, this time there was no solution.

 

He had opened all the castle’s wealth and summoned all the pharmacists and doctors in the domain. But what returned was an epidemic outbreak among all residents. Viscount Gorden was allowed neither to discover the cause of the outbreak nor to slow its progress.

 

If only the onset time had been a little longer, if only there had been a more skilled doctor in his domain, if only there had been a priest who could use divine power… All sorts of regrets flooded in, but there was nothing he could do now.

 

‘I requested rescue from the capital, but their choice will probably be to seal off the city. If that happens, we’ll all die.’

 

There were two ways to deal with epidemics. Either isolate and treat, or let them die as is.

 

Given this rapid transmission rate and symptoms, the Emperor was likely to choose the latter.

 

It meant his domain spanning generations and his proud people would all die.

 

“Sun God…”

 

No matter how much he cried out to the god, salvation didn’t come. Even knowing this, he could only pray. Anyone would do, please save us from this hell…

 

Then, the bedroom door burst open and the chamberlain entered.

 

His eyes were also cloudy from jaundice symptoms.

 

“My, my lord! A guest has arrived!”

 

“A guest?”

 

“You should come down and see right away! That person wants to see you immediately…!”

 

Just as the chamberlain was about to continue his urgent explanation, an unfamiliar voice came from behind the door.

 

“Never mind, I came myself.”

 

“Gasp!”

 

The startled chamberlain stepped aside from the door in an awkward posture. Then a woman calmly entered the room.

 

‘Those eyes…!’

 

Viscount Gorden’s eyes widened at the sight of her.

 

Dark blue hair, and beneath it platinum-colored eyes that were intellectual yet strangely charming… There was only one person in the empire with such coloring.

 

“Pr-Princess Deina, Your Highness?”

 

It was Princess Deina, known to be cursed by the Sun God.

 

She silently looked around the room. Seeing the dozens of medicinal herbs, medicine bottles, and pharmaceutical books, Deina spoke quietly.

 

“It’s my first time meeting you, Viscount Gorden. I’ve heard about the situation.”

 

“The, the situation, you say…”

 

“I intend to treat the epidemic that has spread throughout your domain. Would you permit me to stay?”

 

What flowed from the lips of she who was rumored to be the cursed princess were words of salvation that even the Sun God had not bestowed.

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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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