Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 53

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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 053

“Did Liribel hear why Ruslara left her hometown and moved here?”

“Ah, something about an incurable disease, I think….”

“That’s Mana Sickness. It’s an incurable disease that worsens progressively as magical energy from the air accumulates in the body.”

For those living in the Demon Realm, Mana Sickness was fatal. The magical concentration in the Demon Realm was incomparably denser than in the Human Realm—merely breathing could lead to death.

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

As a reference, the typical symptoms included diseased internal organs and progressive paralysis starting from the extremities. This explained the jaundice visible on the city residents’ faces and their paralyzed legs.

Ivan tilted his head in confusion after hearing the explanation of Mana Sickness.

“But is that a disease humans can even contract? I’ve never heard of anyone becoming addicted to magical energy in my entire life.”

“Humans aren’t immune to it. It’s just that this world has such sparse magical energy that you’d never see it occur.”

In fact, humans with lower magical resistance were far more susceptible to the disease than Demons.

“Then why did the people in that city contract it?”

Just as I was about to answer, Liribel suddenly raised her hand as if struck by realization.

“Ah! You mentioned contaminated areas earlier, didn’t you! The lake or well must have been contaminated with magical energy, and everyone who drank from it contracted the disease all at once!”

“Correct. Liribel grasps things faster than anyone else, even this time.”

Whenever Ivan and Liribel listened to explanations together, Liribel almost always understood faster. Faced with defeat once again, Ivan clutched his head in mock anguish, crying out in frustration.

“As I mentioned before, this disease isn’t contagious between people. The cause lies in the air, water, and soil.”

Since the air and earth showed no changes, the remaining culprit was the water source.

And the city had a lake of precisely fitting size.

“I’m uncertain of the exact circumstances, but it’s highly likely the lake became contaminated with concentrated magical energy.”

Whether such magical power could be infused in the Human Realm was secondary; there was only one method to simultaneously afflict so many people.

‘If Loreil had ventured deep into the city, he would have discerned the cause… but he said he merely provided support before swiftly departing.’

Had Loreil discovered the source of this plague, wouldn’t he have remained to investigate rather than flee? After all, magical power was a clue to locating Demons.

“Hmm, I understand well enough. So what does it mean that the Princess can cure this child?”

“The treatment for magical plague is simple. Extract the magical power from the body, and avoid concentrated magical power going forward. I can accomplish both.”

‘In the Demon Realm, both would have been impossible.’

For the inhabitants of the Demon Realm, magical power was akin to blood itself, and with such dense magical power permeating the air, prevention proved ineffective. That was why it was called an incurable disease.

But here in the Human Realm, the afflicted were humans who could function without magical power.

Someone like me, skilled in wielding magical power, could easily provide treatment.

Ivan murmured in a voice tinged with admiration.

“…I’m reminded anew of how remarkable the Princess truly is.”

Well, it was extraordinary to humans, but hardly difficult for Demons.

‘I cannot overlook this. If I leave it as is, everyone living in this city will perish.’

There was no chance humans could cure magical plague. Even if they discovered the treatment method, only an Archmage-level practitioner could barely manage it.

I was not callous enough to abandon so many victims and depart.

‘The problem is how my treating them will appear to society.’

Treating them was simple work. I would absorb the magical power and eliminate the source of contamination in the lake.

But the nobility would be far more curious about how such a feat was possible than grateful for my charity.

Perhaps conspiracy theories would emerge—that I deliberately spread the plague to elevate my own status.

‘Concealing my identity now… would be futile. The Spies are already monitoring my every move.’

I had dealt with the spy who drew near, but I couldn’t stop those watching the carriage’s path from a distance. In the first place, it was rare to see a nobleman traveling with such a large entourage.

‘Still, there’s no helping it.’

That said, I didn’t want to abandon the rescue. Just as a Lord saves people within the city, the Imperial Family must step forward to protect the Empire’s citizens.

I lack patriotism, not humanity.

“In any case, since that’s how it is, we’ll enter the city. The other servants might become frightened, so I’d prefer to take only a small group, but….”

“It’s fine, Princess Deina. Everyone will follow.”

“Hmm? Really?”

Liribel nodded with an expression of certainty.

“All the servants here admire you, Princess!”

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

But Liribel would understand the servants’ sentiments better than I would, so I didn’t press further.

Ivan also spoke, telling me not to worry.

“My subordinates would follow me even to hell, so it’s fine!”

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

The two of them clenched their fists triumphantly, delighted.

I wasn’t sure what they found so joyful about, but for now, there was something more pressing to attend to.

“Mmm….”

Treating the illness of the child sleeping right before my eyes.

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

“Just bear with it a little longer. It will be over soon.”

Magical energy flowed from my hands, seeping into the child’s body. My power absorbed all the residual magical energy lingering within the child, then returned to me.

“There. Done.”

“Already?”

“I told you it would be simple. Now let’s treat the child’s parents. Bring them here.”

After that, I treated the child’s parents as well. They wept openly, attempting to express their gratitude. They even tried to offer me their possessions, but I firmly refused, insisting it wasn’t necessary.

“I merely fulfilled my duty as a member of the Imperial Family. If I accepted compensation for such a basic responsibility, those seeking treatment in the future would feel burdened. So please, step back.”

They grew even more moved, bowing repeatedly. Only after the servants helped them to their feet could we finally set the carriage in motion.

“Well then… let’s head to the city.”

I never imagined I’d end up performing duties like a Priest or a saint.

It seemed my first journey was proving far more eventful than expected. I exhaled softly and climbed back into the carriage.

* * *

Viscount Gorden, the Lord of the city, stared at his reflection in the mirror and despaired.

Jaundice had finally appeared in his own eyes as well.

‘So even my remedies proved useless.’

He had gathered and tried every medicine rumored to cure jaundice, yet none had any effect. Since he had tested these remedies on himself first and still contracted the plague, the residents’ situation could hardly be different.

He wiped his face with a grim expression. His legs were beginning to ache, suggesting that within three or four days, he too would be confined to bed.

“Oh, Sun God, why…?”

For the first time in his life, he cursed the Sun God he had believed in all these years. Whenever he faced any problem before, he had accepted it as a trial sent by the Sun God and overcome it, but this time there was no way through.

He had opened all the castle’s resources and summoned every apothecary and physician in his domain. Yet what returned was the outbreak of plague among all the residents. Viscount Gorden was permitted neither to uncover the cause of the outbreak nor to slow its spread.

If only the outbreak had progressed more slowly, if only his domain had possessed a more skilled physician, if only there had been a Priest capable of wielding holy power… regrets flooded him, yet there was nothing he could do now.

‘I requested assistance from the Capital, but they will likely choose to seal off the city. If that happens, we are all doomed.’

There are two ways to handle a plague: isolate and treat it, or let it run its course until death claims everyone.

Given the rapid transmission and symptoms, the Emperor would almost certainly choose the latter.

That meant generations of his domain and all his proud subjects would perish.

“Sun God, I beseech you….”

No matter how desperately I called upon the divine, salvation never came. Yet knowing this, I could only pray. To anyone at all—please, I implored, deliver us from this hell….

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

His eyes too were clouded with jaundice.

“M-my Lord! A visitor has arrived!”

“A visitor?”

“You must come down at once! They wish to see you immediately…!”

Just as the Chamberlain rushed to continue his explanation, an unfamiliar voice came from beyond the door.

“Never mind—I’ve come myself.”

“Gasp!”

The startled Chamberlain hastily stepped aside. A woman then entered the room with composed grace.

‘Those eyes…!’

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

Deep indigo hair, and beneath it, platinum-colored eyes that radiated an intellectual yet otherworldly allure… Only one person in the Empire possessed such coloring.

“P-Princess Deina, Your Highness?”

The Princess cursed by the Sun God—it was Deina.

She surveyed the room in silence. Upon seeing the dozens of medicinal herbs, remedy bottles, and pharmaceutical texts scattered about, Deina finally spoke.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Viscount Gorden. I’ve heard the circumstances.”

“The, the circumstances…?”

“I intend to treat the plague ravaging your domain. Will you permit me to stay?”

From the lips of she who was rumored to be a cursed princess flowed words of salvation—words the Sun God himself had never granted.

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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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