Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 58

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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 058

 

“I don’t mean to blame others. Just, look at the people around you and take responsibility… Why are you looking at me like that?”

 

As I stared blankly at Emma, she frowned.

 

“Oh, no. I’ve heard similar words before.”

 

The 2nd Legion Commander, that is, Asmo-rina had given me similar advice before.

 

‘Why do you only act like a soldier when it comes to taking responsibility? Would someone kill you if you blamed others? Ugh, so frustrating!’

 

…Of course, Emma was much more refined.

 

Emma spoke as if surprised by my words.

 

“If that’s true, that person must have been someone who could view Your Highness objectively.”

 

“I wonder…”

 

Asmo-rina and objectivity – the most incompatible combination in the world.

 

“But why did you suddenly bring up a military analogy? Do you know soldiers well, Emma?”

 

“I had connections in the past. Someone who, like Your Highness, considered their own incompetence the greatest sin.”

 

For a moment, sadness flickered in Emma’s eyes.

 

But perhaps not wanting to talk about those circumstances, she quickly returned to her stoic expression.

 

“Anyway, now that you know this misfortune is no longer coincidental, all that remains is finding the cause.”

 

“Can we find it?”

 

“We can. If it’s Your Highness.”

 

Firm conviction settled in Emma’s eyes.

 

“Haven’t you already overcome even greater trials, Your Highness? No ordeal is as difficult as crossing death’s threshold.”

 

Those were very relatable words. The words I had said to the Emperor suddenly came to mind.

 

To think she’d subtly bring up my past achievements for comfort – it actually lifted my spirits considerably.

 

“Emma, you’re quite the eloquent speaker. I see you in a new light.”

 

She bowed her head at my praise.

 

“Thank you for the compliment. I’d have no regrets if the new servants would listen to my words as well.”

 

“They don’t listen that well?”

 

“Well, they come from all sorts of regions…”

 

After that, Emma and I chatted for a while. She, whom I had thought was dry in all matters, was surprisingly easy to talk to. She had the ability to smoothly guide conversations not only with everyday topics but with words steeped in deep refinement.

 

It felt like conversing with a noblewoman rather than a head maid.

 

‘Why was such a person so cold before?’

 

Between past and present, I still couldn’t gauge which was her true nature.

 

“…Come to think of it, they say the Temple of the Lake is famous in the Jins Kingdom.”

 

During our conversation, the topic reached the Temple of the Lake in the Jins Kingdom.

 

“Right. I heard it has the most believers too. Do you know anything about the Temple of the Lake, Emma?”

 

“Not in detail. Just that it’s a god who grants wishes if you pray sincerely…”

 

Granting wishes – that wasn’t wrong.

 

I smiled bitterly, recalling the Lake God I met in the Demon Realm.

 

“It does grant them. Though the phrase ‘in some form or another’ comes before that.”

 

“You mean it grants them in unwanted ways?”

 

“Something like that. Emma, do you know the legend of the monkey’s paw?”

 

“I don’t.”

 

I briefly explained the famous legend from the Demon Realm about the monkey’s paw.

 

It was a legend that if you made a wish to a monkey’s paw mummy, fingers would bend one by one and miracles would occur.

 

The characteristic was that wishes were fulfilled in ways the owner didn’t want, and the Lake God was the same.

 

‘The Lake God in the Human Realm doesn’t seem to have that much power though.’

 

If the majesty from the Demon Realm were realized, the Temple of the Lake couldn’t have ended at that level.

 

“Anyway, you shouldn’t trust gods too much. Gods are dual-natured beings. Likewise, it’s better to be cautious of the Temple of the Lake too.”

 

“…Is the Sun God the same?”

 

‘Oops, was that too blasphemous?’

 

I felt guilty for saying something I shouldn’t have to an Imperial citizen, but there was no anger visible in Emma’s eyes. Rather, she seemed to be waiting for me to answer yes.

 

“Well…”

 

Just then, the carriage began to move.

 

It seemed the stop time was over.

 

“…Then, I’ll take my leave now.”

 

Having no intention of staying in the carriage any longer, Emma politely bid farewell and left the carriage.

 

Whether she judged that she shouldn’t hear the answer to her last question, her exit was faster than her entrance.

 

‘Emma must have her own circumstances too.’

 

A soldier and the Sun God.

 

Her circumstances seemed too heavy to interfere with carelessly.

 

* * *

 

We finally arrived at our destination, Gilli Port.

 

Even after leaving the City of Viscount Gorden, we got caught up in various incidents.

 

Rescuing a merchant’s daughter kidnapped by bandits, quelling a ghost disturbance at a ruined temple, defeating a strange person who called himself a dark mage…

 

Fortunately, unlike the mana sickness incident, these could be resolved quickly, but it was true that there were too many incidents for the travel period.

 

So much so that Ivan tactlessly said,

 

‘There’s never a dull moment traveling with Your Highness.’

 

And received an angry glare from Liribel.

 

Anyway, it’s fortunate we arrived safely without casualties. I took in the sight of the bustling port city.

 

‘It’s a miracle we arrived within the scheduled time. Where was the princess’s ship supposed to come…’

 

Just then, a ship flying the flag of the Jins Kingdom appeared from the distant sea. We moved to the docking area and waited for the ship to reach the port.

 

Eventually the ship docked, and the party from the Jins Kingdom appeared.

 

It was a small group of fewer than ten people, including servants and guards.

 

At the center of the group, a woman clearly dressed as a princess approached with unsteady steps.

 

‘Her hair is unusual.’

 

The princess’s hair was such a vivid pink that one might wonder if it was dyed. Her eye color was the same.

 

With such an unusual color, I wondered how there hadn’t been rumors about it.

 

‘Was she the daughter the king cherished? Seeing that even Loreil didn’t know much, the royal palace might have blocked information.’

 

While thinking various thoughts, she arrived in front of me.

 

“I, I greet the Princess of the Empire.”

 

She curtsied while greeting me. Her arms and legs were trembling so it wasn’t a perfect greeting, but I didn’t mind and bowed in return.

 

“Welcome, Princess Chloe. Welcome to the Ripeon Empire. Deina Ripeon greets…”

 

“Um, excuse me. Could you lift that veil?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Princess Chloe suddenly reached for my veil. Surprised by the unexpected rudeness, I stepped back and bumped into Ivan behind me. From that impact, the veil fell to the ground with a thud.

 

“Ah, as I thought. Those eyes…”

 

Princess Chloe looked at my eyes and murmured in a voice filled with emotion.

 

“As expected, the oracle was right.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

She shook her head vigorously.

 

“I really, really wanted to meet you, Princess Deina.”

 

“Me… why?”

 

It would have been proper to respond with “I’m glad to meet you too” out of courtesy, but since this was the first person to welcome me so warmly, I ended up asking for the reason.

 

Princess Chloe seemed flustered, as if she hadn’t thought about the answer to that question.

 

“Oh, that’s… I’ve been admiring you! Your Highness!”

 

“Were my rumors worthy of admiration?”

 

“Ah, um. Well…”

 

She couldn’t answer.

 

Recent times aside, the rumors about me that spread to the Jins Kingdom would have been about the cursed princess at most, so why would she admire me?

 

‘Could she be a dark magic enthusiast like Liribel?’

 

I glanced back at Liribel. Sure enough, perhaps thinking she had found a kindred spirit, Liribel’s eyes were sparkling with life.

 

‘I absolutely don’t think so, though.’

 

Followers of the Lake God liking devils and demons? I’d sooner believe the Sun God loves humans.

 

“…For now, let’s go to your lodgings. You must be tired from the long voyage.”

 

Though I was suspicious, she was still a guest and had to be treated courteously. I tried to guide her to the accommodations that had been prepared in advance by the Imperial Palace.

 

“Um…”

 

Then Princess Chloe pressed close to my side and spoke haltingly.

 

“C-could I hold your hand?”

 

“…Why?”

 

Somehow the atmosphere was getting stranger and stranger.

 

“I’m feeling dizzy from being on the ship for so long. If you could let me hold your hand, I think I’d feel better…”

 

The way she kept glancing up at me reminded me of a small animal.

 

But I felt suspicious first.

 

Because I could see blatant fear in her eyes.

 

It was like she felt some strange sense of duty to approach something scary and terrible.

 

‘To put it in perspective… like a new circus performer approaching a lion.’

 

Now that I’d put it that way, I didn’t feel very good about it.

 

I quietly pushed her hand away.

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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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