Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 7
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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 007
But that was only momentary, as his killing intent vanished in an instant. Then he put on a peaceful smile again and spoke.
​”Haha, it might be because the weather is getting cold.”
Even though the fact that he had a nosebleed in front of me must have been quite humiliating, he didn’t show it.
It was truly acting skills befitting someone from the Prime Minister’s family.
I wanted to shatter that smug smile, but I held back.
I was aware that the divine power in the carriage was further stimulating my anger.
​’The divine power is inciting my emotions. I need to endure it.’
​The Demon Clan and divine power were naturally incompatible. That’s why just being exposed to divine power made me feel unpleasant and my emotions became intense.
It felt like being wrapped in garbage full of filth.
Just then, the carriage began to move. I opened the window under the excuse of motion sickness and enjoyed the outside air.
Then Loreil, who had been quietly watching me, asked.
​”But Your Highness, haven’t you fully recovered your health yet? I was worried seeing you suddenly collapse.”
​”…I’m fine. It’s like a chronic condition.”
​”I hope you recover quickly. Only then will His Majesty the Emperor see Your Highness again.”
​I responded with a smile instead of words.
While doing so, I anticipated his intentions.
​’It seems he doesn’t plan to talk about magic power.’
​If he had asked directly about what happened yesterday, I was going to brush it off appropriately. He lacked both evidence and justification to accuse a princess.
But he chose a frontal assault over half-hearted probing.
​’Rather than just carefully observing, he’s going to verify it directly.’
​The evidence was that he had prepared this carriage, which must have cost an enormous amount of money, in just one night.
It was aggressive but rational. Rather than arguing without evidence, he decided to create evidence directly.
​’Of course, I’m not some low-level demon who would fall for something like this.’
​I defiantly leaned back against the chair dyed with holy water. This level of divine power didn’t even sting.
I hoped this would remove his suspicions toward me.
​”Come to think of it, the Imperial Family listens to His Majesty the Emperor’s blessing at the Temple during the New Year’s gathering every year. Will Your Highness be attending?”
​Seeing him subtly mention the Temple, it seemed his suspicions had actually increased.
I pretended to smile bitterly as I answered.
​”Well, I desperately want to go, but I haven’t been invited to family events since coming to the Separate Palace.”
Not expecting such an answer, Loreil’s eyes trembled slightly.
Then he straightened his expression and apologized politely.
​”I apologize. That was an insensitive remark.”
​”No, it’s fine.”
​To sincerely apologize for something like this—he was a strange person.
Then an awkward silence followed. Fortunately, it wasn’t long before the carriage arrived at the event venue.
​’Come to think of it, it’s been years since I left the Imperial Palace.’
​I had wanted so desperately to leave the Imperial Palace, but now that I was actually out, I didn’t feel particularly moved. The palace gates could be crossed so easily, yet why had they felt so distant and difficult before?
​”Your Highness?”
​”Ah, yes.”
​I took Loreil’s hand again and got out of the carriage. As soon as I stepped down, he handed me a hat decorated with a veil.
​”The sunlight is strong. Please wear this.”
​”Thank you.”
​’He is considerate.’
​He said sunlight, but it was consideration to hide my eyes. Setting aside the navy hair, if my platinum eyes were discovered, it would surely cause unnecessary commotion.
I silently put on the hat and followed his guidance.
​”The Arena is just ahead.”
​​Loreil said he would guide me inside and led me forward.
The appearance of the fighting arena was exactly as I had learned from books. Countless spectator seats surrounding a massive circular arena.
Befitting the Empire’s most popular event, it was a huge facility.
A staff member at the entrance tried to stop us, but after belatedly seeing the seal carved on the carriage, he quickly stepped back.
​’Status is indeed convenient.’
Plus, his manner of being considerate without being burdensome was good too.
It would have been perfect if only he hadn’t prepared such a hellish trap.
Hiding my inner disappointment, I climbed to the spectator seats with him. I could see players warming up in the arena.
​”Are those people the participants?”
​”That’s right. They’re the eight players who will compete in the tournament during the event period.”
Each player wore splendid armor. Unlike the violent competition, the players’ appearance resembled knights.
​’They don’t particularly look skilled.’
While roughly assessing the players’ capabilities, I noticed someone alone in a corner maintaining their equipment.
It was someone with rusted and dirty armor, particularly impressive with a uniquely faded helmet.
​”That person is also a player, right?”
​”Ah, that would be the Armored Knight.”
​”Armored Fighter?”
​The nickname was unusual. When I expressed my curiosity, Loreil tilted his head as if recalling memories and spoke.
​”To prevent fatal injuries, all players wear helmets that completely cover their faces. That’s why they prefer splendid armor to express themselves.”
​As he said, the other players’ helmets were decorated lavishly with flowers stuck on the crown or gold leaf applied to the cheek areas.
​”But that player has never once changed his helmet design. He only wears the basic helmet provided by the arena.”
​”So that’s why he’s called the Armored Fighter?”
​”Not only that, but they say he has never shown his face to the audience even once.”
​Perhaps thinking I was interested in him, Loreil briefly explained the Armored Fighter’s career.
To summarize, he was a player with the longest career but had never won a medal, always losing in important matches.
Such dishonor actually drew popularity, and people even created a derogatory nickname for him.
After hearing the full explanation, I thought he was quite a unique person and was about to look away.
At that moment.
​’Wait, that decoration at his waist…’
​One decoration hanging from the Armored Fighter’s armor caught my eye.
It was a black-maned lion brooch with a small dagger in its mouth.
Very familiar to me…
​’It can’t be, right? Surely not, surely not.’
​The moment I saw that emblem, my heart began beating violently.
Even after rubbing my eyes and looking again, the form of the emblem didn’t change.
The black lion representing the Demon Lord. The dagger of warriors fighting for the Demon Clan. The general’s emblem combining those two.
The identity of that thing was…
​’That’s my crest.’
​It was the symbol of my past life, Asmodina.
Thinking it might just be a coincidence, I continued to observe, but from the mane’s shape to the eyes’ expression, it was perfectly my emblem.
​’The only demons who possess that are my subordinates or retainers…’
​There was no way such a being could exist in the human world.
While I was frozen in shock, unable to understand what this could mean, a staff member appeared in the arena and gathered the players.
​”Now we’ll begin the practice match. Everyone please prepare—”
​’Practice?’
​Perhaps noticing my gaze, Loreil, who was about to move seats, glanced at the arena and explained.
​”They hold practice matches to check their condition before entering the main tournament. Would you like to watch if you’re interested?”
​”…Yes.”
​Loreil seemed surprised that I wanted to watch the match. I didn’t care and sat down, staring at the arena. Setting aside Loreil’s suspicions, confirming the identity of that emblem was important first.
​”Now, let’s divide into west and east sides for the match…”
​And the practice match proceeded.
I couldn’t close my mouth at the absurd result.
​’Really… creatively terrible.’
To cut to the conclusion, the Armored Fighter was quite a talented soldier. Unlike other soldiers who lacked basic physical fitness, there was potential for him to become a decent warrior if properly trained.
Despite having such good physical abilities, the Armored Fighter’s practice match record was dismal.
He won about three times out of ten, and when he lost, he was almost completely toyed with.
Watching his sword roll on the ground and him dropping his shield to fall over pathetically gave me a headache.
‘Why is someone with that level of skill fighting like that?’
Anger bubbled up inside me.
If I were Asmodina, I would have shouted at him to do it properly and retrained him.
“Your Highness the Princess? Is something troubling you?”
“No… It’s nothing.”
Unable to reveal my true feelings to Loreil, I forced a smile and shook my head.
I could only clench my fists as I watched the Armored Fighter suffer another miserable defeat.
Even while losing, he didn’t seem frustrated.
‘With such ridiculous skills, he’s carrying my emblem.’
I am human. Not a member of the Demon Clan. Even as I kept repeating this fact to myself, I absolutely could not forgive that terrible skill level.
Because of that weak trainee called the Armored Fighter, memories of the Instructor (Captain) came flooding back.
‘The battalion commander is disappointed in you all.’
The military spirit (Asmodina) in my heart was fiercely shouting to train that bastard.
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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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