Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 78

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

Pretending to Be Human: Episode 078

Cadets at the Military Academy held a status equivalent to soldiers. Naturally, they were obligated to obey their commanders’ orders.

And their supreme military authority was, of course, the Emperor. The Emperor’s children possessed command authority beneath the Emperor.

To draw a comparison to the Demon Realm, the Emperor was like a supreme commander, and the Imperial Family members were like legion commanders.

It felt decidedly unnatural that Imperial Family members without command training would serve as commanders, but regardless, the fact remained that cadets—prospective soldiers—were direct subordinates of the Imperial Family.

Of course, military command was typically exercised by men, particularly princes. There had never been a single precedent of a princess serving as a soldier.

For that reason, the princess’s orders would not be easily accepted.

A few cadets who appeared to side with Count Johan broke the silence and spoke to me.

“This—what outrageous conduct is this! No matter that you are Her Highness the Princess, to harm Cadet Milleni, the second son of the Count’s family!”

“That’s right. Moreover, command authority is the privilege of His Highness the Prince and His Majesty the Emperor!”

It was exactly the reaction I had anticipated, and I felt satisfied. I swept my expressionless gaze across those around me.

“All members of the Imperial Family possess command authority over soldiers. Have none of you studied military law?”

“But still, a female commander from the start….”

“Since when do soldiers concern themselves with gender? It seems these cadets believe themselves to be ordinary humans. When did soldiers ever allow themselves to be swayed by such trivial matters?”

Then I pressed down harder on the chest of the cadet called Milleni.

“Aaahhh!”

He grasped at my ankle and exerted all his strength, but I did not budge in the slightest. It was only natural—my legs were reinforced with minute traces of magical power.

Several cadets who caught sight of Milleni’s now-sunken chest began to murmur amongst themselves.

“Why can’t he break free? Is she really that strong?”

“There’s a difference in build… wasn’t it said that Princess Deina has a weak constitution?”

Only then did several cadets begin to question the fact that a robust adult man was being subdued by the Princess, who was known to be sickly.

I pretended not to hear their murmurs and turned back to Cadet Milleni with a question.

“You share the same thought, don’t you? That’s why you won’t even state your name and rank?”

“Th-that is… the order came from the Prince…”

“I can’t hear you.”

I pressed down with my weight, indifferent to his plight.

“Aaahhh!”

The one who screamed hastily spoke again in panic.

“C-Capital Military Academy, third year…”

“Louder.”

“Capital Military Academy, third year, Cadet Milleni!”

“That’s better.”

I smiled and lifted my foot from his chest. As he crawled backward, clutching at his ribs, those who appeared to be his comrades approached and helped him up.

It was rather amusing—lacking the courage to stand against me, yet hastening to tend to their friend only after the fact.

All the men glaring at me as if they wanted to kill me seemed to be Count Johan’s friends.

‘Meanwhile, Cocomo has sharp instincts.’

She, who had worn a tearful expression moments before, was already hiding behind Count Johan’s back, melting into the crowd as if this confrontation had nothing to do with her.

It was a far more cunning demeanor than the childish behavior she had displayed until now.

She must have judged that this was not a situation for her to involve herself in.

‘Seeing how shrewdly she conducts herself, she doesn’t seem like the type to truly love Count Johan.’

Because Franz was involved, her true intentions had begun to fall under suspicion as well.

I addressed Johan’s friends, who still seemed unable to grasp the situation.

“I distinctly ordered everyone to stand at attention. Are your ears deaf? Or do you still refuse to acknowledge my authority to command?”

“…Headmaster!”

Unable to bring himself to confront the Imperial Family directly, Johan called out to Count Osla.

Count Osla, who had been observing the situation from the corner, approached.

“Headmaster, the Princess is currently saying that…”

Before he could finish explaining the situation, I cut him off.

“Colonel Osla.”

“Colonel Osla, at your service.”

Unlike the foolish cadet, he responded with remarkable swiftness.

“I wish to have a candid conversation with the cadets. Would you leave us?”

“As you command.”

Without the slightest hesitation, he saluted sharply and exited the Banquet Hall alongside the other instructors. I even heard the click of the door locking behind them.

At this, Johan and his companions stood slack-jawed.

“What? Why would the Headmaster…?”

“Why did he lock the door? Wait—the windows too!”

Several perceptive instructors had sealed every exit of the Banquet Hall. The cadets, sensing the ominous atmosphere, cast anxious glances about the room.

This was done to prevent any outsiders from entering further. It was far more convenient to handle matters with only the cadets and myself remaining.

Simultaneously, it conveyed that the Headmaster stood with me and harbored no intention of protecting them.

Yet those harboring discontent remained. The Bespectacled Man who stood beside Count Johan stepped forward.

“Even if the Princess holds command authority, we cannot obey. Under military law, orders accompanied by unjust violence are void.”

He seemed to be the one among them capable of rational thought. Of course, that did not mean his words held truth.

“Unjust violence? What are you talking about?”

I shrugged my shoulders as I asked.

“Cadet Milleni simply happened to collide with my shoulder and fell. And he happened to be lying in my path, so I stepped on him. It was not intentional.”

“Such an absurd excuse will not hold! Everyone here is a witness!”

Of course, his words were correct—it was an unjust excuse.

But what of it?

I am of the Imperial Family.

“There are witnesses, but no evidence. Will you report me to His Majesty the Emperor? As you did with Cadet Atlas?”

“That is… well…”

At the mention of the Emperor, the Bespectacled Man fell silent.

Only the Emperor could punish the Imperial Family. He clearly understood how absurd it would be to report such a matter to the Emperor.

Simultaneously, several cadets who realized I had taken Atlas’s side averted their eyes.

When no rebuttal came for a long moment, I spoke with a voice tinged with mockery.

“It seems you cannot prove unjust violence. Yet you still refuse the order? Does a command to stand at attention sound so unreasonable to you?”

“….”

“Surely you are not so deaf that you failed to hear I have been restored to the Imperial Family.”

If the target were a cadet in an ambiguous position at the Capital Military Academy, no one would question it if I blocked their path to advancement simply because they displeased me.

The Imperial authority I had reclaimed was formidable indeed—so overwhelming that without irrefutable evidence, not even a challenge could be leveled against me, let alone an accusation.

Any cadet with their wits about them should have bowed their head the moment they saw me. The man, belatedly realizing his blunder, quietly averted his gaze.

Count Johan, however, fixed me with a glare brimming with hostility and spoke.

“Your Majesty, are you attempting to defend Atlas? She is a criminal deserving of condemnation!”

“Well, whether she’s a criminal or not—we shall see in time.”

I turned and approached Atlas, whose clothing had been disheveled by the men’s rough grip, her expression dazed as she stared at me.

She seemed not yet to comprehend what was happening, her face blank and bewildered.

I straightened her garments and whispered softly.

“Align your story with mine. I will help you.”

“…!”

Without waiting for a response, I turned back to face Count Johan.

“I hear that immoral conduct unbecoming of a Princess has transpired within the Military Academy. Violence, harassment, and cheating—is this true?”

“It is true! All of it was orchestrated by Atlas, who stands behind Your Highness!”

Count Johan pointed an accusing finger at her as he spoke.

“She harbored jealousy toward Cocomo and committed countless misdeeds! She discarded a handkerchief in the lavatory, placed thumbtacks in shoes, and during the equestrian examination, she tampered with the horseshoe….”

“Enough. What I wish to see is concrete evidence. Is there a cadet present who can substantiate the charges against Cadet Atlas?”

Count Johan then glanced around triumphantly.

“Of course! Come forward now—Cadet Milleni, Berso, Kala!”

Yet the cadets did not stir. Those called upon either avoided his gaze or feigned ignorance with nervous coughs. Even Cadet Milleni, whom I had inadvertently stepped upon, remained silent.

“What—what is this? Why are you all acting this way! You promised you would testify!”

Count Johan, still struggling to grasp the situation, wore his bewilderment plainly on his face.

‘I see what’s happening now. So Count Johan’s group are the only fools here.’

I had assumed all the cadets were idiots, but I was relieved to be wrong. At least it meant the Empire’s future wasn’t as bleak as I’d feared.

“Strangely, it seems there are no witnesses, contrary to what I heard.”

“That… that can’t be right…”

“It’s fine. We can have an honest conversation from here on. Before that, though…”

I swept my gaze across the cadets once more.

After explaining this much, surely no one would disobey my orders.

“All cadets, stand at attention.”

In an instant, everyone except Count Johan’s group snapped into a rigid stance.

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————