Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 8
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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 008
After the practice match ended, the fighters headed to their respective rest areas. They sneered mockingly at the Armored Fighter as they passed by, as if his pitiful state was amusing.
Meanwhile, the Armored Fighter brushed off the mud from his armor and trudged back last, dragging his feet.
When I couldn’t take my eyes off the Armored Fighter, Loreil asked with a puzzled expression.
​”If that fighter concerns you, would you like to try sponsoring him?”
​”Sponsoring?”
​He nodded and added an explanation about sponsorship.
​”The arena officially allows sponsoring fighters. If a fighter wins, the money comes back as a larger amount.”
​”…That’s gambling.”
​”That’s another way to put it.”
​It was essentially gambling where you bet money and predicted the outcome.
Of course, there were various other benefits as well.
The person who sponsored the largest amount could join the winner on the podium when the fighter won, or had privileges like meeting in the fighter’s waiting room, and so on.
Naturally, all the popular fighters had fixed sponsors.
​”It’s also a system that becomes the driving force of the matches. Because…”
​”Not only the fun of betting, but you can also feel the honor of victory together. Conversely, it gives sponsors who don’t win a sense of defeat, so it’s good for competitively gathering sponsorships. From the organizers’ perspective, they can easily make money through commissions.”
​”…That’s correct.”
​Loreil’s eyes widened. He seemed surprised that such worldly talk would come from my mouth.
But I was more concerned about the Armored Fighter’s identity than his impression.
​”Sir Loreil, if I were to sponsor him, I could have a conversation with him, right?”
​”It’s possible. Since he has no sponsors, a one-on-one meeting would be feasible.”
​”Wouldn’t it be treated as favoritism if a member of the Imperial Family sponsors someone?”
​”Not really. Others have sponsored a few times as well. Rather than that…”
​Loreil paused to choose his words.
​”Your Highness, do you have cash for sponsoring?”
​”…Ah.”
​”Given Your Highness’s situation, it doesn’t seem like there would be financial support from the Main Palace.”
​The Emperor wouldn’t help me with such trivial matters. To him, I was someone who would be nice to have succeed, but convenient to have die otherwise.
Having hit an obstacle I never imagined, I fell into deep thought.
​’But I don’t want to pretend I didn’t see that Armored Fighter.’
​I couldn’t just leave alone someone who openly carried the symbol of the Demon Clan.
I wanted to investigate the reason he had that emblem, and above all, I wanted to somehow correct that terrible skill level.
Whether he had ties to me or not, I couldn’t stand watching a soldier with that emblem display such pathetic combat.
​’There’s only one method left.’
​After long contemplation, I made up my mind. Disregarding my dignity, I grabbed Loreil’s sleeve.
Then I acted with sparkling eyes (though hidden behind a veil) and said.
​”Sir Loreil. Please lend me some money.”
​”…Pardon?”
​”We’re comrades, aren’t we?”
​So please lend me a little with no interest and no collateral.
Loreil froze like a statue with his mouth uncharacteristically agape.
* * *
After the investigation was finally completed through various twists and turns, the next day.
​I visited the arena again.
​Fortunately, whether the Emperor had given permission, I could leave the Imperial Palace even without Loreil.
​This time I was with Liribel instead of Loreil. In her arms was a pouch of gold coins.
​​’I’m glad he lent it more easily than I thought.’
​​Those gold coins were borrowed from Loreil. He had been flustered, but for some reason blushed and shook off my hand, saying this:
‘Ah, I understand. So please let go of this hand.’
​It was a strange expression, but anyway, as soon as morning came, a pouch full of gold coins arrived.
The amount was quite substantial. He certainly had deep pockets, befitting the heir of the Prime Minister’s family.
​’And he even provided escort knights.’
​I glanced at the two knights following behind us.
Knowing I would be heading to the arena alone, he had sent his own knights as escorts.
​’Well, the knights of the Separate Palace aren’t the type to keep close by.’
​Naturally, there were knights and soldiers at the Separate Palace too. They weren’t loyal knights who had sworn allegiance to me, but were dispatched from the Main Palace.
In other words, they were potentially assassins.
Thanks to that, Loreil’s consideration was quite appreciated.
​’Though it’s a bit burdensome.’
​The knights he sent were a middle-aged man and a young man with notably sharp eyes, and especially the young one’s gaze was unsettling.
Perhaps he had received orders to monitor me, as he kept his eyes on me constantly.
Ignoring his piercing gaze on my back, I stopped by the arena’s office and paid the sponsorship fee.
The staff member seemed flustered when a veiled woman entered, but soon heard my identity and hurriedly bowed while accepting the sponsorship money.
Then I headed straight to the rest area where the fighters were said to be.
​I already knew from the staff that the Armored Fighter was inside.
​​”Liribel, wait here for a moment.”
​​”Ah, yes!”
​​As I was about to enter the rest area alone, the Young Knight who had been following spoke up.
​”Excuse me, Your Highness the Princess.”
​”What is it?”
​​”Isn’t there only a fighter alone in the rest area? For Your Highness the Princess to enter is a bit…”
​​’Right, it might look improper.’
​​A man and woman being alone together in a room didn’t seem very appropriate.
​As I was pondering what to do, the Middle-aged Knight nearby asked.
​​”Are you going to meet the Armored Fighter?”
​​”That’s right.”
​​”Then there will be no problem at all. No gossip will arise either, so don’t worry and go in.”
​​”…?”
​​I didn’t know the reason, but the Middle-aged Knight seemed confident. He briefly said something to the Young Knight, then stepped back.
​Though I was puzzled about why it would be fine, it was more convenient for me anyway, so I silently opened the door to the rest area.
​​”…”
​​And I came face to face with the Armored Fighter who was tending to his equipment in the bleak room.
​He stopped moving his hands and looked at me. Even though we were indoors, he was wearing his helmet, so I couldn’t see his face.
​I cleared my throat briefly and explained the situation to him.
​​”I am Princess Deina Ripeon. I have become your sponsor at this arena.”
​​”…I greet Your Highness the Princess.”
​Only then understanding the situation, he politely bowed. Somehow his voice was higher than I had imagined.
​”You are the fighter with the nickname Armored Fighter, correct?”
​”That’s correct.”
​”Don’t you intend to introduce yourself?”​
​”Ah.”​
​The Armored Fighter seemed to realize belatedly, looked flustered for a moment, then slowly began his introduction.
​​”My name is Ruslara. I’m 32 years old, single, I like spicy food, and my salary is…”
​​”No no, you don’t need to go that far.”
​​”Understood.”
​​When I cut him off due to the excessive information, he bowed his head again.
​​’This person seems a bit strange somehow?’
​​I began to feel confused from the very start of our conversation.
​I had planned to gradually ask about his current situation or question him about matches to bring up the topic of his identity… but I gave up the moment I heard his introduction.
​It seemed better to ask directly here.
​​’First, I’ll block the sound so it won’t be heard outside.’
​Since Loreil didn’t follow, there shouldn’t be anyone who can sense mana. I cast a soundproofing spell around the Rest Area and spoke to the Armored Fighter, Ruslara, again.
​​”I have some questions I’d like to ask. Can you answer them?”
​​”I was taught to treat sponsors kindly.”
​​’That means it’s possible, right?’
​​I cleared my throat and continued.
​​”There was an unusual ornament at your waist. What is that?”
​​”Ornament….”
​​He stopped breathing for a moment. Then he lowered his head and remained silent for a long time.
​”…I cannot tell you.”
​I let out a short sigh at the expected answer.
​’I wonder if he can’t speak because he knows the identity of that pattern, or if there’s some other reason.’
​In that case, I have no choice but to use hardline tactics.
I deliberately created a heavy atmosphere as I spoke.
​”As a sponsor, I don’t like my fighter using such ornaments. I’d prefer you use decorations of the sun god during the tournament.”
​”….”
​”A black lion, isn’t that too ominous? Besides, it’s far from victory.”
​”Victory…?”
​’He’s reacting to this.’
​I changed my tone to be more aggressive to draw out more of his inner thoughts.
​”I heard somewhere that the black lion is a symbol of defeat. Wouldn’t the sun god be much better than such a foolish symbol?”
​”…Take it back.”
​”What?”
​​”Take back those words. It’s fine if you insult me, but I cannot tolerate you insulting that person.”
​​’That person?’
​Could he possibly be referring to me?
​I needed more information.
​”Is the one who uses such a symbol of defeat your master? My goodness, no wonder your performance is mediocre when you follow such a person. You need to develop better judgment in choosing a master….”
​​”Stop, I said-“
​​At that moment, Ruslara, who had been keeping his head down, suddenly approached me.
​”I told you!”​
​His hand, filled with killing intent, reached toward me. Whether he was trying to grab my neck or strike my head, the speed and force were extraordinary.
​​’Oh no!’
​​At the incredibly fast attack, I instinctively turned my head to the side while simultaneously throwing a counter punch.
​The counterattack was a warrior’s instinct.
​The problem was that I dodged his attack, but he couldn’t dodge mine.
​​”Kugh!”
​​My mana-infused fist sent his head flying violently.
​​Bang-!​
​After rolling across the floor several times and crashing into the wall, Ruslara looked at me in a pitiful posture with his hand on his cheek.
​​”…?”
​​His expression showed he had no idea what had just happened.
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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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