Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 83

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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 083

“Well, setting aside the matter of a fiancée for now, what if we focused on narrowing the distance between you and Princess Deina?”

“Do you have something in mind?”

Grid racked his brain desperately.

“For instance, what if you proposed a dance with her at the upcoming Spring Flower Ball?”

“Is that possible without being her fiancé?”

“Yes, the Spring Flower Ball is a family-oriented event. Parents and children dance together as well. I believe Princess Deina would gladly accept.”

The Spring Flower Ball was the perfect occasion to subtly display one’s connections. Yet at the mention of family, Gregory hesitated slightly.

“…Do you truly think so? Could I ever become her family?”

‘It seems Princess Deina already considers him family, so why is he so anxious about it?’

Grid tilted his head at Gregory’s uneasy expression.

“I don’t believe Princess Deina would refuse.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes.”

Among the group, Gregory was undoubtedly the one who understood Deina best. There was no way she would push him away.

At Grid’s response, Gregory pondered for a moment before nodding.

“You’re right. A human’s perspective would certainly be reliable. Thank you—your help was invaluable.”

“It’s nothing at all.”

Though I had been tensed, ready to flee at any moment, the conversation itself had eased my anxiety.

Gregory seemed quite human when faced with his own concerns. I offered a light smile as I spoke, as was my custom.

“Is that all you need from me?”

“Yes. I’ll send you dark essence as compensation later—it’s what the spirit favors.”

“Thank you. It’s getting late, so I’ll take my leave now.”

The moment I grasped the doorknob of the Reception Room to depart from the Manor, Gregory spoke.

“Wait. There’s something I’d like to ask you personally.”

“What is it?”

“Do you know anything about this paper?”

Before I could even ask what paper he meant, a small note flew toward the Reception Room door.

Thrown with considerable force, it embedded itself in the door like a dagger.

‘This is….’

My spine went cold as I scanned the letter’s contents.

[Princess Deina appears to be a master swordsman.]

It was the very information about Deina that I had sold to the Information Brokers.

It matched perfectly with the paper I had secretly handed over to them. The handwriting was mine.

However, faint bloodstains lingered along its edges—a testament to the fate of whoever had possessed it.

“Why aren’t you answering? I asked if you know anything about this.”

“….”

I couldn’t bring myself to turn around.

Gregory’s voice clearly remained on the sofa, yet an inexplicable presence loomed directly behind me.

Something was standing there.

Wait—something clung to my back.

Coco, now hanging from my chest rather than my shoulders, spoke in a voice trembling with tears.

[Don’t turn around. Don’t turn around.]

‘I know. I won’t move an inch.’

My merchant’s instinct screamed relentlessly: one misstep here, and I would never leave this room alive.

‘I thought he was human. How foolish I’ve been.’

Just minutes ago, we had been laughing and exchanging jokes. But a single moment of suspicion was enough—Gregory now sought my life.

For Gregory, his small kindness toward humans was nothing more than a flickering candle, destined to vanish at any moment.

‘What do I do? Deny it? No—he wouldn’t have brought it up without evidence. He knows for certain that I’m the culprit.’

Then the only stance I could take was…

“Ah, so that information I sold to the Black Market. Is there a problem with that?”

A direct confrontation.

Without turning around, I spoke. Gregory’s response came in a voice utterly devoid of emotion.

“Why did you sell this information?”

“I needed money. I thought that if the information would be exposed anyway, I might as well sell it first.”

“You didn’t consider that enemies might use this information?”

“Princess Deina is not someone to be shaken by trivial information.”

Gregory fell silent for a moment before continuing.

“You show no remorse. On a battlefield, you would have been executed on the spot.”

“This is not a battlefield. And had Princess Deina heard my circumstances, she would have told me to sell it without hesitation. It was trivial information, but it fetched quite a price.”

“It is the will of Princess Deina.”

From Grid’s back came a sound like some massive creature crawling across his skin.

‘A spider? A serpent? Or perhaps tentacles?’

The sensation alone gave me no clue to its nature. Something sharp as a claw pressed against the nape of my neck.

“That hardly gives me reason to let you live.”

‘Damn it. Did I choose wrong?’

In this perilous moment where a single mistake could cost me my life, I clenched my fists and racked my mind.

Yet no strategy to stop him came to mind. A merchant’s principles held no sway over a soldier.

‘If it comes to this, then perhaps…!’

Just as I began to focus my will for a counterattack alongside Coco.

“But this is amusing. The fact that you can agonize over betrayal and trust—that is what makes you human.”

“…?”

The presence at my back vanished in an instant. Simultaneously, the air in the room grew lighter.

“In the Demon Realm of old, had this been an army, I would not have spared you. It was common knowledge that one who betrays once can betray again and again. But this is the Human Realm.”

Gregory rose from the sofa and approached slowly.

“I have not forgotten that we are outsiders here. That in the Human Realm, we must abide by the Human Realm’s laws.”

“What do you mean, sir?”

“It means I have chosen to understand human nature.”

Gregory placed his hand atop my head.

Then, as though handling livestock, he seized my hair and forced my head to turn, making me face him.

“You are capable. Among all the humans I’ve encountered, you possess the most exceptional intellect. It would be a waste to discard someone of your caliber over a single act of betrayal.”

“Are you saying you’ll forgive me?”

“Forgiveness is something Princess Deina bestows. All I can do is turn a blind eye to your transgression.”

He continued to regard Grid with those hollow, desiccated eyes.

“So this is a transaction. In exchange for my overlooking your crime, you will work for me—to enable me to serve Princess Deina.”

In other words, he had leverage, and now he was demanding my cooperation going forward.

‘He thinks little of people.’

I wanted nothing more than to wrench my hand away and refuse outright, but doing so would result in my head rolling from my shoulders in an instant.

Grid offered a smile stained with fury and humiliation as I spoke.

“I didn’t realize a military officer would take an interest in plea bargains.”

“I am no longer a soldier. So I’m making an effort to think like a human being.”

So human it was nauseating.

Grid’s lips twisted into a grimace.

“It seems I have no choice. Very well—I accept your contemptible bargain.”

“Wise decision.”

Gregory released his grip on Grid’s head, then patted it condescendingly as if tidying something up.

Grid’s brow furrowed at this absurd gesture.

“So what exactly do you need help with? Should I purchase a gift that Princess Deina favors?”

“I do need assistance, but I cannot assign trivial tasks to a capable subordinate. I’ll summon you when the time comes.”

‘So he intends to conduct operations behind Princess Deina’s back.’

I could now roughly grasp why he was doing this. He needed an invisible hand to operate without Deina’s knowledge.

‘Princess Deina views him as a born soldier, but she’s misjudged him.’

He simply wanted to appear as a soldier in front of Deina. In reality, his inner nature was just as sordid as Grid’s.

“Now I shall take my leave. My business here is concluded.”

“…Yes, I beg your pardon.”

Grid offered a humiliating bow and grasped the doorknob of the Reception Room once more. Just before crossing the threshold, something occurred to him, and he halted.

“Might I ask one thing as well?”

“What is it?”

“Where did you learn the habit of conversing while gripping someone’s hair?”

And the patting gesture afterward, once the conversation had ended, was equally distasteful.

At Grid’s irritated tone, Gregory tilted his head with a puzzled expression.

“I once read a book stating that to educate someone, one must maintain eye contact. Was that incorrect?”

“What was the title of this book?”

“Effective Educational Theory for Training Animals.”

“Ridiculous.”

Grid couldn’t help but curse. He was surely thinking something along the lines of ‘humans fall within the category of animals, after all.’

“Why would you read such a book? Did Britz Jabok’s memories contain no basic courtesy?”

“He was born a murderer, you see. I cannot be certain whether his common sense aligns with that of humans…”

That was true. Britz Jabok had been among the most depraved of men.

“…If you intend to study humans further, I shall bring you separate books to read instead.”

“I’m telling you, it’s a trifle for a capable subordinate….”

“It’s what I need, so just accept it!”

If I just stand here watching, I feel like I’m going to explode!

Grid shouted abruptly, slamming the door shut as he stormed out of the Reception Room.

‘Damn these Demons!’

Grid found himself unexpectedly sympathizing with the Priests.

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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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