Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 9

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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 009

 

I first checked on his condition.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

It was far less magical force than what I had unleashed upon Loreil, but for an ordinary human, it would have been a shock powerful enough to make their head spin twice over.

 

Fortunately, aside from the dented armor, there didn’t appear to be any serious injuries.

 

‘Thank goodness he’s sturdy.’

 

If he had died, the consequences would have been catastrophic.

 

I needed to be more careful with my strength control going forward.

 

“W-what just happened…?”

 

“Exactly. You shouldn’t charge in without gauging your opponent’s capabilities.”

 

If he were truly my subordinate, I would have lectured him endlessly. And I would have made him train harder for landing such a pathetic attack.

 

I exhaled briefly, then removed the veil that had been frustrating me all this time.

 

Ruslara’s eyes widened upon seeing my irises.

 

“Those eyes…”

 

“Unusual, aren’t they? You wouldn’t know, but I’m actually…”

 

“Beautiful. They’re like jewels.”

 

“…”

 

He was indeed an unusual person. After Liribel, he was the first to compliment these eyes as beautiful.

 

“In any case, is that ornament truly so important to you that you would raise your fist against the Princess?”

 

“My apologies. When my emotions become heated, I lose control of my strength… I will accept whatever punishment you deem fit.”

 

He immediately dropped to his knees and bowed his head, begging me to strike him down on the spot.

 

“That’s enough. I was discourteous as well.”

 

In truth, attempting to strike an Imperial Family member warranted execution, but I had no desire to escalate the matter.

 

“Instead of punishment, I’d prefer if you explained that ornament to me.”

 

“That is… difficult.”

 

“Even if you face punishment, you won’t speak of it?”

 

“Yes. I cannot tell a human.”

 

A human. The phrasing carried an odd nuance.

 

Something about it felt peculiar.

 

I gazed down at him with arms crossed, unable to discern his expression beneath the dented helmet. Yet I could sense his unwavering resolve—he would not speak.

 

“Then I’ll ask something else.”

 

I sought a suitable topic to ease his tension.

 

“I’ve heard you’ve never removed your helmet before the spectators. Is there a reason?”

 

“It is not a face fit for others to see. And I dislike standing before crowds.”

 

“Then why did you become a competitor?”

 

Isn’t performing before the masses the very duty of an athlete?

 

At that, Ruslara’s shoulders trembled slightly.

 

“… There are circumstances.”

 

“Circumstances you cannot disclose to your sponsor either? You harbor many secrets.”

 

“That is…”

 

Ruslara answered with resignation, perhaps troubled by my continued refusal to answer questions.

 

“It’s a family matter. I can only guarantee my family’s survival if I complete this task.”

 

“Is your family in difficult circumstances?”

 

“Yes, we’re about to lose our home.”

 

I felt his demeanor soften at the mention of family. I spoke with genuine sympathy.

 

“Tell me. It might ease your heart.”

 

Ruslara hesitated for a moment before slowly opening up.

 

“My family was living in an Abandoned Mine.”

 

His voice grew hollow as he recalled the past.

 

“One day, a Nobleman purchased the Abandoned Mine where we lived. He tried to evict us, claiming we weren’t citizens of the Empire. That Nobleman is the sponsor of the Arena.”

 

Ruslara said he had begged the Nobleman not to cast them out. But the Nobleman refused and threatened to forcibly evict them if they didn’t leave.

 

“If we were ordinary humans, we would have fled from the Nobleman. But my family needed the mine to survive. Leaving that place meant certain death for us.”

 

‘A race that refuses to show their face and must live underground… Could it be?’

 

I began to understand what Ruslara truly was.

 

Ruslara continued calmly.

 

“When I begged him to at least not evict us, saying I would do anything, the Nobleman proposed a deal. It was…”

 

“To compete in the Arena?”

 

“Exactly. He said if I won even once, he would return the territory. My family became hostages as the condition of the deal.”

 

After that, Ruslara journeyed to the Imperial Capital.

 

“What happened to your family after they became hostages?”

 

“I don’t know. Whether he remained in the Abandoned Mine or was dragged elsewhere… Fortunately, he’s been keeping me informed of his status through letters.”

 

And so Ruslara’s career as an Arena fighter began.

 

For over a decade, no less.

 

“But due to my insufficient skill, I never managed to claim victory even once. Worse still, whenever an important match approached, I would make inexplicable mistakes.”

 

Eventually, Ruslara became nothing more than a supporting character to the champions—an Armored Fighter.

 

For years, he trained without a single day of rest, yet the light of victory never graced him.

 

As if the goddess of triumph had turned her back on him entirely.

 

‘This is strange. After ten years of combat, he should have improved.’

 

Did Ruslara simply lack combat instinct? Yet even so, it seemed implausible that someone could suffer defeat for such an extended period without growth.

 

‘I can develop his skills later. What matters now is uncovering his true identity.’

 

A race that must dwell underground.

 

Never removing their helmet before humans.

 

And bearing my emblem.

 

My army contained exactly one race with all these characteristics.

 

Fae of the Demon Realm who dwell in the Underworld, uncomfortable beneath sunlight.

 

“Baobhan sith.”

 

Malevolent blood-drinking fae—Baobhan sith.

 

Whether startled by my words, Ruslara’s body tensed.

 

“How do you know that name….”

 

“With this many clues, I couldn’t pretend ignorance even if I tried.”

 

I rose from my chair and approached Ruslara. Then, grasping his shoulder as he attempted to retreat, I placed my hand on the helmet.

 

“Wait, just a moment. If you touch the helmet….”

 

“It’s fine. I’m used to it.”

 

“…!”

 

And I removed the helmet from her head.

 

The Armored Fighter’s face was finally revealed.

 

Skin as pale as if it had never touched sunlight, crimson eyes, and short green hair cut haphazardly.

 

Though she wore no cosmetics and her hair was unkempt, her seductively luminous gaze and sculpted features commanded attention.

 

If a goddess of beauty existed in the mortal realm, she would surely favor Ruslara above all others.

 

The spectators had no idea. They never knew the Armored Fighter was actually female.

 

That was right. Ruslara was female.

 

The Baobhan sith species consisted only of females.

 

The blood-drinking faerie Baobhan sith, dwelling in the Underworld to escape sunlight.

 

That was Ruslara’s true identity.

 

“How do you know the name of our kind… Humans shouldn’t be able to recognize us!”

 

The Baobhan sith were indistinguishable from humans except for their blood-drinking nature and their beautiful appearance.

 

I recognized her because it was I who had rescued the Baobhan sith persecuted in the Demon Realm and enlisted them into my army.

 

My emotions were turbulent.

 

I had considered the possibility of a past connection, but to think she was actually my subordinate from the Baobhan sith.

 

“Please answer me. Why does the Princess know of the Baobhan sith?”

 

While I fell silent in contemplation, Ruslara’s eyes blazed with killing intent—apparently having drawn some grave conclusion.

 

“Surely you’re a minion of the Sun God…!”

 

She drew the sword from her waist.

 

“Don’t say such nonsense. I’m not…”

 

“Yet you insulted the Black Lion and showed no reverence for the Sun God!”

 

‘Well, that’s true.’

 

I had no words to refute her.

 

Just as I opened my mouth to urge her to calm down, she erupted.

 

“If you truly are the Sun God’s minion, I will stop you even at the cost of my life! To protect my family!”

 

“No, I don’t believe in such a god.”

 

“I will no longer be deceived by human lies!”

 

This was hopeless. She had no intention of listening to me from the start.

 

‘Damn it, the soundproofing spell is about to fail too.’

 

Just as she advanced with her blade, radiating murderous intent, I sensed the soundproofing spell nearing its end.

 

I’d used minimal mana to avoid aftereffects, which meant the duration was far too short.

 

‘If others hear about Baobhan sith, this becomes a disaster.’

 

At this rate, Ruslara’s true identity would be exposed to outsiders. I raised both hands to signal I had no intention of fighting and spoke.

 

“Wait, just a moment. If I prove I’m not human, that settles it, doesn’t it?”

 

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

 

“Listen carefully. My true nature is…”

 

I concentrated my focus and awakened my mana. This wasn’t about using mana—it was about revealing the power I had concealed—so I didn’t need to worry about aftereffects.

 

Instead, Ruslara, who stood nearby, could sense the transformation.

 

“Ugh….”

 

Mana flowing from my heart enveloped my body.

 

To my eyes, it appeared as though black mist had shrouded my form, but Ruslara, intoxicated by the mana, murmured with vacant eyes as if witnessing hallucinations.

 

“Wings, hellfire, a mane….”

 

It seemed she was witnessing my prime form.

 

Just as I was about to tell her that I was no longer human.

 

“Ah, Divine One.”

 

She suddenly fell to her knees and clasped her hands together in prayer.

 

“Divine One, at last, you have descended upon this world.”

 

“No, I was trying to show you that I’m a Demon….”

 

“My God, my light, my savior.”

 

This was trouble.

 

She seemed to have lost her mind, intoxicated by my overwhelming mana. The Baobhan sith were a race naturally susceptible to mana intoxication.

 

I hastily withdrew my mana and was about to help her to her feet when—

 

“Pardon the intrusion. I knocked but received no answer… Your Highness?”

 

The door to the Rest Area opened, and Loreil’s Knight entered the room.

 

“….”

 

What they witnessed was Ruslara, a beautiful woman, weeping and sobbing as she offered fervent prayer.

 

And standing before them, the cursed Princess (myself) stripped of her veil.

 

I wrapped my hands around my throbbing temples and spoke.

 

“That’s not it.”

 

In any case, it wasn’t.

 

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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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