Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 96

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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 096

“Is something the matter?”

I stammered in response to Loreil’s question.

“Oh, no. I was just going to say to be careful not to touch it.”

“…?”

He seemed puzzled by my reaction and narrowed his eyes slightly.

After a moment of contemplation, he spoke with a note of suspicion in his voice.

“This is the Princess’s past, isn’t it?”

“It’s not, is it?”

I answered instinctively, but Loreil had already convinced himself of his theory.

“This box must be the true form of the mirror. Just as it did with the Countess, it likely has the function of projecting the memories of those who draw near. So this memory belongs to the Princess….”

“Shouldn’t we move quickly? We’re running out of time.”

I hurriedly cut him off, and he narrowed his eyes.

“…I understand. You were planning to deny it anyway. Besides, since I can’t understand what they’re saying, I’ll drop it.”

‘Ah, they’re speaking in the Demon Realm’s language, so he can’t understand.’

At least my past wouldn’t be exposed. I let out a quiet sigh of relief and stepped closer to the Glass Box.

“Well then, returning to the matter at hand… this box is currently being sustained by the Countess’s life force. If we break it carelessly, her life will be in danger.”

“Then are you thinking of awakening her from outside?”

“That would be ideal, but… it seems difficult.”

Our conversation wasn’t quiet by any means, yet the Countess inside the glass box didn’t spare us so much as a glance.

Whether she was pretending not to hear or genuinely couldn’t hear us remained unclear.

Either way, it seemed most effective to enter the glass box and call out to her directly.

Loreil folded his arms across his chest, his expression skeptical.

“I doubt the Countess will willingly listen to us. Didn’t she say in her memories that dreams are her own world?”

That was the crux of the problem. Even if we entered the dream, it would be useless if she had no intention of waking.

‘I need to find a reason that would make her want to return to reality.’

Just as Loreil and I were deliberating, a sudden voice echoed from the corridor.

“Your Highness, Demon Lord.”

“…!”

We spun around in surprise and found ourselves face to face with a child wearing a bonnet.

Now that I had seen all her memories, I could identify who this child was.

“Biki?”

It was Biki, the Countess’s youngest daughter. In the memories, she had already made her debut, but the girl before me appeared to be around ten years old.

“Your Highness, Demon Lord. This way, please.”

She waved her hand toward us, then headed down the corridor. Loreil and I exchanged a brief glance before following her.

Biki led us to the Bedroom Annex.

‘This is… the nursery where Loreil and I first entered.’

Once Biki confirmed we had entered the room, she grunted with effort as she dragged three small chairs from the corner.

“Please, sit here.”

I could sit in the chair, but it was far too small for Loreil.

“I’ll stand and listen.”

In the end, I found myself seated directly across from Biki, while Loreil remained behind me, observing.

Biki studied us both in turn before speaking.

“You must have questions, don’t you? Feel free to ask. After that, I’ll tell you what I need from you.”

It seemed she had arranged this meeting specifically to resolve our confusion.

I asked Biki carefully.

“Biki, was it you who summoned us?”

“Yes, it was me. I sent you the letter.”

She withdrew a small piece of paper from her bosom—one bearing the seal of the Count’s Family.

“I sent it to both the Imperial Palace and the Marquis Residence. I thought that if anyone could save my mother, it would be the two of you.”

At that moment, Loreil from behind posed a question.

“Why? What made you choose us?”

“Because you’re suitable for this.”

“Suitable?”

As Loreil’s brow furrowed in confusion, Biki stammered, uncertain how to explain.

“Yes. People who can enter dreams without issue… those with an affinity for spirits. I discovered you both when I snuck into the Imperial Palace before.”

Though her explanation was convoluted, I understood her meaning.

“You’re referring to people who have an affinity for spectral energy and can maintain their consciousness even within dreams?”

“Exactly! That’s right.”

Biki marveled, as if I had read her thoughts. Meanwhile, Loreil’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“A spirit summoner? Is that what you mean? Dark magic spirit summoning?”

“Exactly. This child is a spirit summoner.”

I nodded.

“In the Countess’s memories, Biki spoke with ghosts, didn’t she? It’s because of her spirit summoner aptitude. Biki probably continued seeing her dead family members with her own eyes.”

“But the Countess thought she was simply confused….”

“That’s how it would appear to ordinary people. Spirit summoners erode the user’s mind the moment their talent awakens.”

A spirit summoner’s development process resembled that of a curse caster. Where curse casters were consumed by negative emotions, spirit summoners became trapped by the voices of spirits, their minds growing clouded.

Mental regression was a typical symptom. To defend themselves against the resonance of emotionally charged spirits, they locked themselves away within their own hearts. That’s why the spirit appeared to be only ten years old.

So when I saw Biki in the Countess’s memories, I was certain she possessed the aptitude of a spirit summoner.

‘The very act of inviting someone into dreams and the mind was itself a spirit summoner’s method.’

But there was one unexpected aspect. Biki could use spirit summoning even in her dead state.

A wraith using spirit summoning—I had never heard of such a thing, even in the Demon Realm.

‘Perhaps it was due to extraordinary talent, or….’

Perhaps her wraith form was simply that immense.

I exhaled a deep sigh.

“Remarkable. Spirit summoners actually exist—then the magical power contained in the letter is…?”

“Yes. It’s Biki’s magical power. If you sense it carefully, you’ll realize it’s different from that of demons.”

“Hmm, such formidable magical power from this child….”

As Loreil marveled, I posed my next question.

“When you sent that letter to the Imperial Palace, was the envelope from your family? You didn’t use a different one?”

“…?”

Biki tilted her head, as if wondering why he would ask such a thing.

“It was from our family. I used one that was in my parents’ bedroom.”

“…I see.”

‘Then someone who wanted me entangled in this incident must have repackaged the letter somewhere in between.’

Finally, the outline was becoming clear.

I turned to Loreil and asked.

“Do you have any questions?”

“Most of my doubts have been resolved thanks to Your Majesty’s questions. However, if one thing remains….”

He glanced at Biki and continued.

“I’m curious why you wear an envelope. Is there a reason?”

‘Ah, I didn’t ask about that either.’

The fact that Biki wore an envelope in the first place didn’t make sense, but I hadn’t thought of it while focusing on other matters. Biki lowered her head as if troubled.

“Because I’m ugly.”

“Ugly? Your face?”

The Countess’s three daughters in my memory were beautiful enough to be described as peerless beauties.

When we both wore expressions of confusion, she murmured softly.

“I’m supposed to keep it hidden, but since the Demon and the Prince are guests… I’ll show you.”

Then, slowly, she removed the envelope.

“…!”

We both held our breath the moment we saw her face.

Biki’s visage was so devastated that it rendered us speechless.

Burn scars and lacerations, slashed wounds, a pulped eye, severed locks of hair—every trace of violence imaginable was etched upon her face.

Noticing our expressions, she spoke hesitantly.

“It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt. I died before they could… before they could do worse.”

“Who—who did this to you?”

“I don’t know. Men in masks appeared suddenly.”

She said that even unto death, she could not remember who had killed her or how it had happened. The sheer brutality of it all made me bite my lip.

“Father and my sister kept warning me. They said this place was dangerous, to avoid it, but those men kept pursuing me…”

“You left the Manor in secret to survive? To escape those men?”

“Yes. Father said if I stayed home, I would die.”

It seemed the spirits of family members lingering nearby had continued to warn her. Yet in the end, she could not escape the enemy’s grasp, and this was the result.

Loreil murmured in a low voice.

“Not content with murder, they desecrated the corpse as well… This certainly reeks of deep-seated resentment.”

I wanted to expose who had done this, but evidence was still lacking. I steadied myself and spoke to her.

“Did the Countess… did Mother see you like this?”

“Yes, she fainted the moment she saw me.”

“I see. Thank you for answering our questions. I’ll grant your request.”

“Really? I thought you two were just going to leave…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll grant your request without fail.”

Moreover, now that I knew the Empress was the prime suspect, I couldn’t turn away from Biki. Not as a member of the Imperial Family, and not as a mother with a child.

Biki smiled with relief and spoke.

“Then, just as I wrote in the letter, please save my mother.”

“Yes, I’ll wake her up right away—”

“Please share your magical power and soul so that my mother never awakens from this dream.”

“…What?”

But the answer that came back was not what we expected.

Biki spoke to us, frozen in place, with a bright voice.

“My mother says she’s happiest spending time with her family in the dream. So please, share just a little of your power. Let this dream continue forever.”

“Then… what about you, Biki? What will happen to you?”

“I’m already in there, aren’t I?”

Biki pointed to the wall where the bedroom was located.

“The me in there is the me my mother desires.”

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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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