Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 98

—————

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 098

Leaving the entranced Loreil behind, Deina extended both hands forward and began speaking in a low voice, uttering something incomprehensible.

“….”

It was a language difficult to replicate with human pronunciation. Loreil recognized it as a Demon incantation.

As the incantation continued, the shadow wings emanated an extraordinary surge of demonic power.

Soon, the demonic energy flowing from the wing tips burrowed into the Glass Box.

‘I see. She’s replacing the life force within with her own demonic power.’

Loreil, able to sense demonic energy, felt the Glass Box filling with Deina’s power.

She intended to expel the Countess’s life force while maintaining the Glass Box’s containment.

Moreover, since this world was a dream, even wielding such formidable power caused no strain on her body. Knowing this, Deina unleashed her demonic energy without restraint.

Witnessing the seemingly endless torrent of her power, Loreil broke into a cold sweat.

‘If such force were ever directed at humans….’

Even Asmo-rina, whom I had encountered long ago, possessed terrifying power. She wielded enough strength to overturn an entire mountain range in the Neutral Zone.

Yet even she could not compare to Deina.

Deina’s power bore no resemblance to the crude violence Asmo-rina had unleashed.

It was akin to a natural catastrophe threatening the very world itself….

“Loreil!”

At that moment, Deina called out to him. Her voice had changed—deeper than her usual tone.

“Biki!”

“Understood.”

Now was the time to focus on escape. Loreil guided Biki to the deepest point within the Glass Box, where Deina’s mana had burrowed most profoundly.

“I’ll try.”

Biki took a deep breath, then stepped into the Glass Box. She moved forward slowly.

[What fairy tale should I read next? What kind of story does Biki want to hear?]

The Countess inside continued reading fairy tales to the false Biki. At the sight, Biki hesitated for a moment, but soon steeled herself and raised her voice.

“Mother, I’m here. I’m the real Biki.”

[You have plans tomorrow morning, so you mustn’t oversleep. Biki is a good child, isn’t she?]

“You need to wake up now, Mother.”

[Is this the last fairy tale, then?]

“…Please, look at me.”

But it seemed the Countess could not hear Biki’s voice. She spoke only to the Illusion cradled in her arms.

As Biki faltered, Deina, who had been channeling stronger mana through her wings, cried out.

“No, she can hear you! Move closer!”

“…Yes!”

Emboldened by her words, Biki took another step forward.

[Mother, please read this one next.]

Biki’s Illusion suddenly rose from her seat, blocking the real Biki’s path.

“Huh?”

It seemed deliberately designed to obstruct the Countess’s gaze from reaching Biki.

Even Deina faltered for a moment, but Loreil calmly analyzed the situation.

“Your Majesty! Can a mirror possess will?”

“Impossible, unless a spirit is bound to it!”

“Then, might there be some sort of defensive mechanism to prevent destruction?”

Deina pondered for a moment, then nodded.

“That… seems likely.”

‘In other words, Biki’s approach was perceived as a threat.’

The situation had deteriorated, but it had clarified what needed to be done. Biki simply had to pass through that illusion and reach the Countess.

“To draw closer, demonic energy must penetrate deeper within. Your Majesty, can you manage it?”

“I’ll try!”

Before Deina’s immense demonic power, the Glass Box was like a sandcastle. The slightest misstep could cause it to crumble and steal the Countess’s life.

Thus, Deina needed the delicate touch of tweezers separating grains of sand.

Just as she was gathering all her concentration.

[Commander, shall we train together?]

[Wow! It’s Asmodina! Everyone, Asmodina is here!]

[Still foolish as ever—working hard today, are we?]

“…!”

The Glass Box began reflecting Deina’s past. In an instant, illusions of the Demon Clan multiplied and rushed toward her.

Subordinates in the same military uniform as her, children dressed in rags yet beaming with innocent joy, and the Platinum-haired Man—all surrounded her.

Though Loreil could not understand their words, spoken as they were in the Demon Realm’s tongue, it was unmistakably clear that this spectacle was a ploy to shatter Deina’s focus.

“You said you had no will of your own! Yet you’re capable of orchestrating schemes like this?”

“How should I know?”

Her voice rose in protest, but it was quickly swallowed by the chorus of Demon voices pressing in from all sides.

[When this war ends, there’s someone I need to confess to. And that person is….]

[Asmodina! Look at this—I’m strong too, aren’t I? When I grow up, I want to become a soldier as magnificent as you!]

The Demons chanted Deina’s true name—Asmodina—without ceasing. Even without understanding the Demon Realm’s language, that name rang out crystal clear.

‘So, the person Asmo-rina is searching for is indeed her.’

I’d already been half-certain, but this seemed to confirm it beyond doubt.

“Ugh….”

As the Illusions’ voices grew louder, Deina’s concentration wavered.

Ordinarily, she would never have been shaken by such things. But now, she had become far too immersed in the dream itself.

‘Biki still hasn’t reached the bedside. If this continues….’

Loreil hesitated for a moment, then approached Deina with sudden resolve, positioning himself directly in her line of sight.

“Is it possible to move your wings without actually seeing them?”

“Yes. My vision isn’t essential for that. But why?”

“Then close your eyes. I’ll cover your ears for you.”

Deina’s hands were currently extended toward the Glass Box and couldn’t move, so Loreil used his own hands to cover both of her ears.

“This position is rather… awkward, isn’t it?”

With her arms stretched out and Loreil positioned between them, his hands covering her ears, an exceedingly strange posture had been formed.

It would have been far more convenient to cover her ears from behind, but the problem was that her magical power was currently erupting from her back in the form of ‘wings’.

To avoid disrupting the flow of mana, he had no choice but to stand before her.

Thanks to this positioning, Loreil could observe Deina’s face in detail. It bore a sharp, harsh expression—quite different from the Deina of reality.

The moment their eyes met, Loreil felt an uncanny sense of déjà vu. Though he was certain he had never seen this face before, it felt strangely familiar.

“Loreil? Your voice—I’m starting to hear it again….”

“Ah, my apologies.”

His grip had weakened during that momentary lapse. Loreil apologized and once more covered her ears with his hands. The difference in their builds meant that his palms obscured roughly half of her face.

She muttered something about how strange this was, but he deliberately ignored it and called out to Biki.

“Biki, now!”

“Y-yes!”

Biki nodded and moved forward once more. The bed lay perhaps five steps ahead; at this rate, they would soon come face to face with the Countess.

[Asmodina!]

[Mother!]

Yet the Illusion did not remain idle. Biki’s Illusion, along with the Demons, continued to obstruct their path.

Eventually, the Demon even reached out to touch Deina’s body.

[Allow me to demonstrate the fruits of my training.]

[Commander!]

Though the Illusion could not exert physical force, the sensation of contact remained tangible.

Each time their hands touched, Deina’s concentration wavered. It appeared that Illusions could even shake the user’s emotions.

‘I cannot strike down an Illusion. What can I do….’

As Loreil faltered in confusion, Deina forced her lips open with great effort.

“Loreil, I have a favor to ask.”

Loreil moved his hand slightly to indicate he was listening.

“In that state, hold me tight. The Illusion cannot touch your body, so if you wrap me in your form, they won’t be able to approach either.”

It was a rational approach. If Loreil, whose past cast no reflection, existed outside the mirror’s reach, then the mirror itself could not touch him.

‘But… is this acceptable?’

The distance between us was already uncomfortably close. Whether it was the mana or the fact that I had returned to my Demon form, my heart raced whenever I looked at her—and now she was asking me to embrace her.

As I hesitated, a platinum-haired man—the only one among the Illusions who seemed not to be a Demon—approached.

[How foolish. Still displaying such stupidity, I see.]

‘Who is this man?’

He stood with arms crossed, gazing down at Deina with arrogance. Unlike the other Illusions, there was not a trace of tenderness in his presence.

Yet the fact that he existed here meant Deina must have cherished him as a memory of happiness.

[Do you still harbor such trivial aspirations? Intoxicated by the notion of saving insignificant creatures?]

‘This is strange. I’ve never seen this man before either…’

[If you must endure such treatment, you should have obeyed me from the start. Now you merely wallow in regret.]

‘Why does this anger burn so fiercely within me?’

As I regarded the man, a strange revulsion boiled up from within my chest.

It was a rage like kinship hatred—something I could not bear to witness, yet could not deny.

[Why not take refuge in my arms right now? This very moment…]

Indifferent to my turbulent emotions, the platinum-haired man spread his arms arrogantly and spoke.

[In the embrace of the Sun God himself.]

—————

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

—————