WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: nemui

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◈ The Forgotten Curse Knight ◈

Vol. 2 Ch. 7: Morning in the Gray Knights

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After waking up, folding his bedding, and washing his face, Theo put on the Gray Knights uniform.

He liked this uniform very much. Just wearing its crisp, stiff fabric made him feel more alert.

As he changed, he reviewed his plans for the day. It had been a week since Theo became a Gray Knight. Since he had no real missions yet and had been ordered to remain on standby, he spent that time training and helping around the base.

Once he braided his one long lock of hair into his trademark braid, Theo called out to Hugo, who was still asleep in bed.

“Good morning, Hugo. I’m going to train.”

The bed rustled, and an “Nngh” came from it. Theo could not tell whether it was sleep-talking or an answer. Hugo always stayed asleep until the very last moment before breakfast.

Since the Hugo Backbend Incident（as Beryl had named it）, Theo and Hugo had become a little friendlier. At least, Theo thought so. They no longer used formal speech with each other and called one another by name.

Theo set Lenny, who had been rolling around on the floor, on his shoulder. Recently, that had become Lenny’s usual spot.

“Let’s go, Lenny!”

“Meu!”

* * *

After passing through the gate connecting the Gray Knights headquarters to the outside, Theo cheerfully greeted the guards.

They were Erington Army soldiers, people who would forget Theo, but greetings were still important.

“Good morning!”

The two guards answered his greeting lazily.

“Morning.”

“Have a good one.”

The Gray Knights headquarters stood within the grounds of the Erington Army’s Second Base. Beyond the iron fence meant to isolate the Gray Knights, the Erington Army trained nearby.

So Theo had applied to Archibald for permission to join their training.

Preparing the application documents had taken some effort, but Theo did not dislike that sort of clerical work. If anything, he was good at it. Archibald taught him what he did not understand. He was knowledgeable about paperwork like that. JJ, the commander, had only said things like, “Huh, there are forms for that?”

The early-morning training mainly focused on building basic physical strength.

As a Mad Walker, Theo’s physical abilities improved dramatically while he manifested his Curse Armament. At other times, though, he was no different from before.

Building basic strength was important. Curse Armament Manifestation could only be used for a limited time, so he should not rely on it alone in battle.

When he arrived at the training grounds, Theo spotted a gray uniform amid the Erington Army’s red uniforms. It had been altered into a wrap skirt. It was Beryl.

Beryl had been chatting with the soldiers in red uniforms, but when she noticed Theo, she waved one hand.

“Morning!”

“Good morning. Are you training too, Beryl?”

“Yep, yep. You inspired me, Theo. I thought I’d get moving again for the first time in a while. Big sis may not look it, but she likes exercising.”

That was probably true.

Beryl’s slim body had supple muscles, and her movements were sharp and lively. She reminded Theo of the dancers he had seen at Worg’s festival.

Still, Theo wondered whether everyone had felt pressured to join because he had started training.

“...Did I make you feel like you had to come because I joined?”

“No way!”

Beryl laughed his concern away.

“If I think something looks fun, I give it a try. That’s how I’ve always lived. I thought, Why not try training? So here I am.”

Beryl winked with a snap. She was a charming person.

Her way of thinking was simple and refreshing. It made Theo feel good.

Beryl vigorously petted Lenny on Theo’s shoulder.

“Lenny, you do your best too.”

“Meu.”

This adorable fluffball, however, only rolled around nearby during training.

* * *

After finishing their early-morning training and returning to the Gray Knights headquarters, Theo and Beryl found a woman crouched at one end of the entrance hall.

Her unkempt, dry hair was an unusual light-brown color with a pinkish tint. She was another Gray Knight.

Theo hurried over, crouched beside her, and spoke.

“Rosé, have you been drinking again?”

“Yeah... booze... looking for it...”

Murky eyes looked toward Theo. They were the eyes of someone wandering between grim reality and dreams.

Her face was pale, there were dark circles beneath her eyes, and her dry lips were cracked. At a glance, she looked unhealthy.

She wore only her uniform jacket over clothes that looked like underwear.

“You can’t drink in the morning. And your clothes! You can’t leave them hanging open! It’s too much for my eyes!”

While Rosé miserably repeated, “Booze...,” Theo looked away as he fastened the buttons of her uniform jacket. Her chest should be covered now.

Beryl, who had watched the exchange, murmured admiringly.

“Theo, you’re such a gentleman.”

“It is only natural for a knight.”

“Good old-fashioned chivalry. Nice. Well then, this big sister has been inspired a little, so I’ll carry Rosé to bed. Come on, Rosé. Can you stand? Just don’t throw up on me.”

“Ugh... booze...”

Beryl helped Rosé to her feet as she groped around for a bottle.

Beryl was tall for a woman, but Rosé was even taller. Her thin limbs looked so frail that they might snap at any moment.

“See you, Theo. Later.”

With that, Beryl led Rosé away. Theo considered helping, but it would not be appropriate for him to enter the women’s bedroom.

After bowing to Beryl, Theo headed for the kitchen. At the door, he took Lenny off his shoulder.

“Lenny, can you wait on the bed?”

“Meu.”

Since a fluffy ball of fur should not be brought into the kitchen, Lenny usually stayed behind on the bed at times like this.

Lenny was part of Theo’s curse, so it generally did not need food. There was something like a mouth in the fluffball, but Theo had never seen it eat or drink.

After seeing Lenny off, Theo opened the kitchen door.

“Good morning, Mrs. Moran, Noah! Is there anything I can help with?”

Mrs. Moran and Noah, the junior staff, were preparing breakfast in the kitchen. The two of them prepared most of the Gray Knights’ meals.

Mrs. Moran was a woman in her sixties with blond hair streaked with white, neatly tied back. Noah was a thirteen-year-old boy with black hair. Since Noah was close to Theo’s age and not much different in height, Theo felt an unspoken sense of familiarity with him.

Mrs. Moran and Noah were not related by blood. Each had their own circumstances that had led them to become junior staff for the Gray Knights.

Mrs. Moran, who had been peeling potatoes, spoke gently to the cheerfully greeting Theo.

“Good morning. Then please take Mr. Hulk his meal. He should be here soon.”

“Yes, understood. Is it the usual bread and bean soup?”

“Yes, from that pot over there. Be careful not to burn yourself. The goat’s milk is here.”

Mrs. Moran’s voice was always soft and pleasant to hear. Her gentleness and refinement reminded Theo of Olivia back home.

When he lived in Worg, Theo had helped Olivia alongside Allen. Theo would stop Allen from sneaking food, and Olivia would scold Allen. Theo missed those days.

As he poured goat’s milk into a cup, Theo remembered Rosé, who had been dead drunk. He should tell Mrs. Moran and Noah about her. Sharing information was important.

“Rosé seemed unwell earlier. She may not be able to eat breakfast.”

Before Theo could add that he wanted to bring her soup that would be gentle on her stomach later, Noah spoke bitterly.

“...That person again?”

Theo thought Noah did not need to say it so harshly, but Noah was always like this. Despite being only thirteen, he was dependable, and perhaps because of that, he judged adults severely.

Since he was already junior staff for the Gray Knights at such a young age, he must have had many hardships.

Theo placed the bean soup, warmed bread, and goat’s milk on a tray, then headed to the dining room.

It was still about an hour before breakfast, but a large man in a Gray Knights uniform sat at the end of the long table.

He was dark-skinned and bald, likely around forty years old. He wore a glove only on his right hand, where his Curse Sigil was.

“Good morning, Hulk.”

“Yeah. Sorry to make you bring it.”

Hulk always ate at a different time from everyone else. Apparently, he preferred to eat quietly.

Hulk began his meal in silence. He said he had already offered his pre-meal prayer in his room.

The Gray Knights had two large bedrooms for the men, divided between the older and younger members. Theo slept in a different room from Hulk and rarely had the chance to speak with him. He did not know much about him, but he thought Hulk was serious and honest.

Hulk’s speech was rough, but his voice was very calm.

“Oh, Theo. Today or tomorrow is your debutante ball. Get yourself fired up and prepare for your Curse Armament Manifestation (dress-up).”

“Does that mean my first mission?”

“Yeah. I heard the commander and administrator discussing it.”

If the Gray Knights were being deployed, that meant a Termea had appeared.

Theo tightly gripped the chest of his uniform, directly above his Curse Sigil, and steeled himself.

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