WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: nemui

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◈ The Forgotten Curse Knight ◈

Vol. 2 Ch. 21: Like Rabbit Ears

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Theo returned from Rejilna to Cinder House, but he had no choice but to spend that day and the next mostly asleep.

Administrator Archibald had caught him pushing his Curse Armament Manifestation beyond its limits and ordered him to rest.

In the end, Theo received permission to resume training on the third day after his return.

"Starting tomorrow, you can join training again."

In Cinder House's command room, the Gray Knights' commander, JJ, a middle-aged man wearing a paper bag over his head, said so in his usual laid-back tone.

Just to be sure, Theo asked.

"Training begins tomorrow, but would it be all right if I did some light exercise today?"

"Ah... If you're that energetic, could you run a little errand for me? I'll have Carla go with you."

"Yes! Leave it to me."

When Theo answered eagerly, JJ rummaged through his desk drawer and pulled out two documents that appeared to be permits to go outside, one for Theo and one for Carla. He stamped them with a quick thump.

Normally, Administrator Archibald handled this sort of paperwork, but Theo had not seen him at all since the morning began. Theo had heard that Archibald originally belonged to the Royal Feather, so perhaps he had gone to check in there.

"There, the paperwork's all set. Don't forget to put on your chokers when you leave. If you've properly applied and you're wearing a choker, you can go out in Grandrium without an escort."

"Understood. Um... what exactly is that choker?"

It looked like an ordinary choker, but if they were required to wear it when going outside, it had to serve some purpose.

When Carla's neck had been severed during the battle against the Termea, she had gone out of her way to retrieve the blood-soaked choker and put it back on.

"That thing was made by someone important from the Reyel Holy District. Then I put my power into it and made it, you know, work nicely somehow."

That was a very rough explanation. Still, the power he had put into it presumably referred to Curse Armament Manifestation.

"Is that your ability, Commander?"

"Yep. I can tell where anyone wearing a choker is... and if it comes down to it, I can use the choker to sever their neck and execute them."

Theo shuddered at those final words. Execution. It meant death for traitors and escapees.

"But once they're a certain distance away, the tracking gets less accurate, and I can't execute them either. That's why a Holy Knight has to accompany you when you travel far away."

That explained a number of things.

When Beryl had come all the way to the mining town of Worg in search of Carla, who had gone missing on the West End front, she had not seemed to know Carla's precise location. This was why.

The area where JJ's ability worked accurately was probably Grandrium.

"Sorry for bringing up something as dangerous as severing necks. But it's something I needed to tell you eventually, and the timing for it is hard to figure out..."

JJ mumbled awkwardly, and Theo answered with the utmost respect.

"I heard that Gray Knights used to have almost no freedom to go out. That after you became commander, they were permitted to leave for reasons other than missions, as they are now."

Mad Walkers occupied a difficult position. They had probably needed many negotiations just to gain this small measure of freedom.

"I sincerely thank you for your consideration, Commander."

JJ silently stuck a hand into his paper bag. He seemed to be scratching his head.

"Man, a really good kid came along, and this old guy's surprised... Anyway, have fun with your errand. Take your time."

* * *

Today had been one unusual thing after another, Theo thought.

Archibald and Beryl were away from the base, and when he offered to help in the kitchen as usual, he was turned down. And, incredibly... Rosé, who was drunk every day, had not been drinking! That was the biggest shock of the day.

Lenny and Hugo, meanwhile, were as usual. The little white fluffball was rolling around on the floor, while Hugo was lazing around in bed.

（But ever since that mission in the village ended, Hugo's been secretly practicing his voice.）

Perhaps the battle against the Termea the other day had given him something to think about.

As Theo pondered this, he picked up Lenny, who was rolling around at his feet. It would be better to put Lenny in his pocket if they were going into the city.

Most of Lenny's body was fluff, so Lenny was surprisingly compact. If Theo compressed the fur, Lenny fit easily into his pocket.

Once he had tucked Lenny away, Theo spotted a head of white hair near the entrance hall. It was Carla.

"Carla, the commander asked me to run an errand. Would you come shopping with..."

Theo approached Carla, then widened his eyes in surprise.

Today really was different from usual. Carla's hair looked like rabbit ears.

Rabbit ears, in other words, two high ponytails. However, they were uneven, with one tied higher than the other.

Carla wore her usual mask covering the upper half of her face. Because of that, Theo could not tell what had prompted her to choose this hairstyle.

"Your hair is different today. Um..."

Should he ask what had brought about the change, or point out that the two sides were uneven? Both seemed rude.

As Theo struggled to find the right thing to say, Carla mumbled quietly.

"I heard the popular songstress in Grandrium wears her hair like this..."

I see. Carla had wanted to imitate that songstress.

If dependable Beryl had been there, she might have tied Carla's hair properly for her. But Beryl had been out since morning.

Theo thought for a moment, then made a suggestion.

"I think it would look cute, like rabbit ears, if they were the same height... Would you mind if I retied them?"

Carla gave a small nod. Her expression did not change, but her little hand tightly gripped the hem of her uniform, which somehow looked very cute.

Theo moved behind Carla and retied one of her ponytails. He used only his fingers as a comb, but the two sides should at least be even now.

"How does that look?"

"...Thank you."

Carla bowed her head slightly. She held a thin booklet against her arm. When Theo asked what it was, she timidly offered it to him.

"Gordreil Castle... You wanted to see it, so Beryl told me where you can get a good view."

The booklet contained a simple map of Grandrium.

It also had detailed notes on streets with many delicious food stalls, the tourist attraction Valgan Palace, Red Steel Bridge, and places from which the Reyel Holy District on the other side of the bridge could be seen.

Pointing at the map, Carla began explaining, "If we go around here like this, then do the shopping for the errand at the end, it'll be good."

Then Theo realized something. Had JJ sent Carla along on the errand because he had intended for her to show Theo around from the start? His comment about taking their time must have meant that.

"Will you show me around?"

When Theo asked, Carla nodded silently. Her two ponytails swayed softly with the movement of her head. She really did look like a rabbit.

"Thank you! Then let's go right away... Though, before that."

Since this was not a mission but a small break, Theo thought this much should be allowed.

"Would it be all right if you took off that mask?"

"...Huh?"

Carla hid her face because her Curse granted Immortality. It prevented ordinary people from becoming suspicious of her unchanging appearance, no matter how many years passed.

But since she was dressed differently than usual, perhaps it would be fine for her to remove the mask.

It would be another matter if Carla's companion stood out, but Theo bore the Oblivion Curse. He was confident that after walking around town all day, no one would remember his face. It was a sad sort of confidence.

"Your hairstyle is different today, Carla, so that alone is a kind of disguise..."

Carla seemed hesitant for a moment, but then awkwardly removed her mask.

White hair in two ponytails and red eyes. She really did look like a rabbit.

"Let's go, Carla!"

"Okay."

The corners of Carla's eyes lowered slightly, making her look as though she was smiling. That made Theo strangely happy.

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