WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: nemui

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◈ The Forgotten Curse Knight ◈

Vol. 2 Ch. 23: If This Face Looks Familiar...

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Upon returning to Cinder House, the black-haired boy Noah, the usually unfriendly junior staff member, spoke bluntly.

"Welcome back, Theo."

Theo was stunned. Noah was neither a Mad Walker nor Blessed. He was an ordinary person, so Theo's Oblivion Curse affected him.

He could recognize Theo's existence, but had trouble remembering his face and name.

When Theo stood there in surprise, Noah silently pointed at the wall of the entrance hall. A sheet of paper had been posted there.

It showed a blond boy with a braid and a white fluffball on his shoulder. Written beside the drawing were the words:

"If This Face Looks Familiar, Theo of Oblivion"

Theo's cheek twitched as he groaned.

"Isn't this a wanted poster for a criminal...?"

"It was Administrator Archibald's idea. If we post these everywhere, even we should be able to remember you, Theo."

Theo blinked, and Noah continued evenly.

"If we know that forgetting you is caused by a curse, we should take measures against it. If we keep looking at this paper, perhaps the memory will stick."

"Noah... You're such a good person!"

The thought that someone would make an effort to remember him made Theo happy. As his eyes grew hot, Noah looked at him as if he were a hopeless case.

"...More importantly, if it bothered you enough to cry, couldn't you have tested it yourself sooner?"

"Ugh... This kind of test needs someone to help, and I felt bad dragging someone else into it..."

"Well, I don't forget you even without something like that."

The cheerful voice came from farther down the hall. It was Hugo.

"Pretty good, right? I drew it. Especially the catchphrase, 'If This Face Looks Familiar, Theo of Oblivion.' It's brilliant, right?"

So Archibald had ordered them to make posters so they could remember Theo, and Hugo had completed the wanted-poster-like flyer.

Unmoved by Theo's resentful glare, Hugo gave Carla a casual wave.

"Good work stalling for time. Hey, Theo, quit standing around and get to the dining room."

"I was going anyway."

After giving Mrs. Moran the things they had bought, Theo was supposed to go straight to the command room and report their return. As he strode along at a brisk pace, Lenny cried, "Meaa," from his pocket.

Then Theo thought of what Hugo had said. Mrs. Moran was usually in the kitchen. Yet Hugo had told him to go to the dining room.

（Is Mrs. Moran in the dining room?）

With that thought, Theo opened the dining room door and widened his eyes.

It was still too early for dinner, but the table was covered in food. There was oven-roasted beef, chicken and mushroom cream stew, bean soup, and several kinds of ham and cheese. It was quite a feast.

Seated around the table were JJ, wearing a paper bag over his head, the stern Administrator Archibald, cheerful Beryl, Rosé, who was always drinking, and the bald man Hulk.

"Today's star has arrived. Welcome back, Theo."

Beryl winked and waved. While Theo stood confused, Hugo and Carla entered behind him and each took a seat. Noah was helping Mrs. Moran carry the dishes.

Theo asked Beryl,

"Is it someone's birthday today?"

"It's your welcome party. Whenever someone new joins us, the members left at Cinder House throw a feast."

A welcome party! That was why Carla had been so concerned about the time, and why Hugo had called it "stalling for time."

As Beryl pulled the cork from a bottle, she said,

"By the way, the captain's paying."

"You're welcome. I am the Gray Knights' wallet."

"Captain, serious young people won't know what to do with self-deprecating jokes like that."

"Oh, really? Sorry for not reading the room. Oh, and Archibald chipped in a little too."

Hugo, who had been sneaking bites of food, muttered at Beryl and JJ's exchange.

"Wallet Number Two."

A vein bulged at Archibald's temple as he glared at Hugo. Before he could unleash a scolding, Beryl raised her voice.

"All right, all right, shall we make a toast? Beryl brought delicious orange juice for the youngsters. Oh, and wine for Rosé."

Rosé, who had been staring blankly at her glass, slowly lifted her head, her pinkish hair swaying.

"Alcohol... permitted..."

"Take it easy, Cherry Beauty. Theo's today's star."

The large bald man, Hulk, gently admonished Rosé and poured wine into her glass. The gesture of his thick fingers offering her the glass was practiced and refined.

"No maudlin drinking, all right? Celebration drinks are meant to be enjoyed cheerfully."

He was an adult. So cool.

People were allowed to drink only after becoming adults at sixteen. When Theo was old enough to drink, he would drink like an adult, just like Hulk.

"Theo."

Archibald suddenly called Theo's name.

Theo was surprised. Archibald was an ordinary person, so he should have had trouble remembering Theo's name. It seemed Hugo's posters really were effective.

"Gray Knight letters are generally censored. I have checked the contents of this one, so you may receive it."

With that preface, Archibald held out an envelope.

Theo caught his breath when he saw the sender's name.

Olivia Lawrence.

（There's no mistake. It's Mother Olivia's handwriting...!）

Honestly, he was afraid to read it. Olivia had forgotten Theo's existence, but Allen must have told her everything. That there had been another child in the house, and that the child had spread a curse.

（...What if she wrote that I must never come home again...?）

With trembling hands, he opened the letter. It began with "To Theo," and was written in a graceful hand that reflected Olivia's gentle nature.

"I heard everything from Allen. That I had another son, and that I forgot that son.

Come to think of it, I had felt something was strange these past few days. There were personal belongings and dishes that did not belong to Allen, and traces throughout the house of another child I had forgotten. Though I can sense that something is amiss, I cannot remember whom those traces belong to. It is terribly frustrating.

Allen has told me many things about you, whom I cannot remember. About his reliable, hardworking younger brother Theo, who dreams of becoming a knight.

First, I must apologize to you. Even after hearing so much from Allen, I still cannot remember you.

Allen told me that you would return after defeating the Termea that cursed you and breaking the curse. He also said that he, too, would go slay Termea as a Holy Knight to free you from the curse.

Then I will wait for that day. Forever.

Theo, I am sorry that I cannot remember you.

Even so, I truly feel the loss of something within me. That sense of loss proves your existence to me. So I have decided to keep a diary, so that I do not lose this one thing. I will write about the son I forgot, believing that one day you will surely return, so I can tell tomorrow's self about you.

Theo, my son. I will wait forever for the day you return.

Thank you for the lovely handkerchief. I will treasure it."

Knights were supposed to be strong, but surely he could be forgiven for crying over his family.

Theo wiped his tears with his sleeve. The letter had probably passed from Olivia to Allen, then from Allen to Elbert, and through many people Theo did not know before reaching Archibald.

"Thank you very much, Administrator Archibald."

"...I merely did my job."

Lenny jumped onto Theo's lap and cried, "Mefuu." It somehow felt like the little creature was saying, "That's good, partner," and Theo nodded.

"Yeah."

He carefully folded the letter and put it back in its envelope. When he returned to his room, he would read it over and over again.

As Theo sniffled, a handkerchief was pressed to his face. It was a clean, lovely handkerchief, held by a rough hand covered in a glove. It was Hulk.

"Hey, boy. Give us a toast. Mrs. Moran's feast is getting cold."

"Yes!"

Theo wiped his face with the borrowed handkerchief and stood.

He would put all his gratitude into this, for the people who had held a welcome party for him, the people who had delivered the letter, for everyone. Here and now, he would swear to be a knight.

This was Gray Knight Theo's first oath.

"Everyone, I deeply thank you for holding such a splendid gathering for this humble self today... Hugo, you shouldn't be sneaking food. Um, though I am still inexperienced, I will strive to conduct myself in a manner worthy of a knight... Um, Ms. Rosé, please don't start drinking yet... I will do my best to contribute as a member of the Gray Knights... Lenny! Don't climb onto the table! Ah, honestly... Um, anyway, I'll do my best, so please take care of me!"

Amid much laughter, voices rose in a toast.

Character Notes

Theo（14）

A Gray Knight burdened with the Curse of 〈Oblivion〉.

He loses his temper like nothing else when books are mistreated.

He is at that age when he wants to try copying the thing where Hulk reads "Curse Armament Manifestation" as "Dress Up" someday.

Lenny

A fluffball that emerged from Theo and wanted to become a white horse.

Thought to be a type of Theo's Familiar.

☆ Gray Knights

Carla（appears around 14）

A white-haired, red-eyed girl in a mask. She bears the Curse of 〈Immortality〉.

She thinks of her own headless corpse as something as insignificant as nail clippings.

Hugo（15）

An orange-haired, freckled boy. A former choir member.

He uses a Curse of 〈Domination〉 that controls people through song.

JJ（37）

The leader of the Gray Knights. A middle-aged man who always wears a paper bag over his head.

Logan Archibald（35）

A Gray Knight Administrator on assignment from the Royal Feather Guard Infantry Regiment.

His job is to execute Gray Knights who have turned into Termea.

Beryl（26）

A woman with sandy hair, dark skin, and a wrap skirt.

Free-spirited and fond of fun.

Rosé（20）

A pink-haired woman who drinks herself silly.

She is always drinking to escape reality.

Hulk（42）

A large, dark-skinned man with a shaved head.

Theo looks at him with respect, believing him to be a remarkably decent adult.

Noah（13）

Junior staff of the Gray Knights.

A dependable black-haired boy. Hard on useless adults.

Mrs. Moran（67）

Junior staff of the Gray Knights.

A gentle, refined elderly woman. Kind to children.

☆ Holy Knights

Elbert Randolph（27）

A Paladin with the three blessings of 〈Destruction〉, 〈Regeneration〉, and 〈Creation〉.

The hero Theo admires.

Allen Lawrence（17）

Elbert's Squire. He possesses the blessings of 〈Destruction〉 and 〈Regeneration〉.

Because he was a sword prodigy, he was once an unpleasant child who looked down on everyone around him.

Now, he is trying to be a good older brother to Theo.

Oswald Gregory（23）

A blond young man with a scar on his face. Elbert's subordinate.

Cautious by nature, he writes his name on every possession. He does not neglect even his underwear and socks.

Nicola Ron（20）

Oswald's subordinate.

A young man who is always smiling. Friendly toward Gray Knights.

Matthew Thurgood（22）

Oswald's subordinate. Has exceptional hearing.

Footnotes:

"If This Face Looks Familiar" evokes a familiar phrase used in Japanese public-safety and wanted notices.

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