WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: nemui
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Forgotten Curse Knight ◈
Vol. 3 Ch. 2: The Evolving Threat and the Two Summoned
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“Now then, let us get to the main matter.”
Once the argument had settled down, Commander-in-Chief Ross began.
“First, the Termea said to have appeared in the mining town of Worg last month, one shaped like a snake. Captain Randolph, explain.”
Prompted by Commander-in-Chief Ross, Elbert Randolph, the hero of the Holy Knight Order, began to speak.
“Regarding the Termea I encountered in Worg last month, I will omit the details, as I have already submitted a report. However, there are several puzzling points.”
（...Ah, that one.）
Diego recalled having reviewed the documents the other day.
The Fifth Grade Termea that had appeared within Worg’s coal mine was presumed to have primarily incorporated a snake.
The word “primarily” was used because there were cases in which a Termea incorporated multiple creatures. The creature whose form and traits appeared most prominently on the surface was considered the one it had primarily incorporated.
（The Termea that appeared in Worg had the form of a snake, but its size was clearly not that of a snake. Proof that it had incorporated something else... I see. This is bad.）
Even with its head sticking out of the mine shaft, its body had apparently still remained inside the mine.
It had been a monster only one step away from surpassing Fifth Grade, beyond the standard scale, and becoming a Curse Calamity Grade threat.
“When I attacked it, the Termea retreated into the mine and hid itself. It is believed to have later escaped through a drainage pipe within the mine... but there are several puzzling points.”
The room grew tense.
Elbert raised one finger.
“First, based on the miners’ testimony and the scrape marks at the mine exit, I believe that Termea grew larger inside the mine.”
“That is puzzling indeed.”
Rudolf cut in.
Adjusting his glasses with his fingertips, Rudolf frowned.
“For a Termea to grow so enormous, it must incorporate a corresponding amount of mass. I do not believe there was enough sustenance within the mine.”
Diego agreed.
Termea usually grew larger when they incorporated creatures other than humans.
If it had attacked a farm with cattle and sheep, it would make sense for the Termea to grow larger. But how could it have incorporated so many creatures inside a coal mine?
With arms folded, Percival spoke.
“Could there have been an entrance to the mine that the miners did not know about?”
“Of course, that possibility is not zero. Even so, that Termea was far too large. And the second puzzling point.”
Elbert raised a second finger.
“The Termea escaped through a drainage pipe in the mine. It would be fortunate if that were coincidence, but what if the Termea possessed enough intelligence to do that?”
Stella let out a small cry and rose halfway from her chair.
Apparently, she understood just how serious that would be.
“Termea are skilled at moving through water... If they settle in water and sewer systems or underground waterways, it could become a Curse Calamity Grade disaster!”
Commander-in-Chief Ross gave a small nod at Stella’s concern.
“There have been no such Termea in the past. But that is only the past. We do not know whether this one was a coincidence or whether Termea have grown wiser, but countermeasures are necessary.”
“However, regular inspections of water and sewer systems and underground waterways will require manpower and money.”
The words of the penny-pinching Rudolf Marriott were correct.
Outside the Reyel Holy District, the Papal See could only wield absolute authority over lands exposed to the danger of Termea. What mattered here was whether actual damage had occurred.
If there were Termea sightings or victims, the Papal See and the Holy Knight Order were permitted to cause some disruption.
But the mere possibility that Termea might exist was not enough to convince landowners.
Commander-in-Chief Ross spoke heavily.
“As Captain Marriott says, this is not something the Papal See can handle through its authority alone. We must humbly petition His Majesty the King.”
The relationship between the Pope and the king was, simply put, fraught.
The previous king had been deeply devout and had shared a trusting relationship with the Pope. That sounded well enough, but in truth, he had leaned too heavily toward the Wing Cross faith. Perhaps as a reaction to that, the current king disliked interference from the Pope.
The current king, Andrew III, had four children.
The first prince, Crown Prince Richard, held real power over the Erington Army. Like his father, he opposed the Pope. Recently, he had been reforming the Gray Knights’ system, and there were even rumors that he was trying to counter the Holy Knight Order.
The second prince, James, had been bedridden in a minor palace for nearly ten years due to illness. He was an obscure prince.
Then there were Princess Beatrice and the third prince, Philip, half-siblings of the first and second princes by a different mother.
Princess Beatrice was a devout follower of the Wing Cross faith, while Third Prince Philip was still a child.
（Well, the second prince and those below him are not much of a problem. The troublesome ones are His Majesty and Crown Prince Richard.）
Diego had heard of Crown Prince Richard’s shrewdness several times while working as a mercenary.
If the Papal See showed weakness, Richard would surely seize the opportunity.
With that in mind, Diego deliberately made a light remark.
“Why not graciously yield the honor of regular waterworks and underground-waterway inspections to the Erington Army?”
“What a splendid honor. By the way, did you know that I am a former colonel of the Erington Army?”
Commander-in-Chief Ross looked at Diego with sleepy, reproachful eyes, so Diego played dumb.
“First I’ve heard of it, sir.”
Elbert returned the conversation to its original course.
“This is separate from the Termea in Worg, but we should also make sure everyone is fully briefed on the Fourth Grade frog that appeared in Rejilna last week.”
The Fourth Grade Termea that Elbert’s subordinate, Captain Oswald Gregory, had reportedly defeated in cooperation with three Gray Knights had sent out more than a hundred offshoots at once and used the Cursed as puppets.
This too was a Termea without precedent.
（Making offshoots and turning the Cursed into puppets is rare, but more than a hundred of them is not normal.）
Diego spoke candidly.
“Honestly, it’s impressive that they held out with that force. I thought Captain Gregory’s weakness was being overly cautious, but clearly not.”
“It was only because Captain Gregory and the Gray Knights worked together. I am grateful to the Gray Knights who supported Captain Gregory as well.”
The person who bristled at Elbert’s noble words was the earnest Stella.
With undisguised displeasure, Stella spat out:
“I oppose the use of Gray Knights. Gray Knights should be treated as victims of Termea.”
That sounded so much like her that Diego could not help but laugh.
“Ah, Stella dear, you haven’t seen much of how Gray Knights fight, have you?”
“What do you mean by that?”
Stella twisted her lips in annoyance and glared at Diego. Diego answered with an ambiguous smirk.
“You’ll understand once you see them. Even as one of the Blessed, I think their power is vicious. Rather than protecting them, it makes more sense to pit them against Termea as a fighting force.”
The Blessed, who drew their blessings from the 〈Angel of Destruction〉, the 〈Angel of Regeneration〉, and the 〈Angel of Creation〉, had greater physical abilities than ordinary people.
And Mad Walkers, who wielded Curses as weapons, possessed strength that rivaled, and at times surpassed, those of the Blessed.
It was power that could change the course of a battle.
It made sense that Crown Prince Richard had changed the previously poor treatment of the Gray Knights.
The penny-pinching Rudolf and the hot-blooded Percival agreed with Diego.
“Things that can be used should be used.”
“If they have the will to fight, then that should be respected!”
Stella resisted sending Gray Knights into battle, while Diego, Rudolf, and Percival counted them as military strength. Amid all this, Elbert alone continued to smile gently.
As Elbert maintained his calm smile, Commander-in-Chief Ross spoke with the same sleepy eyes and no particular change in expression.
“Just moments ago, I received an order from His Holiness the Pope concerning those Gray Knights.”
The Holy Knight Captains grew tense.
It was extremely rare for the Pope to mention the Gray Knights at all.
The Gray Knights were not under the Papal See’s jurisdiction. They were under the jurisdiction of the Erington Army, where Crown Prince Richard held real power.
“His Holiness wishes to meet the two new Gray Knights who fought in Rejilna, the Gray Knights of 〈Oblivion〉 and 〈Domination〉.”
Diego held back a bitter smile.
Oblivion and Domination. Those certainly sounded like abilities that would be useful for scheming.
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