WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: nemui

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◈ The Forgotten Curse Knight ◈

Vol. 3 Ch. 11: The Pope and the Saint

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Stella led them in silence to a room deep within the Holy Knight Order headquarters.

When Stella knocked, the door opened from within.

The person who appeared was someone Theo had not expected.

"Ah, welcome."

The one who spoke with an elegant smile was a handsome man with pale blond hair like moonlight and mysterious violet eyes.

Elbert Randolph, Captain of the First Knight Division.

At the appearance of the hero he admired, Theo's head had already completely boiled over. Beside him, Hugo's eyes widened as he muttered excitedly, "Amazing..."

（I know, I know, Hugo. Lord Elbert really is amazing!）

Of course, a knight would not bounce up and down in excitement here.

Theo put on the sharpest expression he could manage and greeted him.

"It has been a long time, Lord Elbert."

The moment he said it, Theo felt a flicker of unease. Many times before, people he had greeted with "It has been a long time" had looked at him strangely. Such was the sad fate of one burdened with the Oblivion Curse.

But Elbert did not look puzzled.

"Theo, it has been a long time."

A smile naturally rose to Theo's lips.

Elbert knew about Theo's oblivion, so he had deliberately called Theo by name. Theo was happy for that kindness.

"My subordinates were in your care at Rejilna. Captain Gregory told me of your accomplishments."

It seemed cautious Oswald Gregory had told Elbert about Theo and Hugo's efforts.

Thank you, Captain Gregory. What a wonderful person Captain Gregory was. Theo's opinion of Oswald Gregory continued to rise by the second.

"Stella, thank you for showing them here."

When Elbert thanked Stella, she turned away with a huff.

"I have another duty to attend to. I will take my leave."

After saying that in a curt tone, Stella glanced at Theo and Hugo, looking awkward.

But in the end, she said nothing and hurried away.

Elbert lowered the corners of his brows and whispered to Theo.

"Did something happen with Stella? ...She becomes terribly depressed when children dislike her."

Theo spun around. Stella's retreating figure was already small in the distance.

Theo raised his voice toward her back.

"Miss Stella! Thank you for guiding us!"

Stella stopped for an instant, then began walking even faster.

Elbert chuckled and thanked Theo.

"Thank you, Theo. Now, come inside. His Holiness the Pope wishes to commend you for your efforts."

Beyond the grand door, in what appeared to be a reception room, two people sat in chairs.

One was a man of around sixty wearing green robes. The other was an elderly woman in blue robes, her face covered with a veil. The man must have been Pope August. Theo did not know who the old woman was.

"Your Holiness, Holy Maiden Grace of 〈Regeneration〉, I have brought the two Gray Knights."

Holy Maiden Grace of 〈Regeneration〉. She was one of the Three Holy Maidens of the Wing Cross faith.

In the Wing Cross faith, women who have received the strongest Angel's Grace were named Holy Maidens and undertook charitable service.

Holy Maiden Grace of 〈Regeneration〉 possessed a high-ranking 〈Regeneration〉 blessing and was one of the few people able to heal others with its power.

Theo's foster mother Olivia and his older brother Allen were both Blessed with 〈Regeneration〉, but those with lower-ranking blessings merely healed from injuries a little faster. Only those with high-ranking blessings could heal the wounds of others.

As far as Theo knew, the only Blessed of 〈Regeneration〉 who could heal others were Holy Maiden Grace and Paladin Elbert.

"My, to think such little children are Rejilna's saviors."

Holy Maiden Grace spoke as she clasped her wrinkled hands. Theo could not see her expression beneath the veil, but her voice was bright, as though she were welcoming beloved grandchildren.

"I have gone to that village myself to offer aid. Even now, I remember the sweet scent of the wheat fields and the sound of the wind stirring their ears."

At Holy Maiden Grace's words, the Pope nodded once and spoke.

"Gray Knight of 〈Oblivion〉, and Gray Knight of 〈Domination〉."

His voice was calm yet powerful. The air around him reminded Theo of Hugo's voice when he sang hymns.

Hugo himself, meanwhile, had frozen completely stiff. This was apparently his first time meeting the Pope and a Holy Maiden at such close range.

（...So this is Pope August, the highest-ranking cleric of the Wing Cross faith.)

He was not intimidating, yet he was solemn enough to make Theo straighten his back naturally.

Theo felt that this man existed to embody the teachings of the Wing Cross faith.

"Through your efforts, many people were saved. Thank you for protecting that land and those who live there."

The Pope offered his thanks in a deep voice, and Holy Maiden Grace cheerfully asked,

"I heard that you fought bravely in Rejilna, using the powers of 〈Domination〉 and 〈Oblivion〉. How did you fight?"

Was this the sort of situation where Theo should speak?

When Theo glanced at Elbert, Elbert gave a small nod and explained on behalf of Theo and Hugo.

"The Termea that appeared in Rejilna controlled at least a hundred puppets. Gray Knight Hugo held the controlled people back with a song of 〈Domination〉. Then Gray Knight Theo stopped the Termea's movements with 〈Oblivion〉 and slew it."

Holy Maiden Grace listened to Elbert's explanation with her face hidden behind her veil, but Theo could still sense that she was smiling warmly.

"I hear that the two of you have only recently become Gray Knights. Even so, you have mastered your powers to this extent. It is truly wonderful."

Theo and Hugo could only blush at such unstinting praise from the highest-ranking clerics.

Gray Knights were people who could turn into Termea at any moment. Therefore, they were often regarded with fear and revulsion.

But neither the Pope nor Holy Maiden Grace showed the slightest hint of such an attitude.

Holy Maiden Grace beckoned Theo and Hugo with her wrinkled hand.

"Could you both let me see your faces up close?"

When the two approached her, she removed the veil covering her face.

Hugo looked startled. Theo did not know much about it, but Holy Maiden Grace removing her veil surely was not an ordinary occurrence.

Beneath the veil was an elderly woman with a slender face and dignified eyes. The sagging skin of age made her appear somewhat gentler, yet one could still glimpse the sharp beauty of her younger days.

Holy Maiden Grace was known not only for healing the wounds of Holy Knights exhausted from fighting Termea, but also for continuing efforts to support impoverished children and founding numerous monasteries.

Her speech at the ceremony appointing her Holy Maiden, beginning with, "All the children in this country are as good as my own children," was particularly famous.

Holy Maiden Grace's green eyes turned to Hugo.

"I remember your singing voice. You belonged to the Mercliff Cathedral Choir, did you not?"

"Yes."

Hugo's profile was as serious as when he sang hymns.

Hugo was usually a playful boy who quickly slacked off, but when it came to hymns, he was very sincere.

"You had a truly wonderful voice. I look forward to the day you stand upon the stage again as a member of the choir."

"It is an honor, Mother Grace."

Hugo looked as proud as when a teacher praised him, and as happy as when a mother did.

That was why all who admired her called her Mother Grace, with affection and fondness.

Holy Maiden Grace smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes deepening. Then she looked at Theo.

"You have an intelligent face. More than that, your eyes show a strong will. What of your parents?"

"I don't have any. I was abandoned as a child and taken in by the household of Holy Knight Duncan Lawrence."

"...I see. Forgive me for asking such an insensitive question."

With that, Holy Maiden Grace lowered her veil. Even so, Theo could feel her gaze through the black veil.

Was it his imagination that he sensed something beyond kindness in that gaze?

Theo wondered if she was staring because his face was difficult to remember, but she possessed the highest-ranking 〈Regeneration〉 blessing. Theo's oblivion should not work on her.

Before Theo could ask whether there was something on his face, Holy Maiden Grace spoke.

"Please use that power to contribute to peace. And when the day comes that all Termea have been slain, I pray that you will be freed from your curses."

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