WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: nemui

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◈ The Forgotten Curse Knight ◈

Vol. 3 Ch. 12: Theo Cushion (Surprisingly Hard Because He Trains)

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After the Pope's meeting with the Gray Knights ended, Elbert told the two Gray Knights, "I have something to discuss with the Holy Maidens. Please wait a moment," then left them in the corridor and closed the door.

A heavy door. A heavy lock.

This room was specially made. Sound did not easily carry through it, and its key was difficult to duplicate. Only the Commander-in-Chief and commanders could use it.

Once the door had closed, Pope August spoke in a heavy voice mixed with a sigh.

"〈Oblivion〉 and 〈Domination〉 are exceedingly dangerous powers. Two Mad Walkers capable of interfering with others are both within the Gray Knights..."

"That is hardly something to be shaken by, August."

Holy Maiden Grace rebuked him sharply.

Her voice was entirely different from the gentle one she had used with the warmth of a grandmother. It was sharp and stern.

"It is true that the power of the 〈Sea of Oblivion〉 is weakening, but those two boys cannot serve as its replacement."

The 〈Sea of Oblivion〉, which confounded those who approached it, protected the country from the invading Termea.

However, its power had weakened year by year, and more Termea were beginning to make landfall. Only a handful of people in the country and the Papal See knew this fact.

The three people here were among those who knew, and thus they had been searching for possible countermeasures.

Hugo's 〈Domination〉 and Theo's 〈Oblivion〉 were both powerful abilities, but they were too weak to replace the 〈Sea of Oblivion〉.

"Elbert, send those two back to Cinder House. However..."

Holy Maiden Grace lifted her veil and spoke, her green eyes gleaming.

"If little Andy abuses 〈Domination〉 and 〈Oblivion〉, take them from him. Those powers are not toys for that boy."

The Pope and Elbert understood perfectly whom Holy Maiden Grace meant by "little Andy."

Andrew III, the current king of this country.

Holy Maiden Grace possessed a force that silenced even the Pope and the hero when she called the king a boy.

King Andrew III was researching the powers of Mad Walkers. The official justification was strengthening their forces against Termea, but the reality was different.

King Andrew III desired the powers of Mad Walkers for his own selfish ends. Recently, he had apparently drawn in a Gray Knight named Gertrude and was conducting some sort of suspicious research.

Research into Mad Walkers could indeed help counter the Termea. Thus, the Papal See had overlooked it to some extent. But if he crossed the line...

（Could she bring down the sword of judgment even upon His Majesty the King?）

Elbert Randolph thought to himself as he looked at Holy Maiden Grace.

Elbert knew that Holy Maiden Grace had special feelings toward the royal family.

Even so, if King Andrew III strayed from the path, if Crown Prince Richard directed his hostility toward the Papal See, Holy Maiden Grace would likely bring down the sword of judgment in sorrow.

That was not what Elbert wanted.

With the utmost respect, Elbert asked Holy Maiden Grace,

"I believe Theo, the Gray Knight of 〈Oblivion〉, may be connected to the person you have been searching for."

Holy Maiden Grace's thin eyebrow twitched.

This was not a subject to mention lightly. Her cool eyes asked whether he understood that and had still chosen to speak.

Before Holy Maiden Grace could express her anger, the Pope intervened.

"It is true that we have continued searching for one who could maintain the 〈Sea of Oblivion〉. But surely that is not a curse brought by the Termea."

"His Holiness is correct. Still, please allow me to offer one suggestion."

The Pope looked at Holy Maiden Grace as though troubled.

Holy Maiden Grace glared at Elbert, then nodded.

"I shall permit it. If this is a foolish joke, I will have you crucified."

"When I first encountered Theo, I felt that he resembled you."

"I shall have you crucified. Be martyred."

"If that is what you wish."

"............"

Holy Maiden Grace fell silent before Elbert's clear, unwavering eyes. She also lowered her veil, closing off her face.

Theo and Holy Maiden Grace resembled one another. Only Elbert had felt that.

The once-lost person for whom Holy Maiden Grace and the others searched.

Theo, a boy with similar abilities and traces of Holy Maiden Grace about him.

Elbert was certain there was something there.

Holy Maiden Grace had now completely fallen silent, while Elbert wore a troubled expression. The Pope spoke to them with a sigh.

"For now, let us watch the Gray Knight of Oblivion grow. If his power becomes stronger than it is now... if it becomes possible to recreate the 〈Sea of Oblivion〉 itself, then we must bring him to our side at all costs."

Naturally, that would bring fierce opposition from the King and Crown Prince Richard.

In any case, Theo's existence would become an enormous spark. It was not a premonition. It was certainty.

Elbert did not want to drag the child raised by his late comrade Duncan into political conflict.

（And more than anything...)

He remembered that boy, who looked at him with eyes full of pure admiration.

The boy bore a curse that made everyone forget him, yet still worked earnestly to remain in people's memories. Elbert wanted him to be rewarded.

He wanted to grant that boy's wish of becoming Elbert's Squire someday.

（...I do not wish to betray Theo's expectations, but...）

Everything was according to the angels' will.

He had sworn that when he received the title of Paladin. That was the principle guiding Elbert Randolph's actions.

* * *

As Theo waited for Elbert in the corridor, he spoke quietly to Hugo.

"I wonder what Lord Elbert is talking about."

"Probably giving us their assessment. Well, I might have some promise, but you're hopeless. You're too small."

"I'm still going to grow. Lord Elbert will surely say I'm a young man with room to grow... probably!"

Theo was certainly small compared to boys his own age, but he would grow from here on out. Just like Hero Randolph and Allen, his big-brother figure.

As Theo declared this with determination, Hugo crouched down and whispered.

"Seriously, though, if we used our abilities on ordinary people, we could get up to all kinds of bad things, right?"

"...Yes."

Theo's 〈Oblivion〉 made it difficult for people to remember him and could erase memories of his choosing.

Hugo's 〈Domination〉 could control those who heard his song.

〈Oblivion〉 could not affect many people at once, and 〈Domination〉 only worked while Hugo was singing. Even so, they could be abused in countless ways depending on how they were used.

"So maybe they wanted to warn us not to do anything bad? Anyone would feel intimidated if His Holiness the Pope and a Holy Maiden told them that."

That did seem possible.

Just as Theo was impressed that Hugo had been thinking seriously about it too, he heard something rolling. Clink. Hard metal struck the floor. It was a teaspoon.

There was a staircase right beside where the teaspoon had fallen. Then came a small cry.

"Eek!"

With a bad feeling, Theo ran toward the fallen spoon.

Almost at the same time, someone fell down the stairs. It was a woman carrying a tray with a tea set.

Theo instantly moved to where she would fall and stretched out both hands to catch her. A heavy weight struck his arms, and the small Theo fell onto his backside.

A moment later, tea from the cups splashed over Theo's head. None had spilled on the woman. Relieved by that, Theo spoke to the woman on top of him.

"Are you all right?"

"Y-Yes..."

The woman, pale as a sheet, had soft black hair. She looked to be in her late teens. She had a pure, cute air about her and wore a long robe.

Theo recognized the design of that robe. He had just met someone dressed much like her.

As Theo stared up at the woman, Hugo ran over.

Hugo's expression was somehow sharper than usual as he ignored Theo and spoke to the woman.

"Miss, are you all right? Are you hurt?"

It was all well and good to worry about a fragile-looking woman, but Hugo's eyes were clearly glancing again and again at her ample chest.

(Look at her robe instead, Hugo. This person is probably...!)

The woman rose from where she had been leaning against Theo. When she saw tea dripping from him, her face changed color.

"Oh no! The tea... We need to cool it quickly! This way, please come this way."

"No, I'm fine..."

"No. What if you've been burned? That would be terrible!"

The woman took Theo by the hand, pulled him up the stairs, and called out.

"Cecily! Cecily!"

In answer to her call, the door of a nearby room opened.

The one who appeared was a black-haired girl somewhat younger than the woman who had spilled the tea. She wore a modest robe like one worn by an attendant to a high-ranking cleric. She must have been Cecily.

Cecily looked at the woman who had called her, her eyes widening in shock.

"Sister Cheryl, what are you doing!? I said I would serve the tea!"

"I'm sorry, Cecily. I heard that His Holiness the Pope and Lady Grace were meeting, and I wanted to see what they were like... Then this person protected me and got tea spilled all over him..."

The gentle woman with soft black hair was Cheryl, and the girl who seemed to be her younger sister was Cecily.

Though Theo had never met either of them before, even he knew Cheryl's name.

"Um, excuse me. Ms. Cheryl, are you... perhaps..."

As Theo stumbled over his words, Cheryl straightened her posture and introduced herself.

"I am Holy Maiden of Creation Cheryl. Thank you very much for rescuing me from danger~"

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