WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: nemui
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◈ The Forgotten Curse Knight ◈
Vol. 4 Ch. 9: Theo Learns the Bitterness of Adulthood
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When Theo and the others arrived at Timbergum Minor Palace, the Holy Knight Order had already sealed off the surrounding roads and encircled the palace.
In other words, it was on high alert, swarming with holy knights. Theo had expected it, but the commotion had grown far too large to cover up now.
Looking down at the palace from a rooftop, Theo narrowed his eyes and surveyed the area.
Compared with Valgan Palace, the political center, Timbergum Minor Palace was much more modest. Even so, it was far larger than an ordinary manor, and its gardens were extensive.
（I think Prince James, who's ill, is recuperating here...）
Second Prince James had not appeared in public for a very long time, ever since before Theo had been taken in by the Lawrence family.
Just imagining someone in such difficult circumstances being attacked by a Termea made Theo's chest ache.
（I'll save him. No matter what.）
Renewing his vow, Theo spotted familiar figures near the gate on the south side of the palace.
A woman with straight chestnut hair and determined features. It was Stella Garnett, captain of the Fourth Knight Order. Carla was beside her as well.
"Captain Garnett and Carla are at the south gate. We should join them."
"Hmm, what should we do? Sneaking in without joining them is an option too."
Theo stared at Beryl's suggestion in alarm.
Gray Knights were generally expected to follow the Holy Knight Order. That meant acting on their own was not allowed.
"W-Won't we get scolded...?"
"Stella's a lot like you, Theo."
"Excuse me?"
Beryl kneaded Theo's head as he looked confused.
"She's a stiff, serious type. Even if we honestly offer to cooperate, I don't think she'll let us inside."
The pressure of Beryl's fingers was wonderfully pleasant. It felt genuinely good, like a scalp massage.
As Theo relaxed despite himself, Hulk made a suggestion.
"Then let's split up. Theo and I will sneak in through the less guarded north side."
"Then big sis will convince Stella. While I'm doing that, you and Hulk take care of the Termea."
The Termea that had fled into the minor palace had been created from the curse implanted in Carla's body, and it supposedly possessed powerful regenerative abilities.
In other words, they had to defeat it before the holy knights realized from its traits that it had come from Carla's body.
（I see. At times like this, it matters who defeats the Termea...）
As a rule, whoever defeated a Termea was to retrieve it and send it to the southern processing facilities.
If a holy knight defeated it, the holy knights would retrieve the Termea's corpse and send it south. If the army defeated it, the army would do the same.
However, Gray Knights belonged to the Erington Army and operated alongside holy knights, making them a special case. If they were acting with holy knights, they were permitted to transfer retrieval rights to a Termea's corpse to the holy knights.
Gray Knights had no means of transporting recovered Termea to the south. So it was normal to hand their bodies over to the Holy Knight Order. But it was different if they wanted to send a Termea they had captured alive to the research institute.
（If a Gray Knight defeats the Termea, we can retrieve its body and send it to the Adcock Research Institute. But if a holy knight defeats it, the Holy Knight Order will take it.）
Beryl released Theo from her head massage and cautioned him, "You don't have to force yourself to capture it alive."
"It used to be Carla's body, so I know you might not want to kill it. But Termea aren't something you can capture alive so easily. The best thing is to defeat it quickly, make up some excuse, and retrieve the body."
"Ugh, I feel like the 'make up some excuse' part will be the hardest..."
Theo grumbled, creasing his brow. Hulk put on a knowing expression.
"Thinking that part up is an adult's job, Theo."
"Big sis will give you some advice. Times like this are why bosses exist. So you can dump troublesome excuses on them."
"You're right," Hulk said with a laugh.
It was an exchange that offered a glimpse of JJ's hardships.
"All right then, big sis is heading to the south gate."
"Ah, wait, Beryl."
Theo took the grimy fluffball, or rather, Lenny, from his pocket and held it out to Beryl.
"Please look after Lenny. I've become able to tell where Lenny is."
If Beryl held Lenny, Theo would know where she was even while they were separated. That alone should make regrouping much easier.
Impressed by Theo's suggestion, Beryl accepted Lenny.
"That's handy. Lenny, can you behave in big sis's pocket?"
"Meu."
"Good, good. Oh, you've gotten so dirty. I'll give you a bath and brush you later."
"Meah."
Beryl tucked Lenny into her jacket pocket and waved one hand lightly.
"Carla and big sis are the fastest movers in the Gray Knights. Once I convince Stella, we'll come running right over. See you later!"
With only that said, Beryl lightly leaped from roof to roof toward the south gate.
"We're going north," Hulk said, urging Theo onward.
Together, they made their way around to the north side, where the holy knights' encirclement was thinner. Several tall trees grew in the garden. If they jumped across, they should be able to enter the grounds.
Running alongside Hulk, Theo voiced the feeling that had been weighing on him.
"...Honestly, I wonder if we really need to go this far to hide what the Adcock Research Institute has done."
Theo could understand researching Termea, at least.
But using Carla's body as a test subject was horrifying. He even felt they should be made to stop immediately.
"Yeah. It's a shitty situation. But Theo, who do you think will be in the worst position if this gets out?"
"His Majesty the King, right?"
"No. Crown Prince Richard."
Theo suddenly understood. Even if the Adcock Research Institute had been created on the king's orders, it fell under the Errington Army's jurisdiction.
And Crown Prince Richard was the one responsible for the Errington Army.
The king could avoid responsibility by sacrificing his own son.
"If Crown Prince Richard falls from power, the Errington Army will change too. The Gray Knights won't be able to stay as we are. Crown Prince Richard is lenient with our captain. Our captain is lenient with us. Don't forget that what we have now is comparatively better."
Mad Walkers were dangerous beings who could become Termea at any moment. Quite a few people believed it was better to execute them before that could happen.
Before JJ became captain, the Gray Knights had been treated even worse.
Their current situation, where they could go out with permission and were treated as human, was quite fortunate.
"If Crown Prince Richard falls from power, it'll cause trouble for us too. That's why we're going to hide this with everything we've got. Got it?"
"...Yes."
Nodding, Theo savored the bitterness of adulthood.
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