WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: nemui

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◈ The Forgotten Curse Knight ◈

Vol. 1 Ch. 9: Duel

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Theo and Allen faced each other on the hill where they usually trained, wooden swords in hand.

A short distance away, Olivia, Elbert, and Beryl watched.

Olivia looked confused, as though she could not grasp Allen’s intent.

Beryl looked delighted. Smiling brightly, she cheered, “Do your best, both of you!”

Elbert, meanwhile, studied their stances intently. Theo could feel that gaze, and sweat gathered in his palms. Theo was rather prone to nerves.

（...What is Allen thinking?）

Theo had been thinking constantly about Allen’s true reason for proposing a duel.

Allen trained with him in swordsmanship, but he was not supposed to be aiming to become a Holy Knight.

When Theo had told him that Elbert was considering making Duncan’s son a squire, Allen had even said that Theo should just call himself Allen.

There should not have been any lies in what Allen had said then.

So why had he suddenly proposed a duel?

（Could he have arranged this duel for my sake...?）

Elbert had said he would make both Theo and Allen squires.

But what would happen if Allen, Duncan’s biological son, declined?

Would it not be difficult to make Theo, a lodger who was not even an adopted child, a squire? Allen was the one who should rightfully become a squire, while Theo was only an extra thrown in alongside him.

But if Theo won the duel and proved his ability, he could become a squire smoothly regardless of his birth. What if that was what Allen had been thinking?

（Is he planning to lose to me on purpose...?）

If that was true, how was Theo supposed to feel as he fought Allen?

As Theo hesitated, Allen spoke quietly from across from him.

“Theo.”

A shiver ran down Theo’s spine at that voice.

Theo was so easily overlooked that people never remembered his name. So whenever Allen called him by name, it had always brought him relief.

And yet...

For the first time, hearing Allen say his name frightened him.

The usual gentle smile was gone from Allen’s face. The air around him was sharp as a bare blade.

“I’m going all out. If you don’t want to get hurt, surrender while you still can.”

There was no murderous intent in those words. No hostility, either. Only the resolve to defeat Theo.

Theo knew Allen was incredible when he got serious. Even so, he had never known Allen like this.

The sound of blood rushing through his veins seemed strangely loud in his ears. His hand gripping the sword even felt as if it were rising and falling with his own pulse.

Allen’s fighting spirit had intimidated him, making him focus entirely inward.

Still unable to hide his agitation, Theo raised his sword.

Beryl stepped forward and lifted one hand.

“Then, until one of you loses consciousness or says ‘I yield’... begin!”

Beryl lowered her raised hand almost at the same moment Allen moved.

He swung at Theo’s left shoulder, not with a particularly large motion.

Theo cautiously caught the strike with his sword.

It was heavy.

The instant he staggered slightly, Allen mercilessly struck Theo in the side.

“Gah... ngh...”

Theo backed away and readied his sword again.

In training, Allen would stop his attacks just short. Now, he struck without mercy.

Theo’s side hurt. It was definitely going to bruise.

Before Theo could launch an attack, Allen came at him again.

（This distance is bad.）

Theo’s attacks could reach, but they could not carry any force at this range.

Allen’s longer arms and legs naturally gave him greater reach. His attacks could carry momentum, too. If Theo wanted to win, he had to step in closer.

But Allen’s swordsmanship would not allow him to do that.

Maintaining the distance that favored him, Allen brought his sword down with precision. The tip struck Theo’s arms and torso without mercy.

It hurt. It hurt. It hurt.

He could not win like this. No. He did not want to lose.

（I’m going to become a knight.）

His hand was swollen bright red from the hard blow it had taken earlier. Even so, Theo gripped his sword tightly and watched Allen’s movements.

A downward swing from the upper left.

Theo firmly deflected it with his sword. His fingers tingled painfully, but he would not let go of the sword. Never.

“Yaah... aaahhh...!”

He closed the distance and stepped in.

The moment he thought he had it, Allen’s sword turned neatly, and its hilt slammed into Theo’s chin from below.

“Guh!”

Theo rolled across the ground.

It hurt. Perhaps he had cut the inside of his mouth. He could taste blood.

Looking down at him, Allen asked,

“Will you yield?”

“Like... I’d... say it...!”

Theo threw every bit of strength into launching himself to his feet, then charged at Allen with that momentum.

But Allen swept his legs out from under him, and Theo plunged face-first into the ground.

The taste of dirt mixed with the taste of blood in his mouth. It was a complete disaster.

Theo spat out saliva mixed with blood and dirt, then staggered to his feet.

The moment he stood, he was struck across the face.

His head rang.

“Will you yield?”

“...”

Theo dug his nails into the ground and forced himself back up.

He would not let go of his sword. Absolutely not.

（Why, Allen?）

Theo swung his sword in a horizontal sweep.

Allen easily deflected it.

Then, as Theo stumbled, Allen struck him in the back.

The wooden sword hit him hard, and Theo burst into tears. Crying, he still swung his sword.

As though Theo’s attack was not even worth blocking, Allen twisted aside and struck the back of Theo’s hand hard.

At last, Theo’s grip gave out, and his sword fell from his hand.

“Allen! Stop it, Allen!” Olivia cried.

Beryl held Olivia back as she looked ready to rush forward.

Allen showed no sign of listening to his mother.

“Theo, you cannot become a Holy Knight. It’s about time you gave up.”

At that cruel declaration, all Theo could do was choke back his sobs.

（It hurts. It hurts, Allen. Why? You said you had no intention of becoming a Holy Knight.）

Groaning, Theo moved forward.

Allen raised his sword.

（You knew I wanted to become a knight!!）

Theo stepped in and swung his swollen red fist at Allen.

With a pathetic thump, Theo’s fist struck Allen’s body.

Allen drove the hilt of his sword into Theo’s solar plexus.

Theo’s body crumpled to the ground.

He had not lost consciousness yet.

But the outcome was clear to everyone.

“That’s enough! Allen wins!”

Beryl, who had been acting as referee, declared the result.

Olivia ran over, her skirt fluttering around her.

“Theo! Theo!”

Olivia looked as though she might burst into tears.

She was worried about Theo. Theo, who was not even her biological son.

“Ugh... ngh... ugh...”

Groaning, Theo pushed himself up, forced his tangled legs to move, and turned his back on Allen and Olivia.

Every place he had been hit hurt and burned. He had thought he would not be able to move anymore, but his body moved more easily than expected.

Allen had not targeted his legs much.

“Theo, are you all right? I’ll treat your wounds right away...”

Olivia called his name.

She had called his name.

（...Even at a time like this, that makes me happy.）

Still, Theo did not turn around. He ran.

As though he were tumbling down the hill.

His face was a complete mess of mud, blood, tears, and snot.

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