04 ┊ ThePastRecords —Nica 𝓔 Ring—
꒰ ִ ֺ ⊹ @ notice ⊹ ֺ ִ ꒱ this translation may not be 100% accurate or contain creative liberties due to characterization or narrative flow purposes. if you enjoy, please consider reblogging, but don’t repost these or claim these as your own!
𐙚 CW ┆ human experimentation, nica curse spoilers .
[BG - ZOOMED IN MEMO - 11/08 THE DAY WE WERE INFORMED OF OUR CURSES]
November 8th, today, they told us about our Curses.
[HAUS - NICA AND RING’S ROOM]
Starting from 738, the other kids who I used my ability on would shoulder Ring’s experiments in his place, full of wounds…
And before I knew it, they had all disappeared somewhere.
I didn’t even know if they were alive or dead. But also at this point, I couldn’t care less.
[HAUS - LAB ROOM]
Today would be the day they told us about our Curses.
Ring was brought back first, having lost consciousness,
and before I could even put the sheets on him, I was brought to the lab room.
But—
Nica: Why… (O_O)
Before my eyes were the kids I had used my ability on and ended up hurting.
Some were glaring at me, others stared with a vacant expression, and some had lost their sanity—
There was a lot, but the researcher placed a hand on my shoulder.
Tall researcher: I am not really mad at you using your ability on these children, so to speak.
Tall researcher: In fact, I find it more so praiseworthy that you have done so to have them do as you willed.
Tall researcher: That said, we would like more conclusive evidence that your ability does indeed match the Curse we have in mind, you see.
The researcher smiled widely.
Tall researcher: So if you will, cast your ability once again.
From there, it was easy. I would use my ability on them once again, and weaved the exact words the grownups said to me.
Drink this medicine, crawl on your hands and knees and beg for forgiveness, humble yourself.
Seeing the kids do as I said, the grownups let out a coarse laugh.
After that, those kids were bound up and taken somewhere else.
Similarly, I was bound to the table and had so much blood drawn I was on the verge of losing consciousness— but somehow made it through.
Tall researcher: So it really is this Curse.
After they unbound me, I lifted my body up. I was hit with a wave of vertigo from having too much blood taken,
but compared to the “reality” that couldn’t be changed…this was nothing but its prelude.
Tall researcher: Do tell your younger brother this, as he’s lost consciousness on us.
Tall researcher: 405, Curse of the Black Swan. Fate, his love will turn to a lie, and in misery he will die.
I didn’t have time to take a breath when my head went completely blank at the words that followed.
Tall researcher: 404, Curse of the White Swan. Fate, in the end— the only one who will become happy is yourself.
Nica: Huh…? (O_O)
I was at a loss for words as the grownups began talking in satisfaction.
Glasses-wearing researcher: So it is true, the reason 405 is so unlucky is because of 404.
Tall researcher: Indeed. The bearer of the White Swan’s Curse has the sin of narcissism, and is loved by Lady Luck.
Tall researcher: Regardless of the bearer’s will, their sin will work itself so that they will be the only ones who find happiness.
Glasses-wearing researcher: Which means the closer another person is, the more luck they suck out.
Nica: But…why…! (O_O)
Out of reflex, I grabbed onto the researcher’s white clothes.
Please just tell me it’s a lie— if it’s now, it’s not too late.
I didn’t want to accept reality, and as if turning to him for help, I looked up at him.
But the researcher grabbed me by my hair and dragged me away from him before he spat out a laugh.
Glasses-wearing researcher: The reason why your younger brother keeps getting chosen, keeps getting the short end of the stick, is because of you and your sin of narcissism.
Glasses-wearing researcher: You bring bad luck to all those you care about.
The other researcher smiled wide.
Tall researcher: You will strew love around with that power of yours, and play many people.
Tall researcher: All of that— so that in the end, only you will become happy.
The grownups then started talking about something, but none of it reached my ears.
—I had nobody else but Ring.
But while his love will turn into a lie and he will die in misery, my life will end with only myself finding happiness.
All by myself. Nobody but myself will be able to find happiness.
Nica: Even though Ring’s the one who should be happy…
N: Not someone like myself, but my brother should—!!
Even more than me, who played with people’s love and hurts them,
the one who should be happy was Ring— the one who can bring others happiness just by holding their hand.
And yet, reality had no feelings.
[BLACK]
Tall researcher: You are much more needed in this world than the likes of 405, who cannot do anything.
[HAUS - CORRIDOR - NIGHT]
I walked down the corridor with a blank mind.
(It was because Ring was by my side that I didn’t let my weaknesses show.)
I was the older brother, after all: someone who could always be relied on.
I thought protecting my younger brother and making my one and only family happy was my role as the older one.
No matter what happened to me, if Ring could be happy then I would do any- and everything.
And it was because Ring was smiling— that I could do my best.
(But, just for today, would it be fine to let my weaknesses all out?)
I crouched down in the hallway and bit my lip.
Nica: I can’t be happy with Ring, they said. (´；ᴗ；`)
N: I’m the one who makes Ring so unlucky, they said.
N: I…all along I was the one who had been hurting my one and only family.
The feelings I had swallowed up until now burst as large tears fell from my eyes.
Nica: It was all because of me…!
I cried until the fallen tears changed the carpet’s color as I blamed myself and despaired.
But even so, the world wouldn’t change, nor would a saving hand come.
As I broke down into sobs, something snapped in my mind.
Surely, that was the moment— I had given up on being saved, and resolved to stand alone.
Nica: …I have to protect Ring.
I had thought I had to protect my brother, as the older of us two.
I had thought protecting my one and only family was “love”, after all.
But in reality…it wasn’t such a pretty thing at all.
Nica: I have to bring Ring into my fate.
The reason I had protected my brother until now was because I couldn’t bear to live a life without him in it.
Yes— it was all my narcissism.
[HAUS - NICA AND RING’S ROOM]
I wiped my tears and returned to our room.
Ring: Nica— (O_O)
Ring, who had come to, came running to me, but I grabbed his shoulders—
Nica: Ring, I know what our Curse is.
And then, I told my one and only family a major lie.
Nica: Our Curse is the “Black Swan.” They said our lie will turn into a lie, and in misery we’ll die.
I was just a little scared at what sort of face Ring would make. But against my expectations, he gave a smile.
Ring: If I’m with you, Nica, I’m not scared. (^_^)
(…I really am a bastard of a brother.)
I held my brother in my arms and steeled my resolve.
(I’ll use this power to get everything.)
I’ll deceive others, steal from them, hurt them— and play with their love.
Because, if I can get all the money and power, surely we’ll be free, like those twins from the voyage journal.
No matter the destination, no matter how far— we would be able to go anywhere.
Ring: Nica, I…
Nica: It’s okay, it’ll be alright.
We were in a hellish place, and our end was filled with despair.
Nica: We’ll definitely get out of here, to the outside.
And yet, I wouldn’t give up.
(Even if I have to lie, I will definitely protect you to the end.)
For Ring’s future— I would become its sacrifice.
No matter what happened, it would be fine. Anyhow I was loved by Lady Luck, and in the end I will find happiness.
If that was the case, I will dirty whatever I have to make my one and only brother happy.
Nica: I will take you to the other side of the sea— Ring.
[BLACK]
Then, ever since the day I told my little brother a lie, I came to play with others’ love more…
—Until eventually, I was no longer able to smile from my heart.
t. b. c ⸝⸝
› 11月08日 ◞ 呪いが告げられた日 .
TRANSCRIPTION .
November 8
Today, they told us about our Curses.
November 9, night
Yesterday, we were told about our Curses.
Ring is sleeping next to me right now.
So I’m writing this entry alone.
My Curse is the White Swan. I can make others fall for me. And my sin is narcissism.
As for my fate— in the end, the only one who will find happiness is myself.
It’s my fault that Ring is going through all this.
And it’s my fault that he gets hurt.
Apparently, I…can never be happy, if it’s with Ring.
The more I stay by his side, the more I’ll end up hurting Ring.
Because I was the White Swan…who was fated to steal his happiness away.
And so, I told a lie to Ring.
When I told him I was also Cursed by the Black Swan like him, he said that as long as he’s together with me, he’s not scared.
I’m here thinking about dragging Ring into my own fate.
Pretty fitting of that lowlife bastard of a White Swan.
But if I can’t make my younger brother happy by wielding this narcissism…then I— I—
To me, living is meaningless.
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