The Regressed Sword Demon Is a Catastrophe-Class Inquisitor - Chapter 10

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 10. What Nonsense.

Cardinal Barun’s entourage gathered inside a small chapel before entering the forest where the trial would commence.
They each took their seats and gazed upon the translucent images reflected before them.
Cardinal Bianco posed a question.

“What are these moving things?”

Barun answered.

“It’s a magical apparatus used by the Zarkan Empire. The bird-shaped tool observes the surroundings and transmits the vision from great distances like this.”
“Magic, you say….”

Bianco clicked his tongue.

“How readily you employ such demonic remnants.”

Most high-ranking clergy of the Theocracy regarded magic as demonic residue that defied the Goddess Ella, and they rejected it outright.
Consequently, mages were exceedingly rare in the Theocracy, and those who existed typically lived in seclusion.
However, the Zarkan Empire prioritized national strength over the Goddess Ella, openly acknowledging and advancing the existence of mages.

“Magic is merely one phenomenon among many in this world. In truth, nowhere in the Goddess’s teachings does she command us to reject it.”
“Primordial magic may have originated from demons, yes.”
“But it was we humans who developed it for the benefit of the Continent.”

Their gazes clashed momentarily before Barun spoke.

“Please, do not reject magic so vehemently. It is merely a tool—nothing inherently wicked about it.”
“Hmm….”
“If you truly despise magic so, why not forgo observing through this apparatus and venture directly into the forest yourself?”

Bianco cleared his throat, smoothing over the tension.

“Since Cardinal Barun oversees this trial, we must defer to his methods.”
“Indeed. I trust today’s experience will broaden Cardinal Bianco’s perspective.”

They regarded each other with renewed wariness.

“Wait a moment, Your Eminences.”

It was then that Lenika, the Saint of Truth, interjected.
Barun inclined his head slightly toward her.

“My apologies, Holy Maiden. I fear I’ve presented myself poorly.”
“No, that’s quite alright. Rather, look there—”

Lenika pointed toward the ethereal images hovering in the air.

“Something feels amiss about this.”

The cardinals tilted their heads, their eyes fixed upon the visions.
The images displayed the carriages of the examinees and the verdant expanse of the forest.
Then, abruptly, dark silhouettes swept rapidly across various points within the woodland.

“Are those demons?”

At the Holy Maiden’s words, the Knight beside her shook his head.

“Those are no demons, Holy Maiden.”
“Then what are they?”
“Men. They’re moving toward the carriages.”

The Knight turned to Barun with a question.

“Cardinal Barun, is this perhaps part of the examination as well?”
“It is not.”
“Then that means—”
“Yes.”

Barun’s jaw tightened.

“They are enemies.”

In that very moment, the dark figures descended upon the carriages.
The startled examinees drew their weapons and began to clash with the brigands.

“W-what in the world is that?!”
“How dare they desecrate this sacred trial!”

The cardinals erupted in outrage as blood and killing intent saturated the battlefield.

“Everyone, please remain calm. Right now, the identity of our enemy is not what matters most.”

Barun responded with composure.

“The monks are no weaklings, so they won’t fall easily. However, if this continues as it is, there’s no doubt that many will perish.”

Barun glanced at the knights surrounding him.

“Leave this place to us and go aid them. I’ll contact the Papal See through a magical artifact.”
“Yes.”

Four knights rushed out of the chapel. The Holy Maiden also turned to regard her own knights.

“Please go and help them as well.”
“But Holy Maiden, what about you…?”
“One of you three can remain here. Even if I’m not specialized in combat, I can at least protect myself.”
“Understood.”

The Holy Maiden’s knights bowed their heads and swiftly departed the chapel.

“L-look there!”

At that moment, Bianco exclaimed in shock, pointing at the vision.
There, a carriage was surrounded by twenty attackers. Usually, each group was assaulted by two or three, but these numbers were unusually high.
The fortunate part was that a man had prepared in advance, so they hadn’t been caught off guard.

“Could the enemies be targeting them specifically?”
“That’s unclear. They may have simply been drawn to the strong.”

Barun clenched his teeth.

“In any case, this is grave. It will take time for the knights to arrive there… At minimum, half of them will likely fall.”

It was a cold, logical assessment. They were outnumbered and outmatched in raw power.
But then it happened.

A sharp whistle cut through the air.

The man standing at the center of the encirclement vanished in an instant.
When his form reappeared, an enemy’s neck was fountaining blood into the sky.
An overwhelming spectacle that seized every eye in a single moment.
Cardinal Barun, who had maintained his composure throughout, shot to his feet, while the others’ eyes widened in shock.

Squelch! Splash!

Without pause, the man began cutting down his assailants one after another.
His swordplay was graceful and fluid, yet cold as a winter wind.
The verdant forest was being stained crimson by his blade.

“This is impossible….”

Lenika found herself muttering without thinking. Cardinal Barun nodded in agreement.

“Extraordinary power beyond reason.”
“How does one so young possess such skill!”
“Indeed, what strikes me most is his complete lack of hesitation in killing. As though he’s done this dozens of times before….”
“In any case, with a master of that caliber on their side, we need not worry about that location.”

The cardinals each voiced their observations.
Watching their reactions, Lenika felt bewildered.

‘What? Could they have possibly missed it?’

She too had been impressed by his power at first. But what truly astonished her was something else entirely.
Lenika looked at the image again, wondering if perhaps she had been mistaken.
But no—her eyes had not deceived her.

‘That’s holy power!’

Holy power was a force that only those chosen by the Goddess Ella could wield.
Yet how could this man possibly possess it?

‘Wait, isn’t that the person I met during confession today?’

Distinct facial features revealed through the spray of blood.
Such an appearance was far from common, so I was certain.

‘Then could that person truly be the existence the Theocracy has been hiding? Is that why they could sever a thousand lives?’

That would explain much, but I couldn’t comprehend why such a person would suddenly seek to become a Heresy Inquisitor.

‘In any case, it’s clear that person wields holy power.’

The others couldn’t tell because it lacked the characteristic white hue of holy power, but I—the only one here who wielded it—could perceive it.

‘But there’s no need to mention that fact to the Cardinals.’

Even a casually thrown word could unleash tremendous consequences in the future.
I understood the power of words, and so I always opened my mouth with deliberation.

‘Then….’

I turned my gaze from the image and surveyed those within the Chapel.

‘I must do what I must do.’

* * *

I cut down those who rushed at me, and cut them down again.
They probed my breathing and vital points, but they couldn’t keep pace with me as I moved like the wind.

‘My comrades are holding their own well.’

My comrades focused their defense with Bella and Mabu at the center.
Though they struggled and shed blood, only three enemies had rushed them, so there seemed to be no serious problem.

Squelch!

As I finished the last wretch, a keen blade slashed toward my throat.
I reacted swiftly and twisted my neck, but I was grazed slightly.
I swung my sword broadly to drive him back.

“To evade even that… beyond my expectations.”

His voice carried an inexplicable familiarity. Now that I thought about it, his build and his thrust-focused swordplay stirred distant memories.

“The Vocal Cord Thief?”

His fingers twitched. I smirked.

“A direct hit.”

The Vocal Cord Thief.
Renowned throughout the Theocracy as a criminal, he possessed such acute hearing that he could pierce through others’ vocal cords and revel in the silence he created.
He was also the very man I had killed in my previous life before encountering Baron Scalen.

‘In my past life, I struggled considerably to bring him down. That was before I reached the realm of ecstasy, after all.’

I spoke.

“Your hearing must be quite sharp.”
“If you’re thinking of screaming to scatter my focus, abandon the idea. I’m beyond such tricks.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. And criminals like you—I’ve silenced them all by the—”

His expression hardened abruptly mid-sentence.
I asked seriously.

“What is it?”
“What did you just say?”
“What do you mean?”

He furrowed his brow.

“What? You deranged bastard?”

I chuckled in response.

“Oh, you caught that. Your hearing truly is exceptional.”
“You insane son of a bitch….”

The man gnashed his teeth and stomped the ground.

“I’ll pierce your vocal cords first!”

His blade’s edge lunged toward my throat.
I watched it come and muttered quietly, “Wow, what an ugly face….”
His sword tip wavered.

Screech!

Since his blade work was sloppy, I twisted my body lightly and evaded it.
Then I rushed at him and wove a pattern of sword strikes. Once he lost the momentum, he retreated and parried my attacks.
I didn’t stop there—every curse that came to mind, I let spill from my lips.
Swinging my blade, you bastard, dodging the attack, did you dodge?

“Please!”

Losing his composure more and more, he thrust his blade recklessly.

“Shut that mouth of yours!!”

I swung my sword and deflected his attack. Then I drew a diagonal line across his exposed upper body.

Slash!

At the same moment, blood sprayed upward, and the man furrowed his brow and stumbled backward.
He pressed his bleeding chest and gasped for breath. The battle was already decided.
He glared at me intently, then glanced to the side.
There, my team members were just finishing off their last opponent.

Dash!

In an instant, he spun around and charged toward my team.

‘Of course he’d do this.’

I quickly chased after him and shouted to my team.

“Get out of the way!!”

Only then did the team members notice the approaching attacker.
The blade aimed at Myron’s throat. But I could easily intercept it.
I had already anticipated every move he could possibly make.

‘Hmm?’

Yet something felt amiss.

Whoosh!

A surge of energy erupted from Bella behind us. Sensing something was coming, I dug my feet into the ground and halted.
I would have been caught in its wake otherwise.
In that very instant, the Vocal Cord Thief’s blade was about to pierce through Myron’s neck.

“No, don’t!!!!!!”

Bella screamed with her eyes squeezed shut.

Boom!

A tremendous wave of energy erupted, engulfing the attacker’s entire body, and he instantly lost consciousness, standing frozen in place.

“What… is this…?”

He trembled violently, then slowly began to regain his senses.
That brief moment was all I needed. I pushed off the ground again and thrust my blade forward.

Squelch!

My blade pierced through the Vocal Cord Thief’s throat.
He coughed up blood, and I withdrew my sword. He collapsed to the ground in a spray of crimson.

“Phew…”

Bella finally released a relieved sigh. But as I looked at her, I couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

‘What was that? No matter how acute her hearing is, a loud cry alone shouldn’t have knocked him unconscious…’

This is no ordinary phenomenon.
If my senses haven’t deceived me, then what just happened was unmistakably….

‘Mana.’

Bianco had expelled the mana from within his body to the outside in a single breath.
The sheer torrent of it had caused him to lose consciousness momentarily.
But with an ordinary amount of mana, something like this should be impossible….

“What exactly are you?”
“Pardon?”

Bianco tilted his head as if he knew nothing at all.
I exhaled a sigh and dismissed the matter. He might genuinely be ignorant, but even if he knew, he didn’t seem the type to share such secrets.

“Ugh….”

At that moment, Myron groaned and collapsed face-down on the ground. Blood from a laceration streamed across his abdomen.

“Fortunately, your organs were spared. Press down with your hand to stop the bleeding. If you receive treatment, you’ll live.”
“Thank you….”

Myron surveyed the cleared surroundings before looking up at me.

“Young Master Kael, I must apologize for my earlier remarks. I was wrong, and you were right.”
“About what?”
“About saying that being callous is better than dying. Now that I think about it, I was lost in idealism. Reality shows me no such consideration….”

Myron coughed up blood as he struggled to continue speaking.

“Conserve your words. I said you’d live, but that doesn’t mean your injuries are minor.”
“Hah, but if I don’t speak now, I fear I’ll regret it later….”
“Hmm.”
“Thanks to you, Young Master Kael, I was able to prepare for the ambush. Had I continued to nitpick and drag out the argument, the situation would have become far worse.”
“You understand well.”

Myron laughed softly as he gazed down at his wound.

“Just now, during the battle, I hesitated when the opportunity came to kill an enemy. That’s why I was pierced by this blade. But you didn’t hesitate at all.”
“….”
“It truly seemed as though you lived with death at your side.”
“That’s not something to be proud of.”

Did I truly wish to grow intimate with death?
I merely desired a life of greater freedom.
My yearning to soar through the heavens simply cast me down into Hell instead.

“I understand. As for myself, I dare not even imagine what weight lies within your blade.”

Myron answered with genuine sincerity.

“But it is certain that we live because of Young Master Kael’s resolve.”
“….”
“Thank you for sparing us. And I offer my sincere apologies for my former arrogance.”

The other team members bowed their heads in gratitude.
Did they understand? In truth, they had merely been caught up in the power struggle between me and Baron Scalen.

“Enough of this talk. Keep going and you’ll actually end up meeting the Goddess.”
“Hehe, that does seem likely….”

It was then.

“Found it!”

Bella, who had been rummaging through her large bag, cried out.

“Let me take a look at that.”

Bella brought over some medicinal herbs and began applying them generously to Myron’s wound.
The flowing blood noticeably diminished.

“You brought medicinal supplies?”
“Yes. Didn’t I tell you? I brought all sorts of things just in case.”

Bella, speaking thus, appeared quite pleased with herself.
I nodded in acknowledgment.

“As expected, even a turtle proves useful as medicinal material.”
“….”

Bella regarded me with a look of displeasure, then released a deep sigh and bowed her head.

“Thank you for saving me, Young Master Kael.”
“Indeed. The turtle has impeccable manners.”
“Seriously!”

I chuckled as I watched the indignant Bella.

“What in the world is this….”

At that moment, someone landed nearby. The sword at their waist and rigid posture marked them as a Knight.
The Empire’s magical artifacts had been flying about earlier, so they must have assessed the situation through those.
I asked.

“How does the situation stand elsewhere?”
“I haven’t confirmed everything, but so far there are only the wounded—no casualties yet. Most of the enemies converged on this location….”
“I see.”

Surely these were aspiring Heresy Inquisitors. They certainly didn’t appear to be easy prey at first glance.

“Then I entrust the rest—tending to the wounded and cleaning up this area. And you will guide me to where the Cardinals are.”
“…Why there?”

Wariness flickered in the Knight’s gaze. It was hardly strange given the circumstances.

“Sir Knight, you can trust him.”

Bella spoke.

“He’s the one who did that to most of the enemies.”

The team members nodded in agreement. Myron’s pain was subsiding, and he was slowly regaining his composure.

“I see.”

The Knight regarded me.

“May I have the honor of knowing your name?”
“Kael Luminara.”

The Knight’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Are you perhaps the son of Father Luminara?”
“Yes.”
“My sincerest apologies for not recognizing you, Young Master Kael. I am Roban. I have encountered Father Luminara several times at the Chapel in the past.”

Roban straightened his posture with formality.
My father, the second son, had walked the path of the clergy until my elder brother—who had no heirs—fell to a demon, leaving him to inherit the Luminara Family.
That is why some still address him as Father.
In my previous life, I had not known this, but it seemed my father held considerable standing within the Ella Faith.

“Then I shall guide you at once.”
“Very well.”

Roban kicked off the ground, and I followed in his wake.
Now came the moment to drive the Blade of Rapture through the heart of the very one who had cast me into Hell in my past life.

(To be continued in the next chapter)

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————