The Regressed Sword Demon Is a Catastrophe-Class Inquisitor - Chapter 102

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 102. So Be It.

We arrived at a cave nestled within the Nearby Forest.

“The Holy Sword Barkan is truly hidden in this place?”
“That’s right. If we’re fortunate, we might even encounter the Detonation Declarer.”

I first used ‘Tailwind’ to examine the cave’s interior. As my divine power flowed forth like threads, I sensed several presences.

‘About six of them? They’re likely Despair Cult members.’

There was no reason for people to be in such a cave otherwise.

‘But it doesn’t reach all the way inside.’

The ‘Tailwind’ that had been flowing unobstructed was suddenly blocked by some form of magical power.
Likely a spell the Detonation Declarer had set up in advance.
However, I couldn’t be certain the Detonation Declarer still remained here. In my previous life, those spells had persisted even then.

‘Well, I’ll verify the details as we proceed.’

Still, I hoped he was inside this cave. If he wasn’t, I’d have no way to locate him. It wasn’t for nothing that I’d resolved the incident in Lebenheim Village first.
It wasn’t for nothing that I resolved the incident in Lebenheim Village first.
After finishing my reconnaissance, I opened my eyes, and Ludian asked.

“Did you just send your divine power into the cave?”
“Impressive. You sensed it?”
“If I were far away, I wouldn’t have noticed. But being close to you, I can discern it roughly. I can sense the divine power flowing from you.”

Indeed, Ludian currently ranked among the upper echelon of the Twelve Holy Knights.
Moreover, he would become the mightiest Holy Knight in the future, so it was hardly surprising he could perceive such things.
Still, I furrowed my brow sharply.

“Don’t pry. It’s unpleasant.”
“….”

Ludian’s expression grew reluctant before he exhaled a deep sigh.

“Remarkable, truly. I wield holy power just as you do, yet I cannot perform such techniques.”

Of course not.
‘Fair Wind’ isn’t merely channeling holy power outward—it flows through the winds of ‘Joy’ itself.

“Would you be willing to teach me, if you don’t mind?”
“Even if I taught you, you couldn’t learn it. This swordsmanship doesn’t suit you.”

My blade technique can only be wielded by those who dwelled in darkness. More precisely, by those who resolved to become villains.
I don’t know the exact reason. I simply suspect it stems from the fact that I, once the Sword Demon, created this technique.

‘But Ludian seeks to be righteous.’

So our compatibility was fundamentally incompatible.
Swordsmanship originates not merely from the blade, but from one’s state of mind. If Ludian learned my technique, his sanity could shatter.

“Conversely, the Cardos swordsmanship you wield is the same. That flame which becomes someone’s warmth—it doesn’t suit me.”
“…I see.”
“Then follow me.”

We entered the cave.
The cave was vast, yet shrouded in darkness.
Still, walking through its interior posed no difficulty. Bella had conjured flames in her palm like a torch of her own accord.
Ludian, witnessing this, spoke.

“Magic, then… It’s certainly convenient. We would have needed to bring all manner of supplies to traverse a place like this.”
“Now that you mention it, do you also consider magic to be a remnant of demons?”
“No, I don’t think so. Honestly, I hadn’t given it much thought until today, but seeing Bella in action made it clear. Magic is merely a tool, like the sword.”
“Interesting… Then when others condemn magic, will you stand with us?”

I expected Ludian to hesitate even slightly at this question.
But his answer came almost immediately.

“Of course. If you need my support on that matter, tell me anytime. Bella has protected me, after all.”
“….”

Yes, this is precisely what I despise about him.
This foolish ease with which he trusts others.

“Think before you speak. Are you a monkey?”
“…This wasn’t something I blurted out thoughtlessly. I’ve simply been considering it beforehand, so I answered without hesitation.”
“That’s a decent excuse.”
“It’s not an excuse—!”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk….”

Ludian exhaled deeply, his eyes twitching slightly, and opened his mouth.

“Let me ask you one thing. Do you dislike me?”
“That’s an obvious question.”
“Why? It seems more severe toward me than what you’d attribute to your usual temperament. Besides, I haven’t done anything particularly wrong, have I?”

You haven’t done anything wrong in this life. It’s just that in your previous life, you followed me around like a stalker.
But even if that hadn’t happened, I think I would have despised you regardless.

“Perhaps it’s the same context as darkness despising light.”

Even when facing identical circumstances, Ludian and I would make almost entirely different choices.
It was the same when we traveled together in my previous life.

“Does that mean you are darkness? I don’t see it that way.”
“Your opinion doesn’t matter.”
“…I see.”

That was when it happened.

Thud-thud-thud—

From somewhere deep in the darkness, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. They were likely the Despair Cult members I had detected.

“I’ll cut them down.”

Ludian, noticing this, drew his sword.

“I can’t let you bear this burden alone anymore.”

Warm flames bloomed from his sword spirit, carrying a resolve I had never witnessed before.
Entrusting him with this was one approach. After all, my original purpose was to bury a small darkness within Ludian Cardos.
But this was not the darkness I desired.
It was no longer about protecting someone—merely executing those who were wicked.

Whoosh!

My body burst forward before Ludian Cardos could move.
Six figures came into view, their bodies all glowing with an eerie blue light.
I swung the Wrath Sword at them without hesitation.

Crack!

Six heads flew skyward in an instant.
They possessed no strength whatsoever and never even registered my presence. They simply collapsed to the ground with the same expressions they’d worn while charging forward.
As I landed, Ludian Cardos let out a dazed voice.

“What….”
“Let me clarify so there’s no misunderstanding.”

I turned to face Ludian Cardos.

“I am not carrying anything. I have merely passed through.”
“….”
“I am not foolish enough to bear the lives of wretches. What I hold is only my own people.”

Even now, after my regression, I do not regret what I did to the wicked in my past life.
It was necessary, and I gladly trampled their corpses beneath my feet as I walked.

“In that sense, you and I walk different paths. So do not strain yourself unnecessarily—simply continue on your own way.”

Today, I merely showed that such a method exists.
Ludian Cardos must remain in the light as he is now. That is what suits him best, and it is the path by which he can grow strongest.

“….”

Ludian Cardos stood motionless, sword in hand, lost in deep contemplation once more.
Since this was not an unfamiliar sight, I snorted and walked deeper inside.
Bella moved to my side and spoke.

“I can continue following you, can’t I? I’m your Deacon, after all.”

Somehow, she had woven herself into my life. A villain I never encountered even once in my previous existence.
I chuckled softly and tapped her forehead lightly with my finger.

“Don’t strain yourself.”
“…I will strain myself. I’ve decided to.”
“Suit yourself.”

We strolled through the cave. Ludian followed slowly from a distance behind us.
We hadn’t walked far when it happened.

“Well, well, what distinguished guests we have here.”

A man appeared before us.
A man with disheveled hair like tangled vines—Abelk, the Proclaimer of Despair.
At least I was spared the trouble of searching for him.

“A Holy Knight and a Heretic Inquisitor… I wondered who had disposed of our Cult Members, and it was you two.”

Ludian stepped forward and asked.

“Why are you doing this?”
“There’s no particular reason. I simply wish to show the Theocracy that there are people drowning in despair like this.”

Ludian ground his teeth.

“Then use your own life for it. Why involve the lives of others…!”
“Ha, anyone listening would think I forced them. But they all acted of their own volition. My role was merely to give those powerless ones the strength to struggle.”

Indeed, none of them had acted against their will.

“The Theocracy must face the despair it has turned away from all this time. The deep shadow cast beneath that radiant light.”

Ludian furrowed his brow.

“So you dragged innocent people into this?”
“Listen, Holy Knight. When have you ever cared about the residents of this village? Don’t play the hypocrite now. It’s disgusting.”
“That is….”

Ludian was taken aback. Originally, he was at a disadvantage in such crude verbal sparring.
I spoke up.

“Stay out of this.”
“…I have no excuse.”

It would be strange if he didn’t. Getting caught by such sophistry like that.
I turned my gaze toward Abelk.

“Right. As you say, the Theocracy has never cared about the villagers here. But what makes you any different?”
“What?”
“You clearly knew the situation here, unlike the Theocracy. But what have you actually done for them?”
“I, I gave them power!”
“So they’d die alongside you? Is that really for their sake?”
“That, that is….”

I pointed my sword tip at him.

“Instead of spouting such nonsense, go wash your head. You reek.”

I finished with pure insult. There was nothing more efficient at enraging someone than this.

“You, you are…!”
“What am I, you bastard.”

Abelk glared at me. But finding nothing to fault me on, he furrowed his brow sharply and extended his hand.
Mana surged from him. However, the spell didn’t erupt from his fingertips—it burst forth from the wall on my right.

Whoooosh!

Flames crashed down. The magic circle I had inscribed throughout the cave beforehand had activated.

Boom!

I swung the Sword of Wrath to neutralize it.
But the attack didn’t end there.
Explosions erupted not only on my opposite side but from Abelk’s fingertips as well.
Normally, stepping carelessly into a place where a Mage is waiting is madness. They can hide magic circles everywhere.
But that didn’t apply to us right now.

Boom!

Ludian blocked the explosion from the opposite side with his flaming sword, while Bella intercepted the frontal blast with a barrier.
As the smoke that had billowed up began to dissipate, I could see Abelk standing there with his mouth agape.

“…You actually managed to block all of that?”

Abelk swallowed hard, tension gripping him.

“I’ll grant the Holy Knight his strength, but you—this is absurd. For a Heretic Inquisitor to be this powerful. And what’s with the Mage as well….”

He was far from weak. He was a notorious criminal infamous throughout the Theocracy, after all.
We simply had the combined strength to overwhelm him.

“Well… even so, this should be sufficient.”

But he smiled at us with a sinister grin.

“Your deaths will surely bring great despair to the Theocracy.”

I quickly whispered to Ludian.

“There are twenty detonation magic circles around us. Let’s see who can disarm more.”

Magic circles carved throughout the cavern. If they all detonated at once, the entire cave would collapse without mercy.
To prevent that, we’d need to disrupt the magic circles themselves with sword strikes.

“But don’t cut too deep. They’re installed in the cave’s foundation, so even if we stop the detonation, it could still collapse.”
“Understood.”
“Then charge when I give the signal.”

Ludian gripped his sword firmly and nodded.
That’s when Abelk clapped his palms together sharply.

“Let’s die together!”
“Now!”

We burst apart simultaneously, scattering in both directions. Then the magic circles began to glow with an azure light.

Crack!

As I brought the Flame Sword down, the magical circle that seemed ready to detonate at any moment quickly dissipated.
But we didn’t stop. There were still many more magical circles to destroy.

Crackle, crackle, crackle, crackle, crack!

The detonation circles carved into the walls began to vanish at rapid speed.
Like two flames dancing in a circle.
Not a single detonation occurred along our path. Only faint traces of flame remained in our wake.

“What… what is this!!”

Abelk could only watch helplessly.
In the blink of an eye, I had severed eleven circles, and Ludian had eliminated eight.
Our gazes turned toward the final remaining magical circle.
The outcome was already decided, but my greed drove me to rush toward it.
Naturally, I was faster than Ludian.

Crack!

My blade severed the twelve magical circles.
Then I immediately kicked off the wall and charged toward Abelk. I intended to finish him as well.

Whoosh!

But then I saw a streak of flame passing before me. A faithful flame that dispelled darkness and cold.
It was Ludian.

‘So he had no interest in the final circle from the start.’

There was no other way he could have overtaken me. My superior speed had already been proven in our previous exchange.

“….”

Abelk watched Ludian approach.
Someone of Abelk’s caliber could have reacted adequately, but he was a criminal without any will to live from the beginning.
Merely a herald of detonation, crying out only his own despair.
That thick darkness was useless before such brilliant light.

Shing!

My blade sliced through Abelk’s neck in one decisive stroke, without a shred of hesitation.
Ludian and I landed softly on the ground. He glanced at Abelk’s corpse sprawled across the floor before turning his gaze toward me.

“It’s true—you and I may be walking different paths. I felt that keenly today.”

His intuition was sharp.
In my past life, Ludian ascended to ever greater heights, while I descended into the depths of Hell itself, slaughtering the wicked with my own hands.
Light and darkness. The roads Ludian and I had traveled were so utterly different.

“But…”

Yet somewhere along the way, he too had fallen from his nest and now stood beside me. So he wielded his blade for that singular purpose—the Demon God—and ultimately met his death.
And so a question suddenly arose within me.
Perhaps we were not walking in opposite directions at all, but rather each taking the path that suited us toward some shared summit.
That is why the Ludian before me could smile at me like this.

“Unless those paths run parallel, don’t we cross each other several times in a lifetime?”

Perhaps he had realized this truth before I did.
He simply proclaimed his own path as righteous each time they met.
I had known from the start that Ludian wasn’t doing this to steal my glory. Rather, it was an act to lighten my burden.

‘That man is ever consistent.’

I don’t even want to meet his eyes, yet I cannot bring myself to hate him.
So even after throwing him down countless times, I let him live. And we have crossed blades hundreds of times.
He was always like this. Ludian Cardos.

“I won.”
“…What?”
“You have eight. I have twelve. A difference of four.”

Ludian, who had been staring at me blankly, exhaled lightly and broke into a soft laugh.

“Do it that way.”
“What do you mean ‘that way’? Anyone can see I won fair and square—don’t patronize me like you’re doing me a favor. You want to die?”
“…No, I don’t want to die.”
“Tch, what a pain in the ass.”

I clicked my tongue and turned away.

“There’s a Holy Sword ahead. Since we’ve met like this, I’ll make sure you understand exactly who I am.”
“I think I already understand well enough….”

Then Bella, standing beside Ludian, spoke up.

“Well, I don’t think so? I still don’t know much about the Interrogator.”
“Really…?”
“Yes. Every day brings something new, you could say?”

She smiled brightly as she said it. I spoke to Bella.

“Bella Deacon. Don’t play with him. Stupidity is contagious.”
“Yes!”

Bella hurried over to my side. Ludian stared blankly at us for a moment, then chuckled and followed along.
After only a few steps, I came to an abrupt halt.

“….”

A soft light illuminated the dark cave.
The golden hilt gleamed with noble dignity, and the blade—pure white as if touched by divinity—stood upright, driven into the ground.
This was the holy relic of Saint Eldoras, the mightiest Holy Knight of all ages and embodiment of the Seven Great Virtues’ humility.
The Holy Sword Barkan.

(To be continued in the next chapter)

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