The Regressed Sword Demon Is a Catastrophe-Class Inquisitor - Chapter 105
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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 105. Make the Effort.
Ludian gazed forward, the Flame Sword gripped firmly in his hand.
A sphere of blackness that seemed to devour all light.
It was a sphere born from the aura of the Demonic Sword, enveloping Kael.
‘…Is this really going to be alright?’
Every single person who had wielded the Demonic Sword Cartanos had become a vicious villain.
Until their deaths, they could not distinguish between family and allies, swinging their blades while bereft of reason.
This was a curse that applied to all, regardless of the master’s strength.
So a passage from the scriptures came to mind unbidden.
「One of the Holy Knights blessed by grace shall betray.」
What if that referred to Kael’s future—becoming a villain after wielding the Demonic Sword? What if he would betray others against his own will?
‘It’s entirely possible.’
Ludian had never once thought Kael was the sort of person to fit that passage, but viewed this way, it made sense.
So he had tried to stop him. To prevent Kael from grasping the Demonic Sword.
Even if stopping him were impossible, he would have clung to his pant leg and refused to let go.
But….
– I don’t want to return to that day again.
The moment I saw the light in Kael’s eyes, I found myself unable to stand against him.
An unwavering faith without a shred of doubt. In those eyes, Ludian beheld absolute conviction.
‘I don’t know what day Kael speaks of.’
But it was clear that for Kael, that day was a horrific past.
So I stepped aside. No one could stop someone who believed in themselves and moved forward.
‘But if….’
If Kael were to be consumed by that cursed blade, I would stop it by any means necessary.
The best approach would be to restore his senses, but if that proves impossible, I will sever his life here and now.
I cannot allow a future where he takes the life of someone precious with his own hands.
‘Even if I perish in this place….’
Ludian gripped his sword tightly.
Though I had only recently met Kael, he had awakened me from my arrogance.
For that reason, he was my benefactor. To die repaying a debt to one’s benefactor was hardly an unusual thing.
“Bella.”
“Yes, Holy Knight.”
Bella was also preparing herself to manifest magic at any moment.
“Could you take Kael’s life if things go wrong?”
“….”
“…I see. Then I shall do it myself.”
Bella bit her lip hard as she answered.
“You will be safe.”
“I hope so. I believe it will be so as well.”
After that, they watched the black sphere in silence.
About five minutes had passed since Kael was consumed by the sphere.
Shhhhh—
The sphere gradually receded, and Kael’s silhouette began to emerge from within.
Soon the sphere vanished entirely, and the black aura coalesced into a single point, writhing and undulating before taking form.
Clang—
It fell to the ground with a heavy sound.
A black scabbard emanating a chilling presence. It appeared to be the sheath of the cursed blade.
But Ludian and Bella had no time to concern themselves with it. What mattered was what had become of Kael.
As Kael remained still, gripping the cursed blade, Ludian called out to him first.
“Kael…?”
Only then did Kael slowly turn to face them.
His eyes were devoid of emotion, making his expression impossible to read.
Kael spoke slowly.
“Bella. Ludian.”
He addressed them by their names.
Ludian’s tension eased somewhat, while Bella’s face brightened as she cried out.
“Inquisitor, you’re safe─!”
That was the moment.
Whoooosh─
Flames engulfed the demonic blade.
Yet there was a stark difference from Kael’s flames before. While they still radiated a savage intensity, they now burned not in crimson but in a deep, pitch-black hue.
Snap!
Before they could even react, his form vanished.
In an instant, he materialized before Ludian. Ludian’s eyes widened as he crossed blades with him.
Crash!
The collision erupted with a deafening boom, crimson and black flames clashing violently. A crushing force reverberated through Ludian’s forearms.
Ludian swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on the black flames.
‘Demonic power…?’
No, it was undoubtedly divine power. It merely appeared blackened because it flowed through the demonic blade.
‘I can still hold my ground…!’
He already knew Kael was stronger than him. Yet Ludian was far from so weak as to be easily overwhelmed.
Clang!
Yet that confidence proved hollow when a sound of shattering echoed through the air. A crack was spreading across Ludian’s blade.
‘…What?’
I’d been using this sword since becoming a Holy Knight, so its durability had certainly degraded. I simply kept it because I was accustomed to it and it remained serviceable enough—there was no pressing need to replace it.
But this was a masterwork blade granted by the Papal See. It wasn’t the sort of weapon that should shatter so easily, regardless of age.
‘…Kael’s divine power is slowly gnawing away at both my divine power and the blade itself.’
It was likely the demonic sword’s ability.
Gradually piercing through Ludian’s divine protection and directly assaulting a blade whose durability had already waned—of course it would fracture.
‘I should have replaced it long ago.’
Had I done so, I might have lost to Kael, but at least my sword wouldn’t have shattered like this.
‘This is dire.’
But regret now served no purpose.
‘I cannot withstand it…!’
A deafening crack split the air.
The blade finally snapped in two, and Ludian, unable to endure the force, was hurled through the air and slammed against the stone wall.
* * *
After Ludian was sent flying by my strike, I gazed at the black flames coiling around my blade.
‘I was concerned that channeling divine power might cause some adverse effect, but fortunately there are no complications.’
This darkness was proof that the demonic sword Cartanos’s ‘Corruption’ had been applied.
I had indeed used that ability to shatter Ludian’s blade.
A Holy Knight’s sword, forged by the Theocracy’s greatest craftsmen and blessed with countless enchantments, should never break so easily under normal circumstances.
It had been continuously exposed to my divine power infused with ‘Corruption,’ and it was likely a blade that had seen intense use over many years.
Still, without the demonic sword’s power, such destruction would have been impossible. In essence, it rapidly consumed the weapon’s durability.
A faint rustling sound echoed.
Ludian, who had been sent flying by my strike, picked himself up. He had only been knocked back by the recoil of the shattered blade, so the wound was not severe.
“…I’ll verify it for now.”
Ludian fixed me with an intense gaze.
“Are you Kael?”
If I denied it, he looked ready to charge at me immediately—more precisely, he was prepared to end my life right then and there.
This time, Bella, who stood beside me, asked cautiously.
“Interrogator… it’s you, isn’t it?”
Even the most sound-minded individuals transform into different people when they wield the Demonic Blade Cartanos. The two of them seemed worried that I had become like them.
I answered with a grave expression.
“Who else would I be?”
At that, both of them blinked rapidly and exhaled deeply. The taut tension dissipated in an instant.
“It is you, Interrogator.”
“It’s Kael.”
“Tsk.”
As expected, they weren’t fooled. I thought they might be surprised at least once.
As I withdrew the black flames, Ludian spoke.
“To be honest, I was anxious when you attacked. I thought you had truly been consumed by the Demonic Blade—not as a penalty for losing the wager.”
My strike against Ludian just now was the price of losing the bet. Simultaneously, I wanted to verify that the Demonic Blade’s power was functioning properly.
Ludian was the perfect subject for such an experiment.
“Didn’t I tell you? There’s no need to worry.”
“I see.”
“And I even called your name myself—the fact that you didn’t recognize it is your own fault.”
In truth, that was meant to lower his guard. I would never call his name without purpose.
“That alone wasn’t enough to be certain. You might have stolen even my memories.”
Ludian stepped forward and stood before me, a faint smile crossing his face.
“Well, at least you’re safe. Turns out your reassurance was warranted after all.”
I stared at him intently. I still wasn’t accustomed to him looking at me with that smirk.
Smack!
So I struck his head with my bare hand. His head snapped back, and he lifted his face with bewildered eyes.
“…???”
I answered him firmly.
“Payment for losing the wager.”
“…Wasn’t that settled with the first blow?”
“But you defended yourself. We agreed on a hit, not a block.”
“…If I hadn’t blocked, I’d certainly be dead.”
“A wager is a wager. I simply didn’t specify the force of the blow in detail.”
Ludian seemed to think it was nonsense, yet there was a certain logic to it. After pondering for a moment, he nodded.
“It’s sophistry, but I can’t say you’re wrong.”
“Right?”
“Yes. I’ll need to be more careful when making wagers in the future.”
“Do try.”
“I will.”
Bella watched the scene unfold beside us with a puzzled expression. No matter how I looked at it, it was clearly sophistry.
But for someone as earnestly honest as Ludian, it was an argument that held water.
‘First, I need to secure the scabbard….’
I picked up the scabbard that had fallen to the ground, fastened it to my waist, and sheathed the Demon Sword once more. An inexplicable sense of comfort washed over me.
“Come with me for a moment.”
After that, I climbed back up.
Ludian followed behind me, landing lightly, while Bella—struggling against the ten-meter height—barely managed to claw her way up, gripping the edge with both hands.
I pulled the Holy Sword from where it was embedded in the ground and tossed it to Ludian.
“Try holding it. Regardless of your opinion, we need to test whether it’s genuine before we leave.”
“Fair enough.”
Ludian grasped the Holy Sword without further objection. Naturally, the blade did not reject him.
Whoooosh—
Ludian’s flames ignited upon the Holy Sword.
But they were not the crimson color from before. These were pure white flames—so radiant that holiness itself seemed to emanate from them.
Brilliant silver hair and resolute azure eyes. And there, rising from the Holy Sword Barkan, were those white flames….
At last, he truly looked the part of a Holy Knight wielding Sacred Flame.
“Well, it seems there are no problems, fortunately.”
Ludian extinguished the pure white flames and turned to face me.
“I’ll take this to the Papal See for now. Both you and I agreed not to wield it, so the decision rests with His Holiness.”
“Do as you wish. It was never mine to begin with.”
“I see.”
“But tell me—are you prepared to take a life?”
I had asked Ludian this same question before we arrived at the Village. But he had said he wasn’t certain then.
Ludian paused briefly in thought before answering.
“My fundamental approach—to avoid killing and instead escort offenders to the Papal See—likely won’t change much.”
“…”
“But that applies only to those guilty of minor crimes. For heinous criminals, I intend to deal with them by my own hand.”
Ludian looked at me.
“Perhaps I’ve been shirking responsibility to the Papal See all this time. Others may differ, but heinous criminals face execution regardless.”
“True.”
“But beyond that….”
Ludian’s azure eyes blazed with unwavering resolve.
“If I face another situation where innocent people die because I fail to cut down the wicked, I don’t think I’ll hesitate anymore.”
It seems I’ve accomplished the greatest purpose for coming to this place.
When “that trial” befalls Ludian in the future, he will no longer commit acts he’ll regret.
“I have you to thank for this, Kael.”
“Hmm, to thank?”
“At least by my standards, your actions today were undoubtedly right.”
His voice carried not a shred of wavering. I let out a quiet laugh.
“I see.”
It seems traveling with this man will be difficult after all. His power is certainly useful, but if we keep clashing like today, it won’t work out.
You walk your path, and I’ll walk mine—eventually we’ll cross ways a few times, just as you said.
Whether we want to or not.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a considerable amount of divine power surged into both me and Ludian.
“What… what is this?”
It wasn’t from prayers or the worship of countless people.
The amount was far too great to be filled by that alone.
Nor did I slay some demon and offer it to the Goddess. I dealt with Zenolak, the Demon of Inaction, but that was merely a remnant after all.
Then there’s only one possible answer.
“It seems we’ve enacted one of the seven virtues. I suspect it’s ‘Humility’ among the Seven Great Virtues.”
Ludian’s reasoning is sound, at least.
Anyone could see the Holy Sword suited him best, yet he kept denying it was his.
Even if my own contributions were significant, with the memories of my past life, I couldn’t deny that Ludian had shown ‘humility.’
‘But I find myself somewhat puzzled.’
I too rejected the Holy Sword, but only because there were better options available.
Now I can wield it as a Holy Knight, but in my past life, I couldn’t even draw it from the ground.
Above all, a Demon Sword suited me far better than a Holy Sword.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’
My divine power had increased, so whatever happened was a good thing.
“Ludian, you said the Saint left behind words like this, didn’t you? ‘In any case, the holy relics will return to their rightful places according to the Goddess’s arrangement.'”
“….”
“That’s the proof. This time, it wasn’t the Saint who demonstrated it, but the Goddess herself.”
Ludian pondered deeply before speaking.
“But you’ve received the Goddess’s blessing equally, haven’t you?”
“I only did so because I wielded a demonic sword suited to me. If I had grasped a holy sword, this wouldn’t have happened.”
I tapped the demonic sword at my waist lightly.
“Hmm….”
But Ludian still seemed unconvinced, so I added more.
“Then shall we make a wager?”
“What kind of wager now?”
“If we meet again and you’re carrying that holy sword, then you get to hit me again.”
“And if that’s not the case?”
“Then I’ll have to take the hit.”
“You’ll regret it.”
“We’ll see about that.”
I was certain it would return to him anyway.
But Ludian, for his part, nodded with a confident expression.
“Fine. I accept that wager.”
He extended his hand once more.
I stared intently at the hand he offered in reconciliation. If I took this hand, perhaps I could live differently than before.
But….
Clap!
I pushed that hand away forcefully once more.
Our current relationship is perfectly suited to us. Light and darkness shine brightest when each remains in its proper place.
There was no need to force ourselves to walk together.
“Don’t cross the line.”
As I smiled wryly, Ludian blinked his eyes. Then he lowered his hand from the empty air and let out a soft laugh.
“I’ll try.”
After that, we left the cave.
* * *
One week later.
Ludian went to report to the Pope about everything that had transpired. Of course, we had decided to keep secret the fact that Kael had taken the Demonic Sword.
“The Holy Sword Barkan…. Thanks to Kael Inquisitor, we’ve recovered it after fifty years….”
The Pope gazed at the Holy Sword placed before Ludian. Ludian knelt on one knee and offered his respects.
The Cardinals reacted.
“Astounding…! I never thought it could be found…!”
“This is my first time seeing it in person….”
“Indeed, this is the Kael Inquisitor recorded in the scriptures…. A remarkable achievement.”
Since Kael’s identity as a Holy Knight had been revealed, the Cardinals’ reactions had grown favorable.
Of course, that wasn’t the only reason. It was also because Cardinal Gregory had become an ordinary priest, eliminating someone to be wary of.
Still, there were Cardinals who disliked Kael for his favorable stance toward magic, but there was no denying that the atmosphere had changed from before.
“But Kael Inquisitor said the Holy Sword suits Ludian Holy Knight better than himself?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. When he said he would not keep it, he turned away without hesitation.”
Everyone was astonished at Ludian’s answer.
The Holy Sword Barkan was a dream blade that any knight, not just Holy Knights, longed to wield.
After all, it had belonged to Eldoras, who was called the greatest Holy Knight of all time.
Yet he had found it through his own strength and handed it to Ludian….
‘A humble man without greed.’
Who could so easily renounce a Holy Sword? Perhaps Kael alone would be capable of such a thing.
“But Holy Knight Ludian, why did you refuse it?”
“Because it is not mine. I merely provided assistance—it was Kael Inquisitor who achieved the greatest feat.”
“That may be true. However, I still believe both of you are worthy of wielding a Holy Sword.”
The Pope spoke.
“Have you not experienced a sudden surge of divine power recently?”
“….”
“…As I thought, you have.”
The Pope nodded.
“That is proof that Holy Knight Ludian is worthy of the Holy Sword. As for myself, I hold this staff, yet the Goddess has never bestowed such a blessing upon me throughout my entire life.”
The Pope caressed his staff.
It was the staff of Saint Serabio, a relic of Diligence among the Seven Great Virtues.
“Surely you jest…? That most diligent of saints…?”
The Pope repeated the same schedule every day—receiving reports from the Cardinals, assessing the state of the Theocracy, attending various masses, and so forth.
His life differed little from day to day, with only the content of the reports changing.
“Yes, it is the truth. Therefore, Holy Knight Ludian shall wield the Holy Sword Barkan. You mentioned your sword was broken in this ordeal, after all.”
“But….”
“Holy Knight Ludian.”
At that summons, Ludian looked toward the Pope.
His eyes held their usual gentleness, yet something cold emanated from them nonetheless.
“This is a rightful reward for overcoming trials. To turn away from the Goddess’s blessing would be unforgivable.”
“….”
“Do you truly understand what ‘humility’ means, Holy Knight Ludian?”
Ludian swallowed hard and shook his head.
“I’m not entirely certain.”
“It is knowing oneself. If I, as Pope, were to visit the Slums every day and pray for them, would that be humility despite holding such a lofty position? No, it would be abandonment of my papal duties and nothing but arrogance masquerading as virtue.”
“….”
“By objectively recognizing my station and fulfilling the calling given to it, I believe that is true humility.”
“Your Majesty….”
“Moreover, the Goddess has already directly proven through her blessing that you are worthy of wielding that Holy Sword. Therefore, to further diminish yourself would be mockery and arrogance toward others. So please, protect the peace of The Continent with that Holy Sword.”
Ludian, who had been deliberating for some time, finally bowed with proper respect.
“…I understand. If this is your will and the Goddess’s will, I shall gladly comply.”
“Yes, I’m counting on you.”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
Ludian grasped the Holy Sword and exited the Conference Hall. The moment the great doors closed behind him, he exhaled deeply.
‘So it comes to this after all….’
At first, I truly had no intention of wielding it. I believed this was a sword I could not hold.
But if both the Pope and the Goddess acknowledged it, then I had simply been foolish.
– If we meet again and you’re wearing that Holy Sword, then you’ll take another hit from me.
I’d lost that wager with Kael as well. If he saw me like this, he would surely scoff.
‘Fine, so I’ll take a blow or two. What of it?’
Yet Ludian moved forward without concern. Then suddenly….
‘Hm?’
Ludian stopped, sensing something amiss.
‘Taking a blow…?’
Taking a blow wasn’t the problem. It would hurt, certainly, but a promise was a promise—I was prepared to honor it.
The real issue was how naturally Kael’s manner of speaking had seeped into my own.
‘No, this won’t do!’
Kael’s achievements were certainly worthy of emulation. Yet his crude manner of speech and behavior was something I had to keep at a distance.
Just as Kael had no desire to become Ludian, I too had no wish to become like Kael.
But at this rate, I would end up tainted by his influence.
Was it merely my imagination that Kael’s mocking laughter suddenly echoed in my mind?
“B-Back away!”
The flustered Ludian suddenly bolted through the Papal See.
“Back away, you wretched demon!!!”
The people of the Papal See could only tilt their heads in confusion at the sight.
Had he suffered a head injury, they wondered….
(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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