The Regressed Sword Demon Is a Catastrophe-Class Inquisitor - Chapter 11

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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 11. To Burn or Not to Burn.

Following Roban, I arrived at a Chapel situated at the forest’s edge.
As Roban cleared his throat before the door, attempting to compose himself with proper decorum, I pushed past him instead.

“Wait, just a moment—!”

Crash!

I shoved the door open with violent force. Every eye within turned toward me.

“I trust your prayers have been going well? I myself was occupied wielding my blade and regrettably could not attend this ceremony. My apologies.”
“….”

They stared at me with expressions of utter bewilderment.
A portly Cardinal spoke up.

“What manner of disrespect is this? Regardless of how you rescued the examinees from enemies, propriety demands—”

I drew a deep breath, then bellowed with all my strength.

“Blessed Goddess!!!!!”

My thunderous cry reverberated through the Chapel’s interior. The Cardinal who had been speaking hiccupped in alarm.

“I pray that the orchestrator of this assault is not present here. My blade has already drunk sufficient blood, and I have no desire to witness more bloodshed this day.”

I closed the door and drew my sword.

“I beseech thee, I beseech thee….”

I muttered while glaring at the others. Cold sweat beaded upon their foreheads.

“Krkrkr….”

Then one of the Cardinals let out a laugh.

“Did my prayer amuse you?”
“Ah, my apologies. If I’ve offended you, I beg your pardon. As I mentioned before, I am Cardinal Barun.”

Barun rose from his seat and offered a light bow.

“First, I must thank you for thwarting the enemy’s surprise attack. Without you, many would have lost their lives.”
“You’re too kind.”
“So I understand your anger as well. Pay no mind to Cardinal Bianco’s words over there.”
“Very well. Out of respect for you, Cardinal Barun.”

At that moment, a golden-haired woman with blue eyes approached me.

“I’m relieved to see you unharmed, brother.”
“We meet again.”

The Holy Maiden held the rank of a priest within the clergy.
And since this was an official setting, I deliberately adopted a more formal tone, unlike before.
I am, after all, a man of propriety.

“Indeed. I never imagined we would meet again in such a place.”

Lenika smiled faintly.
Truth be told, I hadn’t expected to encounter her during confession either. I’d only learned she was observing the examination after submitting my application.

“Then I’ll leave the rest to you.”
“Of course.”

Lenika nodded and turned to address the others.

“As you’re all aware, this attack is no mere incident. The location of the Heresy Inquisitor examination was known only to those directly involved.”

Lenika’s voice carried an air of solemnity.

“Of course, there are countless enemies targeting our Theocracy, and their intelligence network is formidable. So it’s possible they simply sought to prevent the birth of a new Heresy Inquisitor—the Religious Order’s hammer. But what troubles me is that they mobilized such considerable forces merely to capture a few candidates who aren’t even Heresy Inquisitors yet. If you hadn’t been here, it would have been excessive force indeed.”
“….”
“But I still don’t understand why they mobilized such a large force just to capture mere candidates who aren’t even Heresy Inquisitors yet. If we assume the brother here wasn’t present, it would have been excessive manpower.”

Lenika continued speaking.

“In that regard, this attack seemed hastily planned. Someone here wanted to ensure the death of a particular examinee.”

Her blue eyes shimmered with quiet intensity.

“Therefore, I now stake my honor as the Saint of Truth and will interrogate the brothers present here.”

The others swallowed their tension.
The Holy Maiden was chosen directly by the Goddess Ella.
Because of this, despite her priestly rank, she held a position substantively higher than the Cardinals selected by humans in the Papal See.

“Let us proceed that way, Holy Maiden. This attack is certainly not a matter to be overlooked.”

Cardinal Bianco spoke.

“However, in the meantime, it would be best if the Knight and the author wait outside. Since this is a sensitive matter within the Religious Order, it would be problematic for those not formally affiliated with the Order to become involved.”

The Pig Cardinal’s gaze fell upon me.
The moment I opened my mouth, Lenika stepped forward first.

“This brother achieved the greatest merit in this attack. He was closer to it than anyone here, and may have even heard certain information from the enemy during the ordeal.”
“….”
“And I vouch for this person’s identity. Is there any other concern, Cardinal Bianco?”

At her calm gaze, Cardinal Bianco hesitated for a moment.
This time, Barun interjected.

“I also believe it would be best if Young Master Kael remained here, regardless of the Knights.”

Barun had apparently found my information in the application and mentioned my name.

“Should any misfortune occur during the interrogation, Young Master’s martial prowess would be invaluable. And even if we were to send him out against our wishes, he would not comply.”

I nodded.

“Precisely.”

Barun smiled slightly, then looked toward Cardinal Bianco.

“Cardinal Bianco, could you bear the wrath of this person? At least, I see no one here capable of stopping him.”

When I glared at him, Bianco averted his gaze and let out a nervous cough.

“Ahem, I see.”

Once the situation settled, I spoke.

“Then let us proceed with the interrogation at once. I’m working on building my patience through prayer to the Goddess.”

I clasped my hands together and prayed to myself.
Under normal circumstances, I would have immediately singled out Baron Scalen and dragged him away, but I needed to wait to determine if there were other masterminds involved.

‘Patience, patience, patience. Like roasting a sweet potato….’

A sweet potato roasts nicely over the flames, though it seems like it might burn at any moment.
To burn or not to burn, to burn or not to burn….

“Come now, let us proceed.”

The Holy Maiden and the others finally began to move more quickly.
They brought chairs and sat facing Lenika. Cardinal Barun went first.

“Cardinal Barun. Were you involved in this attack in any way, willingly or unwillingly? And did you know about this attack beforehand?”
“I have no connection to this attack. Of course, I knew nothing of it either.”

Lenika stared intently at Barun, then nodded.

“The truth.”

The rest proceeded in the same manner.
There were four cardinals in total, including Barun, and all of them passed the initial question, so it didn’t take very long.

‘It’s burning, burning…. The sweet potato’s burning….’

But to me, offering my prayers, it felt as though an enormous amount of time had passed.

“All the cardinals are innocent, then. That leaves….”

Lenika turned her gaze toward Mordin, who had remained silent throughout.

“So you’re Baron Scalen.”

I snapped my eyes open.
Thank goodness—I’d nearly let my sweet potato burn.

“Haha, so I’m receiving one too, it seems.”

Mordin chuckled softly and took a seat across from Lenika.

“You are involved in this examination, after all, Baron.”
“I see. I had no intention of avoiding it anyway. I shall face the Holy Maiden’s questioning with utmost sincerity.”

Mordin maintained his composure with practiced grace. His demeanor radiated confidence.
And I knew precisely why he possessed such confidence.

“Then I shall ask. Baron Mordin Scalen. You are….”
“Wait.”

I rose calmly and approached Mordin. Every eye in the room turned toward me in bewilderment.

“A pleasure, Baron Scalen. Though you likely know already, I am Kael Luminara.”

I placed a hand lightly upon Mordin’s shoulder.

“Given the circumstances, I trust you’ll forgive my rough manner of speech.”
“Haha, Young Master Kael. Your tone and all—it feels particularly disrespectful to me. Frankly, it’s quite unpleasant.”

Mordin brushed my hand away with a subtle smile.

“Step aside for a moment. I’m deeply concerned you might be swept up by emotion and make a grave misjudgment. An interrogation must always proceed with cold clarity, after all.”
“Swept up by emotion, you say….”

I let out a soft scoff.

“Rest assured. That judgment belongs not to me, but to our Holy Maiden. Soon enough, everyone shall know who erred.”
“….”

Mordin maintained his smile as he spoke.

“So what business do you have with me?”
“Ah, it seems you’re wearing something that doesn’t suit you.”

I reached for his neck with both hands and removed the pendant he was wearing.
A pendant engraved with a sprouting seedling of two leaves—the symbol of the Ella Faith.
I fastened it around my own neck and displayed it to him.

“What do you think? Doesn’t it suit me far better than you?”
“….”

Mordin had frozen like a laughing statue.

“Hey, hey!”

Bianco erupted at that moment.

“What is the meaning of this! Regardless of who you are, you must maintain some decorum!”

I simply turned my head and regarded Bianco with a cold gaze. Meeting my frigid stare, Bianco drew in a sharp breath.
After a moment of silence, Mordin spoke.

“Young Master Kael.”

I looked toward Mordin.

“Speak.”
“If your business is concluded, would you step back a bit? If this continues, I’ll be too tense to undergo a proper interrogation.”
“Ah, I see. I was lacking in consideration.”

I stepped back ten paces behind the Holy Maiden.

“Is this distance sufficient?”
“It is.”

Mordin smiled faintly. I detected a small fracture in that expression.
Lenika opened her mouth next.

“Then I shall begin the interrogation at once.”
“Yes.”
“Baron Scalen. Were you involved in this attack, whether by your own will or by coercion? Furthermore, were you aware of this attack beforehand?”

Mordin took a deep breath and slowly opened his mouth.

“No. I know nothing of it.”

Lenika pierced through Mordin with eyes of unfathomable depth.
The scale-shaped stigma etched upon the back of her hand gleamed faintly.
After studying him for a considerable time, Lenika exhaled a sigh.

“…It is the truth.”

Lenika rose quietly from her chair after a moment of silence.

“Everyone, withdraw. It appears there is no heresy here after all. I shall have to request proper assistance from the Papal See.”

Lenika turned and walked toward me. I shifted only my eyes to briefly observe her expression.

“Ha! As I suspected.”

Bianco approached Mordin.

“I knew it wasn’t you, my lord. Pay no mind to her rudeness.”

From the atmosphere, it seemed Bianco had been receiving patronage from Mordin all this time.
Mordin must have been expanding his influence within the Religious Order through Bianco.

‘I’ve grasped a rotten rope.’

I gave him a chance for the Holy Maiden’s sake.

“Cardinal Bianco. Come here.”
“What, are you going to strike me now?”

I sighed and answered with gravity.

“You rotten wretch, lacking even basic sense. Get out of there, you pathetic fool.”
“What, what?!”

Bianco’s face flushed crimson in an instant.

Crack!

Mordin’s frame swelled to monstrous proportions in a heartbeat, his priestly vestments tearing asunder.
He towered to nearly three meters in height, his head nearly brushing the chapel ceiling.

A piercing screech!

In that instant, a colossal fist hurtled toward Lenika’s back.
She sensed the killing intent and reacted swiftly, but the speed was beyond her capacity to evade—her expertise lay elsewhere than martial prowess.

Boom!

I burst forward and intercepted Mordin’s fist with my blade.
The thunderous impact transmitted a crushing force through both my arms.
I spoke to the Holy Maiden, who swallowed hard beside me.

“Excellent response. Withdraw now.”
“Ah….”

Lenika nodded.

“I’m counting on you. Be careful.”

She leaped backward with urgency.
I redirected the fist’s momentum and executed a spinning slash with my sword.

Whoosh!

Mordin created distance and evaded my blade strike, then fixed me with a cold, calculating gaze.

“Cardinals, this way!”

The two Knights remaining in the chapel wisely refrained from intervening, instead facilitating the Cardinals’ evacuation. I was grateful for those who understood their station.
I exchanged a brief glance with the Knights before turning my full attention to Mordin.

“You’ve drunk the blood of a Demon God.”

Mordin bore the ashen skin characteristic of demons.
Those who drank demon blood blended the demonic essence within it with their original magical power, wielding both as one.
I had witnessed this form in my previous life, and even now—half a year before that encounter—he still possessed the ability to command demonic strength.
Mordin spoke, his gaze fixed on the pendant hanging around my neck.

“How did you discover that pendant could deceive the Holy Maiden’s eyes?”

Because you told me in my previous life.
This pendant is a relic of the Demon God, possessing the ability to deceive the Goddess’s sight.
You used it to climb all the way to the position of Bishop.

“Your subordinates told me.”
“That’s impossible. No matter how much torture they endured, they would never have spoken of me.”

Of course not. The Evil Book Society were not the type to break.
The Evil Book Society was a religious organization devoted to the scriptures of the Demon God, standing in direct opposition to the Ella Faith.
Mordin was one of their apostles.

“Ugh, gasp…!”

Bianco, who had collapsed beside Mordin, turned deathly pale.
Mordin clicked his tongue.

“Useless wretch. You should have been adequately stupid.”

Mordin raised his massive hand. The shadow engulfing Bianco rushed forward with terrifying speed.

“No, wait…!”

Bianco’s words ceased.
With a sickening crunch, his body was crushed flat against Mordin’s palm.
When Mordin withdrew his hand, blood clung to it viscously.

“As expected, you know nothing of mercy.”

I furrowed my brow.

“To turn the very man who had my back into a pancake.”

Mordin Scalen regarded me with a look of displeasure.

“Are you insane?”
“Who are you calling insane, you mad bastard!”
“….”
“Was our Estate so appetizing to you? Or perhaps it was merely a stepping stone in your eyes. And what heights did you hope to reach by trampling upon it? A world of demons for the Demon God to desire?”

Mordin’s gaze turned glacial and sharp.

“You know far too much. Who exactly are you? If my suspicions are correct, your power should not be merely at this level.”
“If you’re so curious, then it’s only natural I enlighten you! I am….”

I wrapped a keen wind around my blade.

“A madman who crawled back from Hell to kill you.”

Mordin exhaled deeply.

“How foolish of me to have hoped for a proper conversation.”
“A pity you’ve only just realized it.”
“….”

A thick, palpable killing intent flickered in Mordin’s eyes.
In the next instant, he thrust off the ground and drove an enormous fist toward my face.
I bent my waist deeply and drove myself into his embrace.
Then I swung my blade toward his chest.
Had he been in his right mind, Mordin would have retreated and evaded the slash.

Whoosh!

But instead of withdrawing, Mordin swung his opposite hand at me.
Witnessing this, a thought crossed my mind.

‘Is something wrong with him?’

I slashed across Mordin’s chest and quickly brought my blade up to meet his incoming fist.
But I couldn’t fully dissipate the brute force, so I was sent flying through the air and tumbled across the ground several times.
It wasn’t a direct hit, so my bones didn’t break, but my body throbbed with considerable pain.

“To think you’d even react to that… I must admit, I’m impressed.”

Mordin’s voice carried a note of intrigue as he watched me rise.

“But ultimately, there’s an overwhelming difference in our races.”

Mordin touched the crimson blood flowing from his chest.

“A wound like this would be critical for a human, but with demonic power, it regenerates quickly.”

Mordin bared his fangs in a vicious grin.
Demons possessed far superior physical abilities and regenerative capacity compared to humans. And Mordin, who had consumed demonic blood, was no exception.

‘In my past life, that’s precisely what made him so troublesome.’

No matter how many times I cut him, he would regenerate his wounds as if nothing had happened.
So in the end, I had no choice but to keep slashing until his regeneration reached its limit and he finally died.

“For ruining my plans, I’ll make you pay dearly…”

Mordin’s eyes suddenly widened as he spoke.

“What?”

I let out a small laugh at his bewildered expression.

“What’s wrong? Do you need to relieve yourself?”
“Why isn’t it regenerating…?”

Normally, a wound like the one I’d inflicted should have already healed by now.
But fresh blood continued to flow from Mordin’s chest.

“Wait. Could this possibly be…?”

Mordin stared at me with wide, shocked pupils as he examined the wound.

“Holy Power?”

I let out a low chuckle.

“Why? Did you think I came to meet you without any plan?”

(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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