The Regressed Sword Demon Is a Catastrophe-Class Inquisitor - Chapter 110
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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 110. Follow Me.
Siluene had always found it difficult to interact with others since childhood.
She feared being hated for saying something careless, and whenever someone she had grown close to drifted away after much hardship, her heart ached terribly.
Having developed such a naturally timid disposition, Siluene became the target of ridicule among the Orphanage children.
– This girl’s a mute! Look, we can poke her all we want and she won’t say anything.
– Oh, really?
– And check out this silver hair. She looks like an old hag, I’m telling you!
– Haha! What is that!
In an Orphanage with little entertainment, Siluene was a toy perfect for playing with.
She didn’t break easily, and unlike other toys, she actually responded like a human being, even if only slightly.
But she could never bring herself to tell them to stop. The harassment might only intensify if she did.
So she could only endure it in silence.
– Hey! You guys, stop that already!
Until that girl, Marie, appeared.
– Why do you keep butting in? We’re just playing, so back off.
– How is this playing! You’re bullying her!
– We are playing! Look, we can poke her like this and she doesn’t say anything.
– That’s only because you scare her! Siluene, tell them. Is this really playing?
At Marie’s question, Siluene answered while shrinking into herself.
– It… it hurts…
Then Marie glared fiercely at the perpetrators.
– See! It hurts!
– Well, people can get hurt while playing.
As the perpetrator shrugged dismissively, Marie’s teeth ground together and she shouted.
– Then this must be playing too!!
Whoosh!
Marie suddenly rushed forward and struck the perpetrator’s face with her fist.
The perpetrator fell flat on the ground, and Marie climbed onto his chest, grinning wickedly.
– If you’re bored, play with me!
Then she began raining down blows with her small fists relentlessly.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
– Wait, hold on….
– Why! Let me join in too!
– S-someone stop this crazy girl!
As the others who had been standing dumbly began to rush forward, Marie whipped her head around and growled.
– What? You want to join too?
– N-no….
– Then don’t interfere with our game!
After that, Marie continued the beating, and the perpetrator could only flail his arms helplessly in pain.
The situation ended when the Orphanage Director appeared. Of course, by then the perpetrator’s face was already swollen.
– Hey! Didn’t I tell you not to do that!
The harassment didn’t stop afterward, but Marie appeared each time to stop it.
Since she was only eight years old then, there wasn’t much difference in growth, so Marie’s victories were mostly assured.
But as time passed, Marie’s growth slowed, and her tormentors’ bodies began to grow noticeably larger.
Still, Marie often got thrown back by them, but she would kick the vital areas of any males and grab the hair of any females.
She was truly consumed by madness.
– Hey!! You guys!!!
– Tsk, the mad girl’s here. Let’s go, come on.
So the perpetrators didn’t dare touch Siluene easily either. Even if they won the fight, their own bodies wouldn’t escape unscathed.
Siluene applied ointment to Marie’s cheek as she spoke.
– Marie… Don’t push yourself too hard….
– Hmph, this is nothing at all.
Marie let out a scoff.
– Siluene, don’t just stand there. Fight alongside me. I won’t always be by your side, after all.
– B-but I’m scared…. They’re men….
– If you lack strength, bite them. If that’s not enough, kick them there!
– There…?
When Marie silently pointed below herself, Siluene’s face flushed crimson and she hung her head low.
– D-don’t say such things…. It’s embarrassing….
– Ahahaha! How adorable!
Marie pulled Siluene into a tight embrace.
Though by now, Siluene had grown taller than Marie, so it was more accurate to say she was being held.
– Siluene, at least while I’m with you, you don’t need to fight. I’ll always protect you.
At that, Siluene suddenly found herself wondering and asked.
– Why do you do so much for me, Marie…? I’ve done nothing for you….
She couldn’t understand it at all.
While others were quick to torment her, Marie had only ever protected her.
– I don’t know the reason myself. I just kept helping you, and before I knew it, we became friends.
– ….
– So even if you get adopted, you can’t forget about me, alright?
How could she ever forget? She could never forget.
Siluene smiled faintly.
– Yes.
After that, no one tormented Siluene anymore.
The others had grown tired of it, and besides, Marie would appear whenever anyone carelessly tried to bother her.
– Siluene, your adoption has been decided.
It was what the Orphanage Director said when she turned fifteen.
– They’re a fairly wealthy family. They took a liking to your silver hair.
On one hand, I was delighted to finally have a family of my own, but on the other, I was sorrowful at the thought of parting from Marie.
Yet knowing we could meet again someday, I immediately confessed the news to Marie.
– Marie, I’m being adopted too. They said it’s a fairly wealthy family.
That was the moment.
Marie’s expression drained of life, turning ashen.
– …Marie?
Marie stopped listening and bolted from the room. I followed her, tilting my head in confusion. Was she grieving our separation as I was? Or was she in pain somewhere?
Now that I thought about it, Marie’s expression had been troubled for the past month.
Now that I think about it, Marie’s expression hasn’t been good for this whole month.
I need to go ask about it.
The moment she passed by the Director’s Office like that.
Why her and not me?
Marie’s voice drifted through the door.
– It’s already decided. Siluene’s silver hair is distinctive.
– That’s all she has!!!!
That’s all he has!!!
Marie’s sharp cry pierced through the door and struck Siluene’s ears.
– ….
– Who would ever like someone like that? They’ll get sick of her in no time and throw her away!
– ….
– So please recommend me instead of Siluene! She’s a useless child with no value whatsoever!
“So please recommend me instead of Siluene! Siluene is a completely useless child!”
The moment Siluene heard those words, she spun around and rushed into her room, collapsing onto the floor.
Thump-thump—
My heart still hadn’t settled.
Why had Marie said such a thing? Did she truly wish to be adopted in my place?
If that were the case, I could yield without hesitation. There was no need for her to say such things….
Yet I wasn’t sad. Because Marie was….
‘Crying.’
I couldn’t see her face, but Marie’s voice was drenched in tears.
It wasn’t the sorrow of being unchosen. It was genuine grief pouring forth.
After seven years together with Marie, I could discern the difference.
Creak—
Then Marie entered the room. Her expression was composed.
– Marie…. Where did you go?
– The bathroom.
A lie. It wasn’t the bathroom—it was the Director’s Office.
Siluene clenched her fists tightly before speaking the truth.
– I actually heard you. What you just told the Director.
– …What?
– That I’m a useless child.
– ….
– But it’s a lie, isn’t it? There’s some reason behind it?
Tell me it is. Then I can understand you.
Then… we can continue being friends.
– You heard that….
Marie then let out a hollow laugh.
– It was all a lie after all—.
– That’s right.
– …What?
– Every word of it was true.
Marie regarded me with a coldness I had never seen before.
– Remember when you asked me before why I helped you? It was all to look good in front of the Orphanage Director. If I seemed like a kind child, adoption would come easier.
– Marie….
– Why else would I have helped someone like you?
– Don’t do this….
Marie’s trembling lips parted.
– I worked so hard all this time, and in the end, it’s you, Siluene, who gets adopted? The moment I heard that, irritation boiled up inside me.
No. That’s not it.
– So I confronted the Orphanage Director. I asked her to let me be adopted instead of you, who’s worthless.
– That’s not true….
– What do you mean it’s not true!!!?
When Marie screamed, I shrank back.
– Without me, you would have remained mute all this time. You were someone who couldn’t resist no matter who touched you!
– ….
– Let me be clear about this once and for all. You, Siluene, are….
– Don’t… Don’t, Marie….
Tears streamed down my cheeks.
I remember you throwing yourself in front of me. I remember how you smiled at me even when everything fell apart.
And….
– Siluene.
I remember your gentle voice calling me by my name—not as a mute, not as a broken child, but as myself.
– You’re worthless! So just disappear already!!!
But with those words, precious memories shattered like glass fragments, crumbling away.
It had to be a lie. It couldn’t be true. There had to be some reason behind it.
Even as I repeated these denials, my heart fractured and collapsed.
Slam!
And so Marie abandoned Siluene, slamming the door shut behind her as she left.
That evening, the Orphanage Director summoned Siluene and spoke.
– Siluene, you can no longer remain in this Orphanage. The other children will find it easier without you here.
After that, Siluene left the Orphanage without even a moment to collect herself. She carried only a bag with provisions for a time and a few coins.
No one came to see her off. Yet as Siluene walked, she kept glancing back over her shoulder.
Hoping Marie would come running back, saying it had all been a lie. Hoping she would smile as though nothing had happened and embrace her once more.
But….
Thud—
One step….
Thud—
Two steps….
Thud—
Five steps….
Thud—
Even after ten steps, there was no sign of Marie anywhere.
All that remained for her was the darkness of the night sky and an empty heart.
“….”
Siluene eventually walked onward, tears streaming down her face.
She did not stop even when hunger gnawed at her, and she continued walking even when her legs ached.
Dying like this would not have been so bad. The disappearance of one useless child would mean nothing to anyone.
Soon enough, exhausted from crying, she collapsed onto the ground.
– From today onward, you are the Barrier Saintess.
When I regained consciousness, I found myself at the Papal See, transformed into the Barrier Saintess.
I had found a reason to live. If I remained as the Barrier Saintess, I would no longer be a useless child.
Over those five years, memories of the Orphanage never surfaced. Only trauma remained, like a scar etched into my soul.
– My suspicion is that they likely fell victim to human trafficking.
Then today, I heard from Kael about the Orphanage. The children there weren’t adopted—they were trafficked.
The moment I heard that, my heart grew turbulent.
I survived because Marie was adopted in my place, yet I couldn’t help but feel pity for her.
I thought those feelings would dissipate quickly, but….
– She’s alive. Assuming what I saw was truly Marie.
Marie is alive. Moreover, she was the one adopted in my place to protect me.
Everything was chaos. I couldn’t articulate these tangled emotions.
So I covered my ears. I lacked the courage to face the truth.
‘This much is enough for now. Why is everyone doing this to me….’
If I continued this way, my value remained intact. As the Barrier Saintess, I could still be useful to others.
Crash!
Then a violent impact reverberated through the barrier.
Within the darkness created by the barrier, I lowered my hands from my ears and stared toward the source.
Crash!
It was Kael. He was striking his sword against the barrier, attempting to shatter it.
‘…No matter how skilled an Interrogator he is, he cannot break my barrier.’
I had expended considerable power protecting the Barony, but Kael had done the same.
Moreover, my barrier was erected solely for my own protection. There was no way Kael could breach it.
But….
Screech!
‘…What?’
As the flaming sword swept through the air several times, one barrier shattered. Kael did not stop there.
Crash!
With a single downward strike, another barrier crumbled. No matter how the barriers weakened the deeper one ventured inward, this was absurd.
Crash!
Layer after layer, one by one… his blade began to demolish the barriers.
The speed was extraordinary. Siluene’s formidable barriers, which she had so carefully constructed, proved meaningless as Kael advanced with great strides.
Crash!
At last, even the final barrier shattered.
Moonlight poured through the fragments, illuminating a man’s noble visage with ethereal radiance.
It was Kael, holding a sword wreathed in black flames.
“How… how is this possible….”
Kael did not respond to her, instead continuing what he had said before.
“Let me say it once more.”
“….”
“Marie is alive. And everything she said to you was to keep you alive.”
Perhaps that was true. If it were, then Marie’s actions would finally make sense to me now.
“But what if that’s not the case…? Then I….”
I feared repeating what had happened back then. If this faith were betrayed once more, it seemed I could no longer continue living.
Yet what Kael said next was entirely unexpected.
“Then I will kill her for you.”
“…Pardon?”
Siluene, who had been crouching on the ground, looked up at him in shock.
His expression was impassive, yet his gaze burned with infinite sincerity.
“Deceiving a Heresy Inquisitor. Mocking a Holy Maiden. That alone is reason enough to kill her.”
If Kael decided to act, he would truly kill Marie. I had witnessed how he dealt with the Orphanage Director, after all.
“So go and have a conversation with her.”
Kael offered this final counsel.
“There is a right moment to clear up misunderstandings. If you miss that moment, who knows when another will come.”
“….”
“Five years have already passed, and next time, it could be even longer. There might not be another chance at all.”
Kael looked at me.
“Does it not matter to you?”
If I missed this opportunity as he said, I might never see Marie again.
Perhaps things could return to how they were before, but like this, nothing would change.
I squeezed my eyes shut and deliberated.
What surfaced was neither the nightmares of the past nor anyone’s torment.
It was merely a memory—like a single ray of sunlight piercing through endless darkness.
– Siluene.
Marie, calling my name with a smile.
Just as pain had carved itself into scars, your kindness remains etched within my heart.
I clenched my fists. In that grip, there was no pride left, nothing more to let go of.
“…I will go.”
With resolve hardened, I slowly rose from my seat.
“I will go to her.”
Before, it was always Marie who came to me.
You were the one who taught me what friendship meant when I struggled to connect with others.
So this time, I will be the one to approach. Even if you try to distance yourself, I will strive to draw close again.
That is the least courtesy I owe to the smile you showed me.
“I see.”
Kael turned his body.
“Follow me. I’ll take you to her.”
Siluene nodded and pursued him closely—unwilling to miss what might be her final opportunity.
(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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