The Regressed Sword Demon Is a Catastrophe-Class Inquisitor - Chapter 13

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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 13. What Nonsense.

The Cardinals discussed the selection of a Heresy Inquisitor inside their carriage.

“Yes…. It seems those to be ordained to the rank of deacon will suffice at this level….”

Cardinal Barun broached the main topic.

“Then, shall we now select someone to become a Heresy Inquisitor? What are your thoughts, gentlemen?”

The Cardinals laughed at his words.

“Surely you know, Cardinal Barun, that we are all thinking of the same person.”
“Indeed. Anyone who witnessed this incident would give the same answer.”
“Khkhkh…. I see.”

Cardinal Barun continued with a smile.

“Kael Luminara. There could be no one else.”

This assault was an incident that could have resulted in massive casualties.
Yet thanks to Kael, aside from Bianco, there were virtually no other losses.
Had many monks perished, Cardinal Barun’s standing within the Theocracy would have suffered greatly.

“I concur. His martial prowess exceeds imagination. Even had he undergone a normal trial, he would have stood out.”
“There are likely few young knights in the Theocracy who could match him. Considering how he defeated the demonized Baron Scalen, I believe his capability to face heretics is more than sufficient.”

Cardinal Barun nodded at the two Cardinals’ words and spoke.

“Above all, I find two aspects of him most appealing.”
“Which aspects do you speak of?”

Cardinal Barun extended one finger.

“First, he acts without hesitation, unburdened by the status or authority of his opponents.”
“Hmm, that was certainly evident.”

Kael was a nobleman without a title.
Thus, when dealing with Cardinals, one ought to maintain proper decorum—yet Kael addressed them with a boldness that teetered on the precipice of impropriety without quite toppling over.
Or perhaps he had crossed that line?
In any case….

“Others may perceive it as disrespectful, but a Heresy Inquisitor requires such fortitude. Should one bow to power, the very purpose of a Heresy Inquisitor dissolves.”
“Yet in ordinary circumstances, if such an attitude persists, might it not breed discord among others?”
“Is that not precisely why we exist?”

Cardinal Barun regarded the other Cardinals.

“Did the two of you also find him disagreeable today? His refreshingly candid demeanor—something none of us have experienced before?”

The Cardinals responded in turn.

“Ahem, well, that is true. It is regrettable that Cardinal Bianco has passed, yet when he was overwhelmed by Young Master Kael’s momentum, I confess it was exhilarating.”
“Honestly, who here is unaware that Cardinal Bianco has been receiving sponsorship from Baron Scalen under the guise of donations? It hardly contradicts the Scripture’s teachings, so we all simply turned a blind eye.”

Cardinal Barun nodded.

“Young Master Kael will resolve those matters we cannot address ourselves. Of course, this assumes we continue to support him.”
“Well, we can certainly shield him from the consequences of his rough conduct.”
“I agree. So what is the second matter?”

At that question, Cardinal Barun’s eyes gleamed with sharp intensity.

“Second, he harbors not the slightest hesitation regarding murder.”
“….”
“I cannot speak to your views on killing, but I believe rotten flesh must be excised. This world contains problems that kindness and forgiveness can never resolve.”

A chill descended, and the two Cardinals swallowed dryly.

“Therefore, I believe he is more suited to the role of Heresy Inquisitor than anyone.”

The atmosphere had grown tense, so Cardinal Barun offered a subtle smile.

“Though it is curious that such a fierce son emerged from beneath the devout Father Luminara.”
“Haha, children rarely grow as we wish them to.”
“Indeed. Yet perhaps we ought to be grateful for that very fact.”

The light banter eased the tension in the air considerably.

“However… there is one thing that troubles me.”

Cardinal Barun stroked his chin as he spoke.

“What might that be?”
“Young Master Kael is far too young. For his age, he possesses exceptional martial prowess. I fear that if granted authority as well, he may become arrogant.”
“That is a fair concern.”

Cardinal Barun pondered for a moment before turning his gaze to the other cardinals.

“In any case, you both approve of Young Master Kael becoming a Heresy Inquisitor, correct?”
“Yes, we do.”
“Then I shall have one final conversation with him and make my judgment. Whether his blade will be turned toward the Religious Kingdom, or whether it will drive back the endless darkness.”

The two cardinals departed in their carriage, and Cardinal Barun waited in place for Kael.

* * *

The moment I settled into the carriage across from Cardinal Barun, I spoke.

“The answer was already decided. Why such a lengthy conversation?”
“Khkhkh… You had already perceived it, I see. Then might I ask you one thing?”
“Go ahead.”
“Did you happen to notice which member of your party is a heretic?”
“A heretic?”
“Yes. Of course, I understand there was no time to discern it before the attack occurred as we descended from the carriage. Nevertheless, I would like to hear your thoughts on the matter.”

It was not a difficult matter, so I considered it carefully.
Bella possessed martial strength that seemed incongruous with a Heresy Inquisitor, and Myron had taken issue with my interrogation.
I had not spoken much with the others, but there was nothing particularly remarkable about them.
Then….

“There is none.”

Cardinal Barun’s eyes widened.

“Pardon?”
“What I mean is, I don’t believe there’s a heretic among our team members.”
“What makes you think that?”
“To be honest, starting with the scatterbrained Bella, most of our team members weren’t particularly helpful during this attack.”

I laid out my reasoning.

“But determining someone is a heretic is a different matter entirely. Before the attack, no one displayed behavior that would warrant such an accusation. We found no blasphemous items among their possessions either.”
“Then perhaps it’s not that there’s no heretic, but rather one hasn’t been revealed yet?”
“I wonder. Isn’t it itself a blasphemy against the Goddess—and heresy—to seize upon something that hasn’t even occurred and condemn an innocent person as a heretic?”

I continued.

“Though they lacked strength, every team member risked their lives confronting our enemies, and in doing so, never intentionally aided them. So rather than accusing any of them of heresy, I’d prefer to believe there is none among them.”

Cardinal Barun stared at me blankly.

“Khkhkh….”

Then came that distinctive chuckle of his, before his teeth showed and he burst into hearty laughter.
Being laughed at directly wasn’t particularly pleasant.
I wondered if my enemies felt the same way when I laughed.

“You do laugh quite a lot.”
“…Ah, my apologies.”

Cardinal Barun covered his mouth and stifled his laughter.

“Truth be told, people often tell me my laugh is unpleasant—like a serpent’s, they say.”
“I understand. People tend to look at me like I’m mad whenever I laugh.”
“Haha, is that so?”
“Yes.”

We both burst into laughter simultaneously. The laughter of wretched creatures.
Then, Cardinal Barun suddenly grew serious and replied.

“I’m not quite that bad.”

My expression hardened as well.

“I’m not particularly devious either.”

A cold silence fell between us.
Cardinal Barun suppressed the corners of his mouth that kept trying to rise, while I let out a soft chuckle and asked.

“So what’s the answer?”

Cardinal Barun replied as if he’d just remembered.

“Ah, just as you predicted, Young Master, there were no heretics in any of the groups. It was merely to sow suspicion among them and observe how the test-takers would behave.”
“How tasteless.”
“Being able to distinguish between those to trust and those to distrust is also an ability of a Heresy Inquisitor.”

I found myself agreeing with that to some extent.

“Young Master, when I actually met your group members earlier, they asked me whether you might be a heretic. They said your power was unimaginable for someone supposed to be a fellow test-taker.”
“So you said I wasn’t?”
“Of course. Do you know how they reacted?”
“They were probably shocked.”
“No.”

Cardinal Barun shook his head.

“They said they were relieved.”
“Relieved?”
“Yes. They said it would have been unsettling if you were a heretic.”
“That certainly makes sense.”
“So then I asked them—what would they have done if you had been a heretic?”
“And?”
“They hesitated for a moment. But all their answers were the same.”

Cardinal Barun smiled faintly.

“They said they would have been equally grateful, since you spared their lives.”
“Hmm….”
“Looking at it this way, it seems that simply being judged a heretic by someone doesn’t make one a heretic. What truly matters is how that person acts.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Though it may be presumptuous, I hoped it might prove somewhat helpful for your future work as a Heresy Inquisitor.”

Barun handed me a black priest’s cassock. The ecclesiastical rank of a Heresy Inquisitor was that of a priest.

“I feel apologetic toward the others.”
“Why is that?”
“When you think about it, this entire attack stemmed from me. That said, I cannot refuse to become a Heresy Inquisitor now.”

Barun paused, considering my meaning, then his eyes grew serious.

“I had suspected as much. All the relationships and circumstances pointed to the Young Master and Baron Scalen.”

So he had already pieced it together to some degree.

“It seems we shall see each other quite often.”
“I share that sentiment, Inquisitor Kael.”

I chuckled softly and rose from my seat, opening my mouth to speak.

“Summon Sriben from the Luminara Territory. He knows the full details of what transpired. As for punishment, I’ve already administered sufficient consequences, so please let him go unharmed.”
“Yes, I shall do so.”

Thus Sriben was traded away as proof of trust between Barun and myself.

* * *

Since the chapel had been destroyed, the ordination ceremony proceeded simply in a spacious clearing within the forest.
Seven were appointed as deacons, and among them were my squad members, excluding Myron.
Barun must have witnessed Myron’s hesitation when he wielded his sword. Indeed, Barun possessed a ruthlessly discerning nature.

“Next, we shall proceed with the ordination ceremony of Kael Luminara as a Heresy Inquisitor.”

I knelt on one knee and waited as Lenika, the Saint of Truth, stood before me.
Lenika spoke with the violet twilight at her back.

“Kael Luminara, firstborn son of Benedict Luminara. Do you swear to abandon worldly desires and ambitions, to become the Goddess’s hammer, dispensing mercy to the virtuous and judgment upon the wicked?”

I gazed up at her with resolute eyes and answered.

“I swear upon this flesh and soul.”

Of course it was a lie.
I would wield the authority of a Heresy Inquisitor wherever I deemed necessary.
Normally, the Saint of Truth would have exposed me, but I didn’t care.
Around my neck hung the pendant that Baron Scalen had once worn.
Lenika was no fool—she would have sensed something about this pendant.
Yet she simply nodded and spoke thus.

“The truth, indeed.”

Today, the Saint of Truth had uttered two lies.
One was to save someone’s life, but I couldn’t fathom the purpose of this one.

Clap, clap—

Those who knew nothing showered me with applause.
And then, in a cruel twist of irony, sacred power began to surge through me.

* * *

After the ordination ceremony concluded and everyone else had departed, I rested briefly in a chair within the damaged chapel.
Mordin’s corpse had already been collected and removed.
As I gazed at the night sky and closed my eyes, I recalled what Barun had said.

– To function as a Heresy Inquisitor, you must have a deacon capable of singing sacred hymns.
– Sacred hymns, you say?
– Yes. That deacon sings the hymn when witnesses are present, proving that the Inquisitor’s judgment represents the Theocracy’s stance, and records everything that has transpired. This rule exists because the Inquisitor’s authority is so formidable.

– I’d rather not burden myself with unnecessary baggage.
– Then you would require a Cardinal’s seal of approval for each investigation. However, if you have a faithful deacon capable of singing hymns, you could move far more freely than without one.
– Then it would be better to select a capable deacon.
– Indeed. This rule is beyond even my control. For now, I shall provide you with a document bearing my seal, allowing you to appoint a deacon whenever you wish.

A deacon, then…
I wasn’t certain whom to select, but since Barun offered to recommend suitable candidates, I could simply wait and see.
Sensing a presence, I opened my mouth.

“What brings you here, Saint of Truth?”

Lenika spoke in a gentle voice.

“I have something I’d like to ask.”
“Speak.”

Lenika paused for a moment before opening her mouth quietly.

“Holy Power.”

I opened my eyes, which had been closed.

“You handle Holy Power rather than magical force, don’t you, Inquisitor?”

Just as I suspected, Lenika had noticed what others had missed.
I finally lifted myself and sat up straight in my seat.

“That’s correct.”
“If I may ask, how are you able to wield Holy Power, Inquisitor?”

Since I couldn’t speak in detail, I answered evasively.

“It’s complicated in many ways. The Demon God, the Goddess, and the Theocracy are all involved.”
“I see.”

Lenika merely nodded without pressing further.
She understood that I would say nothing more beyond this.

“Then why are you hiding this fact, Inquisitor?”

Since Lenika had turned a blind eye to my deception during the ordination ceremony, I could afford to answer to this extent.

“The Theocracy calls the twelve knights who possess Holy Power the Twelve Holy Knights. But there is a passage in the Goddess’s Scripture that reads thus.”

I looked at Lenika.

“‘One among the blessed knights shall betray.'”
“….”
“Now, what if I suddenly appeared and became the thirteenth Holy Knight?”
“Others would suspect you, Inquisitor.”
“Precisely. That is why I remain silent for now.”

I stroked my chin and continued speaking.

“But honestly, I don’t understand why the Goddess would leave such a message. Wouldn’t it be simpler to just not grant divine power to those who might become traitors in the first place?”
“….”
“All I can think is that this Goddess is toying with humanity.”

I observed Lenika’s bewildered expression.

“I jest.”
“I… see.”

Lenika cleared her throat once and bowed her head.

“Thank you for your answer. Now I understand why the Papal See has been concealing you. The thirteenth Holy Knight has never existed until now. So there were limits to what the Papal See could protect.”

The Theocracy has been hiding me? What does that mean?

“I too shall keep silent about your handling of divine power to others.”

Well, if she’s willing to do that, I have no complaints.

“I’m grateful.”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
“Ah, wait.”
“Yes?”
“Would you have any interest in serving as a Heresy Inquisitor alongside me?”

The Holy Maiden holds the ecclesiastical rank of priest.
Those who could sing hymns needed only be deacon rank or higher, so there was no issue.

“Ah… I apologize. Working alongside you would certainly benefit me greatly, but simply fulfilling my current duties leaves me overwhelmed….”
“I see.”

I had already anticipated her refusal. I merely asked on the chance.

“Still, thank you.”

I tilted my head and asked.

“What nonsense are you talking about? I don’t believe I’ve done anything worthy of gratitude.”
“You are the first Heresy Inquisitor to ever propose that I join you, sir.”

A bitter smile played at the corners of Lenika’s lips as they curved upward ever so slightly.
Lenika was the Saint of Truth.
True to her epithet, Lenika possessed the ability to discern the veracity of others’ words.
Yet people harbored their own deceptions, and the fear that such falsehoods might be exposed made it only natural for them to dread keeping Lenika at their side.

“Then I shall take my leave. I look forward to our next meeting, Heresy Inquisitor.”
“Go safely.”
“Yes. May the Goddess’s fortune bless your path ahead, Heresy Inquisitor.”

Lenika offered a faint smile before boarding her carriage and departing with her knights.
I reclined in my chair once more.

‘I wonder if those bastards will even show up.’

I was currently waiting to see if the Evil Book Society would arrive to assess the situation.
The Evil Book Society was composed of an Apostle-General, Apostles, and Followers—and Mordin was one of the Apostles.
I had begun reading a single page from the new scripture I received at my ordination when drowsiness overtook me, so I draped it across my face.

“Dal, wake me if any villains arrive.”

It was around that moment when I had drifted off.

Ahhhhh—!

A high-pitched cry echoed from somewhere in the distance.
A woman’s voice that reverberated through the forest and chapel alike. I listened to the haunting timbre for a moment before my eyes snapped open.

‘That’s pathetic singing.’

I was confident I could sing better than that creature even if my vocal cords were located in my rectum.
This was no song—it was the roar of a demon.

“What time is it that you’re caterwauling?”

I rose from my seat and followed the voice with measured steps.
The source of that voice came from the forest where we had headed for the trial.
Suspecting the Evil Book Society might be luring me into a trap, I drew my sword and pressed deeper into the woods.

Aaaaaaaah──!

As the voice drew closer, my ears throbbed with increasing intensity.
This was no mere discomfort—my eardrums were genuinely suffering damage.
I suppressed my hearing as much as possible using holy power and advanced through the forest with the resolve of the Vocal Cord Thief.
Before long, I finally laid eyes upon the source of that voice.

“….”

Moonlight cascaded brilliantly through the forest canopy.
There, a beautiful woman with short chestnut hair stood with her hands clasped in reverence, singing.
Bella—my teammate from the trial.
To any creature with eyes, it would have been a breathtaking and noble sight to behold. But possessing hearing as I did, I could only recoil in horror.

“Rejoice and worship! By the grace of the Goddess, we vanquish the demon──!!”

I covered my mouth, deeply moved by the moment.
Even the demonic beasts charging toward her had lost consciousness and collapsed.
These creatures were likely meant to be used in the Heresy Inquisitor’s trial.

‘Wait….’

A sudden thought struck me like lightning.
Bella, who was currently singing the hymn, had been ordained as a deacon in this trial.
And to function as a Heresy Inquisitor, I would need a deacon capable of singing hymns.
Then….

‘I’ve found her—my deacon.’

Ah….
Could this be the Goddess’s blessing?

(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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