The Regressed Sword Demon Is a Catastrophe-Class Inquisitor - Chapter 28

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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 28. I Look Forward to Working With You.

「2-1. Life is a journey through trials.
Some will stumble over a small stone, while others will shatter even the mightiest walls and press forward.
Truly, the righteous never cease their footsteps until the final moment of life.」

「2-2. Trials are boxes paved with unyielding stone, and only by opening them can one know what lies within.
To continue walking the long path, one must accept this suffering and move forward without choice.」

「2-3. Kael, descendant of the Luminara Family, has endured and witnessed such suffering countless times, yet he takes another step forward.
He shall not be swept away by the turbulent waves, nor consumed by the approaching inferno.
The blade that survived the pit of trials advances now without any fear whatsoever.」

“Trials, then….”

The Pope opened his mouth upon reading the new passage from the “Age of Turbulence.”

“A fine passage indeed.”

The Pope had long believed that the greater the trials, the stronger humanity could become.
Yet sometimes that conviction was so absolute that others reproached him for it.
But now the “Scripture of Genesis” had proven his belief was not mistaken, and as Pope, he could not help but rejoice.

“Still, this reads less like the Age of Turbulence and more like the gospel of Kael Inquisitor.”
“I concur.”

The Cardinals nearby nodded in agreement.
Typically, comprehensive chapters do not record the same name repeatedly in every passage—it appears only occasionally, with intervals between mentions.

‘Though there have been exceptions, of course.’

The saints of the Seven Great Virtues throughout history.
They had achieved accomplishments no ordinary human could attain, and their names were extensively recorded in the Scripture of Genesis.

‘But if that is the case, does that mean Kael Inquisitor has become a saint like the Seven Great Virtues?’

It was impossible to know at present. Yet one thing was certain….

“So it’s certain that the fate of the world is in upheaval because of Kael Inquisitor.”
“Yes. There is no doubt now.”

The bald Cardinal Gregory posed the question.

“Then what do you intend to do about Kael Inquisitor going forward? Your Holiness previously said we should observe him, but that was only before his name was recorded in the scriptures.”
“Hmm.”
“I fear his blade might drift in the wrong direction. If we merely watch and the fate of the world becomes greatly distorted, it will be too late to correct course.”

The Pope answered with a smile on his face.

“Cardinal Gregory.”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
“Speak honestly. Are you truly concerned about the fate of the world when you say such things to me, or are you doing so to advance your own convictions?”
“That is… well…”

Gregory was flustered by the sudden question.

“Of course, I understand your concern. We still know little of this man Kael, yet his name appears in the Primordial Scripture, recorded for the first time in 102 years.”
“…”
“However, I have found nothing amiss in Kael Inquisitor’s conduct thus far. If anything, he is more devoted to rooting out heresy than anyone else.”

The Pope spoke slowly.

“Therefore, my answer remains the same. We shall continue to observe Kael Inquisitor. There is no need for us to place a great stone in his path.”
“…Yes.”
“And who is to say? Perhaps our interference with Kael Inquisitor would bring about the very wrong outcome you fear. Surely you considered that possibility before speaking, Cardinal Gregory?”

Gregory swallowed hard and bowed deeply.

“My apologies, Your Holiness. My thinking was shallow.”

The Pope merely held a faint smile, while Cardinal Barun beside him suppressed the corners of his mouth that kept trying to rise.

“However…”

The Pope spoke again.

“There will still be those concerned about Kael Inquisitor. So I wonder if it would be wise to have him participate in this Subjugation Force.”

The other Cardinals’ eyes widened in shock.

“Surely you don’t mean the Subjugation of Envy, one of the Seven Deadly Sins?”
“With all due respect, he’s still a newly appointed Heretic Inquisitor! Even if Envy is currently considered the weakest of the Seven Deadly Sins, isn’t this perhaps too hasty?”

The Seven Deadly Sins weren’t necessarily the strongest villains, but they were undeniably formidable enough to bear that title.
How many members of the Papal See had that creature killed over the years?
It was unreasonable to entrust such a foe to Kael, a newly appointed Heretic Inquisitor.

“Of course, it may be a rash judgment. That’s why I won’t force him. Whether to accept this trial is entirely his choice.”

The Pope gazed upon the Cardinals.

“However, if Kael Inquisitor achieves meaningful results in this subjugation, I will permit no further obstruction against him.”

The Cardinals were inwardly astonished.
This statement was tantamount to the Pope directly protecting Kael.

“Of course, should he commit wrongs thereafter, he must bear appropriate responsibility. But until then, no one may bar his path.”
“Yes. We understand, Your Holiness.”

The Cardinals bowed formally to the Pope.

“Then let us depart. May new verses be inscribed.”

The Pope and Cardinals returned to their respective positions.

* * *

I spent a week at the inn, consolidating my sacred power and tempering my body, which had reached the threshold of Wrath.
I needed to recalibrate a form that had grown far too rapidly.

‘I reached the threshold of Wrath in less than a month.’

In my previous life, it took half a year after the Luminara Family’s annihilation before I barely attained the threshold of Joy.
This accelerated growth was all thanks to offering demons to the Goddess and rapidly increasing my sacred power.

‘What comes next is Sorrow, then.’

To be honest, I’m not worried about developing physical abilities befitting the Realm of Sorrow.
Though it takes longer than reaching the Realm of Wrath, I can simply increase my holy power gradually as I did before.

‘But can I obtain such profound sadness?’

Above all, I don’t wish to feel sorrow.
Who would want to face circumstances worthy of such grief?
That kind of sorrow—where one’s mind turns blank and the lungs fill with water.

‘In any case, for now, refining the Realm of Wrath alone is sufficient.’

And when I reach the Realm of Wrath, the Sword of Joy grows proportionally as well.
In other words, there were only stages of reaching each realm; there was no concept of one being stronger than another.

‘But since I grew angry far more often than joyful, I’ve used the Sword of Wrath extensively.’

I suspected that perhaps in this regard, nothing had changed from my previous life.

Knock, knock—

– Inquisitor, you have a visitor.

At Bella’s voice, I opened my eyes from where I sat on the bed.

“Show them in.”

The door opened, and a clergyman in his forties entered alongside Bella.
He was a man dressed in crimson robes.

“Khehe, how have you been, Kael Inquisitor? I hear you’ve made quite the spectacle this time.”
“What brings you here, Cardinal Barun?”
“I came upon receiving a report from Deacon Bella—there’s something important I must discuss.”
“What is it?”
“Ah, but first, there’s something I’d like to tell you personally….”

Barun settled into a chair and continued speaking, and as I listened, I stroked my chin thoughtfully.

“Hmm, so I’ve been recorded in the ‘Primordial Scripture’….”

Truly, what a peculiar turn of events.
Never did I imagine that I, once called the greatest villain, would be mentioned in the “Primordial Scripture.”
In my previous life, I recall there wasn’t even a chapter called the “Age of Upheaval.”

“And with Kael Inquisitor defeating the Evil Book Society here, absorbing Scalen Territory has become far easier. Most importantly, if we leave things as they are, the same incidents may repeat themselves, so others have no choice but to accept it.”
“I see.”

I replied.

“However, I would prefer if the Theocracy managed Scalen Territory for the time being. It seems we’re not quite ready yet.”

At the very least, I needed to resolve the plague spreading through the fields.
Still, I knew someone capable enough to handle that plague, so I planned to manage until the planting season.

‘It would be troublesome to take charge of Scalen Territory at this critical moment. It requires money and manpower.’

But if I left it to the Theocracy, they would have no choice but to bear the costs and manage it for the time being.
If the Theocracy hadn’t known, it would be one thing, but turning a blind eye to those who suffered at the hands of the Evil Book Society would damage public sentiment.

“Yes. Since this will take some time anyway, there shouldn’t be any problems.”
“I see. Then what is the real purpose of this meeting?”
“Ah, would you perhaps lend your strength in subjugating Envy, one of the Seven Deadly Sins?”
“Envy of the Seven Deadly Sins?”

The Envy that Barun spoke of was not referring to Bella.
There had been an “Envy” before Bella became one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

“Yes. In truth, there are those who view the two of you unfavorably. If Kael Inquisitor were to assist in this subjugation, His Majesty would prevent them from openly causing trouble. Of course, there is no coercion involved.”
“Hmm….”

In my previous life, all those who went to subjugate Envy of the Seven Deadly Sins died alongside him.
I had wanted to participate this time if possible, and since he was offering to even remove the Pope as an obstacle, there was no reason to refuse.

“As a Heretic Inquisitor, striking down heretics is a natural duty. It is strange to expect compensation for it, but since Your Majesty is bestowing such grace, I accept with gratitude.”
“….”

Barun and Bella blinked their eyes. Barun laughed awkwardly.

“Yes. Thank you for your efforts, Kael Inquisitor.”
“Think nothing of it.”
“Ah, and….”

Barun withdrew a small crystal orb from his robes and handed it to me.

“Please accept this.”
“A communication artifact from the Zarkan Empire?”
“You recognized it immediately….”
“Well, it just happened to come up.”
“It’s linked to my own communication artifact. Should you need to contact me or require anything, please use it.”

Barun was a clergyman of considerable standing among the Cardinals.
Accepting this would prove invaluable.

“I’ll put it to good use.”
“Then once preparations are complete, I’ll guide you to where the Subjugation Force is stationed.”
“Let’s go now.”

I tossed the crystal orb to Bella and rose from my seat.

“I’m always prepared.”

* * *

Silence descended upon the table where the men sat.
They exchanged glances nervously, and since none of them spoke, I broke the silence first.

“If you have complaints, speak them. Don’t sit there glancing at me like a whimpering dog.”

At that, one man exhaled heavily and answered.

“To be honest, I’m displeased. We’re being sent to capture Envy, one of the Seven Deadly Sins—no small task—and now we’re told to cooperate with this inexperienced Heresy Inquisitor….”
“If you’re displeased, what of it? His Majesty himself assigned me to this operation. Surely you’re not suggesting you oppose His Majesty’s will?”
“That is… I….”
“How ironic. The heresy was right before my eyes. I suppose my judgment was lacking, having only recently become a Heresy Inquisitor.”

As I fixed him with a cold stare, his lackeys behind him began fingering their weapons.

“Draw it out. You’ll have to take responsibility for it.”

For a moment, sharp gazes clashed in the air.

“Everyone, please calm yourselves. Whether you like it or not, we’ll be cooperating from now on, and this kind of discord won’t do us any good.”

A burly man on one side intervened.

“I think we should start with introductions. I am one of the Twelve Holy Knights, Sebastian Montague. I look forward to working with you all.”

Sebastian emanated a formidable aura befitting one of the Twelve Holy Knights.
The kind of power I possessed around the time I reached the realm of ecstasy.
The Twelve Holy Knights are beings who grow, so their individual strengths vary considerably.
Sebastian likely fell on the weaker end of the spectrum.

‘Still, beings of that caliber are rare.’

This time, the man commanding his subordinates spoke.

“I am Ulric, captain of the Fang Mercenary Company. I’m also known by the epithet ‘Slayer of Two Blades.'”

Indeed, as a subjugation force tasked with capturing the Seven Deadly Sins, his record was impressive.
I nodded and opened my mouth.

“I am the newly appointed Heretic Inquisitor, the black sheep of the Luminara Family, and the face of the Subjugation Force—Kael Luminara.”
“….”
“I look forward to working with you all.”

They blinked their eyes. Ulric’s brow furrowed.

“Do you think this subjugation is a joke?”
“I only spoke the truth. What’s the problem? Want me to show you what a real joke looks like?”

As the atmosphere threatened to turn hostile again, Sebastian mediated once more.

“Please don’t be like that. The Heretic Inquisitor Kael may not have a long career, but in that short span, he has accomplished significant achievements. He will be a great asset to this subjugation.”
“Well, if the Holy Knight says so….”

Ulric’s aggressive momentum subsided.
Sebastian nodded and turned his gaze toward me.

“Then the woman over there is Deacon Bella?”
“Yes! Thank you for your assistance!”

Bella bowed her head briskly.

“I heard she was a mage, though….”
“Ah, yes, well….”

Bella laughed awkwardly and scratched her head.

“A, a mage?”

Commotion erupted among the mercenaries. As all eyes fixed upon Bella, I opened my mouth.

“There were once a Heretic Inquisitor and a Bishop who sought to kill Bella and those orphans to suppress magic. Do you know what became of them?”
“….”
“They all ascended to heaven. Thanks to my personally guiding their way. Is there anyone here who might require my guidance as well?”

Sebastian responded to that.

“Ah, I didn’t mean it in that sense. Please accept my sincere apologies.”

Sebastian bowed his head.

“Of course, I myself harbor no particular fondness for magic, but I’m not so extreme as to harbor murderous intent toward all mages. So I would be grateful if Deacon Bella would lend her aid to this Subjugation Force.”
“Yes! I’ll do my best!”

Sebastian smiled faintly.
Indeed, the Twelve Holy Knights possess a different caliber of character. Though that obsessive stalker is far too rigid, which causes problems.

“Then let us now discuss the details of this Subjugation Force.”

Sebastian and Ulric exchanged the information they possessed, while I observed from the side.

“Envy, one of the Seven Deadly Sins, is currently residing in a building somewhere in Norden Village….”

Then, I tilted my head slightly.
I thought I would start by finding where Envy, one of the Seven Deadly Sins, was hiding, but these people had already figured out his location.

“How many subordinates does Enoch command?”
“We estimate approximately fifty.”
“That’s quite a number. Is there no way to call out Enoch separately?”
“Not so far. His subordinates take turns standing guard.”
“I see.”
“The only method would be to lure him out using someone talented in a specific field—his area of interest—but even that proves meaningless if he shows no interest.”
“Hmm, then we have no choice but to wait for Enoch to leave the building….”

I couldn’t listen any longer and opened my mouth.

“Why wait at all? You already know his location and the size of his forces.”

Sebastian turned to look at me.

“Do you have a method?”
“Of course.”

I answered simply.

“Just raid the building and capture them all.”

Everyone’s gaze fixed upon me. It seemed they hadn’t considered such an approach.
I marveled at their intelligence.

“Are they fools….”

Ulric narrowed his eyes and countered.

“Who doesn’t know that? The problem is that method would inevitably cause massive casualties, and rather than capturing him, we’d likely be slaughtered.”
“I see.”
“You may have fought strong opponents before, but this is on a different level entirely. We’re talking about one of the Seven Deadly Sins officially recognized by the Theocracy. Do you know how many have died at his hands—from ordinary people to those dispatched by the Papal See?”

I already knew well enough how powerful the Seven Deadly Sins were. I had been one in my previous life, after all.
In fact, Enoch had a record of slaughtering everyone in this place in my past life.

“You don’t understand.”
“What?”
“Until just now, it was only you all. But now I’m here, aren’t I?”
“That doesn’t….”

I continued speaking.

“And why do you assume only you have time? Don’t you think he’s also monitoring your movements? According to your own words, he’s one of the Seven Deadly Sins officially recognized by the Theocracy, isn’t he?”
“….”
“If you drag this out, you might end up falling into a trap instead. It’s better to strike at his weaknesses through a method he never anticipated.”

While Ulric stood dazed, Sebastian asked.

“Are you truly confident? If you fail, it won’t end with just your life.”

A faint laugh escaped my lips at those words.

“I have always borne the responsibility for wielding my blade. That’s why I’m here.”

In my past life, I killed many. So I became a villain and walked a blood-soaked path.
Perhaps my regression was meant to bear responsibility for that.
Sebastian took a deep breath and deliberated. But soon, as if his resolve had hardened, he nodded.

“Very well. Kael Inquisitor, I’ll place my trust in you.”

Ulric was considerably taken aback.

“W-Holy Knight?”
“It’s difficult to gather reinforcements anyway in this situation. We don’t know when he’ll hide again. And if we waste time, we might fall into a trap ourselves, just as Kael Inquisitor said.”
“That may be true, but….”
“Of course, I’m aware that your subordinates may die if we go for a direct confrontation. Still, I’d be grateful for your help.”

Sebastian bowed deeply. It was rare for one of the Twelve Holy Knights to show such courtesy.
Knowing this, Ulric let out a long sigh.

“Understood. Let’s proceed that way.”
“Thank you.”

With the situation settled, I rose from my seat.

“Then let’s depart at once.”

I continued speaking as I moved forward.

“Whether we enter that bastard’s building or leave it—that decision is mine alone.”
“….”
“Therefore, no one in this place will die.”

The fools finally broke into grins and followed behind me.

(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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