The Regressed Sword Demon Is a Catastrophe-Class Inquisitor - Chapter 29

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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 29. Don’t I Get to Ask?

Enoch, Envy of the Seven Deadly Sins, was staying in a three-story building in Norden Village.
The spacious upper chamber was adorned with paintings, poems, compositions—countless works of art.
All were masterworks of exceptional craftsmanship, and remarkably, they had all been born from Enoch’s own hands.

‘Still insufficient.’

Yet Enoch remained consumed by yearning.
He could not forgive anyone for possessing even a single talent that surpassed his own.
So he would bring talented individuals to him, mimic their gifts, and then kill them to ensure they could never exceed him again.

‘And thus, before I knew it, I had become Envy of the Seven Deadly Sins.’

Enoch believed this epithet suited him perfectly.
This thirst and burning itch would never fade, no matter how hard I tried.
He had been painting while gazing out the window when suddenly he grew bored and hurled his brush down roughly.

“You said there was someone in this area who paints well. When does he arrive in the village?”

His subordinate standing beside him answered.

“He should return by dawn tomorrow, I’ve heard. He always comes back around this time.”
“Bring him to me as soon as he arrives. Tell him I’ll pay whatever he asks.”
“Yes, sir.”

This was why Enoch had been hiding in this remote village for the past month.

“Has the Theocracy made any significant moves since then?”

He had noticed small-fry lurking about this area recently.
Most would have failed to notice, but Enoch, befitting his notorious reputation as a sorcerer, possessed keen sensitivity to magical auras.

“We’re not entirely certain, but I suspect they’re assembling a Subjugation Force and devising a strategy.”
“Tch, as expected.”

The Theocracy had dispatched personnel to capture Enoch all this time, only to have them consumed entirely by his magic.
So this time, they might even deploy the Twelve Holy Knights to ensure Enoch’s capture.

“When the painter arrives, we kidnap him and leave this place immediately. Then we’ll pretend ignorance of the Theocracy’s movements and retreat, only to annihilate them. So until then, act as you normally would.”
“Yes, I’ll inform the others as well.”
“The Theocracy will move more cautiously after what they’ve suffered at my hands. We’ll exploit that advantage.”
“Always such brilliant wisdom, Enoch.”

Enoch let out a scoff in response.

“Get out.”
“Yes.”

Just then, someone knocked loudly on the door and shouted.

– Enoch! I have urgent news to report!
“Come in and speak.”

As a man opened the door and entered, Enoch asked.

“So what is it?”
“Right now, what appears to be a force from the Theocracy is approaching this building in a direct line!”
“What?”

Startled, I rose from my seat and moved toward the window.
Through the pitch darkness, figures in various garb were slowly walking toward me from the distance.

‘It really is the Theocracy? And they’ve even brought the Twelve Holy Knights and a Heretic Inquisitor.’

I had naturally assumed the Theocracy, having failed to capture me all this time, would move cautiously.
Yet they were coming at me head-on like this?
Faced with this utterly unexpected sight, I let out a hollow laugh.

“Has the Theocracy finally lost its mind?”

But I did not know.
It wasn’t that the Theocracy had lost its mind—merely that one madman had been mixed into their ranks.

* * *

We gathered together and advanced toward Enoch’s Residence.
Residents occasionally emerged to peer at us curiously, and I waved lightly in acknowledgment.

“Indeed. We are the ones sent from the Theocracy.”

Sebastian, standing beside me, wore a displeased expression.

“I agreed to this, but is it truly wise? By now, Enoch must have noticed us. There’s no telling when he might strike.”

Sebastian was clad entirely in silver armor that gleamed even in the darkness, catching the moonlight.

“It’s fine. By moving openly like this, he’ll have much to consider. He’ll likely observe how we act and respond accordingly. It’s too late for him to flee.”
“But what if he attacks before we expect it?”
“Then…”

I tapped the shield Sebastian was holding.

“We’ll have to block it with this. You’re not uncertain, are you?”
“Well, it’s not that I’m uncertain…”

Sebastian scratched his cheek and nodded.

“Very well. Since I’ve agreed to trust you, I won’t harbor further doubts.”
“A wise choice.”

I glanced at Sebastian’s radiant shield.

“How much does that cost? It looks expensive.”
“…I don’t know. The Papal See provided it.”
“For free?”
“Well, being one of the Twelve Holy Knights and all…”
“Hmm.”

I looked down at my own sword.
It had been manageable until I wielded the Sword of Joy, but the heat from the Sword of Wrath had warped the blade somewhat.

‘Should I just reveal to the Theocracy that I’m a Holy Knight too?’

No, now is not the time. The gazes directed at me are far from favorable.
The Goddess Scripture foretells that one of the Holy Knights will betray us.
Accepting a sword I could obtain through my own strength was hardly the wisest choice.
We had arrived at Enoch’s Residence before I knew it.
A courtyard enclosed by outer walls, centered around a three-story building—it felt more like a modest mansion than an inn.

“You all should hold back for now. We’ll handle this first.”

Only Bella and I stepped forward. She spoke with a solemn expression.

“Should I take action?”

I glanced at Sebastian before answering.

“No. Today, your magic is reserved solely for protecting others. First, protect yourself.”
“Understood!”

Stopping at a reasonable distance from the Main Gate, I used Fair Wind to survey every corner of the building.

‘Fifty-two in total. No ordinary people. Enoch must be on the third floor.’

The moment my assessment was complete, someone emerged from the Main Gate.

“Are you perhaps envoys from the Papal See?”
“We are.”
“But what brings such distinguished guests here? We don’t have rooms suitable for accommodating you….”

So he was going to play ignorant?

“Then we’ll simply kill everyone staying here first.”
“Pardon?”
“Want me to search you instead? Where’s this pathetic act coming from? Is your master here or not?”

His eyes sharpened like blades, and his tone became crude and hostile.

“Why are you doing something so foolish, so unlike the Theocracy? Do you all wish to die?”

At his question, I tilted my head in confusion.

“You’ll kill me? Why are you acting so high and mighty?”
“….”
“This won’t do. Let me send you, arrogant as you are, to meet the Goddess.”

I drew my blade and assumed my stance—not a slashing position, but one designed to pierce straight through an enemy’s heart.

Whoooosh—

Flames coiled around the sword’s edge. My blade, now wreathed in fire, blazed brilliantly through the darkness.
But they would not stand idle and watch.

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!

The sound of something being triggered erupted loudly. Dozens of arrows rained down from the night sky like falling stars.
Even I could not survive if so many arrows pierced my body, yet I did not move.

Clang-clang-clang-clang!

Arrows that seemed ready to skewer me at any moment bounced away before reaching me.
A translucent barrier surrounded me. It was Bella’s magic.

‘Her growth truly is remarkable.’

It was only natural, given that she was destined to become Envy of the Seven Deadly Sins.
In any case, they could only watch helplessly now, so I unleashed my flames even more powerfully.

Whoooosh!

Ordinary fire possesses an expansive nature.
But what if I compressed these flames into a sphere the size of a marble?
And what if I continued to feed more flames into that small space without stopping?

Rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble!!

But whatever happened next was no longer my concern, so I gathered the flames at the sword’s tip.
The sphere of fire trembled as if ready to burst, its color deepening to a vivid crimson.
The heat was so intense that the sword’s tip began to melt slightly, becoming blunt.
Yet it remained sufficient to pierce an enemy’s throat, so I did not stop—I continued compressing the flames.

Grrrrrrgh!!

At the moment the flame contained within the orb burst forth beyond its limit.
I thrust my sword forward into the empty air.

‘Singular Point Detonation.’

Kwaaaaaaaaaang!

With a tremendous roar, scorching flames erupted forward in a straight line.
Bella’s barrier dissipated at the right moment, and the inferno surged toward Enoch’s Residence.

“…!”

The lackey who sensed danger and attempted to flee was consumed entirely by the flames.
Yet the fire did not relent, obliterating the Main Gate before reaching the building itself.

Kwakwakwakwa!

A massive explosion that shattered the lower portion of the structure.
The dark sky suddenly brightened as if dawn were breaking.

Sssssss….

The flames bursting from my blade gradually subsided, and silence descended upon the area.
The fool at the Main Gate and the towering building—both now bore gaping holes, and my vision opened to a sense of liberation.
All that remained in the wake of the explosion was oppressive heat.
I wiped the sweat beading on my forehead.

“It’s hot. Is it already summer?”

It shouldn’t even be May yet….

Drdrdrdr….

The building with its First Floor pierced through lost its balance and began to collapse.
Using the wind to sense my surroundings, I detected roughly twenty survivors on the Second Floor.
Killing thirty people with a single technique was a remarkable feat, yet I found myself unsatisfied.

‘Hmm….’

Originally, I had planned to leave only about ten of them alive, and if possible, to inflict damage upon Enoch as well.
But it seemed Enoch was not merely watching idly—he had minimized the casualties using protective magic.
It was no wonder the Theocracy officially recognized him as one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

‘Now I understand why they all died by his hand.’

Then, a voice broke the silence from behind me.

“W-what is this….”
“Is it… blade energy?”

This was neither blade energy nor anything of the sort. It was merely a technique born from my own swordsmanship and my ability to harmonize with divine power.
But to them, it would surely be a sight worthy of astonishment.

“Kael Inquisitor, could this possibly be….”

Sebastian’s expression was far more flustered than the others.
He was one of the Twelve Holy Knights who wielded divine power, so he would have certainly sensed that my technique was imbued with it.

“….”

When I placed my index finger to my lips, Sebastian swallowed hard and nodded in understanding.
I had no intention of desperately hiding the fact that I was a Holy Knight.
I was simply keeping it concealed as long as possible—it was good to hold a card in reserve.

Thud-thud-thud!

Then, Enoch’s surviving subordinates began charging toward us from the collapsed building.
I spoke to those behind me.

“Leave the rest to you. I will sever Enoch’s head before this heat dissipates.”
“I shall follow shortly.”
“Very well.”

I turned my gaze away from Sebastian.

“And Bella, Deacon.”
“Yes, Interrogator!”
“Use your magic to protect the others as much as possible so they don’t get caught in the crossfire.”

Bella had grown skilled enough with magic to shield our allies from harm without catching them in the blast radius.
In fact, she had just cast a proper defensive spell around me moments before.

“Understood!”

The moment I heard Bella’s affirmation, I kicked off the ground and charged forward.
Enoch, who had been on the upper level, now stood behind his subordinates on the ground floor—likely displaced when the building collapsed.
I cut down everything in my path, driving straight ahead without hesitation.
Just as I was about to strike down a lackey at the edge of the formation—

Whoooosh!

A torrent of flames engulfed my entire field of vision.
For a moment, I wondered if Hell itself had come for me, but it turned out to be flame magic.

Dash!

I threw myself to the side and evaded, but the flames consumed an unfortunate subordinate instead.
Having escaped that inferno, I wiped the sweat from my brow once more.

“It’s sweltering. Shall we stop playing with fire?”

I wrapped my blade with the magic of Joy. A cool breeze swept across my body, dispelling the heat.

“Ah, that’s better. Would you like some relief as well?”

I leveled my sword’s tip toward the mage.
A gaunt man with long, slender hair—Enoch, Envy of the Seven Deadly Sins.
Enoch’s eyes narrowed.

“You’re strong. The strongest I’ve ever faced, actually.”
“Your hair is the longest I’ve ever seen on a man.”

Long enough that it dragged across the floor.

“Is that supposed to be a broom?”

Enoch let out a hollow laugh and answered.

“You seem quite composed. You must have exhausted considerable power with that last attack.”

Even I felt a numbing fatigue coursing through my body after unleashing a massive technique like Point Explosion.
But it wasn’t enough to render me immobile, and Enoch had likely expended considerable mana blocking that attack as well—so we were even.

“You’re hardly in a position to worry about me.”

Enoch ground his teeth and opened his mouth.

“I despise creatures like you most of all. Those born without a single deficiency.”
“….”
“Towering height, refined features, and formidable strength at such a young age…. Every time I see someone like you, my insides writhe with resentment.”

Enoch’s gaze gleamed with malice.
Indeed, a sentiment befitting Envy of the Seven Deadly Sins.
I met his gaze, thick with colossal jealousy, and nodded.

“That’s right. That’s exactly what I am.”
“…What?”

Was this fool actually begging for his life while flattering me?
But I was not born with the compassion to extend mercy even to the wicked, so as he stood there dumbfounded, I kicked off the ground.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

My blade, having reached him in an instant, descended with lethal speed.

(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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