The Regressed Sword Demon Is a Catastrophe-Class Inquisitor - Chapter 33

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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 33. My Thoughts Have Changed.

Luminara Mansion.
Benedick, the head of the household, stood lost in thought as he gazed upon the various treasures and purses of gold scattered across the garden.

“Hmm… So what exactly is all this?”

Sriben answered him.

“This is the reward sent by the Papal See for the Young Master capturing Envy of the Seven Deadly Sins, and this is the commission fee received from Cedric Territory for capturing a Demon.”
“I see…”

It hadn’t been long since Kael left the mansion carrying a substantial sum of money.
Yet in that short time, he’d not only captured Envy of the Seven Deadly Sins and a Demon, but also earned this considerable fortune?

‘Kael, what in the world are you doing out there…?’

I’m delighted that he’s performing his role as a Heresy Inquisitor so well, yet at the same time, I find myself worried.
Is this anxiety that he might one day depart far from us merely unfounded concern?

“Haha, Aren, look at this. This is all money your brother has earned honestly.”
“Yes, my brother is truly remarkable. It seems he’s growing stronger at an incredible pace.”

Still, seeing Lillian and Aren smile so frequently these days brings me joy.

‘Yes, what good does it do to worry about the future? There are mountains of tasks to accomplish right now.’

Benedick resolved to fully savor the present moment. Kael would fulfill his role as a Heresy Inquisitor, and I would fulfill mine as the head of the household.

“Young Master Kael approaches!”

At Cedric’s announcement, the household servants lined up before the main gate.
Just then the gate opened, and Kael and Bella stepped through, while the attendants offered their applause.

Clap clap clap clap clap!!

Their welcome was as fervent as if a hero had returned home.
With the money Kael had brought, their meals and quality of life had improved, so in a sense, it was only natural.

‘Even I, the head of this family, have never received such treatment….’

Would you just take over as head of the family? Huh?
Without the title, Kael’s current standing within the family seemed to be the highest of all.

“Haha, thank you all. The eldest son of the Luminara Family has returned safely.”

Kael waved his hand to them.
Benedick observed the scene with fresh eyes.
Originally, none of the family’s retainers had welcomed the reckless Kael.
Though he had never needlessly tormented others, he was always causing trouble, so people had shunned him.

‘But what of now?’

In the eyes of the retainers gazing upon Kael, there gleamed admiration and reverence.
It was a reaction unimaginable even half a year ago.

‘It seems you’ve found the right path to channel your talents.’

Just then, Kael stopped before Benedick. The applause faded, and silence settled.
Kael smiled faintly.

“I’m home, Father.”

When had that small troublemaker grown so much?
He had matured so splendidly that my simple wish for him to grow up healthy seemed pale in comparison.
Benedick smiled to suppress the surge of emotion welling up within him.

“Welcome home, Kael.”

* * *

Father greeted me and immediately turned his steps toward the mansion, issuing an order.

“Then have everyone move these things to the mansion. There’s much to organize.”
“Yes, sir.”

The servants moved the valuables from the garden into the mansion.
Mother approached me and spoke.

“Kael, are you hurt anywhere? I heard you fought a formidable opponent.”
“As you can see, there’s no problem whatsoever.”
“Thank goodness.”

Mother patted my shoulder gently, then glanced at Father.

“Don’t mind your father. He seems rather embarrassed, that’s all.”

I nodded in acknowledgment.

“I understand. He couldn’t very well shed tears in front of so many people.”
….

Father’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt.

“Hehe, well, that’s true.”
“Ahem! Lillian, come inside. It’s rather chilly.”
“It’s quite pleasant, actually….”
“Ahem!”

Mother laughed softly and followed Father inside.
Aren smiled at the sight.

“The two of you always get along so well. It’s wonderful to see.”

I gazed at Aren.
In my past life, by now Aren would have been captured by the Evil Book Society, suffering through experiments that transformed humans into demons.
After that, he would have become a demon himself, unable to die, wandering the Continent endlessly.

“Brother?”

Aren tilted his head at my gaze.

“No, it’s nothing. By the way, are you still continuing your sword training?”
“Yes. I want to become strong like you, so I’ve been training longer than before.”

Indeed, Aren’s palms appeared rougher than before.

“Good. Don’t slack off from now on. You need to be able to protect yourself, at least.”
“Understood, brother.”
“Right.”

That was when it happened.

“Young Master, Young Master.”

A voice called to me from below. There stood Rak and Rami, the siblings I had taken in from the Slums.
Rami handed me a neatly pressed black priest’s robe with her small hands.

“Cedric said to give this to you, Young Master.”
“Thank you.”
“Yes, hehe….”

Rak and Rami had filled out considerably since before, their cheeks now pleasantly round, and their overall appearance had become much cleaner.
I asked Rami a question.

“Is the work manageable?”
“Yes. Everyone is kind, and I’m happy to be helpful to someone.”

Rami giggled brightly.

“I see. What about you, Rak?”
“I still make many mistakes, but learning itself is fun. Most of all, Rami smiles often.”

Rak gently stroked Rami’s small head.

“That’s enough then. Go and continue learning. I have matters to attend to.”
“Yes, Young Master.”

As the siblings departed, I turned my gaze elsewhere.
Sriben, who had been standing there vacantly, straightened his posture formally.

“Welcome back, sir? Fortune of the Luminara Family, a walking entrepreneur, light that drives back the darkness.”
“Spare me the flattery. Do you have something to say? Are we short on funds again?”

Sriben adjusted his glasses and replied.

“No, sir. The Young Master has already provided substantial funds, so we have no financial concerns for the time being.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Well, you see….”

Sriben stepped closer and continued.

“The planting season is approaching soon, but the plague that Baron Scalen spread across the fields remains unresolved. The residents are suffering greatly because of it.”

I clicked my tongue.

“That bastard again.”
“Yes. That bastard again and again.”
“This won’t do. It seems you’ll have to go to Hell and beat some sense into him.”
“Ha, surely you’re joking again, sir?”
“Does it sound like a joke?”

Sriben met my gaze and replied.

“No, sir.”
“Right?”
“Yes.”

Sriben began sweating profusely and continued speaking.

“Previously, you said you would let me live for one more month. There are still several days remaining until that month is up.”
“Then you can live a few more days and then go.”
“Please spare me, Young Master.”

I nodded.

“Actually, I was joking. Since you’ve done something worthwhile, I’ll extend your life by another month.”
“Thank you, Young Master.”
“So what did Father say about all this?”

Sriben looked up and answered.

“The Family Head said we must first find a way to resolve this plague. Until then, absorbing Scalen Territory is impossible. And I share that view.”
“I agree. How can I concern myself with others when I cannot even solve the worries of those living here?”

There was no more time to delay. I had no choice but to meet with ‘that one’.

“Then I’ll be on my way. I’ll return once I’ve found a solution.”
“Yes. Please take care, Young Master.”

It was just as I was about to leave the mansion.

“Kael.”

Father, who had somehow stepped outside the mansion, called me to a halt.

“Yes?”
“If it’s not urgent, rest for a day before you go.”
“It’s fine. I’ve rested during the journey.”

Of course, the continuous intense battles had left me fatigued, but I was accustomed to such exhaustion from my previous life.

“Kael.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Not everyone is as resilient as you. You yourself haven’t been sleeping well recently. Besides, it will be dark soon and we’ll have to camp anyway—wouldn’t it be better to sleep comfortably here at the mansion before you go?”

Father was grave and weighty, like a massive stone.
I turned to look at Bella beside me.

“Bella, have you lost some weight?”
“Hehe, I’ve lost some baby fat. It’s proof that I’m becoming a proper lady now!”

She did seem to have lost some weight, but there were dark circles under her eyes.
Well, aside from assisting me, she must have been sleep-deprived from studying magic.

‘Hmm.’

I had forgotten for a moment—I was no longer a villain, no longer being hunted by anyone.
So there was no need to rush about as if fire were at my heels.

‘Come to think of it, isn’t all of this because of that stalker bastard?’

Perhaps not. It seemed I had many enemies in my past life besides Ludian and the Theocracy.
In any case, unlike my previous life, I am not walking this path alone now.
It wouldn’t be amiss to occasionally glance around at those treading the same road alongside me.

“Let’s rest for a day as Father suggested.”
“I apologize….”
“I won’t entertain objections. I too must recover my strength, lest it hinder my next plans.”
“Yes….”
“First, let’s eat. Have them prepare meat dishes.”
“Thank you, Interrogator!”
“Very well.”

How magnanimous and understanding I am….
Truly commendable.

* * *

At roughly the same moment, within a building somewhere in the Theocracy, members of the Evil Book Society sat gathered around a table.
Nemesio, the Apostle of the Theocracy, spoke.

“The reason I have assembled you Apostles is that I have something of great importance to convey. Those Apostles not present here shall be informed separately at a later time.”

The Apostles nodded silently.

“Then let us proceed directly to the matter at hand. In truth, not long ago, new words from the Demon God were inscribed upon the Primordial Evil Scripture.”

Just as the Ella Faith possessed the Scripture of Origins, so too did the Evil Book Society possess the Primordial Evil Scripture, wherein lay the teachings of the Demon God.

“Is that truly so?”
“Remarkable! This is the first occurrence since Eldoras appeared 102 years ago, is it not?”

The Apostles each expressed their astonishment.

“Indeed. He was the mightiest human in the history of the Ordeval Continent and a Holy Knight who slew countless demons. Of course, he ultimately incurred the great Demon God’s wrath and met a miserable end.”
“….”
“In any case, allow me to share the words inscribed in the Primordial Evil Scripture….”

Nemesio opened the scripture he had transcribed and continued with reverence.

“‘You who yearn to become stronger than any other—behold as maddened lightning descends upon the earth. The foolish shall be consumed entirely by that tremendous bolt.'”
“….”
“‘Do not be arrogant. Lift your gaze to the heavens, for there dwell the eyes of Luminara’s descendants. You must act with the awareness that you exist within an invisible grasp.'”

The Apostles swallowed hard, listening intently to the Demon God’s words.

“‘All who worship my omnipotence—destroy everything that blocks your path. Hesitation leads only to being devoured; such is the way of the world. Your weapon is ruthlessness itself.'”

Nemesio gently set the scripture down upon the table.

“The Demon God’s words end here.”

Silence settled over the gathering. Then, one of the Apostles spoke up.

“Does ‘Luminara’s descendant’ perhaps refer to Kael Luminara, the one who slew the Scalen Apostle?”

Nemesio nodded.

“Most likely. Now that I think of it, the Scalen Apostle was indeed targeting the Luminara Family. Perhaps this was no mere coincidence.”
“Then does his name appearing in the Primordial Evil Book mean he will become a powerhouse like Eldoras?”
“I cannot say for certain. He may become stronger than Eldoras, or perhaps it carries a meaning we do not yet comprehend.”

Nemesio regarded the Apostles with a grave expression.

“However, one thing is certain—he will pose a grave threat to our Evil Book Society.”

The Apostles nodded in agreement, and Nemesio continued.

“Indeed, Kael has already slain the Scalen Apostle and dealt with Envy of the Seven Deadly Sins. He may have accomplished feats we remain unaware of.”
“….”
“Therefore, from this moment forward, our Evil Book Society shall designate Kael Luminara as a ‘Defier of Heaven.'”

A “Defier of Heaven” referred to those who posed grave threats to the Evil Book Society.
This list included the Theocracy’s Holy Knights, Holy Maidens, and several other entities.

“For now, continue as you normally would, but heed the Demon God’s words—pay special attention to Kael Luminara. We know not when he may appear before us.”
“Understood.”
“Then let us conclude this meeting. May you all grow stronger than before.”

As the Apostle rose, the other Apostles also left their seats.

* * *

Bella and I rested at the mansion for a day before moving forward with our next plan.
With fatigue completely gone, my mind felt remarkably sharp.

‘Still, leaving my territory makes me uneasy.’

I had killed Baron Scalen, who had annihilated my family in my past life, but I didn’t believe he was the only threat to my clan.

‘More precisely, they’re targeting me rather than my family.’

By now, the Evil Book Society would certainly be wary of me.
But would they dare confront me directly? Those vile creatures?

‘Absolutely not.’

They might target my family in my absence to force my hand.
Yet I couldn’t simply remain confined to the mansion either.

‘Father and Aren are capable, but even a single Apostle from the Evil Book Society would overwhelm them.’

So I needed to station one powerful individual at my family estate for peace of mind.

‘The one I’m going to find now is perfectly suited for that.’

In my past life, he was a villain who embodied Greed, one of the Seven Deadly Sins.
His dagger was so lethal that even a scratch could prove fatal, earning him the epithet “Viper.”
With such strength, having him stationed at my family estate would be invaluable.

‘The question is whether he’ll accept it willingly.’

Though he isn’t called Greed now, he’s certainly not a docile man.
Still, with the right persuasion, I could get him to cure the plague spreading through my fields.
He was skilled with poisons, proficient in medicine, and had even mastered alchemy.

‘Well, in the end, he still died by my hand in that life….’

I could only hope that he hadn’t crossed the line yet.
After two days of traveling in the hired carriage, we arrived at Viper Territory.
Though it was a small baron’s estate, it was not a place to be taken lightly because of the Viper Territory’s lord.

‘Hmm.’

The territory was relatively well-maintained, and various medicinal herbs were being sold along the streets.
Yet the expressions of the residents seemed shrouded in fog, devoid of any vitality.
They walked their paths without regard for others, and despite my conspicuous priestly robes, not a single soul cast a glance my way.

Creak—

As I walked, I stopped by an alchemy shop called Lunatic.
The display cases held various medicinal ingredients and potions, giving it the feel of a small workshop.

“….”

The proprietor stood behind the counter but offered no greeting.
Hair like a broom brushing his shoulders. Eyes as deep as pits.
This man was Arturo—who would later be called the Viper and become Greed of the Seven Deadly Sins.

‘His temperament hasn’t changed one bit.’

I casually browsed the shop before finally speaking.

“Proprietor, don’t just stand there—fetch me some water. My throat’s parched from the long journey.”
“….”

Arturo, who had been watching me silently, wordlessly disappeared into the back and returned with a cup of water.
He set the cup down on the counter.

“Here you are.”
“Much obliged.”

The cup contained plain water—no scent, no color.
But what is greed? It means being excessively stingy about something.
In other words, a man so miserly he begrudges even a single cup of water to a guest.

‘Yet this man would become a villain—Greed of the Seven Deadly Sins.’

Moreover, he didn’t even purchase anything, yet he willingly offers water? That’s no ordinary situation.
This means something is amiss.

“Listen, proprietor.”
“Speak.”

I set down the water glass and fixed him with a measured stare.

“I’ll give you a fair choice. Either bring fresh water, or face me in combat.”

Arturo’s brow furrowed.

“You suspect I’ve poisoned it? Why would I do such a thing to a Priest I’ve only just met?”
“I don’t know your reasons. So what will it be?”
“….”

Arturo studied me intently. Our gazes locked, and silence settled between us.
Then he reached for the water glass.

“If you’re so suspicious, I’ll fetch fresh water.”

The moment his fingers closed around the glass—

“Wait.”

I seized his wrist firmly.

“I’ve changed my mind.”
“What?”
“Either you drink it, or you come with me to the Papal See. Of course, your head and body will be parting ways.”

Arturo exhaled deeply.

“Truly, this Priest is quite suspicious. Yet it was you who asked for water in the first place.”
“But I never asked for poison.”
“…Fine, I’ll drink it then.”
“Do so.”

I released the man’s wrist.
He rubbed his reddened wrist, then grasped the water glass. Without hesitation, he drained it in one gulp and set the empty cup down sharply on the counter.

“Is that all?”

I nodded.

“Seems your throat was quite parched.”
“So what business do you have with me? You don’t appear to be here to purchase anything.”

I studied him intently before speaking.

“I had business with the proprietor, but he’s vanished just now. Forgive my suspicion—I’m a Heresy Inquisitor, you see.”
“…So you were indeed a Heresy Inquisitor.”

Arturo shrugged his shoulders.

“I’m not sure what aroused your suspicion, but since it’s cleared up, that’s what matters.”
“Thank you for your understanding. By the way, isn’t the shop a bit warm? It might be good to air it out.”
“Hmm, is it? I hadn’t noticed.”
“Well, if the proprietor says so, then it must be. I’ll be on my way.”

I left without further hesitation, stepping out into the street.

* * *

The moment the Heresy Inquisitor closed the door and departed, Arturo exhaled a deep sigh of relief.

‘That was close.’

The water he’d given the Heresy Inquisitor had indeed been laced with a sleeping draught—one potent enough to render even seasoned Knights unconscious in moments.
The only reason Arturo remained unaffected was his unique resistance to toxins, something most others lacked.
Moreover, he had carefully calibrated the dosage beforehand, accounting for the possibility of ingesting it himself in reverse.

‘Still, the effect was so strong that I’m feeling somewhat drowsy. I should prepare an antidote and take it.’

Arturo moved into the back of the shop and began skillfully retrieving medicinal herbs one by one.
Though his resistance prevented him from losing consciousness, there remained the possibility that the Heresy Inquisitor might suddenly return to observe his condition.
While he was confident he could conceal any signs of fatigue, it was best to eliminate such variables entirely.

‘If things went south, I was planning to knock out the Heresy Inquisitor and flee. Fortunately, it seems I managed to slip through.’

When the Heresy Inquisitor first entered this establishment, I thought he’d come knowing something.
There was no way he would have pinpointed this shop so precisely otherwise.
But it seemed his suspicions were unfounded, as he left the shop once more.
Of course, his intuition had been accurate.

“Hmm?”

While diligently combining the antidote, Arturo felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

‘Why is it so hot?’

The shop, which had been cool moments ago, had grown uncomfortably warm. At first I thought it was my imagination, but my body temperature was clearly rising.

‘It’s not from the sleeping draught I consumed.’

While it could cause sudden drowsiness, it had no such effect. I knew better than anyone, having created it myself.

‘…Wind?’

Hot air now circulated throughout the shop. Beyond the walls, I could faintly sense undulating mana.

‘Surely not…! Is this the Heresy Inquisitor’s doing?’

The mana was faint, devoid of killing intent, and the sleeping compound had dulled my senses enough that I detected it too late.

‘This is bad! He never truly abandoned his suspicions!’

As body temperature rose, blood flow accelerated, and the drug’s effects would take hold all the faster.

Sway—

I lost my balance momentarily, leaning my wavering body against the table.

‘Damn it…! Was that why he turned back so decisively? To lull me into a false sense of security?’

Cold sweat trickled down my face, and my eyelids grew unbearably heavy.
Trapped in an overwhelming drowsiness, I felt as though I were locked inside a furnace.

“At least this….”

I grabbed a handful of unblended medicinal herbs and shoved them into my mouth.
But before Arturo could even chew them….

‘Ah… I’m done for….’

Boom—

I lost consciousness, the last thread of awareness slipping away, and collapsed to the ground.

(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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