The Regressed Sword Demon Is a Catastrophe-Class Inquisitor - Chapter 4

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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 4. This Is….

Of course, the mansion stood intact, untouched by flame.
No blood stained the floors, no corpses lay strewn about—only the gentle fragrance of home graced my senses, not the stench of death.
After surveying the mansion anew and washing myself before changing into fresh clothes, Mother and my sibling returned.

“Kael!”

The woman with long black hair spotted me at the entrance and rushed forward.
Lillian Luminara. My mother.

“Thank the heavens you’re safe.”

She pulled me into a tight embrace.

“It’s been a long time, Mother.”
“Yes, six months now.”

Six months. For them, perhaps.
That’s how they would perceive it.

“Brother….”

A boy not yet of age looked up at me with wide, round eyes.
His gaze held equal parts joy and sorrow.
My younger brother, Aren Luminara.

“You’ve returned.”
“Yes.”
“Why….”

I stepped toward Aren, whose lips trembled as he bit them.

It was his letter that had drawn me back to the Family Estate, despite my resolve for independence.

The letter itself had long since burned to ash, yet its contents remained seared into my memory.

“Aren, it’s me. How have you been?”
“It’s been nearly half a year since you left the Family Estate. If you read this letter, please send a reply. Mother and Father are worried.”

The handwriting was round and meticulous, befitting Aren’s nature.

“You left the Family Estate claiming to undertake a pilgrimage, but I knew from the beginning it was simply running away.”
“You often vented your frustrations about the Ella Faith’s doctrines to me, after all.”

In this cozy cage of a place, Aren was the only person I could confide my grievances to.
Each time, Aren would listen quietly with eyes wide and attentive.

“I don’t want you to force yourself to live within a mold.”
“From now on, I will fulfill my duties as a Family member and believer of the Ella Faith, so please live the life you desire.”
“However, I hope you’ll return to the Family Estate at least once a year. When you return, please tell me stories of the different worlds you’ve seen.”

Upon reading that letter, I had no choice but to return to the Family Estate immediately.
I had rarely listened to Aren’s stories, always talking about myself instead.
How despicable and pathetic must I have seemed to Aren when the mansion burned.
The eldest son didn’t even show his face when the Family faced crisis.

“Aren.”
“Yes, brother.”
“I’ve returned to the Family Estate of my own will. After wandering the world, I realized what I truly desired was here all along.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m relieved.”

Aren broke into a bright smile. I offered a subtle smile in return and gently tapped his head.
Of course, I had no intention of living as a servant of the Ella Faith, regardless of the Family’s wishes. I simply couldn’t abandon them here as I had in my past life.

“Then let’s share a meal together after all this time.”
“Yes, brother.”

* * *

Though it was our first meal in a long time, there wasn’t much conversation between us. I now understood we would have plenty of opportunities to talk.
So this was enough for me.
After finishing the meal, I retrieved the sword I once wielded in the Family Estate and stepped out into the Garden.

‘To prevent the Luminara Family’s destruction, I must first exterminate the vermin infesting the Territory.’

Half a year ago, gambling dens and pleasure districts began sprouting throughout the Territory.
It made no sense, considering the Luminara Family’s devout faith in the Ella Faith.
I hadn’t known at the time, but now I understood those establishments were Baron Scalen’s forward bases.

‘But charging in with my current condition would be reckless.’

Of course, even in this state, I could crush most opponents.
But victory wasn’t guaranteed. After all, wandering this world had taught me that raw strength alone doesn’t determine the victor.

‘So I must elevate my sword’s realm first.’

My sword’s realms were divided into four stages: Joy, Wrath, Sorrow, and Pleasure, in ascending order.
There existed a higher realm called the Swordless, which I’d considered, but in my previous life I’d only reached Pleasure.

‘This time, I must reach the Swordless realm no matter what.’

Only then could I defeat the Demon God with a human body.

‘But for now, reaching Joy alone would suffice.’

The method to reach the Joy realm was remarkably simple.
One needed physical prowess and holy power capable of wielding Joy, then experience complete happiness.

‘In my previous life, six months after the Family fell, I killed Baron Scalen—the root of all calamity—and reached the Joy realm.’

That was when I became the Sword Demon, wandering the world.
Even when I killed Baron Scalen, he remained a righteous man in the eyes of others.

‘My physical abilities have declined since that time, but they’re sufficient to reach the Joy realm.’

I drew my blade and infused it with holy power. Then, closing my eyes, I began swinging the sword wherever my body led me.

Whoosh— Whoosh—

I am sufficiently content at this moment.
I thought everything had ended when the Demon God severed my neck, yet I have been granted another chance at life.
Is that all?
I have safely returned to the Family Estate and found the Mansion still ablaze with no flames, my family members still breathing instead of lying as corpses.

Whoosh!

Is this not cause for joy?
Every fate I could not reverse, I can now twist with my blade.
I, who was once called the Sword Demon wandering between worlds, am now called by the name Kael.
Therefore, I can wield my sword again, brimming with joy.

“….”

I sheathed my blade after the horizontal slash. The pristine steel held only the hue of twilight.
I had not reached the state of ecstasy.

‘Why is this?’

I should surely be experiencing joy right now?
It was not a lack of physical ability or divine power. Since I had conceived this swordsmanship myself, I understood it better than anyone.

‘Then why?’

Though I could not discern the reason, my blade was more honest than my mind.
Failing to reach the state of ecstasy meant I had not fulfilled the necessary condition.
Then I had no choice but to proceed in this state for now?

“Brother.”

At that moment, Aren approached, cradling a scripture and a sword. I sheathed my blade and asked.

“What is it?”
“It seems you have grown even stronger in the meantime, brother. I must not fall behind either—would you teach me your swordsmanship?”

Aren wielded the sword often, though not to my extent. When Aren studied the scriptures, I had gripped the blade.

“Very well.”
“Thank you.”

Aren smiled softly as he carefully set the scripture and scabbard on the ground, then stood before me with sword in hand.

“First, swing freely however you like. Then I’ll point out the flaws.”
“Yes.”

Aren nodded, closed his eyes, and steadied his breathing.
When composure arrived, his eyes snapped open and he began weaving sword strikes through the empty air.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Monotonous and textbook-perfect. Aren was swinging his blade exactly as the books had taught him.
His talent was exceptional, but the greatest flaw was that his sword lacked any edge to it.
Soon Aren lowered his blade, exhaled deeply, and turned to face me.
I assessed him coldly.

“You look like a sparrow pecking with its beak. Are you planning to harvest grain with that sword, Aren?”
“….”
“If farming is your dream, then you possess truly genius-level talent. And when you’re cutting grain and accidentally drop it on an insect, you’ll ask like this: ‘Are you alright, little bug? Did you get hurt anywhere?'”
“….”
“A saint has descended. Remarkable. Aren, you’ll become the greatest holy priest among all farmers.”

Aren couldn’t respond for a while, then shot me a glare.

“That’s too harsh, brother.”
“It’s the truth. A sword exists to protect you, but swinging it like that makes it utterly useless.”
“I could knock them unconscious by striking with the flat of the blade.”
“What if they pretend to be unconscious and then attack you?”
“I’ll strike them again.”
“Then their head will split open and they’ll die. Well learned. Go back down the mountain.”

Aren glared at me again, but I didn’t avoid his gaze and simply looked back.
After a moment of this, Aren began to smile softly.

“Why are you smiling?”
“Oh, it’s just… you seem unchanged.”

Aren gazed at me, his smile not yet faded.

“To be honest, I had a strange thought. I wondered if perhaps my letter had changed you too much, brother.”
“I am who I am.”
“I see.”

Aren Luminara nodded, then suddenly gazed upward along a shaft of light, and I followed suit, lifting my head.
The sky had filled with a crimson sunset.

“It’s beautiful.”
“Indeed.”

As I stood there gazing at the same sky as Aren Luminara.
A sudden breeze swept across, bringing a pleasant coolness. Eyes closed, I savored the sensation before my body moved of its own accord—I drew my blade.

“Brother?”
“Watch carefully.”

I opened my eyes and took my stance.

“Observe how I wield my sword.”

In the next moment, my blade moved smoothly as if riding the wind. I sliced through the air itself, even cutting through the cascading sunset light.

Whoosh!

Then, suddenly recalling how Aren Luminara wielded his blade, I swung mine like a sparrow.
Pecking at grain, startled by a gust and fluttering its wings….
The image was so pathetic that laughter escaped me unbidden.

Chirp! Chirp!

Then I embroidered my strikes in my own style.
Deflecting imaginary attacks, severing limbs, piercing through someone’s heart.
Like a sharp tempest raging without restraint, I wielded my blade relentlessly.
And when I finally drew the blade horizontally….

Whoooosh!

A gale erupted in all directions. The grass in the garden scattered, and Aren Luminara’s bangs were blown backward.
As the wind that had swept across the garden subsided, Aren Luminara’s mouth fell open.

“Ahhh….”

I relaxed my stance and gazed at the blade I held upright before me.
Then I let a faint smile slip free.

Whoosh!

A sharp wind coiled around the sword’s edge. It seemed ready to cleave everything in sight at any moment.
Ordinary mana typically shone blue, and holy power gleamed white, but by infusing my swordsmanship, I could bestow such attributes upon the blade.
Aren, who had been tidying his front hair, asked with wide, startled eyes.

“Brother, what is that…?”

How should I explain this to him?
I could elaborate at length, but for now, I simply wanted to answer plainly.

“This is….”

A sensation I had never felt even once since becoming the Sword Demon.
An emotion like the wind blowing beneath the warm rays of sunlight.

“Joy.”

Aren tilted his head in confusion.

“Joy, sir?”
“Yes.”

Now I understood why I had not reached the heights of ecstasy before.
The joy I felt initially had stemmed from memories of my past life, whereas the joy I savored now was something I could feel from this present moment alone.
With this realization, there would be no disruption to my plans.
I intended to fill my blade with this joy and bestow it upon my enemies.
I sheathed my sword and began to walk.

“Brother, where are you going so suddenly?”
“A pilgrimage.”
“But it’s growing dark now.”

I stopped before the entrance and flashed Aren a grin.

“That’s why I’m going.”
“Pardon?”

I turned my back to Aren Luminara and left the mansion, offering only a casual wave of my hand.

“I’ll be back by morning.”

* * *

The Westernmost Village of Luminara Territory.
The estate was vast enough for a baron, and by the time I’d ridden slowly through it all, the late night had already arrived before I reached my destination.
I wasn’t hungry—I’d eaten fruit from the roadside on the way here.

“Hmm.”

All the lights throughout the village were extinguished, and not a soul wandered the streets.
The Luminara Territory was known for its good security, so shops typically remained open even at this hour, yet here even the windows were firmly shut.

“…!”

A man whose eyes met mine through a window suddenly startled and slammed it shut.
An understandable reaction.
After all, I was currently wearing a sword at my side, a straw hat, and a tattered straw mat draped over my shoulders.

– If you need them, please take them.

On my way here, I’d been eyeing a scarecrow dressed in a straw hat and mat, but a resident had come out and offered them to me.
My reputation truly was impeccable.
I intended to return these items once I was done. No matter how much of a ruffian I’d been, I’d never forcibly seized the property of hardworking residents.

‘Perhaps?’

It was when I entered a desolate alley.
A crimson glow spilled from the alley ahead. I drifted through it like a firefly drawn to light.
Then I came upon a wooden structure—three stories tall.

‘Built quite openly, wasn’t it.’

This place, known as the Pleasure District, was a den of prostitution and gambling.
I’d wondered how such an establishment could operate without reaching the ears of the Family Estate’s lord, but I suspected the local residents simply hadn’t reported it—perhaps out of fear of entanglement or retaliation.
After all, some of them likely patronized the place themselves.

‘A vast territory breeds many parasites.’

It all stemmed from insufficient power and a lack of capable personnel. With such a prosperous estate relative to the title, it was only natural that vultures would circle.

‘This is their core forward base.’

I knew all this because in my previous life, I’d thoroughly investigated Baron Scalen’s operations while eliminating him.
I knew of those who ran this place and their subordinates.
Of course, I didn’t know their faces or exact combat prowess, but with the Sword of Rapture now in my hands, they posed no real threat—and I could gather the details as I went.

“….”

Faint laughter and loud voices drifted from within the building.

‘You’re all so happy. I’m happy too. Let’s see who’s happier by the end of this.’

My resolve crystallized. I drove my foot forward with all my strength, slamming it into the door.

Crash!

One door panel flew inward. I strode through the gaping entrance with absolute confidence and declared:

“I’m here for your services.”

After all, this land belonged to us—I had nothing to hide.

(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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