The Regressed Sword Demon Is a Catastrophe-Class Inquisitor - Chapter 40

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 40. Could It Be That I….

As I stepped out of the space that resembled a Botanical Garden, I found the exterior already organized.
In one area, several people were bound, and scattered throughout were corpses poisoned by toxins.
Likely, the moment Bloom and I collided, these others rushed at Bella and Arturo.

“Are you both alright?”
“Yes, Inquisitor!”
“Perfectly fine.”

Given that they served under an Apostle, the enemies were hardly weak, yet they proved no match for those who had been among the Seven Deadly Sins in my previous life.

“I’ve bound everyone except those who attacked us outright. However, after it was all over, I found none of them knew anything about the plague. Perhaps I should have kept that one alive?”

Arturo glanced at Slow, who lay among the corpses.

“No, it’s fine. I’ve already figured it out.”
“That’s fortunate.”
“Then I’ll hand these people over to the nearest Diocese Office and provide a brief explanation. Given how much chaos we’ve caused, some report is necessary.”
“What about me?”
“You stay here and make the medicine with Bella. You said all the materials are available in this place.”
“Understood.”

After that, I showed Arturo where the materials were located and turned to leave with the captured individuals.

* * *

I handed over the Research Institute staff to the Diocese Office and gave the Bishop a brief report.
That the Flora Research Institute was operated by an Apostle of the Evil Book Society, and that they had spread the plague throughout Luminara Territory—nothing more.
I deliberately concealed the matter regarding the Demon God’s scripture, as it could cause unnecessary commotion.

The Diocese Office was quite distant, and since I hadn’t traveled alone, a full day had passed by the time I returned to the Research Institute.
Upon finding the location Bloom had mentioned, I discovered Arturo was still making medicine while Bella slept, leaning against her bag.
Arturo appeared to have been awake all night.

“When do you expect the medicine to be completed?”
“The medicine is already finished. This place had all the manufacturing methods and necessary materials. Now I just need to produce enough more to spread across the plague-infected fields.”

Despite it being the first medicine he’d ever created, Arturo’s hands moved with practiced precision.

“This one should be finished soon as well.”
“You’re fast.”
“Better to finish quickly and rest.”

Arturo set aside the filled bottle and picked up a new one.
I leaned my back against the wall, watching him work before speaking.

“Do you have anything you want to do after this?”
“Suddenly? Didn’t I already agree to provide my knowledge to the Young Master?”
“To be precise, the condition was that you’d use your knowledge to help others.”
“I see. But what’s the difference?”
“There is. The former is coercion, the latter is your own will.”
“Hmm….”

Arturo’s hands paused briefly as if in thought, then resumed making the medicine as he answered.

“Honestly, I’m not sure. Using my knowledge to help others, or what I truly want to do—I don’t know.”
“….”
“But I’m grateful to the Young Master for helping me. So at least until I repay that debt, I’ll be of use to you.”

Considering he’d been Greed, one of the Seven Deadly Sins in his past life—someone who wouldn’t even spare a cup of water—this was considerable progress.

“Then stay at our Mansion for now. Conduct various research, diagnose the sick, and so on.”
“Understood.”
“Especially protect the house well. If anyone targets our Mansion, don’t hesitate to bite them. I’ll take responsibility even if cockroaches die.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Then Bella quietly leaned her head against my thigh. Arturo glanced at her.

“You have a fine Deacon. Any other Deacon wouldn’t have been able to handle the Young Master.”

I looked down at Bella and replied.

“I think so too. A Deacon with so little faith is rare.”
“….”
“She’s even good at pretending to sleep.”

Bella’s eyes fluttered open awkwardly as she gazed up at me.

“I just woke up. I thought maybe I’d hit my head on a stone. I simply couldn’t find the right moment to open my eyes.”
“I know.”
“Mmm….”

Just as Bella rose to her feet, Arturo spoke up.

“It’s all finished. Now we just need to gather these and head back.”
“Good. Turtle, load all those medicines onto your shell.”
“Yes, sir!”

And so we set off toward Luminara Territory with the medicines in hand.

* * *

Rather than heading straight to the Mansion, we first went to the plague-ravaged fields to test the medicine.
Arturo walked through the desolate fields, gradually dispersing the medicine, then stepped back to observe the results.

“Hmm, it appears the medicine is working properly.”

Even to the naked eye, it was evident. The parched soil was slowly beginning to take on a rich, vibrant hue.
Arturo turned to the Farmer standing nearby.

“For now, simply leave the land undisturbed while the medicine spreads and vitality returns. You should be able to cultivate summer crops by then.”
“Th-thank you so much!”

The Farmer’s eyes welled with tears as he grasped both of Arturo’s hands.

“W-what?”
“I was so worried we couldn’t plant seeds even in early spring, but now there’s hope…!”

The Farmer turned to face me.

“Young Master, I’m grateful to you as well! You must be so busy with your duties as a Heretic Inquisitor, yet you still care for us….”
“Well, I was here anyway.”
“It feels like just yesterday when Young Master used to play in our fields….”

The Farmer wept, his shoulders trembling.
It seemed he had stolen the crops out of hunger rather than mischief, though I couldn’t discern whose memory had been distorted.
The Farmer turned his gaze sharply toward Arturo once more.

“Benefactor! Might you tell me your name?”
“Eh, eh?”
“How can I offer my gratitude without knowing it?”

But Arturo stood motionless as stone, his eyes wide with astonishment. It appeared he had never received such praise before.

“Arturo.”

So I spoke in his stead, suppressing a subtle smile.

“You’ll see him again, so remember the name.”

* * *

After confirming the medicine’s efficacy, we returned to the Mansion and formally introduced Arturo to the family.

“This is Arturo. He’s the one who will resolve the plague. He’ll be staying at the Mansion for a while to assist us.”

When Arturo gave a simple bow, Father approached.

“Welcome. I am Benedick, Baron Luminara.”
“Yes… I am Arturo.”
“If you need anything, please let us know. We do not neglect our benefactors.”
“I am merely repaying the kindness the Young Master showed me…”
“Then we are both indebted to each other.”

Father’s lips curved slightly upward, and Arturo froze rigidly once more.
Arturo seemed vulnerable to men of Father’s type. It would be better to leave his training to Father.

‘Work for us for life…’

After that, we spent considerable time traversing the plague-ravaged fields, spreading the medicine.
Since I had no plans for the time being, I spent a month surveying the Territory and refining my strengthened body.
During that time, some sowed summer crops, while others prepared their fields for the autumn harvest.

“Ah, at last we’re free from this plague!”
“They say Young Master Kael and Deacon Bella found a way to stop it?”
“I heard it was someone named Arturo who created the medicine!”
“Haha, all three of them are truly remarkable people!”

The plague that had tormented the Territory for nearly half a year had vanished without a trace.

– Kael Inquisitor. As of today, Scalen Territory now belongs to the Luminara Family.

The news had come through Cardinal Barun via communication magic artifact.
With the troublesome plague resolved, we had finally gained the leisure to accept the Territory.
And Father, who had been a Baron, naturally received a promotion to Count.
Sriben was the first to wag his tail, as expected.

“Congratulations, Baron… or rather, Count Luminara.”
“Hmm, I’m not sure if this is entirely fortunate. There are simply more people to worry about now.”
“I shall head to what was once Scalen Territory and organize matters there. I’ll also seek out capable personnel.”

The Father of old would never have approved. Yet to my surprise, he nodded without much deliberation.

“Then I entrust it to you.”
“Yes.”

Still uneasy, I placed a hand on Sriben’s shoulder with a light tap.

“Don’t do anything foolish.”

Sriben adjusted his glasses and replied with utmost seriousness.

“I have no desire to die. If I were to abscond with the funds, you’d chase me to Hell itself, Young Master.”
“You understand well. If you manage things properly, I’ll ensure your salary is more than adequate.”

Sriben had been working in exchange for his life, which I had spared.
Understanding the weight of that debt, Sriben bowed his head.

“I shall do my best, Young Master.”
“Good.”

In truth, Sriben was the only suitable person to entrust with that place. After all, he had worked under Baron Scalen.

‘I even planted the seed that had fallen from Malpira near the Mansion….’

It had only been about a month since planting, yet it had already grown to the size of a respectable tree.
Because of this, my family had already bestowed upon it the name ‘Noah’.
I could leave the care of Noah to those at the Mansion.

‘It’s time to set my plans in motion once more.’

Bella and I departed from Luminara Territory to pursue my next objective.

* * *

We arrived at Darcein City in the Barthelo Archbishopric Territory.
Bella spoke as she observed the cityscape.

“We’ve certainly traveled far just to buy clothes.”
“These are clothes worth the journey.”

What I sought now was a holy relic of Saint Lumen, the embodiment of temperance among the Seven Great Virtues.
Lumen had consumed nothing but bread and water from the moment of adulthood until reaching one hundred years of age, and the fabric he wove at that age possessed a peculiar power.
Garments crafted from it would possess self-restoration, defensive capabilities rivaling armor, moisture absorption, and temperature regulation.

‘Comfort in summer and winter alike….’

I knew of Lumen’s relic’s presence here because a certain Merchant Lord in this city wore clothing made from Lumen’s fabric.

– Where did that garment come from?
– I obtained it from a descendant of Lumen.
– A descendant of Lumen?
– The proprietor of a clothing shop called Four Seasons. I learned of it by chance during my investigation….

Circumstances had led me to eliminate him and claim the garment, but since the size proved unsuitable, I simply burned it.
Only Lumen’s descendants could work with Lumen’s fabric, and by that time, the Four Seasons shop had already ceased to exist.

‘I hope to wear that garment this time, though it won’t be so simple.’

If the proprietor were wicked, I could simply kill them and take it—but if they were virtuous, the matter would prove troublesome.
I glanced at Bella’s clothing.

“While we’re at it, let me buy you some new clothes too. Summer will be here soon.”
“Oh, thank you so much!”
“Stop sending money to the Orphanage and spend some on yourself. With your help, that place must be overflowing with milk and honey by now.”
“Hehe, the Headmaster said the same thing in his letter… I’ll keep that in mind!”

Before I knew it, we had arrived at a clothing shop called Four Seasons.
As Bella gazed admiringly at the garments displayed in the window, I sensed something amiss and handed her my sword hilt for safekeeping.

“There are customers inside. I’ll take a quick look around.”
“Understood.”

I pushed open the door and stepped in. Behind the counter stood one woman and two men, though their atmosphere hardly seemed cordial.
The men glanced at me briefly before returning to their conversation with the woman. I pretended to browse through clothes for Bella while listening intently to gather information.
One of the men spoke.

“…You should give up now. How exactly do you plan to repay that debt?”
“That’s my problem to solve.”
“The Merchant Lord who lent you the money doesn’t see it that way. If you just accepted his proposal, everything would be resolved. Why are you refusing?”
“Because I don’t want to resolve it that way.”

From what I gathered, the Merchant Lord had offered to forgive the shop owner’s debt if she accepted his proposal, yet she had refused.

“What, are you planning to pay it back by selling clothes? Who would buy clothes from a fraud?”
“That’s…!”

A fraud?
This was the first I’d heard of such a thing, so I listened even more carefully.

“Clothes are ultimately worn to reveal who you are, aren’t they? But who would wear your garments knowing what criticism they’d face? Unfortunately, no matter how carefully you craft them, no one will wear your clothes anymore.”

As I listened, I ran my fingers across a garment and murmured softly.

“These are quite beautiful.”
“…”

I felt the man’s gaze land on the back of my head. But I didn’t turn around, continuing to select clothes instead.
Soon, his attention shifted away from me.

“So how do you plan to repay the debt now? Unless you’re thinking of using that natural appearance of yours.”
“…What did you just say?”

The woman shot a sharp glare at the man, and another man beside him gave him a light tap.

“Ah, my apologies. What I meant is that Katrina has no other options available.”
“….”
“So what will you do now?”

Katrina lowered her head and bit her lip finely.
I had finished assessing the situation and selected clothes for Bella, so I picked them up and headed to the counter.
I passed between the men and placed the clothes on the counter.

“Proprietor, ring this up for me.”

Katrina lifted her head in surprise, and the two men stared at me in bewilderment.
One of the men spoke up.

“Priest. Have you not heard the rumors about this place?”
“The rumor that the proprietor here is a swindler?”
“Yes.”
“I haven’t heard the details. Explain it to me.”

The two men exchanged glances before speaking.

“The proprietor here forged the seal of Barthelo Archbishop.”
“That’s quite serious.”
“…Is that your answer?”
“In the end, it’s just a rumor. Rumors are always exaggerated. And if such a thing had truly happened, this proprietor wouldn’t be here.”

I pointed at Katrina, whose mouth hung slightly open.

“She impersonated an Archbishop, no less. Unless you’re foolish, you’d realize with just a moment’s thought that it’s simple to see through.”
“….”

A brief silence fell.
The man let out a long sigh, placed his hand on my shoulder, and whispered softly.

“Priest, since you’re not from around here, you don’t understand how things work. Just leave.”
“….”
“I’m simply advising you not to meddle in matters that don’t concern you.”

I doubted my own ears. Then, rolling my eyes, I questioned the man.

“Do I strike you as an ordinary Priest?”
“Unless you’re impersonating one by wearing that cassock.”
“I see.”

These men were lackeys of the Merchant Lord. And Katrina owed that Merchant Lord a debt.
If I played this situation correctly, I might easily extract Lumen’s raw materials.
So then….
I clenched my fist and struck the man’s face lightly with the back of my hand.

Crack!

His insolent eyes vanished from before me as he tumbled ungracefully to the ground.
The others stared at the scene in bewilderment, while the man who’d been knocked down groaned and slowly lifted his head.
I looked down at him with a faint smile.

“That settles it then.”

Now go fetch your master for me.

(To be continued in the next chapter)

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————