The Regressed Sword Demon Is a Catastrophe-Class Inquisitor - Chapter 45

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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 45. It’s Simply My Greed.

After taking measurements, Katrina immediately set to work crafting the garment.
During this time, Bella and the children remained at our lodgings, while I observed the creation process.
Creating such a garment required not only the blood of my descendants but also the blood of the wearer themselves.

“It’s complete!”

A week had passed when Katrina presented the priest’s vestments. The dark circles beneath her eyes were pronounced—evidence of her sleepless nights.

“Though truthfully, this is the first time I’ve seen the finished product myself, so I’m uncertain if it turned out well….”

I examined the vestments laid upon the table, then immediately drew my blade.
Using only the edge, I tested it across the forearm in various directions.

“Ahhhhh! Interrogator!”
“Indeed, it’s different.”

The priest’s vestments remained unblemished and intact.
In my previous life, Marken’s garments had been easily cut. They would simply self-repair if left undisturbed.
But this—this could not be cut by ordinary means. Even though my blade was duller than most, it retained its sharpness nonetheless.

‘Indeed….’

As a sacred relic of Lumen, the virtue of restraint among the Seven Great Virtues, perhaps one must abandon greed to obtain it.
That paradox was truly befitting of the Goddess’s noble wisdom.

“I’ll put it on at once.”

I changed into the priest’s vestments woven from Lumen’s fabric and emerged.
Bella and Katrina reacted immediately.

“Interrogator, it suits you perfectly!”
“Phew, fortunately it seems to fit well.”

There was no restriction in movement, and the fit was impeccable. With this, I would be virtually immune to ordinary attacks.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, divine power surged through me. I hadn’t even prayed or offered a demon.
Yet it was a sensation I’d felt once before—a strange sense of déjà vu.

‘When I showed charity to Rak in the slums.’

Holy Knights grow stronger by practicing the Seven Great Virtues.
So was this because I restrained my desires this time?

‘Though I don’t particularly feel like I restrained myself.’

No, thinking about it again, I suppose I did suppress my greed more than usual.
When I was about to burn Lumen’s fabric, I nearly reached a state of profound sorrow.

‘Does it differ from person to person?’

For instance, if Bella eats only one bowl per meal, that’s restraint. But if an ant eats one apple, that’s greed.
Neither the turtle nor the ant are human, but in any case, it seems roughly true that it differs from person to person.
Since worrying about it wouldn’t change anything anyway, I decided to simply continue as I had been.

“Interrogator, you seem even more dignified than usual today.”
“The fabric is different, certainly, but your natural bearing is already so refined.”
“You look amazing!”
“So radiant!”

Because that’s who I am….

* * *

Before returning to Luminara Territory, we first stopped by Bella’s orphanage.
Once I explained the situation to Dominica, the Orphanage Director, she readily accepted the children.

‘The facilities have changed quite a bit.’

Previously, there had been a sense of struggling desperately to feed the children, but now her expression and the facilities alike radiated comfort and ease.

‘Bella hasn’t wasted the money she’s been sending.’

I actually came here to see that for myself.
Dominica is a woman who would sacrifice her life for those children, but greed has always had a way of shaking the human heart.
I had seen many such people in my past life.

‘But there’s nothing to worry about here.’

I lowered my hand, which had been habitually touching my sword.
Those children, destined to be tainted by someone’s touch, would now live as human beings under her warmth.

“Listen well to what the Orphanage Director says. Otherwise, I’ll come back to interrogate you.”
“Yes!”
“See you again! Interrogator!”

It was half a threat, but they took it so innocently that I had nothing more to add.
I turned away before the dust in my heart could fall onto that pure white canvas.

“Then I shall take my leave. I entrust you with this.”
“Yes. Please take care on your way. Thank you always.”

After that, I returned to Luminara Territory and inquired about Katrina’s Clothing Shop.
She had made clothes for me using Lumen fabric, and I had Marken’s wealth that I had brought from that place.
If my clothes were ever damaged, I could have her repair them.

“I have returned, Father.”

After finishing all my business, we returned to the Mansion.
Father nodded.

“Yes. It seems you’ve brought another new person this time.”
“Yes. A talented person who makes clothes well. If you need, it would be good to visit her later.”
“I shall do so.”

Father smiled faintly.

“Before, every time you returned, you brought bad news, and I was only anxious. But now you bring only good news each time, and I find myself looking forward to it. Your mother, who was always worried, has been falling asleep early these days too.”
“Dear.”

Mother called out to Father in a reproachful tone.
It was the first time I heard that Mother hadn’t been sleeping well all this time. She had always greeted me with a smile.

“I see.”
“Kael.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Visit whenever you have time.”
“I shall do so.”

I nodded and surveyed my surroundings.
Rak, Rami, and even Arturo were naturally nearby, but one of them was nowhere to be seen.

“Is Sriben in Haven City?”

Haven City was the name given to the former Scalen Territory. It roughly meant sanctuary.

“Yes. He went on an inspection tour with me and is now handling the parts that still need organizing in my stead. Though it seems things aren’t going as smoothly as hoped.”
“I see.”
“That’s why I wanted to stay longer, but they were so eager to send me back.”

A reasonable judgment.
With Sriben gone and no one suitable to manage this place, it was hardly beneficial for the family head to remain absent for long.

“Brother. Sriben asked me to give you this letter when you arrived.”

Aren approached and handed me the letter.

“When did it arrive?”
“Just last night, sir.”
“I see.”

I opened the letter and examined its contents.

「Young Master Kael.
Do you know the feeling of being surrounded by mayflies that keep circling back no matter how many times you swat them away?
That is precisely how I feel right now.
I cannot crush them with my own hands, and borrowing your hand would likely result in far too merciful an outcome, so I write to you, Heretic Inquisitor, in this manner.
I shall keep the situation brief, but it would be faster if you came to see it yourself.
….」

I finished reading the letter and turned back to Father.

“We must head to where Sriben is at once. Based on the handwriting, it seems the extreme stress might even turn Sriben into a Bald Man.”
“What on earth is the situation? I only asked you to check the contents, so I haven’t even looked at it myself.”

Looking at the beginning of the letter, such a request was certainly warranted.
Still, most family heads would have ignored it and checked anyway, but Father is truly honest and upright.

“It’s not such a serious situation. It’s more like a festering wound that emerged when the territory’s owner changed. Sriben is suffering because of that wound.”
“I see.”
“In any case, I’ll be back shortly. I’ll bring good news.”

As I turned my body, Mother, who was nearby, spoke as if to hold me back.

“Kael, just coming back safely is enough for me.”

At that, I turned back to Mother and let out a soft chuckle.

“That’s merely my own greed.”

After all, I was never one suited for restraint.

* * *

Haven City, formerly Scalen Territory.
Sriben stood on a makeshift platform erected outdoors. Before him, several people were pressing their demands upon him.

“Relax the shop inspection standards!”
“Stop strengthening the checkpoints!”
“Return the monopoly rights!”

Their demands were to reverse the policies Sriben had implemented in Haven City.
The stricter shop inspection standards and checkpoints were temporary measures for the territory’s security and stability.

‘As for the monopoly rights, however, that’s another matter.’

Perhaps there had been some transaction with Baron Scalen, or they might be trying to deceive him by taking advantage of the change in lords.
The problem was that no matter how much he searched, he couldn’t find any contracts or documents, so as far as Sriben was concerned, there was no way to determine what the truth was.

‘Where did that bastard Scalen hide it, or are several of them trying to deceive me…’

Sriben exhaled deeply.

‘That’s not even the real problem. The crowd of residents around the protesters keeps growing.’

Initially, only about forty merchants had gathered here.
But now, even ordinary residents who weren’t directly participating in the protest were showing interest from the periphery.

‘The skyrocketing food prices during the lean season must have been the catalyst. People feel it directly in their lives.’

Yet that problem wasn’t caused by the policies I’ve implemented.
Of course, I can’t claim complete innocence, but I haven’t imposed sanctions strong enough to shock the market.

‘Someone deliberately raised the food prices in circulation. To provoke the residents’ backlash.’

I’m not yet certain who it is, but anyone capable of wielding this much influence is certainly no minor faction.

‘They’re probably planning to ride the momentum of the residents’ anger to pressure the new lord. If he yields to their demands, they’ll conveniently lower the food prices and claim they were right all along.’

That’s why I didn’t summon Benedick.
A man as virtuous and merciful as he would have caved to their persistent demands without hesitation.

‘The Count has a sharp mind, but he’s remarkably weak in these matters.’

Sriben sighed and adjusted his glasses, his gaze settling on the protesters.

“Now then, everyone, please calm yourselves. There are sound reasons behind the stricter inspection standards and checkpoints we’ve implemented.”

They stopped shouting momentarily and listened to his words.

“The previous lord, Baron Scalen, was an Apostle of the Evil Book Society. Of course, he has since ascended to face the Goddess’s judgment, but his remnants may still be lurking here.”
“….”
“That’s why we’ve implemented these security measures until the territory stabilizes. In short, these are temporary restrictions that will gradually ease with time. So I ask you to bear with us until then.”

Sriben bowed deeply to them.
In the brief silence that followed, a man at the front spoke up.

“Food prices are skyrocketing—how long do you expect us to endure? Are you trying to starve the residents?”
“That’s right!”

The commotion spread like ripples across the crowd once more.

“Bring us the Lord, not him!”
“Are you trying to ruin this city!”

The chants erupted again, and the residents watching the protest murmured amongst themselves.
It was always the same pattern. No matter what explanation I offered, all that came back was criticism.
After all, that had been their objective from the start.
Sriben’s mind grew hazy from the mounting stress, and without thinking, he muttered to himself.

“Ah… maybe I should just run.”
“Try running. I’m curious to see what happens.”

At that moment, a cool voice cut through the air as someone ascended the platform.
Sriben spun around in shock.

“Y-Young Master! You’ve arrived!”
“Indeed.”
“Ha, I was only joking just now.”
“I’m sure you were. Had you been serious, you wouldn’t be alive to tell the tale.”
“….”

Sriben swallowed hard, his throat dry.
Kael chuckled softly and patted his shoulder twice before positioning himself squarely before the merchants. The crowd stirred with murmurs.

“Who is that?”
“A priest?”
“There’s something… noble about him.”
“Tch, get your wits about you, woman.”

Kael gazed down upon them and opened his mouth.

“I am Kael Luminara, the eldest son of the Luminara Family. My father was occupied with pressing matters, so I came in his stead to address this disturbance in the New Territory.”
“Ah, your arrival is most timely, Young Master. The current situation is….”
“Do not interrupt me. I have more to say.”

Kael’s indifferent gaze turned toward him.

“I came here to have a conversation, not to fight you. But are you any different?”
“….”
“And I would appreciate it if you would conduct yourselves with proper courtesy. As I just said, I’m here as the representative of my Father, the lord of this territory.”

Kael adjusted his sword hilt.

“Or would you prefer I treat you as a Heretic Inquisitor rather than a nobleman? If that’s what you all wish, I can certainly oblige.”

The flustered merchant spoke up.

“N-No, that’s not it.”
“I see.”

The gathering fell silent in an instant. No one here wanted to face a Heretic Inquisitor.
Still, it was fortunate for the merchants. Kael truly seemed to have come here as the eldest son of the Luminara Family.

‘But there’s nothing he can do about it. If he tries to oppress us using the authority of a Heretic Inquisitor, there will be resistance among the residents.’

That was also why they had protested so openly.
But if the protest escalated, he could revert to being a Heretic Inquisitor, so they chose to listen quietly for now.

“Now we have the proper atmosphere for conversation.”

Kael nodded with satisfaction and gazed at the merchants.

“Then from now on, I shall hear each of your grievances as the eldest son of the Luminara Family.”
“…?”
“We shall have a deep conversation and find the best solution. Conflicts are resolved through dialogue, after all.”

Kael’s lips curved upward slightly.
It was the smile of a Heretic Inquisitor, not that of a nobleman’s son.

“Then, whoever wishes to speak with me first, please step forward.”
“….”

Those who moments before seemed ready to bolt could not bring themselves to move.

(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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