The Regressed Sword Demon Is a Catastrophe-Class Inquisitor - Chapter 52

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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 52. A Favor.

Not long after Sena’s cries subsided, ten Knights came rushing over. They must have heard the sounds of combat.

“B-Bishop?”

The Knights were bewildered by the sight of Litvel, now resembling a pancake smeared with strawberry jam.
In an instant, all ten Knights drew their weapons and surrounded us. Their expressions were tense.

“Step back, Holy Maiden! We shall rescue you at once!”

Unlike the mercenaries from before, these men had the look of those willing to sacrifice their very lives to protect Sena.

“W-Wait, please!”

Sena stepped forward and spoke to them.

“This man only fled with me because I asked him to! The villain is that one!”

Sena pointed sharply at Litvel. The Knights blinked in confusion, then whirled around to face me.

“You demon! What honeyed words did you use to deceive the Holy Maiden!”
“Holy Maiden! Do not heed that man’s words!”

It was understandable they would react this way, given how drastically Sena’s demeanor toward Litvel had shifted.
They didn’t know that I was in contact with the Papal See. If they learned that, Litvel might catch on as well.

“No, truly! I fled because of that man!”
“Holy Maiden, please step back for now. It is dangerous near him.”

The Knights were unmoved by reason. Sena stamped her feet and turned to look at me.

“W-What should I do?”
“You lack credibility for a Holy Maiden.”
“Is it because I’m young…?”
“Appearances cannot be overlooked.”

Sena hung her head low.

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to be of some help to you, Interrogator….”
“Don’t worry about it. There are plenty of ways to solve this anyway. If one doesn’t work, I’ll just beat them all into submission.”
“…What?”

One of the Knights spoke up.

“What do you intend to do with the Holy Maiden after kidnapping her?”
“I simply gave her the right to choose a better future.”
“You kidnapped the Holy Maiden? That doesn’t make any….”
“Shut your mouth.”

I fixed them with a cold stare, my eyes devoid of warmth.

“I have no interest in hearing nonsense from the likes of you.”

As I emanated a subtle killing intent, the Knights swallowed hard.

“You are Knights sworn to protect the Saint of Foresight. Not lapdogs following the Bishop’s orders.”
“….”
“Yet you deluded yourselves into thinking you were protecting her by merely watching over her, knowing nothing.”

In my previous life, they discovered Sena only after she had already bled to death. Had I not been here, the same fate would have befallen her this time.

“Why didn’t you suspect the Bishop closest to her? Why couldn’t you see that this wretch was rotting from the inside?”
“….”
“You failed to protect not just his mind, but his body as well. I wonder what purpose those heads of yours were meant to serve.”

The Knights exchanged glances. The one I had encountered before spoke cautiously.

“Then… are you saying you didn’t actually kidnap the Holy Maiden, but rather protected her?”
“Didn’t she already tell you? You’re the ones who treated her like a child and refused to believe her.”
“….”
“But don’t worry. I’ll make sure even simpletons like you can understand.”

As I reached into my garment, the Knights flinched and tensed once more.
I watched them carefully.

“Feel free to attack. I’ll beat you within an inch of your life.”
“….”
“A shame. That was your chance to become smarter.”

When no one moved, I clicked my tongue and pulled out a communication artifact.
The moment I activated it, Barun’s voice flowed through.

– Yes, Interrogator.
“I’ve captured Litvel Bishop. I didn’t kill him, so come collect him.”
– Phew, thank goodness it ended well. Is the Holy Maiden alright?
“She’s fine except for the whimpering, but I’m worried her guardian knights might hold a grudge against me.”
– Ah…. I see. That won’t do. I’ll handle it.

Barun understood my meaning immediately. It was almost surprising.
I tossed the communication artifact to the Knight.

“Take it. It’s Cardinal Barun.”
“Y-yes?”

The Knight caught the communication artifact in bewilderment. This was probably their first time seeing one directly.
Magic, let alone magical artifacts, was rare in the Theocracy.
They spoke for a moment. The Knight bowed repeatedly despite not being able to see Barun’s face, and Barun explained the situation.

“Yes, yes! I understand!”

At the Knight’s silent gesture, the others sheathed their swords.

“Yes, yes! Please come in! Yes! Yes!”

I wondered how many times he needed to bow. Then again, a Cardinal held considerable standing.
Especially since Barun was an influential figure even among the Cardinals.
The Knight relaxed visibly and approached me, handing back the communication artifact.

“My apologies, Kael Inquisitor. We had no idea of such deeper intentions….”

The Knights behind him bowed respectfully as well.

“Forget it. You were all idiots, so Litvel got caught up in it too.”
“Ha ha…. There’s no refuting that.”

The Knight knelt down this time, lowering himself to meet Sena at eye level.

“I must also apologize to you, Holy Maiden. Our incompetence has caused you suffering.”
“No, that’s not it!”

Sena shook her head vigorously.

“The one at fault is Litbel Bishop. You Knights have done nothing wrong.”
“Still, I must apologize. There is nothing else I can say—”

I brought my hand down and struck the back of the Knight’s head without hesitation. His head snapped forward violently.
The Knight spun around in bewilderment to face me.

“What…?”
“My apologies. Forgive me.”
“Sir?”
“You’ve exhausted me with all this.”

In truth, I was not particularly exhausted.
In my past life, I had learned to sleep while evading pursuit, catching rest whenever I could, and now I possessed the sacred sandals as well.

“Ah… I see.”
“Now go. Bring the unconscious Bishop with you.”
“Yes.”

As I turned to leave, something suddenly occurred to me, and I asked the Knight a question.

“Is my Deacon doing well?”
“Ah, yes. She is currently imprisoned in the underground prison of the Diocese Office.”
“How is that doing well? If prison is so pleasant, should I throw you in as well?”
“I-I apologize.”
“Have you starved her?”

I had no choice but to abandon Bella and depart without further explanation.
Because of that, Bella may not have eaten properly, her mind consumed with worry.

“No, sir. We provided her meals multiple times a day. Thanks to that care, she has been sleeping well.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”

I stared at the Knight for a moment, then nodded.

“You’ve done remarkably well.”

My Deacon, capable of thriving anywhere even without me.
He should learn to do without meat for a while.

* * *

The Papal See.
The Pope and several Cardinals had gathered in the chamber where the Primordial Scripture was kept.
For the first time in months, new words from the Goddess were being inscribed upon it.
While light emanated from the Primordial Scripture, the Pope spoke.

“So it’s true—Litbel Bishop truly intended to kill the Saint of Foresight.”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
“He was her foster father, raised since before she became the Saint of Foresight, and I entrusted her to Litbel Bishop. I never anticipated such a problem would arise.”

Originally, the Saint of Foresight belonged to the Papal See and served the Goddess. Freedom was guaranteed, of course, but that fundamental fact remained unchanged.
She could have used her stigma for personal gain, just as she had been doing.
Cardinal Barun responded.

“He was suspected of various crimes even during his mercenary days. At the time, he was cleared of charges and managed to become a Bishop, but now I suspect he may have used some underhanded means to escape justice then as well.”
“That must be it. This time too, he devised a plan to kill the Saint of Foresight and evade suspicion.”
“Indeed.”

The Pope clasped his hands together and closed his eyes for a moment.

“We owe our gratitude to Kael Inquisitor. Without him, we would have lost the Saint of Foresight most shamefully.”
“Precisely. In the worst possible manner—through suicide.”

Identical stigmata cannot exist in the same era. A new Saint of Foresight can only be born when the current one ascends.
Yet even if the current Saint were to die, there was no guarantee that a new one bearing that stigma would appear soon.
The Pope opened his eyes and spoke.

“But it is truly remarkable. How does Kael Inquisitor always appear at the most critical moments and resolve the situation?”
“Perhaps it is no coincidence that his name is inscribed in the Primordial Scripture.”
“The ‘Age of Upheaval’… It seems this world is indeed trembling beneath the surface, slowly but surely.”

The Pope gazed upon the Primordial Scripture. The light had completely faded, indicating the recording had ceased.
The Pope examined the newly inscribed words.

「3-1. Once more, the waters change their course.
Water that should have plummeted into the abyss of ruin strikes a great boulder and carves its own path forward.
Through this courage, streams that could never have met shall intertwine.
What, then, do we fear? The greatest weapon humanity possesses is connection itself.」

The Pope interpreted the meaning of the scripture.

“This passage likely describes the Saint of Foresight overcoming the trials she has been given. The great boulder would be Kael Inquisitor.”
“Yes. The timing suggests as much, Your Holiness.”

The Cardinals all nodded in agreement. They observed the next passage.

「3-2. Yet the weapon of connection sometimes pierces its own wielder.
Unable to release, one hangs suspended by threads; loving deeply, one drinks poison; losing all, one harbors wrath.」

「3-3. Countless waters flow ceaselessly toward their destination.
No matter what path is blocked or what meetings are twisted, they shall converge again at another point.
Kael, descendant of Luminara, exists as a great river, inevitably touching many streams.
He is both the catastrophe that sweeps all away and the miracle that becomes a source of life for many.
Where he arrives shall depend upon his connections and his resolve.」

The Pope’s eyes deepened as he read the final passage.

“Catastrophe and miracle… This is nothing short of prophecy.”

The Cardinals swallowed hard and nodded gravely.
They all understood that Kael was a double-edged blade—dependable as an ally, yet unpredictable as an enemy.
But for even the Primordial Scripture to describe him as both catastrophe and miracle only heightened their unease.
Barun spoke.

“Do you have any sense of what this prophecy foretells, Your Holiness?”
“No. I cannot say with certainty at this moment. However….”

The Pope regarded Barun with sincere eyes.

“There’s no doubt that in the not-too-distant future, something will occur that will shake Kael Inquisitor’s very heart.”
“Yes. I believe so as well.”
“Cardinal Barun, inform him of this fact at once. Given the circumstances, we have no choice but to reveal what we know about the Scripture.”

Barun had previously told Kael about the Scripture in secret, but he made no mention of it now.

“Yes, Your Holiness. I shall withdraw first.”

As Barun hurried from the room, the Cardinal expressed his concern.

“Your Holiness. Are you truly certain it will be acceptable for him to know about the Scripture?”
“Yes.”

The Pope nodded and moved forward.

“At the very least, he deserves the opportunity to recognize the trial ahead.”

The Cardinals tilted their heads at words they could not comprehend, then followed the Pope.

* * *

The office of the Litbel Diocese Office.
I gazed at Bella’s lustrous skin as she sat across from me.

“Bella. You seem to have fared well.”
“Haha… I trusted that you would handle everything admirably, so I thought it best to eat well, sleep well, and await your orders.”

Given such reasoning, there was little more to say.

“In any case, you’ve done well, Inquisitor! To devise such a plan in so short a time—truly remarkable!”
“Well done. You’ve earned your rest and sustenance.”
“Ugh…”

Bella pouted, her eyes narrowing. I chuckled and spoke.

“Bella.”
“…Yes?”
“You’ve endured much. In many ways.”

Bella had executed every command I gave her without question. And nearly flawlessly at that.
Finding a deacon as versatile as her—save for singing—would have been difficult indeed.
Bella blinked her large eyes.

“Thank you…?”
“Why? Does it seem like you haven’t been working hard?”
“No… I just….”

Bella scratched her cheek, then nodded and broke into a bright smile.

“That’s wonderful!”

Just then, the Knight knocked and entered.
The Knight reported to me.

“Litvel Bishop had someone transport the prisoner to the Papal See.”
“I see.”

I turned to look at Sena, who was munching on cake beside me.

“From now on, you’ll be working under Cardinal Barun. It likely won’t be much different from your time under Litvel Bishop.”
“Is Cardinal Barun a good person?”
“I couldn’t say. But he seems to treat those he finds useful well enough.”
“Then I’ll have to work even harder…!”

Sena clenched her small fists. I let out a dry chuckle and offered her advice.

“First, cut your hair.”

I brushed her long bangs back with my hand, revealing her bright, intelligent eyes beneath.

“What good is seeing the future if you can’t even see what’s right in front of you?”

Sena hastily reached both hands upward.

“I-I’ll cut it, so please let go… I’m still clumsy at it….”
“Very well.”

As I released my hand, her long bangs fell back across her eyes.
Sena exhaled softly and asked.

“Um, would it be alright if I looked at your future, Interrogator?”
“My future?”
“Yes. Even if I’m still clumsy at seeing the present, I can see the future.”

I possessed knowledge of countless futures from my past life, but since I had altered so many of them, unforeseen circumstances could still arise.
There was no harm in seeing how the future had shifted.

“Please do.”
“Yes.”

Sena grasped one of my hands with both of hers and closed her eyes. The eye-shaped stigma on the back of her hand glowed faintly.
After a moment of silence, the communication artifact in my possession chimed.
I withdrew the communication artifact with my other hand.

“I’m here.”
– Kael Inquisitor, where are you right now?
“In the Diocese Office. I’ve just finished organizing the situation.”
– Is there anything suspicious? Even minor details would help.
“Nothing in particular. But why—”

That was when it happened.

“Gasp!!”

Sena, who had been glimpsing my future, startled violently and pressed herself firmly against the sofa. She trembled as though she had witnessed something unspeakable. Her entire body shook.
I narrowed my eyes. This was no ordinary reaction.

“What future did you see?”

Sena swallowed hard and answered.

“Y-you’re angry in the future… It’s all dark, so I can’t see your expression, but I can tell for certain. You’re far more furious than you were with Litvel Bishop…”

…Such days were hardly rare.

“Tell me more.”

Sena pondered the future she had glimpsed moments before, her explanation measured and deliberate.

“A mansion consumed by flames. A corpse so charred its form is unrecognizable. The Interrogator stands in the very center of it all….”

Those words alone were enough to paint a grim picture of what lay ahead. I clenched my teeth, suppressing the emotions that threatened to spill forth.

“Can you discern anything about the time or date?”

Even the stigmata of the Saint of Foresight could not reveal exact dates and times—just as it had been with Sena’s first vision.
Sena closed her eyes in concentration, sifting through the future, when suddenly they snapped open.

“The Full Moon…! There’s a Full Moon hanging in the night sky…!”

I immediately pushed off from my seat and threw open the window. The moon in the night sky hung between waxing gibbous and full.

‘Roughly four days from now, then. If I ride without rest, it should take about two days.’

But there was a problem.
The mansion wasn’t burning—it was already burned. That meant by the time I arrived, it would already be too late.
I had no time to waste.

“Bella!”
“I’m ready!”
“Make haste.”

At that moment, Barun, who had been listening through the communication artifact, spoke with grave urgency.

– The Luminara Territory?
“Most likely.”
– Who could possibly….
“The Evil Book Society…!”

I ground my teeth together.
It had to be them. They were probably trying to seize my family as leverage to draw me out.
Arturo’s presence meant I wasn’t deeply concerned, but something gnawed at me nonetheless.

“Cardinal Barun, send word to the mansion at once.”
– I’ve already sent it.

Indeed, had I been writing this the moment I heard Sena’s story?

“Thank you. I’ll contact you again.”
– Yes.

I tucked the communication artifact into my pocket and turned to leave.

“Interrogator!”

Just as I was about to exit the office, the Knight called out to me.

“I’ll follow you with the other knights as well.”
“M-me too! I’ll be helpful this time!”

I suppressed my emotions for now. In moments like these, I needed to move with absolute clarity.

“I’m counting on you. Bring Sena with you.”
“Yes. Leave it to us.”
“P-please be careful!”

Bella and I hurried toward the Luminara Mansion.
This will be far different from my past life. This time, it’s you who will face the consequences.

(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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