The Regressed Sword Demon Is a Catastrophe-Class Inquisitor - Chapter 65

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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 65. Choose, Choose….

The man who opened the window frame asked.

“…Young Master?”
“Yes, yes!”
“Good grief, this is maddening.”

Three men and women descended from the carriage, and a man with a menacing countenance emerged behind them.
He conducted himself with formality.

“It is an honor to meet you, Young Master Kael. Please forgive my earlier rudeness. I am Haulk, commander of the Haulk Mercenary Corps.”

Simultaneously, he must be the bandit lieutenant.
The bandit leader, unlike them, had not engaged in public activities.
Normally by this time, those wretches would already be dead at the hands of Baron Scalen and the Evil Book Society.
Perhaps because I disposed of Baron Scalen far more swiftly than in my previous life, they remain alive even now.

‘These bastards don’t even recognize the favor….’

I spoke.

“Why didn’t you just trample them and move on.”
“Haha, I often receive such misunderstandings because of my appearance, but I am not that sort of man. Please, set aside your displeasure.”
“Judging by what you all do.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”

Haulk bowed his head.

“That said, might it be possible to meet with the Luminara Viscount? There is a matter of considerable importance I wish to discuss….”

For some reason, it did not seem like this would be good news.

“If it is truly so important, speak with me first.”
“I would wish to do so as well, but the location does not seem appropriate. Should anyone overhear us, it would prove troublesome for us both.”

Yet the surroundings were enclosed by fields, and there were no passersby. The mansion lay further ahead.

“No, I cannot allow those who have shown me disrespect to enter this mansion.”
“Young Master, but….”
“If you don’t like it, then leave.”

Haulk clenched his teeth in silence. He likely never anticipated that he would encounter me before meeting my father.
Haulk exhaled a long, heavy sigh.

“I heard that the Luminara Viscounty has acquired rights to a certain mountain.”
“How did you know that? It was only recently, and we haven’t leaked that information to anyone.”

Haulk shrugged his shoulders.

“Despite appearances, we are quite a renowned Mercenary Corps. The volume of information that flows to us is proportionally greater.”
“Hmm.”
“Moreover, we have been keeping watch on that mountain as well. Members of our Mercenary Corps and others have experienced troublesome incidents due to the bandits there.”

If my memory serves me correctly, the bandits on that mountain are none other than the Haulk Mercenary Corps themselves.
So he is merely spinning a plausible excuse now. He likely never imagined that I would know this fact.
However, I feigned ignorance to discern their true intentions.

“I see. And what does that have to do with your presence here?”
“Allow me to explain slowly.”

Haulk nodded.

“I do not know why the Viscount would go out of his way to acquire rights to that mountain, but bandits are swarming there. Even if the Viscount were to assert his authority and demand they leave, the bandits would merely turn a deaf ear.”
“….”
“You must not treat them as ordinary bandits. It is no coincidence that even the Papal See has abandoned any claim. They fight like a fortress by exploiting the mountain’s geography.”
“So, the point is?”
“My apologies, but before that, may I ask why the Viscount purchased the rights to that mountain?”

I offered a vague response to draw out their true intentions.

“That place is not far from Haven City. We intend to develop Haven City into a commercial hub, and if bandits infest the surrounding areas, merchants will hesitate to traverse that route.”
“Ah, so your objective was to eliminate the bandits, Viscount.”
“Yes. And in doing so, we aim to establish a safe passage for merchants to travel.”

This was no lie. After all, we needed to transport the mana stones and establish trade routes for merchants anyway.

“Now, come clean about why you’ve come here. I think your explanation is sufficient.”
“Of course.”

Haulk turned his gaze toward me.

“If your lordship’s objective is to eliminate those bandits, we would be happy to assist.”
“You would?”
“Yes. In exchange, we ask that you surrender half of the profits earned from the mountain to us.”

Half? Not merely a portion, but half?

“Have you lost your mind?”
“No, this is a realistic proposition.”

Haulk continued his prattle.

“To be frank, the Luminara Family, having only recently been elevated to viscounty, lacks the manpower to eliminate bandits on their own. And hiring mercenaries would require considerable funds.”
“I am sufficient.”

Originally, Bella and I were going to handle it ourselves. That would be more than enough.

“Ah, I’ve heard the rumors. That the Young Master has become a Heresy Inquisitor.”

The fact that I am a Heresy Inquisitor is not widely known, save among the clergy. Yet these mere mercenaries knew of it….
They must have investigated our family quite thoroughly.

“But they are formidable. If you underestimate them as mere heretics, you will lose your life.”
“And you are different from me?”
“I do not mean to belittle you, Young Master. It is simply that we are a collective, not individuals. If I have offended you, I sincerely apologize.”

Haulk bowed his head respectfully.

‘He’s putting on quite the act.’

I smirked inwardly. The Haulk Mercenary Corps were none other than the bandits of that mountain.
In other words, all I needed was for them to feign a struggle, and then the bandits would withdraw as planned.
Those who knew nothing would marvel at the prowess of the Haulk Mercenary Corps.

“For the Luminara Family, this is a deal with no losses. Hiring our mercenary corps normally requires considerable coin. In exchange, we’re asking not for money, but merely half of the profits gained from that mountain.”
“How remarkably generous. To think you would extend such consideration for our sake.”
“We harbor our own grievances against them as well. In short, this is also a matter of revenge.”

Haulk continued.

“And more importantly, the profits from the mountain amount to little more than toll fees, do they not? We simply wish to pass through that place more comfortably while securing a modest gain.”

Quite persuasive rhetoric. Those ignorant of their true nature would have been deceived entirely.

‘But why would they go to such lengths?’

Were they attempting to secure profit in this manner, knowing I would eradicate them?
Yet those unaware of my strength would not surrender so easily, would they?
Moreover, that mountain was where they had dwelled for years.
To relinquish it so readily? And to demand not money, but specifically half the profits derived from the mountain itself?

‘Could it be they already know of the supreme-grade mana stones buried there?’

Then why had they not purchased the mountain’s rights under their mercenary corps’ name long ago?
Though they are not nobility and the Papal See would not sell easily, it is hardly impossible.

‘My conjecture: they discovered this fact only after we obtained the mountain’s rights.’

But by then, it was already too late.
Under this assumption, their knowledge of the mountain’s ownership being ours becomes explicable.
They likely learned we had beaten them to it when they went to the Papal See seeking to purchase the rights themselves.

‘Was it the same with Baron Scalen?’

No—Baron Scalen swept them away alongside the Evil Book Society before they even knew.
So such a situation would never have arisen then.

‘Had I delayed even slightly longer, this would have become troublesome in many ways.’

As I remained silent for a moment, Haulk spoke.

“If you remain uncertain, would it be acceptable for us to meet the Viscount directly? If you distrust us, the Young Master may relay our words instead.”
“No, that won’t be necessary.”

Haulk’s expression brightened immediately.

“Ah, so it’s as I thought…!”
“We don’t trust the likes of you.”

I narrowed my eyes. Haulk, who had been standing dazed for a moment, squinted in return.

“I believe we must meet the Viscount directly. This is not a matter for the Young Master to decide alone.”
“Young Master, you say….”

I extended my hand to the side. Noah then handed me my sword, which he had been wrapping in twigs.

“If that’s still how I appear to you, it’s a shame.”

A pristine white blade emerged from its scabbard, reflecting the sunlight. Haulk stared at me intently.

“I’ve heard you’re someone unpredictable, but I never expected you to treat a guest who came to help in such a manner.”
“Guest?”

I let out a derisive snort.

“I don’t call thieves who sit down and try to carve away half the profits a guest.”
“Was it the ratio that was the problem? Then we can simply adjust it.”
“You’re not listening. Spending all your time in the mountains must have let worms eat away at your eardrums….”
“What?”

I flicked my blade toward them.

“How much longer do you plan to keep up this act? Did you think I, a Heretic Inquisitor, wouldn’t know you’re bandits?”

Haulk’s eyebrows twitched momentarily, and the others’ eyes widened. My information was accurate.

“…How could you lump us together with mere bandits?”
“You can keep pretending not to understand. I’ll just beat it out of you anyway.”

As flames ignited along my blade, Haulk realized I was serious and his face contorted.

“You can’t possibly…!”
“I can.”

Right now, I’m not the eldest son of the Luminara Family—I’m a Heresy Inquisitor.
In a flash, I closed the distance to Haulk and brought my blade down. Haulk, his face drained of color, stumbled backward and shouted.

“Stop him! The plan has failed!”

That was as good as a confession.
Three men and women drew their weapons and rushed at me, while Haulk mounted a horse from the carriage and fled alone.
He was probably heading back to the Mountain to report the situation to his leader.

Clang!

I had no intention of letting him escape. I swung my blade at the three approaching figures.
As flames consumed their vision, they screamed and were hurled backward.
I didn’t kill them. The bandits in the Mountain were one thing, but these ones I’d hand over to the Papal See as evidence.
The Papal See could handle the tedious details themselves.

“Bastard… he’s getting away clean.”

Haulk’s figure on horseback had already become a distant speck.
Just as I was about to stomp the ground and use ‘Whirlwind’ to pursue him—

“…?”

The horse suddenly turned its head and began approaching me at a leisurely pace.
As it drew closer, I could see Haulk’s condition—he was draped limply across the saddle, his eyes rolled back.

Thud.

His body tilted to the side and fell to the ground. Behind where he’d been sitting, Arturo came into view.
Arturo spoke matter-of-factly.

“He looked like he was getting away, so I brought him back.”
“Did you kill him?”
“No. I wasn’t sure of the situation, so I just knocked him unconscious.”

A response neither hasty nor sluggish—perfectly measured.
Behind him came the men Arturo had been training, rushing over frantically. I openly criticized them.

“You’re only arriving now? It’s already all over.”

They weren’t far from where I stood. The path I had walked was not a long one.

“I-I’m terribly sorry…!”
“Sorry? Is that all? Why don’t you come back after I’m dead.”
“I-I’ll do better from now on!”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. We’ll see once you’re wearing the Clergy robes.”

That much chastisement was sufficient. Truth be told, it had ended so swiftly there was little to fault.

“Interrogator!”

This time, Bella came rushing to my side in a flurry. She must have heard the commotion from the Mansion and hurried over.

“Huh? It’s already finished?”
“As you can see. Did you bring my clothes?”
“Yes, right here.”

Bella, carrying her usual large bag, handed me the Clergy robes she had been holding. They were naturally made from Lumen fabric.
I turned to face Arturo’s lackeys.

“See? This is what preparedness looks like. How can you be worse than a Deacon?”
“B-but that person isn’t exactly an ordinary Deacon…”
“…Are you talking back?”
“I-I’m terribly sorry!”
“Strive harder henceforth.”
“Yes, understood!”

I nodded with satisfaction and spoke to Bella.

“I’ll explain the details as we go. For now, let’s move.”
“Yes, Interrogator!”
“Arturo, you hand these men over to the Papal See.”
“Understood.”

I gazed at the carriage the bandits had arrived in. The driver trembled uncontrollably, not daring to move.

“You have two choices.”
“Y-yes?”
“One: take us to the bandit leader. Or two: lie down peacefully with these men and be dragged to Hell.”

I spoke to him like a merchant hawking wares.

“Choose, choose… Fair warning—there are no discounts.”

Mabu swallowed hard, his throat constricting as he forced his mouth open.

“I will take you to the Leader…”

I nodded in acknowledgment.

“A wise choice.”

Of course, whatever he chose would have led to the same outcome anyway.

(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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