The Regressed Sword Demon Is a Catastrophe-Class Inquisitor - Chapter 76

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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 76. You’ve Come?

Haber, who had been staring blankly for a while, finally regained his senses and responded.

“…Do you think I’ll tell you?”
“I wasn’t asking about your willingness. I’m asking if you know where he is.”
“What’s the difference?”
“There is. A significant one at that.”

Haber let out a derisive snort.

“A pointless question. I have nothing to tell you.”

For all that, he’d already revealed everything.
More precisely, he hadn’t contradicted my fabricated truth in the slightest.

“Attack!”

The Research Institute staff who had been creeping toward the periphery rushed at me.
Various weapons engulfed my surroundings, yet my expression remained composed.
These were ordinary combatants without magical enhancement—mere Guards at best.

Whoosh!

I traced a circle with my flaming blade, sweeping them aside like mayflies.
Some were sent flying backward, while others had their weapons melted and severed by the blade’s arc.
Haber surely knew this would happen. These soldiers were nothing but bait.

Boom!

But Haber’s actions defied my expectations. Rather than flee in the chaos, he charged directly at me.
Had the magical corruption destroyed his mind? It was a decision I couldn’t fathom.

Crash!

He unleashed a fist wreathed in black magical energy.
I blocked it with the flat of my blade, and a surprisingly heavy impact transmitted through the steel.

‘I didn’t expect him to cloak himself in demonic energy.’

Haber’s raw power was comparable to Baron Scalen’s. But his ability to utilize demonic energy far surpassed the Baron’s.
To envelop one’s body or weapon with demonic energy required the same mastery of qi as wielding mana or holy power.

‘Indeed, that’s why he didn’t flee immediately.’

Still, it remained a foolish decision.

Boom!

I poured strength into my grip and hurled Haber backward with my fist.
Only then did he properly gauge my power, clicking his tongue softly.

‘Certainly, he still falls short of the Apostles of the Evil Book Society.’

He’d likely received Barsenon’s blood not long ago.
Which meant Barsenon himself had only recently recovered the power he possessed eleven years ago.
It wasn’t merely a matter of sharing blood—the demon also bestowed his own demonic energy, forcing him to bear immediate losses to demonize a human.
The Evil Book Society, by contrast, boasted greater numbers and deeper history than Barsenon’s followers, creating an inevitable gap in their strength.

‘Still, given time, things will change. Demons have far higher growth ceilings than ordinary humans.’

It was only because I was me that I could contend with him. Most others, save the Holy Knights, would struggle against him.

“Block him!”

At Haber’s command, the surviving researchers hesitated before scrambling forward.
In that moment, Haber turned and fled. He seemed intent on escaping through a small window set into the ceiling.

Slash!

I cut down the swarming researchers in a single breath and launched myself skyward.
Haber was pushing off various apparatus as he approached the ceiling, and I charged directly at him.
As the distance closed rapidly, Haber extended one hand.
The moment I braced for his attack.

Whoooosh!

The plants in the Research Institute grew at an alarming rate. Sunflowers, strange branches, and massive green leaves blocked my path.

Thud!

I bounced gently away from the plants and fell back the way I’d come. I rotated once in mid-air before landing on the ground.

‘Magic.’

The massive plants that had filled the Research Institute rapidly decomposed and vanished.
They had grown abnormally due to the magic.

‘Then that must be him.’

In my previous life, there was a follower of Barsenon who devastated an entire city, and I’d heard he wielded magic as freely as Haber does.
If I let him slip away now, that tragedy will repeat itself.

“Don’t chase me any further.”

I lifted my head at the voice reaching my ears.
Haber stood atop the roof where he’d shattered the window, looking down at me.

“As a Heresy Inquisitor, you understand what I’m capable of, don’t you?”

Catching Haber as he flees would be simple.
I’m faster than him, and besides, I have Bertior’s sandals, which restore my body’s fatigue with each step I take.
But he won’t simply run. If I chase him, he’ll slaughter the residents.

‘If I were still the Sword Demon, I wouldn’t have cared and would have severed his neck first….’

Now, I have no choice but to prioritize the protection of the residents.
Above all, if I ignore this, I could lose my position as a Heresy Inquisitor.
A Heresy Inquisitor is one who executes heretics and brings stability to the world.
If I kill a heretic by sacrificing the residents’ lives, then the result and the process are reversed.

“I’m relieved you’re not foolish. There’s no need to demonstrate it before your eyes.”

The distance between us was considerable.
‘Tailwind’ could close the gap, but in that moment, he’d retreat and kill the residents here.

“Next time we meet, things won’t end like this.”

Haber snorted and turned away.
But I remained motionless where I stood. It wasn’t out of concern for the residents getting hurt.
I’ve always been greedy. There was a way to capture Haber while protecting the residents.

“Then take care.”

The moment Haber kicked off the ground forcefully to leave the Research Institute.

Boom!

The instant Haber’s face touched empty air, it crumpled like clay.
Then his body bounced back as if repelled, plummeting through the shattered window.
Bella, positioned outside, had assessed the situation and deployed a barrier.
In this world, no one understands the wicked better than I do. There’s no way I could have failed to anticipate Haber’s actions.

Thud—

Haber’s body crashed to the ground. Right at my feet.
I gazed down at him calmly while he stared up in shock, eyes wide open.
I greeted him.

“Oh, you’re here?”

Startled, Haber scrambled to his feet and backed away hastily, keeping his eyes fixed on me.

“Wait—!”

Slash!

In that instant, I severed all four of his limbs with Wrath’s Blade. As I passed through him, I turned my head.
With all his limbs severed, Haber lay sprawled on the ground like a beetle, exposing only his torso.

“Aaahhh! Jenzang!!”

Haber let out a agonized scream. Even with regeneration, pain was far from absent.
Still, true to his demonic nature, he remained alive despite his severed limbs. The universal method for ending a demon’s life was to sever the neck.
I deliberately didn’t kill him. There was still more information to extract, so I intended to bring him to the Saint of Truth.

‘Then I need to restrain this bastard….’

I glanced around the research institute and spotted a large ceramic pot used for planting trees.
I brought it over, dumped out most of the soil inside, then forcefully compressed Haber’s body and planted him within.

“Wait! What are you doing right now?!”

Without responding, I methodically shoveled the soil back into the pot. Haber’s body was buried beneath the earth, with only his face peeking out above the rim.
I wiped a bead of sweat from my brow.
I quickly wiped away a drop of sweat trickling down my forehead.

“What are you doing?! Let me out right now!!”
“What are you doing?! Let me go right now!!”

I tilted my head in confusion as I watched the noisy sapling chatter away.

“You crazy bastard! Just kill me instead!!”
“Hmm, with that foul mouth, it seems you’re destined to become a demon.”
“Hmm, with a mouth like that, you’ve got the makings of a Demon.”

I made it a habit to gather various supplies in advance, just in case they proved useful.
I poured the entire contents over Haber’s crown.
I poured it all over the top of Haber’s head.

“Guh-blub! What is this? Poison? Fine, let me drink it and die….”
“Blech! What is this?! Is it poison? Yeah, I’d rather drink this and die…”

This was the sedative that had put even Arturo, who possessed poison resistance, to sleep.
Having poured the entire bottle over him, Haber would sleep for days unless forcibly awakened.
Since he poured it all out, even the demon Haber won’t wake up unless forced to, and will just sleep for days.

“Grow well.”

Satisfied, I nodded and opened the research institute’s door, calling out to Bella standing outside.
I nodded in satisfaction, opened the door of the Research Institute, and spoke to Bella who was outside.

“Understood, Interrogator!”
“Understood, Interrogator!”

As Bella dashed away, I re-entered the Research Institute.

‘Since they distributed Galma here, there must be some in this place as well.’

I ventured deeper into the Research Institute, and soon discovered a field as wide as a house, where Galma was being cultivated.

‘Hmm.’

If I burned this place down and the Theocracy learned of it, Galma would vanish from this world entirely.
In my past life, how much chaos had this single crop caused?
Surely, burning it was the right choice.

‘Yet somehow, I don’t want to do that.’

Though Galma contained narcotic properties, if used properly, it could become a stabilizer that helped those suffering in body and mind.
Just as poison becomes medicine depending on who uses it, so too did Galma.

‘If I give it to Arturo, he would surely create an excellent stabilizer from it.’

Barsenon had spread Galma to sow great chaos within the Theocracy.
But if instead it brought stability back to someone, there could be no more bitter a revenge than that.

‘If the Theocracy simply regulates it well, there’s no problem with Galma spreading widely.’

In my past life, so many had already consumed Galma that it couldn’t even be used as a stabilizer.
Once people had tasted it and experienced its sensation, they would inevitably crave it again.
But now, only the residents here and Earl Rainward knew of Galma’s existence.
If I managed this place carefully, there would be no major problems.

‘Then let me take some with me for now.’

I filled a nearby sack with Galma.
If the Theocracy refused this proposal, so be it. This matter required their assistance anyway.
But I held no great attachment to it either, so it didn’t matter.
Simply put, if they refused, Galma would disappear from this world—which was fine. If they agreed, a new medicinal ingredient would emerge—which was good.

Whoosh!

After securing an appropriate amount of Galma, I set fires throughout the Research Institute. There was a possibility that Galma seeds were hidden somewhere within.
Then I left the Research Institute, carrying a sack containing Galma and a potted plant with Haber planted in it.

“Let’s go to our new home.”

There, you’ll both be put to proper use.

* * *

We arrived at Rainward Territory by carriage. Cardinal Barun had mentioned that the Saint of Truth had personally visited Rainward Territory.
As I descended from the carriage carrying a large potted plant draped in black cloth, Lenika, the Saint of Truth, greeted me first.

“It’s been a while, Inquisitor.”
“Indeed. Have you been well?”
“Yes. Thanks to your diligent efforts, Inquisitor.”
“I see.”

Lenika, smiling, looked at the potted plant I had set down.

“But what is that? Does it contain Galma?”
“Indeed. Galma itself.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie. After all, this creature was the root cause of Galma’s spread.

“Let’s move to a more private location. I need your abilities for something.”

From now on, I would interrogate Haber. But this place, where many eyes were watching, wasn’t suitable.
It was more about protecting various pieces of information than about Haber’s appearance.

“Ah! The Kael Inquisitor has arrived!”

At that moment, Earl Rainward rushed out from the mansion and grasped my hand.

“Your words were truly accurate! If you hadn’t been here, we would have nearly spread that vicious crop throughout the Theocracy! Our Family Clan would never have escaped unscathed!”

I had roughly anticipated this from the Holy Maiden’s reaction, but it seemed Rorik’s interrogation was already complete.

“I merely did what was necessary.”
“Haha! What a devoted Heretic Inquisitor we have! The Theocracy is truly fortunate!”

It seemed Earl Rainward hadn’t noticed the contents of the large pot.

“I’ve prepared all manner of rewards for you! It seems you still have business with the Holy Maiden, so I’ll show you afterward!”
“Then I shall provide my answer regarding the proposal you made earlier, my lord.”
“Splendid! Do so! Hehehehe!”
“But first, could you guide us to an unoccupied annex building? I have urgent matters to discuss with the Holy Maiden.”
“No trouble at all! Once you’re finished, let me know!”
“Very well.”

Earl Rainward gestured to a servant, and we followed him into the annex building.
Only I, Bella, and the Saint of Truth entered the room within the annex.
The moment Bella cast a sound-dampening barrier around the chamber, Lenika asked.

“How may I be of assistance?”
“Interrogate this creature alongside me.”

I tapped the black cloth repeatedly. Lenika responded with evident reluctance.

“Ah… forgive me, but my stigma is only effective against intelligent beings.”
“Don’t worry. This one has a head on his shoulders.”
“Pardon?”

Lenika tilted her head, and I removed the black cloth.
Haber emerged, his head bowed low as he knelt buried in the soil.
Lenika blinked slowly several times, still struggling to comprehend the situation.
Since Haber’s demonification had already been reversed, she couldn’t even sense the demonic energy.

“Hmm… is this a Galma? It looks quite different from what I’ve seen before…”
“He is human.”
“Pardon?”
“And also a demon.”

To help Lenika understand, I struck Haber’s cheek with considerable force.
With a sharp crack, Haber gasped awake and stirred. Coming to his senses, he glanced frantically around before barking at Lenika.

“Who are you?!”

Crack!

I struck Haber’s cheek once more, wiping that insolent smirk from his face.

“How dare you raise your voice to the Holy Maiden?”
“Th-this woman is a Holy Maiden…?”

Haber’s eyes widened in shock. Lenika, witnessing this spectacle for the first time, could only blink in bewilderment.
I turned to her and spoke.

“Then I’ll ask you to conduct the interrogation.”

Now it was time to extract every truth Haber possessed.

(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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