The Regressed Sword Demon Is a Catastrophe-Class Inquisitor - Chapter 84

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

Chapter 84. Smile.

I dressed myself in a leather jacket over my priestly robes and other garments that made me resemble a mercenary.
In any case, November had arrived, and the weather had grown quite brisk.
Of course, my priestly robes were crafted from sacred relics and regulated my body temperature automatically, but I had layered these clothes solely to conceal my identity.

Clatter, clatter—

A cart with a canvas canopy was laden with high-grade magical stones, pulled by a horse commanded by Mabu.
We reclined within that cart, our bodies at ease.
The mercenaries we had hired either rested in other carts or rode upon horseback alongside us.

“Hey, Brother.”

At the sound of a voice from outside, I lifted the canvas flap and saw a mercenary mounted on horseback.

“What is it?”
“Dusk will soon fall, so we’ll make camp nearby. Be ready for that.”
“Understood.”

I lowered the canvas, and the mercenary clicked his tongue as he rode away.
None of them knew that we were a Heretic Inquisitor and a Deacon.
I had deliberately kept this hidden, as there was a possibility that some among them might be in league with those forces.

‘Three of the ten mercenaries are mixed in—those who suffered during the bandit attack.’

They had sustained only minor injuries, unlike the others, and were able to continue with us.
Yet this detail troubled me. The other mercenaries had suffered grave wounds, but these three had escaped with minimal harm.

‘They may have abandoned their resistance against the bandits’ overwhelming force, or perhaps they merely feigned resistance from the start.’

Based on the bandits’ movements, this was not indiscriminate extortion but a calculated crime.
Yet how could they have known when and where the high-grade magical stones would appear?
Though the route was limited and the location could be roughly anticipated, timing such precision was extraordinarily difficult.

‘Perhaps one of them had revealed the timing to the bandits.’

The mercenaries who had followed us to this place were originally those tasked with escorting the highest-grade mana stones.
It was possible they had approached the bandits first and leaked information, or they could have been swayed during the previous attack.

‘Both scenarios aren’t entirely implausible.’

They had already witnessed the bandits’ formidable martial prowess.
Those bandits might appear again this time, yet rather than showing fear, they maintained an oddly composed demeanor.

‘Of course, they could simply be foolish—just grinning because the pay is generous.’

Still, I couldn’t entirely rule out the possibility that one of them was a traitor.
Either way, I’d learn the details soon enough. I fully expected those bandits to appear again this time.

“Young Master.”

Bella, seated across from me, spoke.
Since I had told the others that Bella was my porter, I instructed her to address me only as Young Master, omitting my name.
There might be those who could recognize my actual name.

“What is it?”
“But Young Master, if you learned magic, couldn’t you use it? You’re so clever that I think you’d pick up magic quickly.”

I shook my head.

“Beyond the disparity in physical abilities between mages and knights, the fundamental difference lies in the pathways through which mana flows—the mana circuits themselves are fundamentally different.”

I continued my explanation.

“Mages are specialized in expelling mana outward from their bodies, while others are typically structured to circulate it internally.”
“….”
“Consequently, when a knight attempts to use magic, they can only achieve roughly one-twentieth of the power. Conversely, mages struggle to reinforce their bodies with mana—perhaps only the waist and lower body, which form the core of the body.”

This was why I could reinforce my waist and lower body with mana even before learning Bella was a mage.
She possessed an abundance of mana naturally, and carrying that large bag daily meant she’d developed it unconsciously.

“Well, you’ve consumed Yang Gwang-cho, so you’re somewhat better in that regard than most mages.”
“I see. But Young Master and other strong knights do release mana like that, don’t they?”
“That’s merely releasing mana that flows through the sword. Unlike mages who expel mana in one burst, it’s impossible for us to do that, but we can release it through our fingertips or toes.”

I tapped my own hand lightly.

“Knights need weapons for a similar reason. It allows mana to settle within another body—the weapon itself.”
“Then we need to make sure mana flows well through the weapon too, don’t we?”
“Exactly. Efficiency varies depending on the weapon’s quality.”

I could handle crude weapons well enough, but it was undeniable that a legendary blade would be far superior.
That’s why I planned to retrieve the sword I’d used in my previous life.

“Hmm… So in the end, whether one becomes a Mage or a Knight is determined from birth.”
“Yes. There was a reason you wielded that sword so clumsily back then.”
“Ugh… Please forget about that.”

Before I knew Bella was a Mage, I’d once had her grip a sword while teaching her to handle mana.
And I was horrified. She looked like a madwoman performing a sword dance.

“But why are you asking that now?”
“I suddenly felt anxious. What if the Young Master learns magic too? What becomes of me then?”

I let out a scoff.

“Even if that happens, nothing changes. You’re the only Porter who can’t sing like the others.”

Bella seemed torn between feeling relieved and offended, then stared at me with a sullen expression.

“So you’re calling me a Porter because the situation forced you to, right?”
“Let’s go with that.”
“Argh!”

Just then, the carriage came to a halt. We seemed to have reached the campsite.

“Brother, you can come down now. We’ll camp here for the night.”

It was Brock, the one who’d spoken to me earlier. He was also one of the mercenaries present during the bandit attack.
Among the mercenaries, the three who had been there during the attack now served as the practical leaders. They already had experience distributing our magic stones.
I preferred it this way. By following their lead, I could discern what was true.

“I see.”

Bella and I gathered our belongings and disembarked.
A vast plain with grass sprouting in patches. We settled in a spot where trees had taken root, offering some shelter.
It was an ideal location for camping.
We kindled a fire and hastily prepared a simple soup to satisfy our hunger.

“I’ve been curious since we departed—are you nobility? The Porter calls you Young Master, and your face carries an unmistakable air of aristocracy.”

It was Brock’s question.
I considered pretending to be a high-ranking nobleman.
But if I did, they might fear repercussions and hesitate to act, so I gave a vague response instead.

“My family fell into decline long ago. Now I survive by taking mercenary work, scraping by as best I can. The Porter calls me Young Master out of habit.”
“Then the Porter was originally a servant?”
“Well, yes.”
“By the way, what are your names? I don’t recall hearing them before.”
“There’s nothing worth mentioning. Just call us Brother and Porter, as you have been.”
“I see.”

Brock nodded and, glancing between Bella and me, opened his mouth again.

“But has there truly been nothing between the two of you all this time?”

I narrowed my eyes slightly at him.

“What do you mean by that?”
“Well, your family has fallen, so you’re no longer master and servant, are you? The fact that the servant continues to follow you even after the employment relationship ended suggests there was considerable affection between you.”

I regarded him with a cold stare—a silent warning.
But he didn’t catch it and continued his rambling.

“Besides, you’re both quite striking in appearance. It wouldn’t be strange if you two had developed feelings for each other. Come on, be honest. What were you two doing in there earlier?”

Suddenly, the atmosphere around us grew frigid. Only the crackling of sparks from the campfire could be heard.
Only then did Brock, reading the mood, burst into laughter.

“Ha ha! I was joking, just joking! Why are you all taking it so seriously?”
“….”
“Ah, you must be new to mercenary work, Brother! We mercenaries tend to have rather crude humor.”

I had long known that mercenaries like this were common. Most mercenaries exchanged crude jokes as their daily routine.
If I counted only the mercenaries who had beaten me in my past life, they would fill these carts and overflow.

‘Ugh….’

I considered removing my clothes and reverting to my role as a Heretic Inquisitor a hundred times over.
But thinking of my purpose for coming here, I decided against it.
I could not let a moment of rage ruin everything. Was I not now a faithful Heretic Inquisitor, not one consumed by the wrath of the Seven Deadly Sins?
So I responded graciously.

“Does your father perhaps not know of your existence?”
“…What?”
“No, I was just asking since you’ve shown no manners since we departed. When I look at the others, not all mercenaries are as crude as you. Be honest with me. Do you know or not?”

Brock’s eyebrows twitched, and his hand had already moved toward his sword hilt.
I let out a low laugh.

“Haha. Just joking, joking. I was trying to make you laugh.”
“….”

When no response came, I hardened my expression and glared at him.

“Laugh, you bastard. Before you die. Want to see the blade of a fallen Young Master?”

Two murderous gazes clashed in the air. Bella tugged lightly at my sleeve as if to calm me, but I ignored her.

“Haha! Why is everyone like this!”

Then a man stepped between us. It was Doran, who had a gentle appearance.

“Come now, everyone calm down. If we abandon our employer’s mission, we won’t be able to work as mercenaries anymore. That would be inconvenient for all of us, wouldn’t it?”

I was fine with it. Because I was the employer.

“We’ve exchanged words, so let’s move past this! It seems neither of you intends to apologize anyway!”

But I did not take my eyes off Brock.
In the end, it was Brock who looked away first.

“Tsk, I’ll just look around a bit. Sleep or do whatever you want. If you’re tired, I’ll wake you up.”
“Yes, please be careful out there.”

Doran saw him off with a smile, and Brock departed with two others.
Doran let out a deep sigh and turned to face me.

“You showed great restraint. He was the one who crossed the line first. Are you alright? That porter?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you for stopping me. If I had stepped in, things would have gotten worse….”
“Think nothing of it.”

Doran smiled gently and spoke to me.

“As you know, Young Master, working as a mercenary means these kinds of incidents happen from time to time. Still, we’ll reach our destination tomorrow, so we won’t see each other again after that.”

I stared at Doran for a moment, then patted his shoulder.

“You’ve worked hard. You’re the one who saved that bastard’s life.”
“Ha, well, I’m glad it turned out that way.”

For a mercenary, he had an unusually decent temperament.

“Then let’s get some rest. After sleep, your anger will have cooled somewhat.”
“I hope so.”

Ordinary people might find that true, but I was such a wretched soul that I couldn’t be certain it would apply to me.
After that, we each sought sleep in our own places.
Bella spread a blanket beside me, and I rested with my back against a tree, cradling my sword in my arms.
Part of it was not trusting Brock’s group, but it wouldn’t have mattered much who else it was.
Unless Bella was standing watch, I always rested this way during encampments, prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.

“Young Master, please rest comfortably. I’ll stay awake.”

Bella, knowing this, sat on her blanket and spoke.

“Sleep. Don’t talk nonsense.”
“Ugh… Yes. Sleep well.”

Bella lay down on her blanket, and I slowly closed my eyes.
I released the tension throughout my body while maintaining my senses intact. This way, I could recover some fatigue while remaining prepared for any surprise attack.

‘Hmm….’

Yet today, my tension refuses to dissipate. It’s not that I fear bandits might appear.
It was purely an emotional matter. The anger within me had yet to subside.

‘I should have thrown at least one punch.’

Had I been a Heretic Inquisitor, I could have done so by my authority.
But if I had, the bandits might not have appeared, so I had no choice but to treat him as a fellow mercenary.
I furrowed my brow slightly, attempting to calm my emotions.
Yet this frustration simply wouldn’t resolve.

‘Why must I endure this?’

Was catching bandits more valuable than Bella and I being mocked?
Why should I allow Bella to become withdrawn and anxious?
Why can’t I even rest properly because of that worthless fool?
Just one punch.
If I could land just one blow and return, I think I could endure until this mission ends.

‘Should I go pick a fight? As long as I don’t kill him, it should be fine.’

But then Bella would think it was her fault and feel troubled. It could also cause problems for innocent Doran.

‘Endure. Just endure. I can simply sleep less.’

Since when have I cared so much about others?
Well done, Kael. You are no longer the wrath of the Seven Deadly Sins, but a proper Heretic Inquisitor.

“….”

Then I sensed a presence ahead. With my eyes still closed, I sharpened my senses.
Silent footsteps drew closer. Yet I could discern his movements from his presence alone.
For now, I remained still and observed. I couldn’t determine his purpose for approaching.
He might simply be someone who naturally made no sound.

Whoosh—

The rustle of fabric reached my ears. A hand moved toward the waist.
Then came the subtle sound of metal meeting air. At last, his true intent became clear.
I raised my scabbard overhead.

Clang!

The collision rang out. I opened my eyes and lifted my head.
A blade wreathed in azure mana pressed down upon my scabbard, and beyond it stood a man with a bewildered expression.
It was Brock.

“Is this also a jest?”

At my question, Brock offered a deliberate smile.

“No, you seemed to be having a nightmare, so I thought I’d wake you.”
“How thoughtful of you.”

I swung my scabbard with force, driving him back. Then I rose and drew my blade.
Bella, having heard the commotion, was already at my side.

“Tsk. I should have killed you first.”

Brock clicked his tongue at the sight of the flaming sword, and I narrowed my eyes.

‘Why does he want to kill me? Surely not just because of something I said.’

It happened often enough among mercenaries, but Brock didn’t seem foolish enough for that.
Perhaps he was in a similar predicament as me—unable to sleep and seeking a bout to pass the time.

Clang! Clang!

Then commotion erupted nearby.
Doran was crossing blades with a Knight whose face was concealed by a mask and hood.
The assailant was formidable, yet Doran held his ground admirably.

“Ugh!”

Around them, two men from Brock’s group wielded weapons against the other mercenaries.
Some of the mercenaries bore deep wounds across their shoulders and chests.

“Hmm.”

I gazed forward.
Behind Brock stood two figures with their faces concealed by masks and hoods.
One appeared to be a Mage, lacking any weapon, while the other wielded a peculiar single-handed sword.

“So you were the traitors?”
“Well, yes.”

Just as I suspected—there were mercenaries colluding with the thieves.

“It seems you have no intention of letting me live this time.”

The enemies’ attacks carried unmistakable killing intent. Unlike before, they meant to slaughter me entirely.

“No matter what, if you survive again, we’ll grow suspicious. Next time, that Heretic Inquisitor might come instead. I’ve heard the eldest son of the Luminara Family is quite formidable.”

It seemed they didn’t know I was that Heretic Inquisitor.

“Once this is finished, you’ll defect to the Empire, then?”
“Yes. Thanks to the magic stones, we’ve made a fortune. Now there’s no need to risk our lives as mercenaries.”

Brock, with the thief backing him, laughed mockingly.

“But if you disarm yourself, I’ll spare you and that Porter. You said you’re the Young Master of a fallen Family, didn’t you? Surely your current life isn’t satisfying.”
“….”
“So return to the Theocracy, and when we contact you, take on another escort mission for top-grade magic stones.”
“You’re asking me to become a traitor this time?”

When I’m the eldest son of the Luminara Family and the actual employer of this mission?

“Impressive—an educated man thinks fast indeed. Exactly. Once their guard drops, we’ll steal them again.”

In other words, they had no intention of ending this. They meant to squeeze out top-grade magic stones for as long as possible.

“I see.”

I nodded and extinguished the flames dancing along my blade. Then I drove the sword deep into the ground.
Brock laughed upon seeing this.

“Haha! Well thought out! So you’re just the same kind of bastard after all.”
“….”
“Oh, and there’s something I didn’t mention—you’re the only one returning to the Theocracy. That Porter here will become my prisoner—”

The instant Brock’s tongue flicked across his lips, I closed the distance between us.
My fist drew back over my shoulder, taut with tension. Every ounce of rage I’d been suppressing poured into that knuckles.
It erupted forward like a tempest, aimed straight at his face.

Crack!

Through my fist, I felt his cheekbone shatter and his jaw dislocate.
But I didn’t stop—I drove my fist in with every ounce of strength I possessed.

Boom!

Brock’s body couldn’t withstand the force and went flying through the air.
I hurled him like a projectile at the Knight behind him, but the Knight didn’t catch him—he leaped aside in panic to dodge.

Crash!

Brock finally skidded across the ground several times before scraping to a halt.
He couldn’t get up. His face was mangled, his body only twitching weakly.

“Lucky for me.”

Seeing his pathetic state, I wiped the satisfaction from my chest and smiled brightly.

“That you’re not a good man.”

Tonight, I’d finally be able to sleep peacefully.

(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
—————