The Regressed Sword Demon Is a Catastrophe-Class Inquisitor - Chapter 9

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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 9. When Venturing Out.

The moment Mordin Scalen climbed into the carriage alone, the smile that had lingered at his lips vanished.

‘Why is that bastard here?’

Kael Luminara.
I already knew that he, who had been kidnapped, killed the watchers and returned to his family estate.
Seeing him unscathed after slaughtering the watchers, it was almost certainly Kael who burned down the Pleasure District.
I heard he had been wandering about for half a year, and it seemed he had grown considerably stronger in that time.

‘That’s a variable too, but I never imagined he would come to take the Heresy Inquisitor examination.’

Kael is not a devout follower of the Ella Faith. So there’s no reason for him to become a Heresy Inquisitor.
Then why?

‘Could it be to capture me?’

If Kael destroyed the Pleasure District, there’s a strong chance he heard that Mordin was behind it.
But with only that, it would be impossible to apprehend Mordin, who has a good reputation in the territory and within the church.
So Kael intends to become a Heresy Inquisitor and kill Mordin directly.

‘There’s no other reason for him to become a Heresy Inquisitor. This is far too dangerous to leave as is.’

Mordin retrieved a pendant and a small mana stone from within his clothes.
A pendant engraved with a sprouting seedling of two leaves, the symbol of the Ella Faith.
The mana stone was a disposable communication device.
When he infused it with mana, another’s voice reached his ears.

– Yes, Apostle.

Mordin held the pendant and mana stone in both hands as if in prayer, bringing them to his forehead.

“Kael, the eldest son of the Luminara Family, has come to take the Heresy Inquisitor examination. Deploy those who can be mobilized immediately and kill Kael.”
– …Are you certain about this? Even if the assassination succeeds, you may come under suspicion afterward. Moreover, the Saint of Truth will likely be present as well.

A valid point. Not many know the location of the examination site.

“It’s fine. I have this pendant. All that’s left is to trust in the reputation I’ve built.”
– I see.
“Even if it means taking risks, we must handle this here. If he truly becomes a Heresy Inquisitor, there’s no telling what might happen.”

If the plan proceeded as intended, Mordin would receive the rank of Bishop, and his position within the Evil Book Society would become even more secure.
The Luminara Territory was merely the stepping stone for that.
I couldn’t allow everything I’d built to crumble because of a single man like Kael.

– They must be killed without fail.

A sudden memory crossed Mordin’s mind, and he shook his head as he spoke.

“Be careful. He’s no ordinary man.”
– Is he that strong?
“I haven’t seen him directly myself, so I can’t say for certain. But the composure he displays unsettles me. I can’t fathom what he’s thinking.”
– In other words, he’s a madman.
“Yes. When you fight him, it’s best not to try to understand him.”
– Thank you for the advice. Then, farewell.

With that, the communication ended.
Mordin discarded a small mana stone out the window and gazed at the sky.
Just as my composure began to settle, the image of Kael’s smile suddenly surfaced in my mind.

– Smile, you bastard.

Mordin, witnessing this creature for the first time, broke into a cold sweat and forced a smile.

“A madman….”

* * *

I boarded the same carriage with the designated team members and traveled toward the Ancient Ruins.
There were five team members in total, and aside from one, there was nothing immediately suspicious about any of them.

“Hmm.”

I fixed my gaze upon the woman seated beside me.
Brown hair adorned with a simple hairpin. Apart from her round face and cute appearance, there was nothing particularly distinctive about her.

‘That’s precisely the problem.’

The others carried weapons or possessed muscular frames, yet this woman bore neither arms nor any sign of physical conditioning—only an enormous bag slung across her shoulders.
I grasped her forearm to test it, and sure enough, it possessed the soft, untrained flesh of someone who had never undergone rigorous training.
Her name was Bella, if I recalled correctly.

“Ah, that hurts….”

I folded my arms across my chest and questioned Bella.

“What are your special skills?”
“Well…. Cleaning, cooking, singing?”

I could only marvel at that response.

“So you intend to clean the Ancient Ruins? And when hunger strikes, you’ll hunt and devour the monsters dwelling there, I presume. When your teammates grow drowsy, you’ll stand beside them crooning lullabies—how helpful. And what of that monstrosity of a bag? Is it a tortoise? I’ve never seen one quite so enormous.”
“….”
“What’s with that bag? Is it a turtle? I’ve never seen a turtle this huge before.”

Bella swallowed dryly, her voice strained.

“I brought various things just in case…. Since I didn’t know what might happen….”
“Can you at least move properly?”
“My stamina and lower body strength are quite good….”

Bella shot me a weary glare.
Yet her lower body didn’t appear particularly strong to me.
But even I couldn’t bring myself to verify such a claim directly.
I hadn’t come to become a Heresy Inquisitor only to return as a sexual harasser.

“To be honest, you’re entirely unsuited for the role of Heresy Inquisitor. Why did you volunteer?”
“I wanted to be of help to the orphanage that raised me….”

At this point, I found myself without a response.

“Well, I understand that sentiment well enough.”
“Really? Are you also an orphan?”
“I was, once.”

At that moment, the man sitting across from me interjected abruptly.

“I hear you’ve been rather discourteous to the lady, haven’t you?”
“Discourteous?”
“Indeed. Most notably, you’re the only one here who hasn’t revealed your name.”

Myron was right—I alone had failed to introduce myself among this group.

“You’re correct. My name is Kael Luminara.”

Myron tilted his head quizzically.

“Luminara? Do you mean the Luminara Barony?”
“You know of my family?”
“Of course. The Monastery occasionally receives food donations under the Luminara name….”

So Father had been making donations to the Monastery as well.
Tsk, no wonder the family coffers run dry despite abundant harvests. Sriben really needs to do his job properly.

“But didn’t you just say you were an orphan?”
“I was, once.”
“Ah, then perhaps you’re an adopted son?”
“No, I’m his biological son.”
“…?”

Myron blinked stupidly. The others wore expressions little different from his.

“Don’t concern yourself with trivial matters.”
“But it hardly seems trivial….”

Myron pondered for a moment, then fixed his gaze upon me.

“Could it be that you’re a heretic of this order?”
“What makes you think that?”
“I’ve heard the Luminara Family are devout followers of the Ella Faith. Yet judging by your words and conduct, you hardly seem to belong to that house. Could it be you’ve merely adopted a provincial family as a convenient cover to conceal your heresy?”
“Interesting.”

I regarded Myron with newfound intrigue.

“Is it acceptable to be sharp with me, yet disrespectful to a lady is not?”
“I merely exercised reasonable suspicion.”
“So did I. A Heresy Inquisitor requires martial prowess as an essential qualification, yet this one possessed no weapon and appeared physically weak. Is such suspicion unreasonable?”
“Your manner was discourteous. Could you not have treated them with greater kindness?”
“Kindness, you say….”

A faint chuckle escaped my lips.

“Very well, I concede my conduct was somewhat rough. Under ordinary circumstances, I would have accepted your rebuke without protest. But are you not laboring under a misapprehension?”
“What do you mean?”

I spoke with cold precision.

“We are not here for a leisurely outing—we are being tested to determine whether I am fit to serve as a Heresy Inquisitor. Therefore, I must demonstrate the qualities of a Heresy Inquisitor, not those of a virtuous person.”

I gestured toward Myron.

“But would you extend courtesy even to heretics? If you remain so indecisive, shall I prepare your memorial tablet?”
“….”
“Demons and villains perpetually seek to deceive and manipulate mankind. Thus, one must always remain vigilant and suspicious when strangers approach.”

Myron’s eyes narrowed.

“I understand your meaning, but are you not being excessively callous?”
“Callousness is preferable to death. Death arrives like a sudden gale—unpredictable in its timing, location, and manner. There is no shame in extending kindness only after one has discerned the true intent of that tempest.”

Myron’s brow furrowed.

“You speak as though death itself walks at your side, yet you do not appear to be of considerable years.”

I laughed softly.

“You are ill-suited to become a Heresy Inquisitor. Your pride blinds you to genuine insight.”
“….”
“If you were the heretic in this assignment, you would be performing admirably.”

Myron regarded me in silence for a moment, then released a weary sigh.

“I understand your position. However, this mission isn’t merely about finding heretics. We must also search for artifacts alongside the team members.”
“And?”
“So we need to cooperate before we start suspecting each other….”

I raised my hand, cutting off Myron’s words.

“Wait. Be quiet.”

Then I surveyed my surroundings. The carriage had already entered the Forest.
Myron pointed out my behavior.

“Surely this isn’t right? If you truly aren’t a heretic….”

I deliberately bellowed at him loudly.

“Shut your mouth!!!”

The team members jumped at the thunderous shout. Myron stood slack-jawed, utterly dumbfounded.
In any case, the silence I desired had arrived, so I descended from the slowly halting carriage.
The coachman asked me.

“Is something wrong? That sudden shout….”
“Stay quiet for now. Keep close to the carriage.”

I drew my sword and stood resolute in the heart of the Forest. Then I inhaled deeply.

‘Blood.’

A monster’s blood?
Since I hadn’t revealed the location of the Ancient Ruins, we could have already entered the trial grounds.

‘But something feels different.’

Cleaner and softer than the viscous blood of monsters, yet all the more repugnant for it.

‘This is human blood.’

At least a severe wound had been inflicted, or murder had occurred—something detectable from this distance.

‘So it’s difficult to conclude that the team members fought among themselves.’

I closed my eyes and channeled my holy power to assess the situation precisely.
I could release wind according to my level of enlightenment, and by infusing that wind with holy power, I could sense the presence of others.

‘Tailwind.’

Shiiiiik—

Threads of holy power spread outward in all directions, riding the wind.
Before long, my holy power brushed against the presence of people.
One, two, three….

‘About twenty approaching from all sides. Some of them are quite strong.’

I opened my eyes and spoke to the team members who had emerged from the carriage.

“Prepare for an ambush. We’re surrounded.”

Myron drew his sword in bewilderment and asked.

“Surrounded? By whom?”
“By those coming to kill us, obviously.”

At that moment, figures clad in black hoods and garments landed in a circle around us.
One of them spoke upon seeing us with our weapons at the ready.

“You knew we were coming?”
“Of course. Didn’t your master tell you?”
“….”

I waited for a response, but the man fell silent.
Bella, standing behind me, shrank back.

“This isn’t a test or other team members, is it…?”

The killing intent was thick. These were people who lived alongside death and darkness.
Baron Scalen must have ordered them to kill me.
I never expected him to make a move in the very place where the Saint of Truth resides.

‘So they’ve finally made their move. Thanks to this, I’ll be able to catch them faster than planned.’

I spoke to my team members.

“Focus only on defending with your backs to the carriage. I’ll handle the rest.”

Myron swallowed hard.

“Is that even possible?”

I assessed the enemies before me.
They were stronger than those I’d encountered in the Pleasure District. Any one of them could kill the other team members alone.
Seeing their thick, suffocating killing intent, I let out a faint laugh.

“It’s possible. I’ve already weathered storms far worse than this.”
“What do you mean by—”

I suddenly looked up at the sky.
The bright sun blazed down from the clear blue expanse, so I shielded my eyes with my palm against my forehead.

“The weather is clear today. But it seems a gust will blow soon, so it would be wise to be careful when venturing out. Don’t you think?”

Both my team and the enemies were taken aback by my nonsense.
But in my eyes, there were no expressions to read—only vital points laid bare before me.

Whoosh!

A sharp wind coils around the blade. Is this a gentle breeze, a favorable wind, or a gale?
I’m not entirely sure, but to the enemies’ eyes, it will appear as a tempest.
The enemies hesitated, and several of them grew visibly uneasy.
While they wavered, I pushed off the ground first and charged forward. I dissolved into the air like wind itself.

Slice!

I swung my blade and severed one enemy’s neck. Then I landed lightly among their ranks.
That alone shattered their encirclement formation.
The enemies widened their eyes, seemingly unprepared for my martial prowess.
But neither they nor I had anywhere left to retreat.

“Kill him!”

Most of the enemies rushed toward me. I soared into the air like a butterfly and swung my blade.
Before long, the sky was stained crimson with blood.

(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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