The Regressed Sword Demon Is a Catastrophe-Class Inquisitor - Chapter 97

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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 97. Who Are You?

The reason I had concealed my status as a Holy Knight all this time was simple.
When situations arose that couldn’t be resolved by force alone—just like now—I could serve as a trump card no one had anticipated.
And I had determined that this moment was precisely when I should play that card.

‘Had I not possessed sacred power, I would have had no choice but to wait until Barun returned to the Papal See.’

Of course, even if I hadn’t revealed my status as a Holy Knight now, it wouldn’t have caused any real trouble.
At worst, I would have waited two weeks and confessed everything to the Saint of Truth.

‘But if I yielded to Cardinal Gregory’s schemes, he would torment me the same way again next time.’

He would continue until I released the magic known as the Demon God’s remnant from my grasp.
So I needed to show him the opposite—what happens when you lay a hand on someone who stands still.

‘They thought they had cornered me, but it was always they who fell into the trap.’

As the Sword Demon, I had been hunted by them all this time.
But they had never once captured me, never brought me to my knees.
Rather, the Holy Knights and their lackeys who came to seize me were the ones who suffered defeat and limped back to the Papal See.

‘A phantom they could see but never grasp.’

That was why I was called the Sword Demon and the greatest villain.
Of course, it wasn’t a title I particularly cared for, but tormenting them as a specter was quite entertaining.

‘They had that same vacant expression back then.’

In the stunned silence, I let out a quiet scoff. Then I withdrew my sacred power and lowered my blade.
Only then did the others come to their senses, and Cardinal Gregory was the first to speak, his voice sharp with accusation.

“Kael Inquisitor! How is it that you, a Heretic Inquisitor, possess sacred power?!”
“I couldn’t presume to understand the Goddess’s noble will. I can only express my deepest gratitude that she chose me.”

At my composed response, Cardinal Gregory clenched his teeth.
He would have denied any evidence presented, but possessing holy power meant receiving the Goddess’s favor.
A mere Cardinal elected by humans could not deny that significance.
Cardinal Gregory, realizing he would lose the wager if things continued this way, concealed his bewilderment and pressed further.

“But are you truly certain that what you displayed is holy power? It’s possible you merely mimicked it through magic or some such trick. After all, in the entire history of the Theocracy, a thirteenth Holy Knight has never once existed.”

As he said, Holy Knights had numbered at most twelve throughout history.
Whenever one of them ascended, no other Holy Knight was born. It was the same in my previous life.
The thirteenth Holy Knight was an unprecedented phenomenon that arose from my regression.

‘Had things proceeded as before, Sebastian and Arvin would have died as in my previous life, leaving vacancies. But thanks to my intervention, the ranks are now completely full.’

Of course, that was a good thing. They would purify places beyond my reach.

“It seems Cardinal Gregory would only believe me if I slew a Demon before everyone’s eyes.”
“Of course. A Holy Knight is a far greater matter than the Barthelo Archbishop. This is not a human affair, but a matter entangled with the Goddess herself. My suspicion is entirely reasonable.”

Cardinal Gregory could not retreat from this. If it were revealed that I truly was a Holy Knight, he would have no choice but to relinquish his Cardinal’s position.
He would likely try to buy time and find a breakthrough somehow.
But setting that aside, his suspicion was valid. Several Cardinals still bore expressions of incomplete belief.

‘Hmm….’

I returned my sword to its sheath and regarded Cardinal Gregory.
It was pitiful—watching him thrash about so shamefully, already trapped in the pit I had dug.
He had forgotten. Who was present in this place.

“I shall prove it for you.”

The man who had been standing at the back of the Conference Hall walked toward its center.

Thud, thud—

Brilliant silver hair that shimmered like falling snow. Eyes of blue that seemed to embody justice itself. And the restrained gait characteristic of a Knight.
The moment I saw his face, irritation crept up unbidden, and I exhaled a deep sigh.

‘So we meet again like this after all.’

The legitimate heir of the Cardos Duke Family, which has protected the northern reaches of the Theocracy since ancient times, and the Holy Knight of “Sacred Flame” who would later be called the strongest in the Theocracy.
And that stalker bastard who relentlessly pursued me, the Sword Demon.

‘Ludian Cardos.’

He had fallen to the Demon God, yet never abandoned his faith—and now that persistent fool stood before me, his face exposed.

‘So even hatred becomes affection in the end. The urge to slap him the moment I see him proves it.’

In my past life, I would have struck his cheek without hesitation the moment he stood before me, but as he met my gaze, he tilted his head slightly and stopped at a respectful distance.

‘Good. Come at me. Let me show you the power of a Heretic Holy Knight, not a Sword Demon.’

But he merely bowed his head slightly and passed by me, turning his back as he did.

‘Hmm.’

Now that I think about it, I’m no longer the Sword Demon—I’m clergy. I understood the situation intellectually, but my senses reacted on pure instinct.
Was this what Arturo called post-traumatic stress disorder?
It was hardly surprising, given how much I’d suffered from his obsessive pursuit.

“Is the Archbishop Barthelo’s corpse here?”

Ludian stopped before the coffin and asked a clergyman.

“Ah, yes… We merely moved it here after the Kael Inquisitor brought it directly.”
“I see. Thank you for your cooperation.”

Ludian observed the proper formalities, then knelt on one knee and opened the coffin.
Gregory, witnessing this, asked.

“Holy Knight Ludian, what is this sudden—?”
“According to the Kael Inquisitor’s testimony, the Archbishop became a demon. And the Kael Inquisitor is the thirteenth Holy Knight chosen by the Goddess.”
“….”
“If all of this is true, then the Kael Inquisitor must have offered the Archbishop—now a demon—to the Goddess. If so, there should be traces of demonic essence having been extracted.”
“….”
“Is there any issue? If so, we can address it.”

Gregory met Ludian’s resolute gaze before shaking his head.

“…There is none.”
“Thank you for confirming.”

Ludian bowed his head and began to remove the cloth draped around the Archbishop’s corpse.
Logic without a shred of falsehood. That was Ludian.

“Of course, I know the truth myself, but as Cardinal Gregory said, we cannot rule out the possibility of some form of magic, so it’s best to be certain.”
“Ugh…!”

As the cloth was removed, a putrid stench spread from within. The Cardinals covered their noses, but Ludian examined the corpse with composure.
I too was accustomed to foul odors, but this time I couldn’t bear it and covered my mouth with my hand.
Bella asked with concern.

“Interrogator, are you alright…? Would you like me to apply some scented salve under your nose?”
“…No, it’s not because of the stench, so don’t worry about it.”
“Ah, of course—you’re the Interrogator after all. Still, if you need anything, just say the word.”
“Very well.”

I patted Bella’s shoulder gently.
The reason I’m reacting this way isn’t because of the stench or the corpse—it’s because of how Ludian is addressing me.

– Sword Demon, you bastard!

Ludian had never called me by my name even once, except when he was dying.
Yet now he was attaching an honorific to my name—’sir’, no less.

‘Damn. I almost threw up.’

The jarring disconnect from my past life made my stomach churn for a moment. But I’d have to get used to it now, so I pushed it away with a deep breath.

“As I thought….”

Ludian closed the coffin and rose from his seat, his examination complete.

“There are traces of magical essence being drained from the corpse.”
“Which means….”
“Yes. The Kael Inquisitor is indeed the thirteenth Holy Knight chosen by the Goddess.”

The Cardinals murmured amongst themselves, and I quietly covered my mouth against the nausea rising in my throat.
Was he perhaps not helping me, but conducting a psychological attack instead? Indeed, a cunning stalker.

‘Still, he recognizes me through the corpse.’

Had I decided not to reveal myself as a Holy Knight, I would have made some excuse.
Perhaps saying the Goddess must have taken it.
Besides, a busy Holy Knight would have had no reason to examine a corpse in detail, and only someone like Ludian could have recognized the traces of magical power leaking away.

“Ah. And Prince Rayner, my apologies.”

Ludian turned his gaze toward Rayner.

“…What do you mean?”
“I mean that I peered into your father’s coffin without permission. I should have acted only after receiving your consent, but I was careless in my haste.”
“No, no…. It’s fine. My father merely paid the price for his sins, so please don’t concern yourself.”
“Thank you for your forgiveness.”

Ludian smiled faintly.
Seeing that face, I was suddenly reminded of when he first caught up to me.

— At last I’ve stopped you, Sword Demon!! In the name of the Goddess, I shall strike you down here!!!

The face of Ludian crying out with such fury was still vivid in my memory.
And yet….

‘Who are you?’

So he was capable of smiling like that. He was capable of treating others with such tenderness.

‘Well, according to the rumors, that’s who he originally was. I was simply accustomed to a different version of him.’

In short, the current Ludian was a blank canvas of pure white.
He had experienced pain, both great and small, but had yet to face true despair.
But for both my sanity and his sake, I would need to bury my darkness just a little.
Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to smile as you do now. You would lose your nest again, just as I did in my past life.

‘So don’t resent me too much.’

I covered my mouth with my hand again. This time, it was to hide the corners of my lips from curling upward.

“Holy Knight Valentis Orten, Holy Knight Erin Belheim.”

The Pope then called upon the Holy Knights standing before him.
One was a bearded middle-aged man, and the other was a young woman with her black hair tied back.

“You called for us, Your Holiness?”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
“What is your assessment of this situation?”

Their gazes fell upon me, and Valentis and Erin spoke to the Pope.

“It was unmistakably divine power. The quantity he possesses at such a young age is beyond belief. We simply refrained from speaking until we were certain of our judgment.”
“I share that assessment.”
“I see. So it was no coincidence that he has achieved so much. With his talent combined with divine power, even demons would stand no chance against him.”

The Pope nodded in acknowledgment.
The Holy Knights had been brought by Gregory as a precaution against any unforeseen circumstances, but it had instead become poison for him.

“Cardinal Gregory.”

At the Pope’s call, Gregory turned with a tense expression.

“…Yes, Your Holiness.”
“It appears the verdict has already been rendered. There is no one in this place who can deny the Goddess’s miracle. Not even I, the Pope himself.”

Gregory’s eyes widened in dismay.

“But, but the Cardinal’s position is a sacred duty bestowed by Your Holiness….”
“If you understand so well that it is a sacred duty, then you should also know that wagering that very position itself is grounds for disqualification. It was none other than Cardinal Gregory himself who abandoned that duty out of personal greed.”

Gregory, realizing that no further sophistry would work, bit his lip. Then, as if having made a decision, he exhaled a long breath.

“…I understand. As I have sworn to the Goddess, I shall return the crimson vestments.”

With this, I had successfully removed one of the most troublesome Cardinals.
Though he would retain his rank as Bishop, of course.

‘But…’

Is this truly the end? You must have one more move left to play.
I refuse to settle for merely this. He’s lost his Cardinal’s seat, but his bonds with the other Cardinals will remain strong.

‘In fact, the others might gather even more tightly around Cardinal Gregory, impressed by our confrontation.’

In other words, even as an ordinary Bishop, he could still wield Cardinal-level authority.
He wouldn’t be able to act as proactively as before, but for now, it was difficult to call this a decisive victory.
So I waited. For him to speak once more.

“However, might I be permitted one final statement before that?”

That’s right.
One of us—you or I—will meet our end here today.

(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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