The Regressed Sword Demon Is a Catastrophe-Class Inquisitor - Chapter 98

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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 98. See You Again.

“I grant permission.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Cardinal Gregory bowed his head.

“Everyone present here should know this passage.”
“….”
“‘One of the Holy Knights blessed by grace shall betray.'”

Whispers erupted from various corners of the hall.

‘Here it comes.’

Of course. He wouldn’t retreat so easily after losing our wager. He believed that even if he relinquished his position as Cardinal, he would succeed as long as he could restrain me.
That was his calculation.

“This is the only prophecy among the Goddess’s words that is so explicit, and since it concerns the Holy Knights, it has been a passage everyone has watched closely.”
“….”
“Of course, in the history of the Theocracy, there has never been a single instance of a Holy Knight’s betrayal revealed. We don’t even know what the standard for betrayal would be.”

Cardinal Gregory glanced at me.

“Yet at this very moment, a thirteenth Holy Knight has appeared—one who never existed before.”

The Pope then asked.

“Are you suggesting that Kael Inquisitor might betray the Goddess?”
“No, no one can be certain of that. I’m merely saying we should remain vigilant. It’s difficult to dismiss this as mere coincidence.”
“Hmm….”
“In fact, his magic bears a striking resemblance to what demons wielded, and moreover….”

Cardinal Gregory trailed off and stared directly at the Pope. The Pope, understanding the implication, nodded.

“I grant permission for that statement. Now that it’s been revealed that Kael Inquisitor is a Holy Knight, there’s no reason to hide it from the clergy present here, even if the public remains unaware.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Gregory took a deep breath and continued.

“Most importantly, he is a figure recorded in the Primordial Scripture for the first time in 102 years. And in the chapter titled ‘Turbulent Times,’ no less.”

The Papal See erupted into commotion.
There were still some Cardinals and Clergy members who didn’t know this fact.

“We still know so little about him. Just as he suddenly revealed himself to be a Holy Knight today, who knows what else he might be concealing?”
“….”
“I’m curious about his intention in hiding that he was a Holy Knight. And why he revealed it so defiantly, staking my position as Cardinal.”

Taking advantage of the chaos, Sriben covered his mouth and whispered to me.

“Young Master, should we kill that bastard?”
“If anyone kills him, it’ll be me.”
“Understood.”

Of course, I couldn’t actually kill someone who wasn’t evil. But my weapons extended far beyond the sword.

“Indeed, I’m curious about that as well. Kael Inquisitor, why have you been hiding the fact that you’re a Holy Knight all this time?”

I smiled faintly and replied.

“Your Majesty, Cardinal Gregory has already provided that answer.”

All eyes turned toward me.
Confusion, astonishment, suspicion, reverence—a mixture of countless emotions reflected in their gazes.

“Ah… I understand.”
“Even with all this, what would have happened if I’d revealed myself without any achievements? I surely would have been branded a traitor simply for being the thirteenth Holy Knight.”

I spoke.

“Your Majesty, it is far too easy to brand someone a heretic. All it takes is a plausible reason and collective condemnation.”
“….”
“I ask those present here: if I were not a heretic, could you take responsibility for that condemnation? As Cardinal Gregory did today?”

Regardless of the damage to my reputation, the fact that Gregory would step down from his position as Cardinal remained unchanged.
Gregory clenched his teeth before finally speaking.

“Then can you take responsibility for it?”
“Of course—.”
“Not just you and your subordinates. If you’re a heretic, punishment is only natural. I’m simply exercising reasonable doubt.”

…This bastard’s even cutting me off now?
But I held my tongue for a moment to see him off properly.

“So then—is there someone here who can take responsibility in your stead?”

There wouldn’t be. Even the Cardinals without a shred of sense wouldn’t rashly volunteer for such risk.
There’s a reason the saying goes that staying silent is half the battle.
Of course, that applied especially to Cardinal Gregory.

“There is, right here!”

That shrill voice came from behind me.
A girl with black hair and bright, sparkling eyes strode purposefully through the open doors into the Conference Hall.
Cardinal Barun hurried after her and whispered urgently.

“S-Sena! You must observe proper decorum before His Holiness…!”
“Oh, ah!”

Sena, flustered, bowed respectfully to the Pope.

“Your Holiness, it is an honor to meet you….”

The Pope smiled faintly and turned his gaze to Barun.

“You’ve returned sooner than expected.”
“Ah, yes. The Saint of Foresight was kind enough to complete the task with remarkable speed….”

I already knew Barun had returned ahead of schedule—he’d informed me through the communication artifact.
But….

‘I never expected such a gift. And with such perfect timing, no less.’

Beside Barun stood not only Sena. Sebastian and Arvin accompanied them as well.

“”Your Holiness, it is an honor to meet you.””

As they bowed respectfully, the Pope nodded in acknowledgment.

“So what brings the Saint of Foresight and two Holy Knights to this place? It doesn’t seem like an ordinary matter.”

Sebastian answered with unwavering resolve.

“We’ve come to bear the burden that should have fallen upon Kael Inquisitor.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Previously, I participated in a subjugation campaign against Envy of the Seven Deadly Sins alongside him. During that operation, I suffered only minor injuries, but had he not been there, I would have perished with the rest of the Subjugation Force. Envy of the Seven Deadly Sins was that formidable.”
“….”
“Through that experience, I naturally came to understand the concerns that weighed upon Kael Inquisitor.”
“So Sebastian already knew that Kael Inquisitor was a Holy Knight.”
“I considered it the bare minimum courtesy toward the one who saved my life. I apologize, Your Holiness.”

Sebastian bowed deeply.

“It’s acceptable. Please, continue.”
“Yes. So I’ve long wished to ease his burden. He’s too valuable a talent to stagnate in this place.”

Sebastian set his massive shield down upon the floor—the equipment he had received from the Papal See.

“What are you—?”
“If he is to be suspected of heresy merely for being the thirteenth Holy Knight, then I shall renounce my position as a Holy Knight.”

The Papal See erupted into turmoil.
The Theocracy could still match the Empire only because of the strength of its Holy Knights.
Should those Holy Knights disappear, that balance would inevitably crumble piece by piece.

“I stand with him, Your Holiness.”
“Arvin.”
“I am already a life he has saved during the subjugation of Gluttony. What have I to fear? Moreover, it was thanks to him that I was able to open my eyes once more.”

Arvin laid his sword before him, then gazed upon the Pope with eyes of verdant green.

“Your Holiness, Kael Inquisitor is the one who showed me the path forward. If he were to be deemed wrong, then I could trust no one else.”
“….”
“I humbly ask that you understand our hearts.”

Silence descended upon the Papal See.
The words of two Holy Knights—no one in this place was unaware of their weight.

“Y-Your Holiness!”

Sena cried out then, her voice sharp as a kitten’s mew.

“Speak, Saint of Foresight.”
“Have you ever abandoned your parents, Your Holiness?”
“…I have not.”
“Have you ever kicked your parents’ faces?”
“That, too, I have not done.”
“Neither had I. But Kael Inquisitor taught me otherwise.”

…What?
When did I? That’s just unfilial conduct, isn’t it?

“Ah, yes! He gave me the courage to face a future I feared!”
“…I understand. The others will feel the same way. Everyone knows of Saint Sena’s deeds.”
“Yes….”

Sena’s expression had grown dejected from her misstep.

“S-so I’ll share the responsibility too! Whatever it may be!”
“Hmm….”

The Pope stroked his chin in contemplation.
After a prolonged silence, Barun turned his gaze toward Cardinal Gregory.

“Cardinal Gregory, as you can see, these people are prepared to surrender everything in Kael Inquisitor’s stead.”
“….”
“Then I ask: can you surrender everything as the price for pointing your finger? Beyond your position as Cardinal, I mean.”

Barun had likely been monitoring the situation through the magical artifact his aide held.

“Cardinal Barun….”
“It seems you yourself lack the resolve.”

Gregory trembled violently, while Barun regarded him with unhurried composure.

“Let me clarify something first.”

As the Pope opened his mouth, all eyes turned toward him.

“I never intended to view Kael Inquisitor as a heretic from the beginning. After all, he has already achieved remarkable feats.”
“….”
“However….”

The Pope gazed at me.

“As Kael Inquisitor has said, making someone a heretic is quite simple. But for someone to become a saint—that is an extraordinarily difficult thing.”

The Pope smiled faintly as he looked at me.

“You have accomplished that, Saint Kael.”

The others widened their eyes in astonishment.
Holy Knights and Holy Maidens are saints by nature. They are chosen by the Goddess from the beginning, so it is only natural.
But recognition from the Pope carried an entirely different significance.

“From now on, I will not permit anyone to call Saint Kael a traitor merely because he is the thirteenth Holy Knight.”
“….”
“Of course, the prophecy regarding that traitor remains a matter for future consideration, but Cardinal Gregory’s evidence is far too flimsy compared to his achievements.”
“….”
“Then I will hear no further objections.”

At that, everyone bowed formally to the Pope.

“We humbly accept your word, Your Holiness.”

As those voices faded, Cardinal Gregory spoke with an air of resignation.

“Then I shall take my leave first, Your Holiness.”
“Yes. Please do as you wish.”

Once he left this place, Cardinal Gregory would no longer be a Cardinal.
Before departing, he came to me and spoke.

“I apologize for my suspicion, Kael Inquisitor.”

This wasn’t an apology born from genuine remorse. It was a calculated gesture—he couldn’t afford to tarnish his reputation any further.
I could accept this and move past it. Push any harder here, and he might harbor resentment toward me.

‘But then again…’

He had already accumulated ill will toward me.
That’s why he’d diminished me, and worse, he’d pointed at me as a betrayer of prophecy with a plausible excuse.
So perhaps it wouldn’t be amiss to demonstrate to everyone here what happens when you cross me.
What becomes of those who dare touch me.
If you’re thinking of bringing me down, then prepare yourselves to be cast into Hell alongside me.

‘There may well be wicked souls among those gathered here, after all.’

So I’ll set a clear precedent. Show them what happens when you meddle carelessly—a beating they won’t forget.

“Cardinal Gregory.”
“Speak.”
“When the Aholo Tribe came before, didn’t you say exactly this? That as long as they belong to the Theocracy, they must follow the laws of this place. Your words left quite an impression on me.”
“….”

Gregory’s fists trembled visibly. He too had recalled that moment.

– Listen here, Pupu. Regardless of your tribe’s differences, show proper courtesy to His Eminence.
– And since the Aholo Tribe belongs to the Theocracy, you must follow the laws of this place. Or does your tribe lack respect for elders?

Gregory was a Bishop, while Holy Knights and Interrogators held the rank of Priest, yet a Holy Knight was a saint chosen by the Goddess herself.
Even at minimum, they deserved equal treatment—and that was especially true when facing not a Cardinal, but a mere Bishop.

“…I am always grateful for Saint Kael’s dedication.”

Gregory forced himself to observe proper decorum. The Cardinals who had been his allies squeezed their eyes shut.

“Think nothing of it.”
“Then.”

Gregory strode toward the door with long steps, as though he couldn’t bear to remain here a second longer.
I called out to his retreating figure.

“Until we meet again.”

The massive door swung open, and just as he stepped beyond the threshold of the Conference Hall.
I etched his position into my memory.

“Bishop Gregory.”

Thud—

The Conference Hall door sealed shut with finality.

(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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