A Regressor's Bucket List Chapter 113

Gah- It was a masterfully timed attack. A sudden strike, completely hidden from Tom's line of sight and launched from beyond my range of perception. Even though I had been repeating in my head that something was strange, I couldn't defend or evade. Of course, it wasn't that I couldn't react at all. Shunk- The moment I detected the foreign Mana penetrating my abdomen, the combat sense ingrained in my body reacted automatically. The hilt of the half-sword I had unconsciously drawn from my robes. I imbued it with Mana and severed the Succubus's neck along with the strand of Mana. [ activates.] [T/N: From now on ‘Whole Vampire’ will be referenced as ‘Perfect Vampire’] [Absorbing a large amount of the prey's blood. Regeneration speed increases dramatically.] I was soaked by the fountain of blood that erupted as I cut her neck, and the round hole in my abdomen began to heal at a rapid pace. ‘…Damn it.’ Showing my Vampire Trait in front of Tom at this moment was not part of the plan. Not only would it complicate getting him out of here, but it wouldn't be strange if he attacked me right now, intending to kill me. …That's why it was something I was already being careful about, but this was unavoidable. The blow had struck a vital spot so perfectly that it was a severe injury, beyond a mortal wound, that could lead to death within minutes. It was so dangerous that if I didn't heal immediately through my Trait, I would have died. I had no choice but to take that action, even at the risk of my plan going awry. “……” I glanced back. Tom Hardist was looking back and forth between me and my wound with an expression of disbelief. Seeing the mix of astonishment and complexity in his eyes, it seemed he had definitely confirmed it. The fact that I possessed a Vampire Trait. ‘…….’ This was also a huge problem. If I didn't explain myself properly right now, it wouldn't be strange to be instantly killed by the man who was once a Vampire Hunter. Seeing as my neck was still attached, it seemed there was something holding him back internally. If he had concluded that I was a 'survivor of the Vampire Clan' the moment he saw my wound healing, he would have severed my neck immediately. And at my current level, fighting him was impossible. …But. Swish- As expected, this matter took precedence. With Tom, I could at least observe his reaction and predict that I was safe for the moment. But the Mana that had just pierced my abdomen… …To be precise, the owner of that Mana. 【We meet again?】 “……” 【Junior.】 The uninvited guest I wanted to meet least of all. Because it was Isaac Einstein. *** The Succubus's severed head twitched bizarrely before its eyes snapped open, gleaming wildly. Crack- Crackle- The severed upper torso scraped along the floor, approached the head, and forcibly jammed it back on. Splat-! Blood splattered along with crushed bodily tissue. After wiping away the blood, the Succubus's face was revealed, the corners of its mouth pulled up into a grin that seemed to tear its cheeks. 【We meet again? Junior.】 The voice coming from the widely grinning mouth was no longer that of the previous Succubus. The uninvited guest's voice, tinged with a metallic rasp. “…Isaac Einstein.” As I muttered the name, Tom's eyes widened, and he asked me. “…Did you just say Isaac?” Nod- Instead of answering, I kept my gaze fixed on the Succubus and nodded. His tail drooped, clearly flustered. I took my eyes off Tom for a moment and asked Isaac. “…Were you following me?” Pfft- 【Not really… Just one of the seeds I've sown.】 “……” 【Just like that Succubus bitch you snatched in the Gateway Zone.】 …My luck couldn't possibly be this bad. Even if you searched the entire continent, I must be the only Hero to have run into Isaac Einstein twice. And I'm probably the only one who survived. 【Wow. I really do have a good eye for things.】 With those words, he, with his wide grin, stretched his reattached neck to look at Tom behind me, then burst out laughing again. *Kekeke-*. 【You've already shacked up with something interesting again, Junior.】 “……” 【Last time it was a hunting dog, and this time it's a real dog? That's a collection even I'm jealous of.】 Grrrr- “Shut up. You bastard, if you disrespect my clan one more time, I'll hunt you down and tear you to pieces…” Kekeke- 【Then you should've been born human.】 “……” At the belittling words, Tom made a guttural sound, but surprisingly, he didn't charge in immediately. Normally, with his personality of not thinking things through, he should have lunged at those words. The reason he didn't was probably because he, too, knew very well. Just how unpredictable and dangerous the Count of Chaos, 'Isaac Einstein', was. ‘…….’ An unexpected situation, at a bad time. The only silver lining was that the situation was better than it had been in Kunlun. Back then, it was a clone body, so even if it wasn't as strong as the main body, it could use a portion of its power, and it wouldn't have been strange to die at the flick of his finger. But now, he had merely borrowed the body for a moment using the Mana engraved in the Succubus. ‘…….’ Although I was caught by a surprise attack, seeing the concentration of his Mana fading, it seemed unlikely that a situation where I would be directly harmed would occur. However, I didn't know what scheme he had in mind for placing a Succubus here, or why he had revealed himself to me. The unpleasantness stemming from that unknown created a sense of tension. 【Ah. I heard the news, Junior. That you killed a Hero over there.】 Kekeke- To be precise, I hadn't killed him, it was only an attempt, but I didn't bother to correct him. 【Are you, perhaps, trying to follow in my footsteps or something?】 “……” 【Looking at you, it seems you came in here on purpose.】 Following Isaac Einstein. The meaning of these words was simple. Just as he himself had done 100 years ago. It was a question of whether I intended to betray The Order and come over to the Demon King's Army. …Well. From his perspective, it wasn't unreasonable to think that way. I had certainly walked a path far, far removed from the conventional actions of a Hero, and although he had heard the words 'Demon King Hunt'. Since he didn't know the detailed plan, it would have been ambiguous for him to classify me as definitively 'on The Order's side'. …In the first place, just looking at the party members I'd gathered so far, they were much closer to the Demon King's side. Of course. That didn't mean my goal was to actually follow him. ‘Becoming an ally of the Demon King.’ For me, at least, there was nothing more absurd. Flick- Therefore, in response to that ridiculous question, I raised my middle finger. “Go fuck yourself.” Pfft- 【Well, I do like your audacious side, for now.】 The man, pulling up the corners of his mouth once more, soon covered his mouth with one hand. And then. Ugh- He suddenly retched and spat something out through the Succubus's mouth. Thud- What came out of the Succubus's mouth was a 'black sphere'. 【Take it.】 “……” 【If your plan happens to include joining the Demon King's Army, don't take the hard route. Just bring that and come find me. I can help you.】 It didn't seem to be an ordinary object. The moment he spat out the sphere, Isaac's Mana that had been encroaching on the Succubus's body began to fade rapidly. I didn't know the exact principle, but it seemed the current 'possession phenomenon' was made possible using that sphere. 【Thinking about it again, I think I was wrong to abruptly call you a test subject and all that last time.】 “……” 【I think you're a bit too precious to be used as a mere Vampire test subject. You can entertain me more, can't you? Just like you are now.】 …Those were even more horrifying words. I couldn't tell what filled the mind of the man saying such things, but contrary to his words, I didn't think that fate would be any better than being a test subject in the White House. Shrug- 【Besides, that 'hunt' doesn't necessarily have to be done from the outside, does it?】 “……” 【I don't really care whether you succeed or fail in that 'Demon King Hunt'.】 “……” 【No... in fact, it might be more fun if you succeed. Kekeke-.】 He was definitely dangerous. To casually say he hoped I'd succeed in the Demon King Hunt while being the strategist of the Demon King's Army. It would be hard to believe even if it were an empty platitude, but this man was 100% sincere. If I had my way, I would have thrown away this black sphere, not knowing what tricks he might have embedded in it. ‘…Just in case.’ Thinking it might be helpful in the future, I decided to keep it for now. Thud- As if proving the fading Mana, the Succubus's forcibly reattached head and neck separated once more. The severed head rolled across the floor before stopping, facing my direction. 【Ah, and there was one more thing I wanted to say.】 With that, Isaac added with a *kekeke*. 【A gift is coming your way soon, Junior.】 A gift. If heard from anyone else, there would be few words as welcome, but coming from Isaac's mouth, it was nothing but ominous. Kekeke- 【I don't know your plan exactly, Junior, but you'll probably have a real headache because of it. There aren't many things I've put that much effort into.】 “……” 【It was originally supposed to take more time... but I wanted to see how you'd react, so I moved it up a bit. Please accept it well.】 …He hadn't dropped any significant hints. But at this timing, through the words from the mouth of the Demon King's Army's strategist, I could roughly guess what 'gift' he was talking about. ‘…So that incident is being moved up too?’ This was the point where my plans would begin to be seriously derailed by his intervention. If the gift he mentioned was 'that incident' which shook the unity of The Order, it would certainly be a headache for me as well. The only fortunate thing was that he had given me a heads-up. Since it was originally a major item on my bucket list, while it would be tight, knowing the date was moved up meant it wasn't impossible to prepare. 【And. I know a bit about that Mad Dog next to you. He's not as tame as you think, so be careful-.】 CRUNCH- Isaac's voice stopped as the Succubus's head was crushed. Tom had moved in an instant and stomped the head, pulverizing it. It seemed he had moved the moment he heard the word 'dog' for the second time, just as he had warned. Swish- The man who had crushed the head slowly turns his own. “……” He didn't open his mouth. But his gaze was asking me. Why in the world do you have 'the blood of the extinct Vampire Clan'.