A Regressor's Bucket List Chapter 128

“Hasn't changed a bit, has it?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“This place. Isn't it exactly the same as before you went in?”

“……”

“…Kunlun was like this even before I was born.”

Shrug-

“Is that so.”

“You wouldn't know if anything changed in a wasteland like this anyway. Stop talking nonsense and let's just go.”

“……”

“If I sense anything strange, I'll devour you immediately.”

“I don't taste very good.”

Watching U-jin spout nonsense, Tom muttered under his breath.

An incomprehensible human—

…That was his first impression of U-jin.

And from the moment he entered the Darkest Dungeon until now, that conclusion remained the same.

U-jin was still an incomprehensible human to Tom.

‘…….’

There were plenty of reasons why.

He felt he could list dozens just by recounting the things he had witnessed with his own eyes.

Honestly, it was embarrassing to admit it himself.

But the very fact that someone could be so composed in front of him, ‘Tom Hardist’, was proof that he was no ordinary person.

Of course, like the saying goes, 'it's easier to fathom ten fathoms of water than one fathom of a man's heart,' the human race itself had always been an untrustworthy bunch.

But the reason Tom found U-jin incomprehensible was an inquiry on a much higher level than simply not knowing his inner thoughts (內心).

『…The revival of the Beastkin Nation. That’s the reason I came all this way to get you.』

Staring at the side of U-jin’s nonchalant head, Tom recalled what U-jin had said when he proposed they leave the Darkest Dungeon.

‘…The revival of the Beastkin forces.’

Tom couldn't understand why U-jin, who had no connection whatsoever to the Beastkin, would state such a goal to him.

The only plausible guess he could make was the fact that, due to Isaac Einstein, Vampire blood flowed within U-jin’s body—specifically, the blood of ‘Jerry Junior’, a direct descendant of the Vampire Clan.

He couldn't be sure, but Tom suspected that Jerry Junior's blood either exerted some unknown power on U-jin's body or that some kind of contractual relationship was involved.

However.

There were too many things that didn't add up, even with that reason.

U-jin, who had just come from a Lower-Dimensional Plane and barely had the scent of a Hero on him, seemed to have no reason to wish for the revival of the Beastkin forces of his own volition.

Ultimately, assuming Tom's theory was correct, it meant that the true entity who wanted the revival of the Beastkin forces was the owner of the blood flowing in U-jin's body, Jerry Junior.

The Vampires were the sworn enemies of the Beastkin Nation, having betrayed them and defected to the Demon King's Territory, and Jerry was a direct descendant of the Dracula family, the linchpin of the Vampire Clan.

Regardless of the method, the very idea that Jerry Junior would want the revival of the Beastkin forces was incomprehensible to Tom.

After all, he was the very person who had caused the collapse of the Beastkin forces.

That was why, when he first heard the story from U-jin, he couldn't help but doubt his true intentions.

…Of course.

Despite the overflowing number of unknowns, there was only one reason Tom had left the Darkest Dungeon and followed U-jin.

‘…To fulfill my calling.’

Because the Beastkin were out there.

And because they needed him.

From the moment they lost their nation, Tom had sworn to dedicate the rest of his life to the Beastkin.

That was ultimately why he had become a Vampire Hunter.

Since he himself bore responsibility for the ruin of the Beastkin Nation, he couldn't shamelessly step forward to lead them.

He believed the only thing he could do was wander in the shadows and execute the traitors who might hinder the Beastkin again at any moment.

If he executed all the traitors who destroyed the nation,

and if the negligent guardian who failed to protect it was imprisoned,

he thought that even if they couldn't return to those glorious moments, it wouldn't be the worst outcome.

Well, of course.

Looking at it now, it seemed that wasn't the case after all.

‘…….’

Sniff, sniff-

A familiar scent brushed past his nose, making the bridge of his nose tingle.

From somewhere between the nearby mansion and the ruins that looked long-abandoned, the scent of Beastkin drifted on the wind.

There were Cat-kin, Dog-kin, and Rabbit-kin.

“……”

Suddenly, a fear arose, a fear of whether he could truly stand before them again.

But he had come this far; he couldn't turn back now.

Even if he were cursed at and had stones thrown at him.

What needed to be done had to be done.

The option of turning a blind eye, knowing that the once-strong Beastkin were now collared and treated like playthings among humans.

That option did not exist, at least not in the life Tom Hardist had lived.

“…What are you doing? Hurry up and take the lead.”

“……”

“…Didn't you hear me? Hurry up and take the…”

The moment he thought that and urged U-jin on.

Amidst the familiar scents of the Beastkin, a sudden, unpleasant odor seeped in.

“……!”

For a moment, the scent was so faint that his mind wondered if he was mistaken.

Grrrrr-

But even if his mind was confused, his body reacted instantly.

The fur, which had grown nourished by that blood, stood on end, and his body unconsciously turned toward the direction of the scent.

…It was unmistakable.

“…This is.”

A Vampire.

The scent of that detestable clan.

* * *

Grrrrr-

Smelling the distinct scent of a Vampire, Tom, his entire body tensed, glanced at U-jin for a moment.

“This is…”

He started to open his mouth as if to ask something.

But after his lips twitched for a moment, Tom clamped his mouth shut.

He didn't know what to ask, and he figured that whatever he asked, it should be after he confirmed if this scent was truly that of a Vampire.

‘A trap? Or perhaps…’

He couldn't tell if U-jin had led him into a trap or if there was something he didn't know.

But none of that mattered.

After all, the scent didn't feel like it posed any real danger to him, and it was possible that someone behind U-jin had planned this without his knowledge.

That was something he could figure out after uncovering the truth behind this wretched vampire scent.

Pabat-

His mind made up, Tom Hardist immediately shot forward.

His body naturally headed for the guild house from which the scent was emanating.

Jjaenggeurang-

Although there was a perfectly good door to the side, Tom leaped and crashed through the window.

There was no particular reason.

It was simply because the scent was strongest from that direction.

And so, Tom burst into the first floor at a frightening speed.

“Hey! What kind of hooliganism is this, breaking a window when there’s a perfectly good door! Get out and come back in through the door!”

“……”

“Who are you? This is the private property of Hero Seo U-jin, a classified private area…”

Before his eyes were several people.

A girl with a peculiar way of speaking, dressed in Eastern-style clothes.

A priest from The Order.

And a woman with sunken dark circles, rubbing her drowsy eyes as she stared at him.

However, Tom didn't give their outcry a single glance.

From the moment he crashed through the window, his gaze was already fixed on one spot.

“……”

That signature cynical, expressionless face, as if he had been expecting this.

A pale face in black attire, looking at him with crossed legs.

A being he knew all too well, and for that very reason, whose presence here he could not comprehend.

Tom ignored everyone approaching him and strode up to the man.

And then.

Jjaenggang-!

He flipped over the tea set on the table in front of him, tray and all, and grabbed the man by the front of his clothes.

Gwaaaak.

“…How the hell are you still alive.”

“……”

“Jerry Junior.”

* * *

“…It’s been a while.”

Looking up at Tom Hardist, who was glaring down at him with eyes full of fury, Jerry spoke quietly.

‘…….’

It wasn't that he hadn't thought a day like this would come.

Ill-fated relationships were not the kind to simply disappear naturally, and this tenacious, ill-fated bond between him and Tom Hardist was especially so.

As he had never gone out of his way to find the Darkest Dungeon or summon him.

Honestly, from Jerry's perspective, it was a situation he wanted to avoid, but he had no intention of running away now that he was faced with it.

He had considered it a kind of fate that they were bound to meet at least once, though he didn't know when. And now that this guy had found out he was alive, he would have tracked him down one way or another.

…Besides.

『That's right. Tom Hardist.』

『…Are you thinking of bringing him from the Darkest Dungeon?』

『…Well, for now. He’s someone the Beastkin desperately need, and there’s no one more suitable for cracking down on the ‘illegal slave problem’.』

U-jin had already made that bold declaration before he left.

Of course, bringing Tom Hardist out of the dungeon wasn't so easy that he could immediately accept U-jin's words.

But judging from his experience with U-jin so far, even if he didn't know how, it was something that would surely come to pass.

…Therefore, in his own way, Jerry had been bracing himself for this moment ever since U-jin left.

But now that he was actually facing him, the words wouldn't come easily.

“…Shut up. You know better than anyone that we’re not on terms to be exchanging greetings.”

“……”

“Just answer my question.”

“……”

“…Why the hell are you alive? I’m sure I destroyed your heart with my own hands.”

Tom Hardist pressed him with his characteristic growl.

Dealing with furious opponents was something he had experienced countless times, from his defection to The Order's territory to the establishment of his casino business.

Including the several businesses he had run into the ground before settling on the casino, his experience was even more extensive.

As such, this should have been no difficult task for Jerry.

But strangely, faced with Tom Hardist's furious gaze, his lips wouldn't move.

It wasn't that he was scared or emotionally shaken.

He wasn't that type of person to begin with.

It was just.

Just, how should he put it?

Would it make sense to say he didn't know what to do?

Faced with Tom Hardist's viscous emotions, his usually well-oiled mind went completely blank.

Should he just answer the question and explain the process and reason?

Or should he first try to calm down the emotionally agitated man?

Should he deceive him about something, or tell a lie?

No plan would form.

Gwaaaak-

The grip on his collar tightened, choking him even more.

“…So you have no intention of answering.”

“……”

“…Well, it doesn't matter. I don't know how. But if you came back to life like a rat, I just have to kill you again.”

Giving a threat with contempt-filled eyes, Tom then dragged Jerry from the chair.

Kudangtang-

He slammed him to the floor, still holding his collar, and raised his other right hand.

On his raised right hand, along with a silvery mane, were the silver, sharp claws symbolizing the Silver Wolf Tribe, poised like blades.

They were too dull in places to be called well-honed blades, but they seemed more than sufficient to tear Jerry's chest apart.

“Let’s see if you can come back to life again.”

And then.

Just as his life hung in the balance and Jerry’s lips twitched, about to honestly say something.

Chaeng-!

“You son of a bitch!”

A sword strike flew toward Tom’s head, accompanied by an audacious voice.