475 – Don’t be surprised, this is a trap
The advantage of a trap is that it can be set up continuously, but the disadvantage is that it cannot move. The reason why traps are not preferred despite their effective and efficient killing ability is that they cannot choose the battlefield. The power achieved through traps does not give them control.
However, I have control now.
Collie is waiting for nightfall. The advantage of vampires is immortality. Based on that, the formula for victory is to engage in a war of attrition. However, no matter how hairy a lycanthrope is, they are still vampires. Their strength and regenerative abilities weaken during the day. Once they realize that I am not to be taken lightly, they will try to fight me in their favorable night.
They will attack at night. They have to disturb my rest and sleep as a human. They will attack me the moment the sun sets.
Vampires, the lycanthropes who can invade the dark night. With the exception of their dim night vision and the characteristic stupidity of lycanthropes, they possess all the dull characteristics of vampires, making them the best audience for my stage. If I set up ten traps, they will fall into them eleven times.
Before nightfall, I set up traps with brambles in the open field. Traps like knot traps that grab the ankles upon contact, classic traps that make you fall into a pit and get impaled on a stake if you step on it wrong, traps where sharpened logs are thrown at you, traps where twisted tree branches lash out, and so on.
“Phew. One down, for now.”
The vampires won’t fall for ordinary traps, but brambles and branches are not ordinary. Brambles ‘improved’ with the power of the Mazin and the essence of the tree were very tough and sturdy. Even Yaelin, let alone Ain, would have a hard time escaping if they were caught.
“Onward. Onward.”
“Mungcha! Mungcha!”
“Ajiya, don’t disturb me. You don’t even know how to tie a knot.”
Seeing me tying the vines, Aji must have wanted to imitate me. He grabbed a tangled vine with a pouty expression and bit down on it. Even though I wasn’t putting in much effort, I heard the sound of my “improved” thorny vine snapping.
“You’re surprisingly strong. Ain must not be this strong, right?”
If the vine can snap just from a simple tug, then the trap is meaningless. Ugh. The key to this operation is how long I can keep Collie tied up.
It would be great if Aji could help me by stretching out the vine and spreading his limbs on each peak, but Aji doesn’t have that kind of intention. If I try to escape, he’ll let go of Collie and chase after me, and Collie will quickly escape and rescue Eiling.
What kind of sharp move can I make? I was pondering that.
“Mungcha! Mungcha! Mung… Mung?”
My fears came true. As the weak vine snapped, Aji, who was putting in effort, stumbled backward. He ended up caught in the knot trap, then climbed up while struggling, scratched the ground with his claws, and even accidentally triggered the stake trap. The stake flew towards Aji. Even though Aji easily knocked it away with his tied ankle, the broken stake spun around and tightly bound Aji.
In that short moment, Aji, who had triggered seven traps, ended up dangling in mid-air along with two stakes.
…Of course, my trap ended up useless too.
“That’s also a talent, you dog! What are you going to do if you trigger all the traps I worked so hard to set up?”
“Mung! It’s fun!”
“Don’t find it fun! You caused an accident!”
“Again!”
“Does the request to do it again come from that snout of yours?! It won’t work. This useless help should just be roasted and eaten! Set, Lee! Fahrenheit!”
Furious, I lit the branches on fire and approached. Aji’s eyes widened.
“Mung? A hedgehog?”
“That hunting dog caught a rabbit! You only caught traps to catch rabbits! And you even know the term ‘hedgehog’ for a dog!”
If I think of it as a test, it’s not bad… No, it’s bad. You destroyed the traps without even helping! First, I need to untangle the complicated trap. I closed my eyes tightly and threw the ball.
“Ask.”
“Woof!”
Splash. Thud. Thump. After a brief moment of rustling sounds, I opened my eyes to find Azhi sitting in front of me, wagging its tail with a ball in its mouth. Behind it lay broken vines and shattered tree stems, scattered in a pitiful mess.
Just like a disaster. Sighing, I retrieved the ball.
“Thanks. I got some good inspiration because of you. I realized I need to connect multiple traps instead of just relying on one to capture Ain. There’s a problem with having too many variables that I need to adjust, but it seems necessary to keep Ain bound.”
“Woof? Thanks? Then, repay me!”
“It’s just a way of saying thanks, you know. Don’t cause any accidents and stay still!”
I scolded Azhi and decided to create a more sophisticated and powerful trap than before. If caught, I would drag Ain along, grabbing their limbs and driving stakes into them. It seemed a bit excessive even to me, but the target was an immortal vampire, so what could I do?
“Woof? Is this it?”
“Don’t touch it. If you touch it again, you’ll get soybean paste in your face.”
Creating a connected trap was exhausting, even with the strength I gained from the potion. Moreover, I didn’t even know how much time had passed, and the sun was already setting. It was time for Kholi to come.
“I need to lure them this way, but I can’t make it too obvious that it’s a trap. Hide in the ground, Azhi.”
“Woof….”
“I said it’s not a playground.”
I led Azhi to the hiding place I had prepared in the thickets. It appeared to be an ordinary hill, but it was actually my sanctuary, decorated with earth magic and druidism. It wasn’t unnatural, but if someone were to track me, they would naturally suspect and approach such a place.
Whether they come or not, it’s all fine. They’ll fall into the trap. Whether they come or not, I can spend the night. I kept my guard up and scanned the surroundings.
Just for a moment. As expected, I sensed someone approaching our direction. I felt the light yet powerful footsteps of a skilled master.
“…Huh.”
The problem was that it wasn’t the expected presence.
“Is this the place? Ain. Are you here?”
Now, something strange is coming to step on another trap. What is it? A regressor? Is the regressor coming to find me first?
The appearance of the regressor, seen after a long time, was truly… unchanged. Despite experiencing quite a lot in my absence, the look, clothing, and equipment were the same as when he was in Tartaros. With a single bee untied, he approached, wandering around.
It’s quite nice to see him, but not nice enough to welcome him with open arms. It’s such an unexpected encounter; I don’t know how to act.
Pretending not to know is one thing, but in this emergency situation, with traps around, should I reveal myself or not…
“Not that way! Trap! There’s a trap there!”
He’s stepping into the trap I set to catch Colli! As I shout, the regressor casually takes out a celestial bow, ready to act. Before instinctively swinging the sword, he recognizes me and grins.
“Hues?”
“Never mind! Watch your step!”
There’s a trap where you’re stretching your foot! The moment I shouted, it was already too late. Snap! The trigger touched by the regressor released, and the vine knot grabbed the regressor’s ankle.
Snap, gravitational disturbance. The ground disconnects.
The moment the vine touched the ankle, the dagger in the left hand of the regressor shook. Even before it touched the ground, a crack appeared in the direction indicated by the tip of the dagger. Simultaneously, the ivy, half-buried in the ground, burst and snapped.
He cut the vine entirely. The counter came out faster than expected, breaking the trap before the ankle could move.
“What’s this?”
It’s a deceptive move with a celestial bow, but my linked trap doesn’t end there. Soon, sharp stakes fly. A wooden stake, pulled by the force of Azi, shot out as a disposable ballista, designed to pierce the body of a vampire. However, the regressor casually breaks it with a swing of the celestial bow.
But the stake is a deception. Taking advantage of the distraction, slingshots fly from all directions. An unexpected blow, intended to consume all the opponent’s cards to momentarily constrain their movements.
Celestial bow, Celestial Sword Stance. Butterfly Slash.
But even that is cut off. The celestial bow splits vaguely as it simultaneously slices the center of the sling. He handles it with such ease that I, the creator, am amazed.
The regressor, who dealt with it so skillfully that I almost ran out of breath, took a step back. Instinctive, but where he moved, there was another trap I created. The moment the regressor’s weight sank into the ground, the ground collapsed entirely. Sharp stakes, like a beast’s fangs, aimed for the prey under the trap created with earth magic.
But there was no prey falling. The moment the regressor’s weight disappeared from under his foot, he reflexively responded.
Celestial Sword Stance, Cloud Steps.
I step forward, traversing the compressed space. It’s a skill made possible by being a regressor with the power of Heaven’s Eye. Even if the ground beneath my feet disappears, even if something grabs hold of my ankle or a rope comes flying at me, I, as a regressor, respond without hesitation. It’s all thanks to the perverse technique that has ingrained in me the ability to adapt to any situation I have encountered in my countless regressions.
As if more concerned about my own existence than the trap I painstakingly created, I furrow my brow and point at myself.
“What have you done?”
What have I done? That’s what I should be asking. I immediately retort.
“What have I done? What about you? This was a trap I had set up to stop the vampire hunters! And now you’ve ruined it! What are we going to do now?”
“The vampire hunters? Ah, them? They won’t be coming. I took care of them before they arrived.”
Ah, you took care of them? Ain? Well, as a regressor, Ain is no match for me. It’s surprising that he can be of some help. If that’s the case, then I can breathe a little easier…
Wait a minute. Wasn’t there something bigger to worry about than Ain?
“But…”
Flash.
In an instant, the regressor’s new form approached me. With wide open seven-colored eyes, he stared at me, declaring that he wouldn’t miss any of my movements.
I had no intention of resisting in the first place, but without giving me a chance to do so, the regressor came closer and thrust Heaven’s Eye into my shoulder. Startled, Azhi let out a confused bark. The regressor paid no attention, but looked down at me coldly.
“Well, well, well. What’s this? Do you want to collect my right arm again?”
“I have one question for you, the human king. Answer honestly. Otherwise… I can’t guarantee what decision I will make.”
Strength? Needless to say, it’s overwhelmingly superior.
Technique? With the fraudulent technique called Heaven’s Eye, I can preemptively counter ambushes and traps.
Tool? Unlike me, who only possesses the idol of a masin, he directly wields the relics of the masin.
Even my cunning tactics are only half as effective against him. He, as a being, is my archenemy. The regressor, with a forceful expression as if he could bring Heaven’s Eye down on me at any moment, asked me.
“Do you want to bring about the destruction of the world?”