Summoned and Unwanted

656 Pride or death

Awa’s face became pale after recalling Vincent’s previous horrifying words. The very same words that caused her to faint about the possible state her body was currently in.

“P-p-please find my body!” She suddenly begged while stuttering.

“You asked for help?” Vincent smiled warmly and continued, “I will gladly help you, Awa. I am responsible for your life since I saved you after all.”

“Responsible? I don’t want to suffer a humiliating death. I only want to retrieve my body and let you kill me in combat. That is the only way we Dullahans can proudly accept death.”

[Huh?]

“What?”

“Plow is confused.” *Pho...*

Kazumi, Vincent, and Plow didn’t understand why they would need to walk on the snow while it was getting dark and later kill her. It didn’t make sense as not helping her meant killing her as well.

“What is wrong with you all? I requested you to save my body and kill me. Is it that difficult to understand? Or do you humans like to die a shameful death?” Awa questioned.

.....

*Sigh* “I will save you, but I will not kill you as you wish. I am not going to kill an innocent person. Not one I have taken the responsibility to save.”

“Y-you perverted slave trader! You want my body! I will not talk!” Awa closed her mouth and her eyes.

[This head is more of a chore than we thought. Shall we drop her somewhere and let her...]

-Do you want to have the death of an innocent person give you a guilty conscious? Not to mention you can’t forget what you see.-

[... does that mean you are doing this for the both of us?]

-Yes. You can choose what memory to see and relive, yet a bad memory will still remain recorded in your memories.-

[Thank you for thinking about me.] Kazumi said while feeling delighted to hear Vincent was doing something for her.

*Sniff, sniff* “Vincent Vincent. Plow smells burning wood.” *Pho* “It is the same place the smoke of head is pointing.”

“Great. Lead the way.” Vincent said. He looked down at Awa, not wanting to talk. He gently shook Awa’s head and asked, “Awa. Are they your people? Don’t tell me you got betrayed or something like that?”

Awa opened her eyes, and her brows formed a frown. “It is very dangerous outside. That is why we Dullahans do not light fire at night. Our warrior spirit can resist the cold.”

“Then I wonder who they are.” Vincent smirked and teased to lighten the mood, “But you aren’t a warrior, though, hehe.”

“H-how do you know?... A-a-and how do you know my name?”

“My eyes are special, you see.”

“I can see the names, their condition, their power level, their class, and the information of their skills. That is why I know about your condition more than you know yourself.”

Awa stared at Vincent as if she couldn’t believe him. As if his explanation was an obvious lie, yet his face didn’t show any signs of it being a lie. She couldn’t tell.

“That means I can see the effects of the five additional potions I gave you expiring soon...”

“D-d-does that mean you k-k-kissed me again?”

“Yes. Hehe.” Vincent chuckled. “And five more times at that. After feeding you ten potion mouth to mouth, this gentleman ought to take responsibility. Right? Hehe.”

“Fight and kill me now! I want to end my shameful life. I will not go to my ancestors full of shame. We Dullahans do not accept such shame.”

“You are quite energetic, I see. However, it would be best if you started worrying about where your body is. Since animals don’t light fire, that means your body is more in danger of being in a shameful condition or position than I previously explained.”

“D-def.... is my proud Dullahan body being defiled like how my lips were defiled?...”

“Who knows?” Vincent shrugged his shoulders, causing Awa to turn paler than before.

“So. Are you now willing to tell us if you can feel the connection of your body?” Vincent asked while moving his gaze in front of him and down to Awa’s head.

“Your eyes... they know our Dullahan secret too... who are you?...”

[Hehe. Is she getting interested in you know?]

[Well. Either way, I am starting to get curious about her body. I wonder if she has a stunning body. I wonder how large her chest is. Maybe her hips...]

-Please stop, Harem Queen.-

*Sigh*

“I am Vincent Lionheart. A kindhearted noble that has given you ten costly potions to give you a little bit more time to live.”

“I am also a special kind of human. I am the only human in the world that has two types of blood. I am a mutated human.”

“And you expect me to trust something that doesn’t make sense? You humans really are all liars and slave traders.”

“Haha.” Vincent laughed. “Look who is talking. How can a person live without a head or a body being attached or even nearby? Do you expect me to believe you are alive?”

“Don’t humiliate me, human! I am not an undead!” Awa angrily exclaimed.

Awa revealed how much she disliked being called undead. To her, it meant immense shame. To have her proud Dullahan body reduced to a humiliating state was too demeaning for Awa.

“That hungry, vicious fox of yours wanted to eat me. That is how much alive I am!”

“Vicious?” Plow stopped walking and became angry at the comment Awa passed. *Pho!* “Plow is a good girl! Take it back, you meanie head.”

“Hehe.” Vincent chuckled. “Plow. Awa thought you were interested in eating her because you kept smelling her. You also licked her forehead once or twice.”

Plow became too shocked to keep her mouth closed. Plow didn’t think anyone would consider a small little fox like her would ever think Plow was interested in eating a person who was alive.

Plow shook her head to clear her thoughts. She turned around and resumed walking. “Plow will show bad head how Plow is a good girl.” She murmured while quietly barking and following the scent of the smoke.

A couple of minutes passed. Vincent became alert when Awa’s head shook as if she was freezing. He looked down and saw her breath creating fog as if the temperature was freezing.

“Are you feeling cold because the connection with your body is becoming closer?” Vincent asked.

“I... I do not know... what you are talking... about. A Dullahan can not... be defeated by...” *Sniff* “Cold.”

[Sigh. What a proud woman you have your hands on.] Kazumi exited Vincent’s body and continued. [I will go and take a look at our surroundings. The body should be closed since Awa is acting like this while the effects of the potions are still active.]

“Let’s move cautiously, Plow.” Vincent requested while Kazumi went high up in the sky to check their surroundings.

*pho* Plow quietly barked.

“Do not act so prideful, Awa. Is pride more important than your life? Is pride so important that you do not want your family and friends to see you return home safe and sound?”

“Vincent Vincent. What is pride?” *pho?* Plow asked in a hushed voice.

“It is like being proud of something. In your case Plow, you could be proud that foxes are better than wolves. For Awa, the warrior blood running through her Dullahan body is something she is proud of.” Vincent looked at the shivered Awa and asked, “Am I correct?”

However, Awa didn’t want to respond. She remained clattering her teeth because of the cold and acted as if she heard nothing.

“But Plow. What do you choose? Will you accept Lupa telling you wolves are better than foxes if it was the only way Lupa would save your life?”

“Plow does not want to die. Plow wants to taste more yummy food. Plow accept defeat if Plow can live.” *pho* Plow responded, causing Awa to frown, yet she still hardheadedly didn’t say a word.

Kazumi returned, and with her return arrived bad news.

[A couple of meters in front of us is Awa’s body. She is naked, and her condition is worse than we expected.]

-What about the fire?-

[There are ten small creatures. One of them is wearing the thorn clothes Awa most likely wore. Based on their appearance, I believe they are what the book about creatures described to be Cefeye.]

“The Cefeyes have undressed Awa’s body and left her on the cold snow? We need to hurry Plow.”

*Pho!* “Plow will find meanies who undress head’s body.”

“Zero. Is. Ready. To. Fight.” Zero said while the vines in its body moved, similar to switching gears. Zero was preparing to use the poisonous vines to attack with.

Awa wanted to speak, but her mouth couldn’t move to utter a word. She felt great shame to hear her body was naked.

Awa wanted her body to be saved and later request to die in combat, yet Vincent’s words echoed in her mind. She wanted to return to her parents and apologize for worrying them.

Awa was conflicted about what to choose now. The more she felt death creeping in, the more Vincent’s words made her will waver and made her doubt Dullahan’s pride was better than living.

Awa also didn’t know if Vincent could manage to beat the Cefeyes in one go. If one manages to alert the other Cefeyes, wave after the other will attack them until they die.

“I see the light!” Vincent exclaimed.

Vincent gritted his teeth and hastened his pace. His body was tired, yet he needed to make the final push before he could rescue Awa’s body and call it a day.