Summoned and Unwanted

“What if... What. If...” Vincent paused for a moment to add more suspense.

*Gulp* Kazumi, Plow, and Away gulped.

“What if wild animals are using the heat of the body to store body parts on it? I can’t imagine what a horrific scene it would be. Not to mention the gore our eyes will see upon finding the body.”

“However, that is one of the multiple horrific fates the body could suffer from. What I mentioned was the best possible situation. What if...”

*Gulp* Kazumi, Plow, and Away gulped again.

“What if wild animals have stripped their clothes bare to keep themselves warm? What if the body is being used like a bed by dirty, stinky, and god knows what insects and diseases riddled fur.”

*Pho* “Plow is clean. Vincent Vincent can let Plow sleep on bed. Vincent Vincent does not need to worry.”

“Hehe.” Vincent chuckled after hearing Plow try to prove she was clean enough to be allowed to sleep on Vincent all the time. Since Plow is a clean fox, Vincent does not need to worry.

.....

[Plow sure is trying to defend herself. She really does love sleeping on your stomach, nicknamed Plow’s bed.]

“Sure. Sure. My clean little fox can sleep on me all the time.” Vincent said while giving Plow a gentle head pat.

Vincent moved his gaze onto Awa. He could notice she didn’t like the idea of the second theoretical situation happening to her body.

A sly smirk appeared on Vincent’s face before it contorted to express being both worried and horrified at the same time.

“What if...” *Sighhh...* “What if not only your poor body is stripped of all the warm clothes, but it is abandoned in a corner where the animals use to do their nature calls?”

Vincent shook his head. He placed his hand on his mouth and acted as if he was about to puke.

*Gulp* “I do not want to imagine the stink and the disgusting state your body would be in. Not even death can clear the shame of dying without clothes and completely covered in shi...” *Blarg...Blarg... Gulp*

[Vincent... do you know the Dullahan on your lap has fainted?]

Vincent stopped acting. He opened his eyes after they were closed to express a view too disgusting to see.

After Vincent looked down, he confirmed Awa had indeed fainted from whatever imagination her mind played before her eyes.

Vincent moved his gaze onto Plow. The little fox had tears welling in her eyes.

“Sorry for playing the scary game of what if.” Vincent brushed Plow’s fur while smiling reassuringly. “I said these words to make our little head tell us where her body is. That is the only way we can save her.”

*Pho!* “Vincent Vincent tricked Plow!” Plow said while pouting. It was obvious Plow had bought both the story and Vincent’s acting.

“How about five minutes of cuddles as an apology?”

Plow’s eyes widened, and her ears raised, but only for a moment. Plow suddenly looked sad, but it was a trick.

*Pho* “Plow needs more cuddles. Plow is very very sad.”

Vincent laughed. He gave Plow a head pat before saying, “Sure, let’s make it double.”

Eight emerald tails wagged cheerfully after the compensation was doubled. Plow looked down and secretly smirked at the victory, and extra rewards received.

.

[Notice]

[2x Minor Regen Potion (Uncommon Quality) gained. x8 remaining.]

[3x Minor Mana Regen Potion (Uncommon Quality) gained. x3 remaining.]

.

“I have a hunch she will choose to live. ” Vincent said before drinking the potions and feeding them to Awa mouth to mouth.

This time it felt less weird since the head didn’t feel like a decapitated head anymore. Additionally, from the area where the neck connects to the head mysteriously emerged a shadow.

The part was previously black similar to a tattoo. Now there was a smoke-like shadow that could be felt. It moved similar smoke yet remained contained. It also waved similar to a fabric gently waving in the breeze.

It was ethereal. It was similar to the rays of light from Bright’s buff or Lilith’s Divine Blessing.

However, it was the opposite. The darkness didn’t allow light to pass. The touch was also soft, not too different than touching a cotton candy.

The shadow appeared when Awa became aware, as if it indicated the possibility of connecting had become available.

Kazumi pondered it the head and body were connected similarly to a Bluetooth device. Both parts remember the connection. When the head connection becomes available, the shadow indicates the body connection-seeking mode is active.

The more Kazumi examined the mysterious shadow unnaturally moving in front of her excessively curious eyes. She noticed the shadow was leaning in a specific direction.

After Vincent finished feeding the last potion, Kazumi understood the more Awa received treatment via the mouth-to-mouth potion feeding session, the more it became obvious the shadow was seeking the body.

[Yep. A Dullahan is like Bluetooth, indeed. The shadow is a visible wavelength between the connected head and body.]

Vincent stored the empty potion vials. -Does that mean we could find her body without her telling us?- He asked telepathically.

[It is a big yes in theory. But Vincent. Do you really want to save her?]

-Now I know why the green-eyed hero was more realistic in the spin-off comic.-

-As he said on the last page of the comic, “The one who saves a life is responsible for seeing them alive and well.” I, too, am feeling responsible after trying to save her life with the potions.-

[I remember that part as well. Your favorite hero tried to mean that saving a life is more of a commitment than one can imagine. Not everyone can be happy or show appreciation for going above and beyond to save their lives.]

*Sigh* “I don’t know when she will wake up.” Vincent tapped on Awa’s cheek, but she didn’t open her eyes.

[Vincent. Look at the shadow and stop frowning.]

Vincent raised the head shoulder high. He noticed the shadow was moving as if there was a gentle breeze in the cabin. It would be a missable activity if they weren’t in a place with closed windows.

*Pho!* Plow also noticed the shadow moving. “The smoke is moving funny. Is head going to be fine now? Plow wants to see head on body.”

“HeHe.” Vincent chuckled after he discovered a way to save the life held by his hands. “Plow. Zero. Let’s do a night treasure hunt.”

*Pho ?* “Plow is good at treasure hunts. Plow will win and see head on body.”

“Zero. Follow. Master. Zero. Protect. Master.”

[Sigh. Let’s get it over with. We have spent a lot of time here. It has gotten almost dark outside.]

-Don’t I have the amazing and reliable Kazumi by my side?-

Kazumi loved the compliment. [Hehe. What can you do without me.] She boasted happily.

After storing the cabin, the three left towards the direction of the shadow. The darker it became, the harder it was to see the dark shadow’s direction.

However, Kazumi didn’t stop Vincent from searching for the missing body. She used Mana Sense, and the shadow could be seen in her eyes as clear as day.

This made Kazumi even more curious as to how the shadow had mana inside of it. She wanted to find the body today, if possible, by the end of the day. She desired to satisfy her curiosity about how Dullahan bodies worked.

Step after the other, Vincent was beginning to find it difficult to traverse the snow in the dark.

Vincent wrapped a bunch of dry sticks from his storage, covered the top with mutated ash, and used a pair of flint to ignite a green fire. Not only could they see better in the dark, but the makeshift torch provided warmth.

About an hour later, Awa opened her eyes. She felt a muscular arm holding her head. Her eyes moved up, and the human who made her faint was still with her.

“Let me go, slave trader. I need to die before my body becomes more desecrated than it already is. You will not have my body. Never.”

Vincent stopped walking. He looked down and warmly smiled at Awa. “Your voice sounds better. I am glad the extra five potions I gave you could allow you to speak better.”

Awa paused for a moment. She realized Vincent was telling the truth. She felt much better than before. However, she didn’t want to accept being helped by a human.

“Is head awake?” *Pho?*

“Yes, Plow. She is calling me a slave trader now, though.”

*Gasp!* “Vincent Vincent is a good bed.” *Pho!* “Vincent Vincent saved me from cage. Vincent Vincent is best bed in all world!”

“...” Vincent felt embarrassed to respond at the moment. Being called best bed instead of best person made Vincent wonder how or what he was in Plow’s eyes. Was he a bed or a good owner to Plow?

[Vincent. Why don’t you ask Awa if she can feel her body nearby? It will help us with the search and allow you to call it a day.]

“Awa. Can you feel your body nearby? We were following the direction your neck shadow was moving towards.”

*Gasp* “Stop. Don’t try to find my body. Dullahans pride themselves as the best warrior race in the world. I will die out of shame if you human capture my body.”

*Tsk, tsk, tsk.* “What if your body is being used for not too nice to imagine things?” Vincent questioned.