Summoned and Unwanted

679 A commotion outside the small hidden Dullahan Village

“Slave trader! How dare you approach our village!” A Dullahan guard exclaimed while expressing anger and cautiousness.

Another Dullahan noticed Awa being carried on Vincent’s back. After blinking twice to confirm he didn’t see wrong, he exclaimed, “It is Awa! Awa has been brought here by this slave trader!”

The four other Dullahans noticed Awa. They clenched their spears with a firm grip and glared at Awa as if she had betrayed them.

“Don’t attack this human. He isn’t a slave trader. He saved my life, treated my wounds, fed me, offered shelter, and later offered to take me home.” Awa tried to explain, yet the five Dullahans remained glaring.

During the loud shouting of the five Dullahans, a Dullahan woman poked her head from the corner of the log wall. The woman heard the name Awa and her eyes could not hold the tears back.

The woman ran toward them. She passed the five Dullahns acting as guards and went in front of Vincent.

*Sniffle* “Awa.”

*Sniffle* “Mother.”

Vincent turned around and crouched. “Awa can’t stay standing for a long time. You should help her walk since I am not welcome.”

.....

Awa’s mother promptly helped her daughter stand. She moved Awa away from Vincent swiftly and glanced at her daughter with a keen gaze.

Awa’s mother’s eyes widened at the view of her daughter wearing warm human clothes. It made her considerably worried, even if now was the time to rejoice about her daughter’s safe return.

“Who is this slave trader? Why did you let him carry you? Was he keeping you hostage?” Awa’s mother asked.

“No, mother. It isn’t like that.” Awa quickly responded while noticing how skeptical her mother and the five other Dullahans were acting.

Awa had forgotten how she acted the same not too long ago. She held on her mother to stand and said. “When I left to find food for all of us because I could not answer the clan chieftain’s questions correctly, I looked and looked, but I could not find food.”

“When I noticed I had ventured too far from home, I had no more food left...” Awa placed her head on her mother’s shoulder and continued, “I fainted, and the next time I opened my eyes, this human named Vincent found my head, but not my body.”

Awa’s mother moved her skeptical gaze onto Vincent. As a mother, she was thankful, but as a Dullahan, she was weary of Vincent’s intentions. Her thoughts went back and forth, similar to walking in a labyrinth created because of facts and doubts.

“After he helped me recover, Vincent selflessly traveled to find my body, even if I requested to be slain and be allowed to enter Valhalla instead of having my body found.”

The five Dullahan guards became weary of Vincent’s intentions as Vincent chose to save Awa instead of killing her. They believed Vincent had ulterior motives because the Dullahans saw all humans as slave traders.

On the other hand, Awa’s mother was starting to have doubts. Out of every ten bad thoughts about Vincent, she had one minor positive and hopeful thought. Yet Awa’s mother was far from accepting the idea of thanking Vincent.

“Vincent discovered my body near a group of spikey little monsters...”

When Awa mentioned the Cefeyes, Awa’s mother and the five Dullahans frowned. They gave Vincent the impression the Dullahans have problems with the Cefeyes as well.

“Two large animals, a huge tiger, and a huge wolf, appeared not too far from my body. They were drooling to eat my proud Dullahan body. The reason I can be here is because of one thing.” Awa said before her next words caused everyone to look at Vincent. “He killed the two huge animals all by himself.”

This information was both beneficial and harmful to Vincent’s image. The beneficial was how Vincent saved a Dullahan at the cost of being in danger, while the harmful was his power. Vincent could pose a threat to the Dullahan clan if he was allowed to enter.

“I... I fell in love with his warrior spirit. I am willing to offer my hand in marriage to Vincent if our mighty clan leader can best him.” Awa said nervously. Her face was bright red, and her heart raced from embarrassment and anxiety.

Awa didn’t know how her mother was going to take this lie. Before begging to marry the clan leader, Awa had never told her parents about having romantic feelings for another person.

Awa was so focused on learning how to become a clan chieftain and get chosen, learning the craft of nutrient extraction, and helping her parents in any way she knew how. Romance never passed the mind of the busy Awa.

“Awa... my sweet and kind daughter... what... what are you saying right now...”

“I wanted to become the next clan chieftain because that was the only way I knew. But now I have another way.” Awa moved her head toward Vincent, yet averted her eyes because of embarrassment. “Vincent is going to provide a lot of food to our people. He is willing to help us survive the winter without facing one problem.”

Awa’s mother became speechless. On the other hand, the five Dullahans became skeptical of Awa’s words.

Furthermore, some time had passed. A few Dullahans became curious as to why people were talking loudly, and no guards defended the entrance.

Soon, ten more male Dullahans approached with a spear in their hands. But their back had no extra spears.

“Slave trader! Do we need to move at this bad time?”

“Why is there a slaver trader here?”

“Is that Awa? She returned!”

While the Dullahans gathered, two figures appeared from behind the new crowd Dullahans. Upon their arrival, the Dullahans stopped talking.

One of the two was a slightly plump woman in about her forties or fifties. The other was a plump young man in about his twenties.

Vincent noticed the Dullahans making way for the old woman and young man duo as if they were important. Vincent could also notice an air of arrogance surrounding them.

“Silence!” The plump young man shouted while glaring at Vincent.

“Yes, clan leader.” All the present male Dullahans said respectfully.

The plump clan leader took a spear from a Dullahan’s hand and extended the spear toward Vincent with the tip facing his neck.

Plow raised her tails and revealed her tiny teeth while Zero moved the vines in its body to prepare for a fight. Both noticed Vincent lower his hand to signal them to stop.

“Hey, slave trader, what did you do to my future wife? And what are that little fox and strange plant acting aggressively for? Are you all prepared to face the might of the Dullahan race?” The plump clan leader said with an authoritative voice.

Vincent’s gaze focused, and the clan leader’s status window appeared in front of him.

.

[Name] Labh

[Age] 22

[Race] Dullahan

[Condition] Healthy

[Trait] Blood Tempered Body Stage One, Mana Tempered Body Stage One

[Class] Warrior

[Stats] Strength 42 | Agility 28 | Perception 31 | Mana 1358

.

[Warrior Class]

*Strong Body +9

*Wild Blow

.

Vincent moved his gaze onto the current old clan chieftain. He hoped the stats weren’t going to be as he was assuming they were going to be.

.

[Name] Asani

[Age] 43

[Race] Dullahan

[Condition] Healthy

[Trait] Blood Tempered Body Stage One, Mana Tempered Body Stage One

[Class] Warrior

[Stats] Strength 30 | Agility 19 | Perception 41 | Mana 931

.

[Warrior Class]

*Strong Body +11

*Wild Blow

.

However, the status window showed exactly what Vincent expected in a negative way. Both mother and son acting as the leaders of all the Dullahans, were healthy while their people suffered.

Vincent’s brows could do nothing but frown at the reality in front of him. The two Dullahans leading their clan were in good condition, while the other Dullahans were suffering from the lack of food.

“Did you call your Awa your woman? I heard multiple times Awa calling herself a proud Dullahan, but it seems you aren’t a proud Dullahan since you didn’t place your pride on the line to search for your quote on quote woman.” Vincent mocked.

Kazumi returned. Her shining eyes widened at the view of Vincent standing in front of a Dullahan with a spear not too far from Vincent’s neck.

[Vincent. There are a lot of Dullahans leaving their small makeshift homes and approaching. We better think of a way to change the situation to our...]

“I love Awa, and I want her to become my woman. Love knows no bounds or race. A Human and a Dullahan can become a couple even if no one accepts it.” Vincent said out of the blue, shocking all the gathering Dullahans, the clan leader, the clan chieftain, and Awa’s mother again.

Awa’s face reddened while her body became a living statue because of embarrassment.

Awa could barely look in front of her because all eyes were on her and on Vincent. Awa never expected revealing their fake relationship was going to be so devastatingly embarrassing.

Vincent slapped the sharp stone spearhead and pointed his finger at the clan leader.

“Even though I am a human and even though I am injured, exhausted, and not fit to fight, I challenge you to a clan leader fight because I can not let the love of my life remain a second by your side.” Vincent secretly bit his lip and spat saliva with blood on the snow. “The winner gets to lead the Dullahans with Awa by our side.”

*Cough, cough, cough* Vincent started caughing. He spat saliva with blood on the snow.

.....