Summoned and Unwanted

667 A bizarre encounter with the undead

“Many animals have gathered?” Vincent questioned while frowning. His expression displayed both unhappiness and anger at the same time.

*Tsk* “Just when Awa was going to answer my question.” Vincent stood up from the chair and glared at the open door. It was obvious Vincent wanted to get it over with.

Kazumi swiftly left to check what was going on outside. She didn’t stay outside for more than five seconds before returning.

[Vincent... sigh. There are young bears with serious injuries outside. Some of them are making me wonder how they are still alive. Additionally, I can feel traces of mana in their bodies.]

-Mana in their bodies? But aren’t they normal animals?-

[That is what made me uncertain.]

Vincent didn’t like this discovery one bit. However, he had to act quickly lest he wanted the Pocket Cabin to get damaged.

*Sigh* “Another fight. ” Vincent walked for the door and continued, “Here we go again.”

Vincent exited the cabin. The view was similar to a war zone. There were eight young bears in total. Some were impaled by Zero’s tendrils while others limped forward as if the pain didn’t faze them.

.....

.

[Name] Forest Bear

[Race] Undead

[Age] 1

[Condition] Reanimated, Starvation Of The Damned

[Stats] Strength 21 || Agility 10 || Perception 12 || Mana 9

.

[Third Eye activate.]

[Reanimated condition description.]

[Reanimated] caused a corpse to walk among the living.]

[The corpse consumes mana to sustain [Reanimated], causing the body to be affected by [Starvation Of The Damned ]

.

[Third Eye activate.]

[Starvation Of The Damned condition description.]

[The corpse suffers unsatiable hunger for mana. The corpse will attack and absorb mana to sustain [Reanimated]

[The corpse can consume the living to turn any part consumed into mana to sustain [Reanimated]

.

“Undead?” Vincent uttered while expressing shock on his face. Even though Vincent had already learned there was the Necromancer class, he didn’t expect to meet the undead so soon and out of the blue.

[Now that explains why Zero’s poisoned tendrils didn’t kill the bears. They can not die without a killing blow, such as losing their head.]

-Or absorbing their mana and making their Reanimated condition stop giving them temporary life.-

[Yeah. Whichever option you want to use, you better hurry before they get too close to the cabin.]

*Crack, crack* Vincent cracked his neck and knuckles. His lips curved with a smirk.

“Plow. Zero. Protect Awa while I take care of these bears.” Vincent said before taking the first step and uttering, “Overheat.”

*Pho!* “Plow is very very strong. Awa Awa will be safe.” Plow announced.

“Zero. Will. Follow. Master. Orders.”

Awa gazed at Vincent, walking away. She saw his arms becoming covered by a green substance as if his arms were being consumed. She then noticed the substance harden and become the gauntlets she previously saw Vincent wear.

Awa could now understand why Vincent had a different presence around him in his current state, or as Awa thought, was his warrior state.

Awa slowly stood up while using the table as support. She saw Plow jump on the table and look at her with a frown. She moved her head and saw the now smaller humanoid plant blocking her way to the door.

“I need to go out. I need to see how the bears look.” Awa said all of a sudden. If it was an excuse to flee while Vincent was preoccupied or if Awa was telling the truth and wanted to take a look, Plow and Zero could not accurately tell.

“Why?” *Pho?*

“The slave trader... no. Your master is in great danger if it is the great Orso.”

Plow became worried to hear Vincent could be in danger. Plow moved her gaze to the door, but she couldn’t see what was happening outside. She could only hear what was happening outside.

“Plow wants to see too.” *Pho* “Plow will help Awa Awa walk.”

Plow jumped from the table and went in front of Zero. “Can Zero Zero help Awa Awa walk too?” *Pho?*

“No. Master. Orders. Say...”

“He ordered you to protect me.” Awa interrupted. “Help me take a look at what is happing outside while protecting at the same time.”

“... Zero. Take. And. Protect.”

Zero extended his hand to let Awa stand on her feet two. Zero offered help in order to protect her from falling and injuring herself.

Plow noticed Awa could use more help to walk. She used her tail control to make one of her tails longer at the cost of the others becoming smaller. She lifted her tail for Awa to hold.

Shortly, Awa walked to the door while being supported. As her eyes gazed at what was happening outside, she couldn’t believe the gore tainting the snow red and the extensively damaged corpses lying beside a man covered with faint warm steam.

“Vincent Vincent has won.” *Pho* Plow cheerfully said as if this

“Zero. No. Need. To. Protect. Any. More.” Zero said while lowering its guard.

“...” Awa couldn’t move her mouth to utter a word. She could only silently witness the brutality the loser suffered.

Vincent swung his arm, and blood splattered on the red snow. *Crack* After cracking his neck, Vincent turned around.

*Sigh* “What a mess.” He said with a hoarse voice while returning to the cabin.

“Vincent Vincent. It is smelly here.” *Pho*

Vincent stopped using Overheat and quickly checked his clothes for any blood splatter. He sighed in relief after he didn’t find a spec of stinky blood on his clothes.

“You got that right, Plow.” He answered. “These corpses have been reanimated for a long time. That is why they barely had any blood in their bodies.”

Vincent noticed Awa looking at the corpses of the bears and the large quantities of blood. Anyone would tell Vincent is lying regarding the bodies not having blood.

“The blood you see on the snow came from their stomachs. I think the blood was of the victims they ate. Additionally, I think the mana was holding their flimsy limbs together. The moment I removed the mana from their limbs, they disassembled like soft toys.” Vincent explained, allowing Awa, Plow, and Zero to understand why the scene was so gory.

Plow nodded while Zero remained looking at Vincent as if such information entered from one ear hole and left from the other. On the other hand, Awa covered her mouth.

[Ohh no! Awa might puke all the food she finally ate.]

Vincent hurried to Awa while saying, “Let’s go inside. I will make you a tasty cup of hot chocolate.”

“Ugh.” *Gulp* “Dullahans do not become intimidated at the sight... ugh.” *Gulp* “Of blood.” Awa said while giving the impression of swallowing the puke because of her pride.

“There is no need to act tough, Awa. Anyone can become weak and be unable to maintain the image of strength.” Vincent moved his gaze at Plow and Zero before continuing, “That is why my trusty fox and plant are accompanying me.”

Vincent crossed his arms and tried to change the subject, hoping Awa would stop thinking about the gore outside and become once again weary of Vincent.

“I am now more worried about letting you head back to you people alone because I will keep constantly thinking about you.”

Awa moved her gaze to Vincent when her ears heard the words, ‘I will keep constantly thinking about you.’ These words reminded Awa of her parents as the words were quite similar to the last words she heard from them.

“First, it was two magic beasts. You have no chance against them. The second was the group of undead. Not only are they an unnatural occurrence, but I have a hunch fate wants to play a bad game on us.”

Vincent stopped crossing his arms and extended his hand. “It is nearly impossible to survive alone. So how about I lead you safely to your people and give you all the food and water you won?”

Vincent’s plan worked as Awa was starting to return to the previous proud and skeptic Dullahan. Awa frowned and said, “You will not trick me...”

“It is not a trick, Awa.” Vincent interrupted. “I have become responsible by saving your life. I am in this forest to take my mind off the problem my family is facing. Knowing you returned to your parents will allow me to return home and face my challenge with a clear mind.”

“Problem?” Awa skeptically questioned.

“Yes. A woman I know was going to be lustfully assaulted. She jumped off a tall building, and I managed to save her in the nick of time. The angry me of that time carved a letter on the five perpetrator’s chests to let them remember their sin.”

*Sigh* “Long story short. We will fight to the death, and the winner can prove their words were the truth.”

Awa stared at Vincent at the mention of a fight to the death. She believed Vincent was going to participate in an honorable fight, causing Awa to start seeing Vincent in a better light.

However, even if Awa thought a little bit better about Vincent, she skeptically asked, “How can a slave trader be this honorable?”

*Sigh* “I am Vincent and not a slave trader. Secondly, what is honorable with a fight to the death? My wives and I need to risk our lives in an arena.”

“It is honorable to die in combat.” Awa proudly said as it was an obvious thing. Awa frowned and mocked, “You, humans, do not understand how great it is to ascend to Valhalla.”

Vincent chuckled. “You called me a human at last. Does that mean you are...”

.....