I'm A Dullahan, Looking For My Head Chapter 5

 

Chapter 5
The Blue-Haired Girl is a Mage

“Hey, you there, what are you doing?”

“Wha-!?”

Suddenly, a voice calling from behind makes my heart nearly jump out of my chest.

I almost drop the helmet I'm holding in my hand, and instead I reflexively put it on.

Strangely enough, the helmet fits perfectly with the Dullahan armor, making a click sound as it slips into place.

Oh, could this be the head I was looking for? I think to myself, but it seems that’s not the case. My body is telling me that this is not the one.

Even so, it doesn’t seem like it’ll reject or push away the helmet.

“...Hey, what are you doing?”

The voice asks again.

Oh no. I’m a monster, A Dullahan.

If I turn around like this, I won’t be attacked, right?

Frantic thoughts are swirling in my mind, but suddenly, I come back to my senses.

Wait, now I have a head.

The helmet I hastily put on.

Fortunately, this helmet has a faceguard, and it’s the type that covers everything except for a narrow slit in the field of vision.

The facial area is mostly obscured by shadows. Even if they could see it, it would be nearly impossible unless they are at point-blank range.

It is very unlikely for me to get that close to a human being.

In other words, no matter how you look at it, I look like a proper knight wearing splendid full body armor, not a headless monster like a Dullahan.

If so, then there is nothing to be afraid of.

The drawback of being a monster seems to have been instantly resolved.

Even though it was an impulsive move, aren’t I a genius?

Due to the darkness of the room, it seems the person who called out to me hasn’t realized.

“Hey, I said―”

Midway through the impatient voice, I turn around.

There stands a girl with light, translucent blue hair tied in a ponytail.

Even in the dim light, her fair skin is smooth like porcelain, and her features are well defined.

Perhaps because of my sudden turn, her almond-shaped eyes widen, revealing the transparent blue gems that match her hair color.

She has a slender figure and her limbs are long, she seems like she would break if you hug her too tightly.

She’s wearing a short blue cape on her shoulders over a blue and white outfit that resembles a corset, with a skirt and black stockings.

She is a thin girl overall, but her legs, wrapped in black knee socks, have just the right amount of flesh.

She holds a staff in her hand and is dressed as if she's a wizard in light armor.

A mage, a mage!! Could it be that this world is a classic fantasy world with swords and magic!?

My otaku spirit is heating up and I want to scream, but I can’t let a girl I have never met before get freaked out. She is such a beautiful girl, it is natural for a man to want to get along with her if possible.

I calm down and carefully start to speak.

Well, I’ve been traveling and I just arrived here a little while ago. I came in here looking for a place to rest, but it was empty.”

In response to my friendly first words, she...

“There was a clattering sound from a while ago, aren’t you really a thief?”

She clearly has a look of suspicion on her face.

“No, it was kind of dark and I couldn't see what was going on inside, so I fell.”

Laughimg awkwardly, I try to bluff my way through.

“...Is that so? Well, you are wearing quite an expensive looking armor, so it doesn’t seem like you’re a thief.

She mutters something under her breath.

Anyway, I want to avoid being treated as a suspicious person and having our communication cut off.

“And what about you?”

I don’t want to be pursued any further, so I’ll ask a question here.

“Sisti, a traveling mage.”

A mage! This is a must for such a capable-looking girl with a dignified presence.

I’m sure she can use powerful magic like those in games.

“I’m from Kukul village.”

Sisti points to the road she came from.

Where is Kukul village? I wonder, but I'll leave it alone for now.

I go outside to take a peek and find a straight road that is different from the one I had come from in the forest.

Well, I had confirmed that this is the point where the two roads meet, so it makes sense.

“... oh it’s big.”

Next to me Sisti was muttering. Until now, the dim light hadn’t allowed her to see me clearly.

Coming from that way... Does that mean this girl, Sisti, came through the forest alone?

I know she took a different route than I did, but that’s still amazing.

I can’t imagine her going through a forest full of demons with a wyvern chasing after her, all by herself.

To be able to rely solely on magic to make it through, is the magic of this world so convenient, or is Sisti just exceptionally skilled?

Unlike me, who was forced to break through with my undead ability and physical prowess as a Dullahan, I would like to pay my respects to her for making it through by only relying on her magic.

“And you?”

“Oh, I’m Du―”

Oops, I’ve been referring to myself as a Dullahan, so I almost said “Dullahan.”

“Du?”

Sisti gives me a dubious expression as I stiffened halfway through.

What should I do? Should I correct myself now and say my name is Kubinashi Sousuke?

No, calling yourself a Japanese name in this fantasy world feels like you’re destroying the fantasy.

I should use a cool, fantasy-like name too.

If you think about it calmly, this would be a cool way to change my name.

I spoke while apologizing in my heart to my mother who gave me my name.

“It’s Duke! Nice to meet you.”

Dullahan → Duke. I’m sorry for being so simple.

Since I’ve already said ‘Du-” and it’s a name that sounds like Dullahan, it’s fine! Besides it also has a knightly ring to it.

It’s wrong to expect me to have good taste.

“Duke, huh? Nice to meet you. By the way, where did Duke come from? You said you arrived a while ago.”

In response, I point towards the path I had just come from.

“That way?”

“Huh? What? That’s a lie. It’s called the Demon’s Forest and it’s teeming with ferocious creatures. If you walk around, you’ll be surrounded by monsters in no time. There are even wyverns. Anyone with common sense would take a detour like me.”

No wonder there were so many monsters. Did I wake up in such a dangerous place like the Demon Forest?

“Oh. I was chased by a wyvern...”

“...And you’re still alive?”

Sisti exclaims incredulously.

If there was a safer way, I would have come from there, but I’m a Dullahan. And I guess I was right in thinking this was the safest way to not run into anyone until I obtained this helmet.

“Well, we’ll see about that later. I’m tired, and I want to rest in Poda Village as soon as possible. If Duke is also heading there, let’s go together.”

“Oh, yeah. I don’t know anything about this area, so I’ll rely on your guidance.”

“Is that so? Well, you just follow the road from here to Poda Village, so it should be fine.”

I follow Sisti as she starts walking, but I suddenly remember that I had left Purple Flame behind.

“Oh, please wait a moment!”

I quickly go around to the back of the house. There I find Purple Flame standing quietly.

If Sisti sees Purple Flame, who is a Coach-A-Bower, she would undoubtedly attack.

Just like she said earlier, magical creatures are vicious and attack humans. That’s a certainty to her.

Can’t we do something about it?

I was the one who summoned Purple Flame in the first place.

In that’s the case, it should be possible to send it back.

I have a vague feeling it’s possible.

While strongly willing it in my mind, I call out quietly.

Sisti is nearby, so I keep my voice low.

“Return! Purple Flame!”

Then, just like the first time, Purple Flame’s feet glow darkly. It seems there is no problem even if you don’t shout Purple Flame.

Purple Flame sinks into the darkness as if being swallowed.

“See you later.”

I call out briefly and then quickly return to where Sisti is.

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