Chapter 341

Vorbuk entered the cabin slowly after the siren, Raene. The dim lighting made the atmosphere very dreary. A heavy pressure in the air as he entered and saw the silhouette of the headless horseman sitting at a table in the center of the room.

Why did he like such a dark place? Vorbuk pondered if his choice of place to stay was because he was someone with a dark mana. It felt like it would be stranger to find him hiding in a bright and cheery place. It almost felt more relaxing to see him in such a dim location.

[ WARNING! ] [ WARNING! ] [ WARNING! ] [ WARNING! ]

The system seemed to go crazy as he stepped in the presence of the headless horseman.

"I have been curious to meet with you for a while now." A deep and heavy voice echoed throughout the place.

The headless horseman did not have a head to speak from. Every word he spoke was echoed through telepathy using his mana. It was not his true voice if he had his head because it was formed using his mana. He was vibrating the static in the air to create his own voice to communicate.

The talent of the headless horseman with his mana caused Vorbuk to have shivers down his spine, replying carefully he forced another step towards the headless horseman, "What do you want from me?"

"What... Do I want? Hahahah!" The headless horseman's voice echoed like a laugh as he heard that question. It felt like a mocking joke in the back of his mind. He only had one thing he wanted and he wanted it more then anything else.

Vorbuk flinched at the sound of his laughter. It made him uncomfortable as the headless horseman stood up and turned around to place a hand on his shoulder. It felt like he was trying to act friendly.

The words that came next from the headless horseman shattered the thought of him being friendly, "I do not want a thing from you. What I need is for you to help me get something from someone else."

"You want me to collect you something?" Vorbuk felt like he was trying to use him as an errand boy. His shoulder started to hurt as the headless horseman squeezed tighter.

The headless horseman said loud and clear, "That is correct."

"What do you need my help for? I do not think you are lacking in the capability to get things from others yourself." Vorbuk spoke honestly as he did not understand the situation he was placed in.

He turned away from Vorbuk and walked over to a cabinet to fetch a cup, walking back over to the table and pouring a cup of unknown liquid before him. The cup was slowly pushed in front of him as the horseman said, "Sit."

A soft melody was heard from the siren as she forced him to move. Vorbuk could only sit down as he was caught between the two of them. It was difficult enough to deal with the siren. When he thought about it he felt it would be impossible to take on the headless horseman alone.

"Drink." The voice of him echoed causing Vorbuk to shiver and raise the cup.

Vorbuk drank the strange liquid. Finding it to be a very dark alcohol. Though he was unsure why it had to look so unpleasant. It was very strong and caused him to cough instantly after swallowing.

"It is true that most fear me. I could take anything I want... except," The headless horseman explained, "The thing I want most is currently being protected by the king of Drethia himself."

"You want me to steal something from the king of Drethia for you?" Vorbuk was surprised by the sudden request.

Why would he want to-? Vorbuk was confused on why he would want to steal something from the one he served directly.

Raene spoke up for them both and explained, "The king has his head. Getting it back is the only way he can be free from the king's control. As long as the king has his head he is in control of his life."

"Some times even death would be a better fate." The headless horseman thought out loud for them both to hear.

In fact there were many days when the headless horseman wished for death. The only problem was death would not come for him. It felt like he was a slave to the king. He had to obey every command the king gave him. With the king in possession of his head the headless horseman could not make his own decisions. He was no better then a dog on a leash while his head was in that king's hands.

Vorbuk asked him, "Why should I help you?"

"If you do not help me I will simply kill you." The headless horseman threatened him openly.

A heavy blood-lust filled the air around them. Vorbuk had a hard time breathing as the pressure was heavy. He struggled to hold his ground against the horseman as he said, "I am not an errand boy."

"... Errand boy?" The headless horseman was confused by his words.

Vorbuk continued to hold his ground as he spoke again, "You can not drag me here and hope that I help you out of good will. I was brought here by force. Was I not?"

He seemed to ponder deeply about those words before saying to Vorbuk, "How about we duel?"

"... What?" Vorbuk flinched.

"You did not want to help needlessly. I am suggesting a duel." He repeated himself once more.

Vorbuk asked him slowly, "What do I get out of it?"

"What?" He was confused by what Vorbuk meant.

Vorbuk sighed and explained, "I have nothing to gain from this duel. If you win I would help you... But if I win what would I get out of it?"

"I wont kill you?" He thought that was enough for Vorbuk.

Vorbuk flinched again and quickly said, "That should only be natural out of respect for the duel! Besides that there should be something further that makes it fair between us."

"Very well," The headless horseman finally gave in seeing that Vorbuk was desperate to make it a fair deal between the two of them, "What do you want?"

"Well," Vorbuk thought carefully about it and there was nothing he could think of besides keeping his life. There had to be something he could gain from the situation with the headless horseman.

The headless horseman stood in silence as he waited for Vorbuk to think of something.

Vorbuk finally spoke up after a long and deep thought about what the best thing he could get would be from the headless horseman, "What if you serve me?"

"... What?" The headless horseman wanted to laugh at how ridiculous it sounded.

Is he so confident in winning that he thinks he could make me a slave? The headless horseman found it rather amusing.

He replied to Vorbuk's suggestion with an amused tone, "Very well. I will accept this suggestion."

Vorbuk and the headless horseman agreed on their requirements for the duel. He was not certain he would refuse a request to help the headless horseman. However he could not allow him to walk all over Vorbuk's pride and make him seem like a lowly servant himself. It was a duel he could not avoid if he wanted to prove himself worthy to stand above the headless horseman.