According to the man's own introduction, his name was Kevin, a noble who had just crossed the forests of Middenheim to come here, attempting to inform the local lord of a terrible matter.
"There are dead men wandering in the forest."
Kevin gripped his longsword as he leaned back in his chair, a wine cup at his side, squinting like an old master drowsing before the fireplace. Even when two drunkards beside him were brawling over who was the stronger drinker, he didn't bat an eye.
"This year's harvest was very good, yet I hadn't received the grain tribute from the nearby villages. So I went to investigate. In the forest, I came across a hunter, pale and grievously wounded. He told me his village had been attacked by Beastmen. But they weren't ordinary Beastmen—they seemed to be undead creatures bound by sinister necromancy. His village had been destroyed, and he alone escaped. I tried to save him, but in the end, he still breathed his last."
Kevin sighed.
"Later, I followed his trail and found that village. But it was completely empty—only charred ruins remained. There weren't even bodies. There was blood, there were severed limbs, but not a single corpse, as if the dead had sprouted legs and walked away."
Duanmu Huai sat at the table, silently listening to Kevin's account. Anne, however, looked uneasy. After all… this sounded far too much like a ghost story.
"I went to investigate other villages in my territory, only to discover that most of them were already deserted. The people had vanished without a trace. I sensed something was very wrong and returned to where I had left the hunter—only to find that even he was gone…"
"—!"
At that, Anne shivered and clutched tightly at Duanmu Huai's cloak. Olgis, noticing Anne's reaction, hesitated for a moment before mimicking her, grabbing onto the other side of the cloak.
"Fortunately, there were footprints in the snow. I followed them and soon found the hunter again—though he was already dead, he still moved forward. He seemed to be obeying some strange voice. And then I saw…"
Kevin's voice lowered, just like anyone telling a ghost story when reaching the crucial moment.
"An undead army. They were led by a wicked necromancer, moving silently through the forests. Among them were humans and Beastmen alike, but all had become bloodthirsty undead. They wandered the mountains and advanced through the woods. No one knows where this army of the dead is heading, but I think… we may have the chance to find out."
"So you're saying you want us to go with you and investigate this undead army?"
After hearing him out, Duanmu Huai stared at Kevin and asked quietly. Kevin smiled faintly and nodded.
"I've already reported this to my lord, but unfortunately, it is winter. It is not the season for sending out a large force. Moreover, we must also guard against sudden raids from the northern Chaos lackeys. So my lord could not spare men to aid me. That's why I came here, hoping to find powerful warriors to help me track and destroy the undead army ravaging my lands. Here is the deposit."
As he spoke, Kevin reached into his pocket and placed a small pouch on the table. Though he hadn't opened it fully, the flickering firelight already reflected brightly off the gold coins inside.
"But I have a question. You don't really look like a nobleman."
"In our house, everyone is raised to value martial strength."
Kevin's expression didn't change in the slightest.
"And here in the northern lands, practicality comes first."
"Well, all right then."
Duanmu Huai reached out and seized the pouch. In truth, he was almost certain that this Kevin was none other than the missing Emperor.
Why? The reason was simple: this man was the first person to look at his face without the slightest change of expression.
From Duanmu Huai's experience, anyone who could face him calmly upon first meeting was never an ordinary person. Anne, Guleya, and their father had all reacted the same. The greater the person, the steadier the mind.
If Kevin was merely a minor noble as he claimed, he would have gasped in fright at the sight of Duanmu Huai's true face. Hadn't the entire tavern avoided meeting his eyes? Yet this man dared to walk right up and speak.
As for the inconsistency—Kevin still had both hands, while the Emperor was said to have lost one—that proved nothing. If the Emperor had faked his death, it wouldn't be hard to find a severed arm on the battlefield, slip his gauntlet over it, and thus mislead any pursuers. Anyone searching for a one-armed man would naturally overlook someone with two.
What Duanmu Huai hadn't expected was to encounter him so soon… but never mind. Whether he was the Emperor or not, the quest had already triggered, hadn't it?
Just as the Elf Scout had said—if this really was the Emperor, then Sigmar was still watching over the Empire.
If not, then it meant Sigmar was blind.
Either way, it wasn't his problem. If anyone had complaints, they could go smash up Sigmar's temple.
These thoughts flashed through Duanmu Huai's mind as he tucked the pouch away.
"But I must admit, I'm surprised you came to me for help. I thought you'd mistake me for a Chaos Cultist."
"Hahaha, you jest, sir."
Kevin chuckled.
"Perhaps you are a bit fearsome, but looking at the two young ladies by your side, it is clear you cannot be a servant of the God of Tyranny. Those lunatics appreciate nothing but blood, death, and muscle. As for the God of Desire—well, you don't quite fit their taste. And as for the Gods of Decay and Trickery… I hardly need to explain."
"Fine, I'll accept that reasoning."
Duanmu Huai shrugged.
"So, when do we leave?"
"If you've no objections, let's meet at the city gates tomorrow morning. I'll also introduce you to some other companions. After all, this will not be easy—we'll need more hands."
"Fair enough."
Duanmu Huai rose and extended his hand to Kevin.
"Let's hope for a good partnership."
(End of Chapter)