For Middenheim, a deep winter morning was far from pleasant.
A band of mercenaries stood at a crossroads, gazing toward Middenheim in the distance with clear dissatisfaction written on their faces. One hot-tempered man even swung his greatsword furiously as he roared.
"What the hell is going on? We're still waiting? How much longer are we supposed to wait?"
"Please be patient, my dear friend."
Kevin smiled as he tried to calm the warrior before him.
"I believe they are only a little late. It isn't yet the appointed time."
"So we stand here like fools in the freezing wind, waiting? The damned snow is already filling my boots."
The warrior stomped his feet in frustration.
"This isn't what I signed up for. I swear, when that guy shows up, I'll make sure he—"
But the warrior's words froze in his throat. He stared ahead at the road, clutching his greatsword with trembling hands. The others, seeing his reaction, turned to look—and were struck dumb. In the dim winter sunlight, a massive figure appeared at the end of the blizzard. Clad in terrifying, sinister armor, he loomed like a demon, with two eyes glowing blood-red inside his helmet.
"Damn it, what in Sigmar's name is that?! Everyone, prepare to fight!"
"Oh, don't worry."
Seeing the mercenaries around him raise their bows, Kevin quickly raised his hand to stop them, then turned toward the approaching figure.
"You're finally here. Thank Sigmar—I feared something might have happened."
"No accident. Just that a certain princess overslept."
Duanmu Huai glanced back at Anne. She hurriedly shoved the bread in her hand into her mouth, swallowed, then gave the group an embarrassed smile. The truth was, she had been so thrilled and excited about yesterday's adventure in this other world that she hadn't fallen asleep for a long while. If Duanmu Huai hadn't broken down her door, the princess would probably still be snoring in bed.
"We're not late, are we?"
"Of course not, you're right on time."
Kevin chuckled, then turned and led Duanmu Huai and the others over to the mercenaries.
"Everyone, these are our companions. With their strength, I believe they can overcome any obstacle or danger before us."
"…I can't exactly deny that."
The warrior slowly lowered his greatsword. As the leader of the warband, he should have said something, but standing before this towering figure, he felt as though he were facing a mountain. The warrior sensed no emotion, only that implacable presence watching him. Even so, he wasn't foolish enough to vent his anger at it. Still, he had to voice his doubts.
"With respect, Sir Kevin—are you certain he's human, and not some mutant or Beastman?"
His concern was natural. Just the sheer size of the man seemed enough to disqualify him from humanity. If the helmet came off to reveal a Minotaur or a Rat Ogre, the warrior wouldn't have been surprised. And here in Middenheim, mutants were countless, many using disguises to infiltrate the city and gather information…
No, this disguise was too absurd.
The warrior's mouth opened, but he couldn't continue.
Like this, a spy? That would make him the worst spy in history.
"Hahaha, of course I understand your worry."
Kevin only smiled at the warrior's objection, then turned to Duanmu Huai.
"Would you mind removing your helmet, my friend? I don't wish for needless suspicion among us during the journey."
"Of course."
Duanmu Huai reached up and silently removed his helmet.
The warrior saw his face—and in that instant, it was like staring straight into a thunderstorm. He froze.
What a fearsome visage!
Just looking at it, the warrior felt as though he were standing amidst a hell of corpses and blood, with endless bodies piled high as the giant's trophies. The gaze from beneath those heavy brows sapped all strength from him. It was the same feeling he had when he first faced a raging icefield bear as a child, its bloody jaws open wide. That sensation beyond fear gripped him again. He felt his very blood freeze, his heartbeat slow, and even his vision darken, as though the world itself were fading away…
"Neighhhhhhh!!"
A wagon came rolling up the road, but the horses pulling it shrieked the instant they saw Duanmu Huai. They reared, turned, and bolted in terror. At that moment, Duanmu Huai replaced his helmet.
With the weight of that fearsome helm shielding his gaze, the others finally returned to themselves as though they had just escaped death. Gasping for breath, they exchanged bewildered looks. He had done nothing, yet their clothes were soaked with cold sweat. For a moment, they had felt death's breath upon their necks, dragged back from the brink of an abyss.
"Well… at least we can be sure he isn't a Beastman."
Noticing the stares of his men, the warrior swallowed hard, then spoke. He turned to Duanmu Huai, and as if to erase his earlier lapse, extended his hand.
"Greetings, mighty warrior. We are the Frost Bear warband. I am their leader, Cliff."
At this point, Kevin added an introduction.
"The Frost Bears are one of the most renowned warbands in the northern lands. They know this region well. If we wish to track our quarry, having their cooperation is invaluable."
"Greetings, Frost Bears."
Duanmu Huai extended his hand and shook the warrior's.
"We are the Pink Little Bunny warband."
"…?"
The warrior froze.
"…Forgive me, what was the name of your warband?"
"Pink Little Bunny."
Duanmu Huai stared at him and repeated. Behind him, Anne clapped a hand over her mouth and let out a small "pfft" of laughter.
"Uh…"
Even with all his experience, the warrior had no idea what to say. His mind was in chaos.
"Why would you choose such a name?"
"Because it's cute, isn't it? What's wrong with that?"
Duanmu Huai smiled in satisfaction at the warrior's expression. Honestly, this was tame. In the game, player warband names had been far more outrageous—things like "Beloved Daddy" or "Black Stocking Queen Fanclub." The names were so bizarre that one might wonder if all the players were Chaos cultists.
By the time of the first official Starsea tournament, so many team names had to be censored that the broadcasters simply called them "Mosaic Team One" and "Mosaic Team Two."
Of course, after that, some players actually registered their teams with exactly that name.
For many players, nothing was funnier than hearing an NPC solemnly proclaim, "Great warband of 'Nibble-Nibble Hands,' you bring hope to us all."
"All right, everyone."
At last, Kevin interrupted the strange, awkward atmosphere.
"We should be on our way. Our enemies will not wait for us."
"Yes, that's true."
Hearing Kevin's words, the warrior pulled his hand back and gave Duanmu Huai one last glance before turning away.
"Let's move. Time is short."
He strode forward.
Whether he was chasing ahead—or fleeing behind—only he knew.
(End of Chapter)