Free Web NovelChapter 27: Chapter 26: Something’s Not Right
’These Undead can not only communicate, but they even have names... Li Ziyu, what a strange name.’
Mumu found it odd, but he didn’t let it show on his face. Instead, he smiled and shook hands with the Skeleton Undead before him.
Minotaurs are a straightforward people. Once they consider you a friend, that’s it. They’re sincere to a fault, true honest folk. You never have to worry about them cheating or deceiving you.
Some expert on the chat channels had once compiled a list of which known Natives were simple and honest, easy to get along with, and which were treacherous and cunning, difficult to deal with. The Minotaurs belonged to the former category; they were a top-tier Race worth befriending. Gaining their friendship was considered a stroke of good luck.
In that expert’s words, Minotaurs were the simple, loyal type. They were a bit stubborn, but they always came through when it counted. They were good people, worth befriending.
And so, the small Minotaur Tribe and the still-weak Undead Lord forged a friendship.
Behind Mumu, his tribesmen were stunned. They felt their Clan Leader must have lost his mind to actually befriend Undead. Those were Undead! The Undead who represented death and fear! Didn’t making friends with them mean you had a death wish? free𝑤ebnovel.com
Mumu had his own plans. He turned his head to look at his people and shook it slightly, signaling for them to be quiet. Then he turned back and gestured toward his Tribe. "Welcome, new friend. I invite the Undead Lord to be a guest in my Tribe."
His action was crazy and bold. The Tribe was their root, their home. They wouldn’t even let trade caravans enter during normal transactions, refusing to let outsiders learn about their situation to avoid potential crises. But this time, Mumu invited the Undead into the Tribe. This was his sincerity.
The Skeleton Undead before him paused, its Soul Fire flickering as if in thought. Then, with a KLACK-KLACK of its neck bones, it turned toward the Mobile Fortress. Mumu was puzzled, and his gaze followed.
He saw a figure appear on the towering structure. The moment this figure appeared, all the Undead showed expressions of reverence (don’t ask how he could tell, Mumu just had that feeling). The Undead who had been blocking the front of the fortress all retreated, clearing a path. The figure emerged from the building and walked slowly forward along the path the Undead had made.
Mumu stared at the figure, his bovine eyes widening. He had been wondering just a moment ago. He had just randomly shouted, and an Undead had stopped to talk with him. That Undead looked no different from the others around it, nor did it have a stronger aura, yet it was the Undead Lord.
’Since when was my luck this good?’
But now he understood. The one who had been communicating with him wasn’t the Undead Lord, but the Lord’s representative. The one walking toward him now was the true Lord... a Human?
’This seems even more ridiculous.’
The Undead weren’t as ferocious as the legends claimed; they could communicate normally. And their Lord was a Human. ’How confusing.’
Since transmigrating to the Otherworld, Li Ziyu had barely ever left his Mobile Fortress, and the same was true for most other Lords. For Transmigrators like them, the world outside was strange and dangerous. The only place they felt truly safe was inside their Mobile Fortress. To preserve their own necks, they rarely ventured out.
For the sake of the Minotaur’s friendship, Li Ziyu left his fortress. He felt he should meet the other party face-to-face. Friendship should be built on sincerity. If he hid his true identity, how could he expect the other to trust him?
He walked forward along the path cleared by the Skeleton Undead. Everywhere he passed, the Skeleton Undead bowed slightly in greeting.
Under the moonlight, on the Wasteland, surrounded by Skeleton Undead, Li Ziyu walked unimpeded until he stood before the Minotaur Clan Leader, Mumu, and looked up at him.
’Ugh... I have no choice but to look up. I don’t even reach his chest.’ The average height of a Minotaur was nearly three meters—a bona fide Giant. Li Ziyu, at less than 1.8 meters, was nothing in comparison and could only crane his neck.
Mumu looked down at the Human who had walked up to him, a flash of astonishment in his bovine eyes. "You’re the real Undead Lord? A Human?"
Li Ziyu nodded, a smile on his face as he gazed up at the Minotaur. "That’s right. The genuine article."
’Minotaurs are really something. Look at those muscles! They just scream power. His bulging biceps make his upper arms look thicker than a normal person’s waist. Even without a Weapon, he could probably fight enemies with those horns on his head alone. They’re born Warriors.’
Now that he was closer, Li Ziyu could see more clearly and couldn’t help but feel impressed.
Back when he played games, he often saw characters like Minotaurs, but that was just a game. Now, seeing a living one was a different feeling entirely. It was much more intimidating, like seeing one of those dedicated bodybuilders at the gym. Their physique was truly domineering.
’I’ve seen Lizardmen, and now I’ve seen Minotaurs. Can other Beastmen be far behind...? Wait a second, something seems off.’
’Hmm, Lizardmen look like lizards. Minotaurs are mostly humanoid, but they have horned bull heads and hooves for feet. So what about the Fox People? And the Snake-men? Don’t tell me Fox People have fox heads and Snake-men have snake heads?’
Li Ziyu suddenly felt his beautiful dream shatter. Imagine a seductive, curvy body that practically invited sin, but topped with a fox’s head. Imagine an enchanting and graceful Snake-man opening her mouth to reveal venomous Tusks and a forked tongue.
Eeeek~~~ He shuddered involuntarily.
Mumu watched the silent Li Ziyu, who was just staring at him. A strange look appeared in his eyes. The Undead Lord’s expression was changing too quickly. And... did he just shiver? ’Is the night on the Wasteland too cold? I don’t feel it.’
’What exactly is going on?’
A worry crept into his heart. He knew the Undead had been rational and communicative just moments ago, but who knew if they might suddenly go crazy? ’Was making friends with them too rash?’
Mumu’s fists clenched. "Undead Lord?" he asked, a hint of worry in his voice.
"Ah? Oh! I was just thinking about something. Don’t mind me," Li Ziyu explained with a smile, clearly seeing the conflict and nervousness on the Minotaur’s face.
Mumu relaxed slightly and nodded. "So, to my Tribe?"
"It would be my honor," Li Ziyu replied.
Mumu turned and walked toward his tribesmen. Li Ziyu followed behind him, and the Undead stirred, swarming after them with a great rustle of bones.
"Let’s go. Back to the Tribe," Mumu said, reaching his people.
"Clan Leader, are we really taking the Undead to the Tribe?" a Minotaur asked in a low voice, glancing at Li Ziyu and sidling up to Mumu.
"What else? They’re our friends now." Mumu put heavy emphasis on the word "friends." Minotaurs were stubborn, but once they accepted someone as a friend, they would never betray them. That was their nature.
"But... they’re Undead," the Minotaur replied, still deeply worried.
"At least they’re not Demonized Creatures," Mumu said with a helpless sigh.
If he had to choose between the Demonized Creatures and the Undead behind him, he would definitely choose the Undead. After all, the Undead had helped them, and they weren’t the mindless killing machines from the legends. They were better than Demonized Creatures.
Since their Clan Leader had spoken, the other Minotaurs fell silent. They quietly flanked their leader, guiding the Undead toward their Tribe.
