Chapter 88 - Let's Go Home
"Yeah, right. Why am I even here? Huh?"
A woman who looked just like Esen grinned, baring her fangs as she leaned against the wall. Her posture made it abundantly clear she had no intention of stepping aside.
…In any city, if you slipped into some dark corner, you'd run into types like her—blocking the path with that exact stance. They didn't pay a single coin in taxes but nickel-and-dimed passersby for "tolls," so you had to wonder if they were dreaming of setting up their own micro-nation or something. A lone traveler could just sidestep them. But these guys usually…
"Ask the ones on the other side, you dumb bitch."
They never traveled alone. Nidroga's and Esen's heads whipped around in unison. The burly male Tigresses who'd been shadowing Garam licked their chops menacingly from beneath their hoods.
Both ends of the narrow passage were now blocked. Low growls rumbled from the beast-like men's throats, vibrating through the corridor.
But the faces of our fighters were far calmer than I'd expected. Esen even patted my tense shoulders reassuringly before scoffing openly.
"So it's a 'hunting pack,' huh? Did Dad send you?"
"Father just gave permission. We gathered on our own."
"Still sore about getting your asses kicked? Fine, I admit I was a bit rough on you when I left home."
A grinding of teeth echoed from the male Tigresses' side. One of them spat out in a thick voice,
"Time to go home, Esen Taiga."
"Home? I hit special-rank promotion, though. I won the bet with Mom and Dad."
"Bet? Don't make me laugh. You think the rest of the Tigresses would just sit back and watch Patriarch 'Taiga's' eldest daughter wander outside the clan like a whore, taking seed from anyone?"
"Whore? You talking about how I move my body, or just grasping at straws 'cause you wanna get fucked up?"
"Who knows. But there's a prime suspect standing right there. Dad got real pissed reading that article. Brushing off all those suitors with arms like tree trunks, just to take some porter's seed?"
Garam flicked her white tail and pointed straight at me. Esen's relaxed expression slowly hardened into something terrifying.
…I'd slathered on cedar balm to mask my male scent, but in a cave like this, hiding it completely was impossible. To a sensitive race like Tigresses, my sweat probably reeked.
Islune, who lacked a beast's nose and knew nothing of my secret, just shook her head.
"It's a false accusation, Garam Taiga."
"Civilians stay out."
"Just as a Hero isn't some ordinary person, neither is Ran Bantai here some random stud. The article in question has already been fully retracted and distributed worldwide—that's defense enough—"
"I said beat it, you bi—tch!"
Garam roared ferociously, slamming both hands into the floor. The volcanic rock floor—solid for thousands of years, weighing tons—shook violently and cracked apart. Stone shards flew straight at us. Esen yanked my head down, saving me from a fatal hit. I looked up in shock as blood dripped from my forehead. Esen's cheek was gashed.
Cool words slipped from her lips, stained with dripping blood.
"You've grown a lot, little sis. Used to not even graze me, but now you've finally drawn big sis's blood."
"Grown enough to rip you apart, Esen. It's shameful to abandon your duty to produce strong offspring and run. If you birthed some mongrel Tigress, it'd shame the whole clan. We'll drag you back before that happens—even if we have to tear off your limbs and leave just the torso."
"It's not just 'cause I hate dating weaklings weaker than me."
Esen politely refused her sister's outstretched hand, wiped the blood roughly with her sleeve, then cracked her wrists and shoulders.
"I ran 'cause I was sick of it. Sick of a world full of morons who spout moronic shit like it's normal—like you."
"Exactly."
Grinning like a madwoman, Garam dropped into a low stalk, just like a feline on the hunt. I hurriedly shoved my backpack forward as a shield, hiding Islune and Bilena behind me. Reni smirked at my ridiculousness.
"Heard what Esen did to leave her homeland?"
…"Do we have to hear it now…?"
"Not a long, complicated tale. She decided to run away rather than force-mate with clan guys, then stomped flat every one who tried to stop or court her. Meaning, no one was stronger than Esen at seventeen."
Esen's face lit up with pride, only to sour when Reni shot her a mocking look.
"Our Esen, who floundered for over three years failing special-rank promotions."
"Shouldn't we be careful? They might hear at this distance."
"Let 'em."
As Reni snickered, the Tigresses' aura turned ugly. One finally bulged his eyes and lumbered forward. Nenya piled on like fanning flames.
"And these clowns—barely seven of 'em playing gangsters, blocking our path like idiots. We're raiding a Demon Lair. Move."
"Pointy-ears bitch."
One male Tigress charged straight at us. His heavy footsteps said at least a hundred kilos.
"They don't listen to their parents, huh."
Reni shook her head slightly, stepping in front of Nenya. She thrust out her round shield. As the Tigress leaped, Reni smashed the innocent wall with it. Like when she'd fought Nidroga, the metal plate unfolded like petals into a massive rectangular tower shield. The Tigress slammed his whole body into it anyway.
"Brute as expected."
Shockingly, the lighter Reni didn't budge—the Tigress bounced back. But his massive muscles absorbed the impact like a rubber ball, and he sprang up like a spring, clawing and growling like a real tiger.
His talons forced through, shredding Reni's light armor and drawing a thin line of blood. But only Tigresses could exploit openings. Reni, who'd brought a shorter sword instead of her two-hander, drew and reversed it in a flash, cross-guarding his head with the flat.
Crack.
The gruesome crunch of bone on steel echoed down the passage. A normal person would've died on impact, but the Tigress staggered, roared, and charged again. Reni scoffed and shook her sheathed sword. The scabbard stayed on, belt strap swaying. No need for full power—that blatant taunt flipped the Tigress's eyes. Then a fierce bruise bloomed there. The pommel had clubbed his face. The second concussion even a mighty Tigress couldn't shrug off. But Reni strode after him, smashing his face a few more times.
By the time Garam's creepy smile faded, the battered Tigress croaked,
"Sur…render."
"All the steam's gone. If Mom cries asking where you got beat, tell her straight: you blocked elite special-rank fighters mid-Demon Lair raid. She'll fill in your missing home training. Sweet dreams."
Reni wore lighter armor for the hot, cramped lair, but never ditched her steel boots. Kicking his skull with that cheerful clang, I got why. The Tigress crumpled, head lolling.
Garam tossed out casually,
"Special-rank?"
"Garam Taiga, was it?"
Reni turned with a chilling grin—the same one from Dragon's Nest when she booted Mindina's mouth. Eyebrow arched at Garam, she tossed her braided hair to flash her earring. A hefty platinum emblem gleamed: sword and shield. The mark every Hero party would kill to claim. Special-rank fighter insignia.
"If you hadn't heard the rumors, it'd be a lie—but yeah, a few times. About a moron little sister who lives for climbing ranks. Spot on. Didn't know your big sis had company—more special-ranks—and you dragged these naive shoulders here anyway?"
"Figured they'd hold their own. Non-Tigresses are all fragile anyway."
"Guess you don't grasp the weight of 'special-rank.' Noted."
"Like only Tigresses are born fighters. Dragons'd be offended. Time to show you the world's big."
Nidroga smiled warmly and strode toward Garam. The murder in Garam's eyes softened, which struck me funny. Morgan sidled up anxiously, whispering,
…"That tiny one's special-rank too? How many you got?"
"Four."
"Four? One more? Who?"
Esen, Nidroga, Reni. And… the obvious fourth.
The passage stirred. Not collapsing or shifting structure—just the sand-dusted stone pulsing like something slithered beneath. Soon, the male Tigresses realized… roots coiled around their ankles. The one downed by Reni was already cocooned like a grub. As screams of immobility rose, Nenya lifted her staff head from the ground and slung it over her shoulder.
"You lot stay put. We'll check the rest of the passage. Would love to burst spore clusters in your faces and shred your lungs, but in this stifling heat? That'd be murder. So I'll hold back."
…"No one's not scary here."
"They're amazing, right?"
Islune nodded proudly, but I felt a pang even as I agreed. Nenya had glanced my way mid-"shred your lungs."
Even accounting for her last warning, the wariness stung. I got why, though. She'd hooked up with Reni. I'd already toppled plenty, and now getting chummy with Reni too. I understood the boundaries, but it still shrank my heart.
Garam, matching Nidroga's steps as they pulled away, smirked with fresh confidence.
"Tougher than I thought."
"Don't underestimate frontline parties. Sometimes I just can't fathom why people get cocky."
Nidroga beckoned her closer—then yelped, dodging aside. A massive sword whistled over her shoulder. I grabbed Islune and ducked; Esen punched it in half. Her steel knuckles—drawn lightning-fast—cracked ominously. Esen glared at the damage, flustered.
"I told 'em to make these dragon-slay spec."
…"Wait, Uncle Eitryon?"
Nidroga retreated to us, double-betrayed. Garam snickered and waved behind her. Expressionless blue-skinned warriors thudded from the shadows. Each rivaled a Tigress in bulk, wielding greatswords too huge for humans. Their rigid, inhuman faces chilled me—I shuddered. What the hell? Ghosts? Undead?
"Never thought we'd have backing, huh?"
"You call yourself a Tigress, Garam? Cut off your tail and be a pup from today."
"Sure, Tigress pride wants a go no matter how strong you are. But business is business. We're a merc clan traditionally, Esen. Gotta do the job right?"
"None of your business, idiot."
"Some idiot hired us at top coin to 'uphold order.' He gets you disciplined; we snag you before the Full Moon Night."
"What the…"
Morgan scowled, drawing her guns. Esen slumped, muttering about the heat. And Bilena… pointed at the blue-skins, eyes bloodshot.
"Those combat golems. Where'd you get 'em?"
"Like I'd tell you ju—wait. Face rings a bell."
Garam squinted at Bilena, then beamed.
"They look just like that old man Baldenhart turned to mush and drags around!"