Hoblood Clan's Supreme Matriarch
“Director!”
The moment I lost my senses staring at the ring that had instantly turned blood-red, Walter burst through the conference room door shouting my name.
“Wal…… Huh?”
Before I could even sigh in relief at the sight of him, a figure radiating murderous intent appeared behind him, glaring daggers at me.
A woman in flowing silk robes evoking Eastern elegance. And there she was—the familiar face I'd seen through Tolstoy's crystal orb—right on Walter's heels.
“Beauty Tower Director Miner. That you?”
Just as Tolstoy had described, she opened with a gruff, masculine tone, not waiting for my reply. No need to, really. Her eyes were locked solely on my glowing red ring.
“Looks like I found the right place.”
Shwick—Clang!Krraaack—!
After her low murmur, all I registered was a blinding flash—followed a half-beat later by the thunderous crash of the conference room ceiling splintering.
Krraaack! Crackle— Crunch—
“Sia…… Minsia.”
“Director!”
“You okay?”
“Are you hurt?”
By the time I realized Rebecca, Hazel, and Stella had thrown up protective barriers around me, her greatsword wreathed in blue aura was clashing with Walter's blade, demolishing the Cash Shop interior.
'This crazy bitch! In my hospital?!'
Snapping back to reality, I took in the devastation of the Cash Shop in one grim glance. Small mercies: it was a holiday, so no patients, and most of the first-floor customers were mercenaries who knew how to handle themselves.
“Walter! Get me out of the hospital! Head to the open field in Gold Territory! Rebecca, Hazel, Stella—hold off her attacks!”
My lion-roar command cut through the chaos. Walter, mid-clash with Minsia, shot toward me like an arrow, scooped me up in a back-wrenching grip, and vaulted toward the automatic doors.
“Close your eyes, Director.”
Shwick—
“No, wait! ……Damn it!”
Ordering Walter to carry me out was meant to minimize damage to the Beauty Tower. But my loyal subordinate fixated solely on evacuating me safely, charging straight at the closed doors and swinging his sword.
Boom-boom-boom! Crackle—
His aura-wrapped blade punched a massive hole through the doors. Walter dashed through with me slung over his shoulder like luggage.
Glancing back from my precarious perch in his iron grip, I saw Minsia shatter the witches' barriers with ghostly speed and give chase.
And in this moment, I had just one desperate wish.
'Please…… wreck it all inside my territory. The open fields are right there.'
Parents getting that call about their barely legal kid crashing the car always ask first about the kid's safety, then the other driver's. Next comes the make and model of the car they hit. That was my mindset exactly.
Every road outside the Beauty Tower was private property under Frederik Duchy jurisdiction. Under Dungeon Zone Special Law, repairs would cost a fortune.
My first year in this world, proving fake tooth-puller Clementine's lies with a proof flower had wrecked a platform and road—and the bill was brutal. Lesson learned: even if it turns into a warzone, keep it to the emperor-granted land with plenty of empty lots. Minimal damage that way.
“Walter! Faster! Head for the recently cleared construction site!”
“It might make you dizzy.”
“Don't care, just go…… Urp?!”
Walter accelerated even more, wind battering my face until my lips shredded. Even with eyes watering like crazy, I kept watching our rear.
“Waaalteeer, thaaat waaay! Thaaat waaaay!”
“Mind your footing.”
Unlike the wild ride in, he landed me relatively safely in the open field.
“Gaaahk!”
Of course, my guts were still churning from the rough handling.
As I hurled, Walter's sword surged toward Minsia, her blade brimming with menace. Sparks flew like explosions as they unleashed lightning-fast strikes.
Krraa-boom! Crack! Split! Crunch! Boom! Krra-boom!
The Cash Shop rampage was just an appetizer. Minsia's greatsword dominated utterly—heaven tore at her swings, earth split beneath.
But what truly shocked me wasn't just her prowess.
'No way…… Walter's…… getting pushed back?!'
Clang! Clang! Chiiing— Ching! Clatter!
Every clash of Walter's blue-aura sword and her blade sent sparks flying like Kellogg hammering at the forge.
As blood-red flames mingled with settling dust, a flash of white—Minsia's teeth—cut through.
“Not bad. A shame to let talent like yours rot in the boonies. Who's your master?”
“Not your mother, so butt out.”
“Heh, cheeky brat. Think you'll get far without respect for your elders?”
Her lip curled in a sneer, her speech utterly mismatched to her age and gender.
“Westerners call it aura, right? But ki isn't used like that. Watch closely, boy. How to wield ki properly.”
The blue ki aura cloaking her blade erupted wildly across her body.
Before I could react, she continued.
“What you call aura is ki from nature, after all. But mortal strength can't defy nature's vast flow.”
The surging blue ki settled, forming a thin membrane over her skin.
One hand behind her back, she glided forward with a slippery smile.
“Forget borrowing nature's ki. Store it in your danjeon to make it yours. Feel it for yourself.”
Boom! Boom! BOOM!
Just three swings of her slender arm. Each rent the air with storm-force winds.
“Wal, Walter! Nooo!”
Three devastating blasts, and Walter's spot was shrouded in cruel dust.
Was I too complacent? I'd never imagined Walter—rival to the Northern Duke—could lose. My heart sank.
“Director, stay back.”
Walter's voice emerged from the unseen haze. Before relief hit, a blue line slashed horizontally—Walter rocketing out.
Krra-boom! Thud! Krra-boom!
Reminded me of dungeon runs, Breath of Fire forge hunts, clashing with Tolstoy. Walter's magic-like power always amazed me.
But never like this.
“Impossible……”
Walter had never been on the back foot. Not until now.
“Maaaiineeer!”
“Director!”
As I spaced out, a white fluffball hurtled in—Res leading Rebecca, Stella, and Hazel to encircle me.
“What's goin' on! Who's messin' with Miner?!”
“Jason……”
Not just them. Twenty-two half-orcs ringed me like an iron fortress with their armor-like muscles. Witches layered barriers around; Res floated overhead, growling, gold-fueled breath ready to unleash.
Crunch! Krra-boom! Boom! Crack! Clang!
But Minsia's eyes fixed only on Walter, their clash raging with fierce winds and sparks.
“Rebecca? What do we do? Walter's losing!”
I wasn't the only one anxious. Maintaining her dome barrier, arms outstretched, Hazel shouted. Rebecca bit her lip.
“Can't intervene yet. Hold the barriers—I'll strike any opening.”
As she drew her two-handspan wand with resolve, Hazel and Stella nodded—
Krraa-boom! Crackle! Boom! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
“Walter!”
“Director, stay inside! You going out won't help!”
Endless blue lines crisscrossed in deadly exchange. Then Walter's body smashed through a half-built wall like a falling bird.
“Ngh……”
He struggled to rise from the dirt, only to stagger and collapse again. He couldn't stand.
Step— Step—
Minsia approached leisurely, tongue clicking in mock pity.
“Wrap ki around yourself all you want—it just scatters. Your talent's clear, but that's all it is.”
“Don't bully Walterrr!”
“……?”
Res rocketed out like a pea from the barrier, cheeks puffed—
Fwoooosh—!
Flame-thrower blasts erupted. Simultaneously, Rebecca's upraised wand flashed lightning from the heavens.
Rumble! Boom! Crackle!Fwoooosh—!
Her bolt ricocheted like a light-arrow; Res's flames poured relentlessly.
“Pro! Tecto! Miner good man! We protect Miner!”
“Miner famiry! Protect!”
Not just them. Half-orcs hurled boulder-shotputs they'd readied.
Rumble! Boom! Rumble! Fwoosh—! Whiiish! Clatter! Whiiiish!
Rebecca, Res, half-orcs—their barrage would overwhelm even Walter or Northern Duke Tolstoy.
“What makes that brat so vital you're all so desperate……”
Thud! Clang! Kang! Kaang! Kang!
But Minsia's massive blade traced lazy figure-eights, deflecting everything effortlessly. She closed in, blade flat batting assaults aside.
Amid the deafening roar, she smiled faintly.
“Guess killing him will tell.”
“Stop attacking! Res, reinforce the barrier—!”
Minsia's chilling words made Rebecca stack another layer over Stella and Hazel's shields instead of lightning. Res's breath halted mid-addition—
Krraa-crack!
A flash, and everything shattered.
It happened too fast for screams. Vision blurred white, ears ringing—
Grab—
She yanked me up by the collar, body limp.
“Guh……”
Choking or disoriented, only groans escaped me.
“Wh-what the……”
“Know this before you die.”
Vision clearing, she smirked down at me.
“I am Minsia. Supreme Matriarch of the Hoblood Clan.”