Chapter 238: Tiger King’s Territory

Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Tiger King’s Territory

Far from the capital of the Dwarven Kingdom, deep within the territory ruled by the Tiger King, stood a vast fortress built into the side of a massive mountain.

The stronghold was unlike the refined castles of human nobles. Its walls were enormous slabs of dark stone reinforced with thick metal, while enormous banners bearing the emblem of a roaring tiger hung from the towers and fluttered in the wind. Hundreds of tigerfolk moved throughout the fortress, including warriors wearing heavy armor, messengers carrying reports, and servants attending to members of the royal household.

At the center of the fortress stood the main hall of the Tiger King.

Inside, several heavily armed tigerfolk guards stood along the walls while an imposing figure sat upon a large throne carved from black stone.

Tireromon, the Tiger King, possessed a physique that immediately distinguished him from ordinary tigerfolk. His body was tall and heavily muscled, covered in thick orange fur marked by dark black stripes. Several scars crossed his chest and arms, and his golden eyes possessed the sharpness of a predator that had spent centuries ruling through strength.

He was listening to a report from one of his commanders when the doors to the hall suddenly opened.

Two tigerfolk warriors entered while supporting another tigerfolk between them. ℯ

The moment Tireromon looked toward them, his expression became slightly more serious.

The injured tigerfolk was his son.

His clothes were covered in dirt, his face was swollen from the impact, and several scratches could still be seen across his body.

The two warriors supporting him were not in much better condition.

One had a bruised shoulder, while the other had difficulty walking properly.

The sight alone caused several guards to exchange confused glances.

Tireromon leaned back against his throne.

"What happened?"

His voice was calm, but the authority behind it immediately silenced the room.

His son lowered his head for a moment before speaking.

"Father, we encountered three humans at the dungeon entrance."

A few tigerfolk in the hall immediately exchanged amused looks.

"Three humans?" one warrior muttered with a faint laugh. "And they managed to do this to you?"

Another tigerfolk covered his mouth, trying not to laugh.

"Perhaps the humans finally discovered that numbers are more useful than strength."

The injured tigerfolk glared at them.

"Enough."

His embarrassment was obvious, but instead of explaining immediately, he straightened his posture and tried to maintain what remained of his dignity.

"We encountered them while they were waiting to enter the dungeon. They were clearly humans, although they appeared to be dressed better than ordinary adventurers."

One of the warriors standing nearby laughed.

"So you lost to wealthy humans?"

Several tigerfolk chuckled.

The son of the Tiger King clenched his fists.

"They were arrogant."

That only made the laughter louder.

"Of course they were. Humans become quite bold whenever they are surrounded by walls."

"Perhaps they thought their expensive clothing would protect them."

"They probably have never encountered a true beastfolk warrior before."

The tigerfolk son ignored the remarks and continued.

"One of the three was a woman. She was exceptionally beautiful, but she possessed an attitude that was completely unacceptable."

His expression darkened as he remembered the encounter.

"I asked for her name and attempted to bring her with us. Instead, she called us disgusting."

The laughter in the hall immediately faded into silence.

One of the warriors raised an eyebrow.

"She called you disgusting?"

"Yes."

Another tigerfolk slowly grinned.

"And what happened after that?"

The son hesitated.

His father noticed immediately.

"You have not reached the important part yet."

The son swallowed his embarrassment before continuing.

"My two guards moved to restrain her."

One of the injured tigerfolk beside him lowered his head.

"She avoided us before either of us could touch her."

His companion continued.

"And then she kicked us."

The room became quiet again.

A few tigerfolk exchanged confused looks.

Tireromon’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"She kicked you?"

The warrior nodded.

"She sent both of us into the wall."

A tigerfolk commander standing near the throne suddenly laughed.

"You were defeated by a human woman?"

The injured warrior’s ears flattened.

"She was not an ordinary human."

His words caused another round of mocking laughter.

"Then what was she, a goddess?"

The two warriors remained silent.

They had no way to defend themselves without making their humiliation worse.

The Tiger King’s son finally spoke again.

"I confronted her after she attacked my men."

"And?"

"She slapped me."

For several seconds, nobody said anything.

Then one of the commanders turned his face away.

Another covered his mouth.

A few others struggled to suppress their laughter.

The Tiger King’s son immediately raised his voice.

"Stop laughing!"

That only made the situation more humiliating.

Even some of the guards exchanged amused glances.

Tireromon, however, remained completely still.

His golden eyes stayed fixed upon his son.

"You were defeated by a human woman."

His son looked down.

"Yes, Father."

"And your two guards were defeated by her as well."

"Yes."

"And she struck you afterward."

His son’s expression tightened.

"Yes."

The hall fell silent.

Tireromon rested one arm against the side of his throne.

"Continue."

The son took a breath.

"There were two other humans nearby. They appeared to be around the same age as those three, and they warned them to leave before you arrived."

A commander laughed again.

"They were probably trying to frighten them with your name."

Another added mockingly, "Perhaps the humans finally realized that provoking the Tiger King is not something they can survive."

The son nodded.

"That was exactly what they said. However, the woman did not seem frightened at all."

"What did she say?"

The son hesitated before answering.

"She said that even if the Beast King himself came personally, she would defeat him and make him crawl."

The laughter disappeared.

Several tigerfolk stared at him.

One commander frowned.

"She said that?"

"Yes."

Another tigerfolk scoffed.

"An arrogant human."

"She must have completely lost her mind."

"Does she really believe she could challenge the Beast King?"

"Humans have always been weak, but apparently their foolishness has no limits."

The Tiger King’s son slowly smiled.

"That was what I thought as well."

He looked toward his father.

"But there was something strange about the three of them."

Tireromon’s gaze sharpened.

"What?"

"They were not afraid."

The words settled heavily over the hall.

The son continued.

"Everyone around us was terrified when they heard your name. The human adventurers avoided looking at us because they knew what would happen if they interfered. Even the other races understood that challenging us would be foolish."

He paused.

"But those three did not react at all."

One of the commanders crossed his arms.

"Perhaps they were simply ignorant."

"That is what I thought at first."

The son looked down at his bruised hands.

"But the woman defeated both of my guards without effort."

The hall became noticeably quieter.

"And when I tried to confront her, she struck me down as though I were nothing."

Tireromon slowly leaned forward.

"What about the other two?"

The son looked at the two warriors beside him.

"The man did not move."

"And the third?"

"The other man watched."

Tireromon’s eyes narrowed.

"They simply watched?"

"Yes."

His son nodded.

"They did not interfere because they did not need to."

That statement finally caused the atmosphere inside the hall to change.

The mocking expressions disappeared from the faces of several tigerfolk.

Tireromon remained silent for several moments.

Then he asked,

"What were their names?"

The son shook his head.

"I did not learn their names."

Tireromon’s expression darkened.

"You challenged strangers without learning who they were?"

His son immediately lowered his head.

"I apologize, Father."

Tireromon stared at him for several seconds before turning toward one of the commanders.

"Find out who they are."

The commander bowed.

"Yes."

The Tiger King’s son suddenly raised his head.

"Father, there is something else."

Tireromon looked toward him.

"What?"

"They were adventurers."

A faint expression of disbelief appeared on Tireromon’s face.

"Adventurers?"

"Yes. They had Adventurer Guild cards."

"What rank?"

The son hesitated.

"I do not know."

One of the injured warriors finally spoke.

"They were probably weak when we encountered them. They were standing in line like ordinary adventurers."

A commander scoffed.

"Then they were probably newly registered humans who became arrogant after obtaining a little strength."

Another laughed.

"Perhaps they received F-rank cards and suddenly believed themselves to be powerful."

The son gave a bitter smile.

"That may be true."

He looked down at his injured body.

"Whatever they were, they will regret what they did when Your Majesty deals with them."

Several tigerfolk nodded in agreement.

"They dared to insult the son of the Tiger King."

"They should be taught their place."

"Once the Tiger King learns where they are, those humans will understand what fear truly means."

Tireromon listened without responding.

His eyes remained fixed on his son.

There was no immediate anger in his expression.

Instead, there was something much more measured.

Suspicion.

Three humans.

One woman powerful enough to defeat two tigerfolk warriors with a single attack.

A man who stood calmly beside her.

And another who apparently did not even consider the situation worthy of his attention.

Most importantly, none of them had shown fear after learning his name.

Tireromon slowly narrowed his golden eyes.

’Three humans who do not fear the name of the Tiger King.’

That alone was unusual.

But the fact that his son and two warriors had been defeated so easily was even more concerning.

Tireromon finally stood from his throne.

The movement alone caused every conversation in the hall to cease.

"Prepare my men."

His commanders immediately straightened.

"Your Majesty?"

Tireromon looked toward the enormous doors leading outside.

"I want to know who these three humans are."

His voice remained calm.

"And if they truly possess the strength my son claims they possess, I will meet them personally."

The tigerfolk in the hall looked at one another.

The Tiger King was going to move personally.