Tech Hero in Another World
Chapter 114: [113] Repair again

Chapter 114: [113] Repair again

After the chaos in court, Khan locked himself in his room for half a day. He refused to see anyone—not even Nea or the members of the Special Council dared to press him. Worry and tightness weighed on Khan’s heart, because Malik wasn’t just a cousin—he was a childhood playmate in the palace.

What made it hard to breathe was the fact that he was the one who had demanded his cousin’s downfall. Regret began to bloom in his chest, nestled between the duties of a leader. But eventually, he realized he couldn’t stay hidden—there was still a mission that needed finishing.

Meanwhile, Ren resumed his routine. His mysterious van was already parked along the golden palace wall of Samsara, shielded from the blazing sun and dry desert winds. The engine shut down, the van’s automatic door slid open, and a burst of cool air touched his face.

Ren stepped out and approached three tigers—Alfred, Bella, and their cubs. They sat obediently on the pavement, gazing at him longingly."Yeah, I know... sorry I ignored you guys the past few days," Ren said, gently stroking Alfred’s head.

Alfred snorted softly, his eyes half-closed in satisfaction at being acknowledged again. Bella pressed her body close to Ren’s legs, while their cubs pawed at the van door, demanding affection. That warm moment helped ease the chaos swirling in Ren’s chest.

"You guys doing okay?" Ren smiled lightly. "Ultro took care of you while I was gone, so I bet it wasn’t too bad, right?" He turned to glance at the van, where Ultro—his AI—handled all the equipment and team operations.

Alfred gave a low roar in agreement. Bella let out a soft growl. The cubs tapped the van’s panel, as if asking what the next mission was. Ren nodded and patted their heads before opening the van door.

He stepped inside and activated the automatic systems. The dashboard glowed with a soft blue light, and Ultro’s voice welcomed him instantly.『Welcome back, Master.』

Ren let out a relieved sigh. "I know, my body’s 90% healed from those burns? That’s insane," he said, half-laughing, half-worried. "If I’d injected the serum even a second later, I’d still be screaming."

Ultro paused before responding in a calm tone:『Would you like a secondary health scan? You still have a prototype capsule module—suitable for children, but operational.』

Ren rolled his eyes. "That capsule’s way too small. I need something bigger than this van." He looked around the cramped interior—home to his most advanced tech.

Ultro responded smoothly:『Have you considered building your own factory or workshop in this world?』

Ren gave a small laugh—an easy sound of familiarity. "Nice idea... but I haven’t found the right spot. I want a hidden facility in some remote place," he said, practical. "Like how the Soviets used to build secret bases deep in the taiga."

Ultro picked up the shift in tone.『You’ve been planning this since Miss Elanor’s mission, haven’t you?』

Ren looked sharply at the screen in front of him, scanning the data being displayed. "Heh, you really do know how I think... This is why I call you terrifying, Ultro," he said, half-joking. But there was a trace of genuine respect behind the words.

Ultro interpreted the sentiment as valid input. 『I’ll take that as a compliment, Master.』

Ren smiled with purpose—nonchalant, but focused. "Alright, we’re doing one last transit today. We’re heading to the Penal Plains—the Beastman city out there."

The van’s engine shifted into maintenance mode as Ren twisted the wrench beside the battered Mark II suit. Red warning lights lit up, signaling heavy damage. He stared at the warped armor panel—deep cracks and burn marks spread across the chest.

Alfred and Bella crouched in the corner of the van, their large tiger eyes following Ren’s every move. The cubs bounced excitedly, hopping into the air—sensing the tension. The van fell into a quiet rhythm, broken only by the hum of tools and Ren’s movements.

Ren pulled his faceplate back, exhaling deeply. "Damn... this thing is fried," he muttered, eyes tracing the damaged TAF core in the suit’s chest. "Of all the parts, this was the heart... and now it’s melted."

He took a long breath and glanced out the van window—dusk turning the desert into a glowing red sea. But his attention returned to a small stone embedded in the chest—still faintly glowing. "And yet... why is this stone untouched?" he murmured, voice filled with awe and confusion.

With gloved hands, Ren removed the stone from its socket, watching the soft glow within. "I still don’t get how this thing affects both tech and living things around it," he whispered. The stone’s glow warmed the atmosphere—even with metal dust and smoke clinging to the air.

The virtual panel flashed, triggering a reminder from Ultro.『I’m categorizing that as an anomaly, Master.』

Ren frowned slightly, challenged. "Yeah, Ultro... if this is advanced knowledge, I can’t rely on science alone anymore. I need local sources."

He stood, opened a van drawer, and pulled out a small glowing tablet—documents on Samsara’s magical archaeology."Ultro, help me find the public library in this palace," he ordered.

The van’s screen displayed a map of the palace complex, highlighting an icon labeled "Grand Library."

"Samsara’s library must have some record of this rune stone," Ren muttered, deep in thought.

---

In a dimly lit room with soft lighting, a woman in a deep blue cloak turned toward two silhouettes sitting in the corner. "Hey Z, you did your job properly, right?" she asked sweetly, her tone a mix of playfulness and caution. Despite the low light, the power of the Rune Controller Stone still lingered in the air.

Z gave a slight nod, eyes shifting to the side. "C, I already sent my children... and thanks to the power of the Rune Controller Stone, Malik was devoured by that Alaskan worm," he stated calmly, as if it were a result he had anticipated all along. His voice was low, yet carried a hint of concealed satisfaction.

Behind them, two other figures—X and V—waited tensely. X stepped forward, his expression strained. "Seriously? Malik... was just eaten like that?" he whispered. His voice held fear and disbelief, reflecting the massive consequences of their actions. But if this was the path of revolution, maybe they would keep going.

The cold-eyed woman leaned forward, feeling the stone’s burning power in her chest. "Grrr... Ah! I’m so tired, I just want to sleep," she muttered, worn out from the massive battle. Her footsteps slowly faded toward the bedroom door, a sign that even power could become exhausting for her.

Once the woman vanished behind the door, Z let out a long sigh and turned to X and V. "Haah, women..." he murmured, half frustrated, half relieved. The rivalry between them and their female leader had reached its peak—and he knew the consequences would be heavy.

"So... did you see the face of this Iron Man figure?" X asked cautiously. His voice trembled with curiosity and concern over the identity of the man inside the metal suit. If they knew who he was, maybe they could hack his strategy—maybe even take control.

Z shook his head firmly. "No. The locals don’t know anything about him either. But one thing’s for sure—the guy’s impressive. Being able to build that kind of tech in a magic world?" he said, sipping a warm cup of tea. Though he sounded casual, there was an edge of worry in his tone.

X pressed further. "Stop it, Z. I know you admire the real Iron Man too, but this isn’t about fandom. This guy has blocked our plans twice now—and we can’t let that continue," he said, voice shifting to a serious tone.

V, the group’s leader, lifted his head, trying to ease the tension. "Yes, yes, sir... I understand," Z quickly replied, bowing his head respectfully. There was nervousness in his voice, showing he was ready for his next task—no matter the risk.

X added firmly,"This can’t be allowed. That man could destroy everything we’ve built—our effort to create a new world order we’ve spent years planning." His gaze made it clear—they wouldn’t stop until their mission was fulfilled.

V looked at the faint shadow glowing from the Rune Controller Stone on Z’s chest. "Calm down, X," he said warmly, yet firmly. "Our plan is still on track. And I... intend to speak to that man in person. Who knows, he might even be an ally."

In a blink, the room’s tension turned to cautious hope. Z, X, and V exchanged silent glances, the kind of stillness that could be sliced with a knife. The room was quiet, only the ticking of a clock breaking the stiffness—they all knew the next decision would shape the fate of their world.

"I’m not sure... but if the boss says so, then go ahead," X muttered, doubt weighing heavily in his voice. His eyes reflected unease—not from cowardice, but from the ethics and consequences he had never fully prepared for.

Z turned to V—the leader who had long guided their grand vision. The face of the retired ideological architect was calm, as if he could peer straight into each of their souls. He took a deep breath, reaffirming his stance: "If I had to explain what we’re really aiming for... we’re the ones forced out of our comfortable lives, turned into pawns—playthings of the gods."

Those words echoed in Z and X’s minds—at its core, their mission was bigger than just seizing power. V raised a hand, lowering his voice to a near-whisper, as if speaking straight into their hearts. "If explained the right way, I believe this man—this so-called fake Iron Man—might just be interested."

Slowly, hope shifted toward a new strategy. V continued "With the power of the seven stones, we can overthrow the thrones of the gods." Suddenly, the room felt as if it trembled—that wasn’t a bluff, but a grand vision that had been brewing for years.