Tech Hero in Another World
Chapter 124: [123] Kiriya’s past (4)

Chapter 124: [123] Kiriya’s past (4)

In the days that followed, Ren sank deeper into his obsession—creating more experimental tech like high-speed glider drones and miniature electromagnetic bombs. He tested them in remote, hidden locations. At first, Kiriya thought it was just another phase of Ren’s usual madness—but as they entered high school and responsibility matured, so did his concerns.

"We’re playing in illegal territory. If this leaks, it could be really dangerous," Kiriya muttered one night as they sat on the cold floor of Ren’s underground lab.

One day, it nearly did leak.

A massive storm hit the coastal waters. A small fishing boat capsized, and a man was thrown into the sea, nearly drowning. Ren, who happened to be flying above in stealth mode, immediately took action. Deploying a rescue drone from his armor, he retrieved the fisherman and hauled him to safety in seconds.

Unluckily—or maybe fatefully—his actions were captured by other fishermen’s cameras. Local news spread fast.

In a later interview, the rescued man described it like something out of science fiction:"He came from the sky... glowing armor..." Experts were quick to dismiss the story as trauma-induced hallucination from the storm.

---

In the hidden underground lab where Ren’s secrets lived and breathed, the atmosphere was tense. Kiriya flipped the TV remote to mute the news broadcast while the glow of monitors danced across walls littered with sketches and prototype schematics.

Ren stayed locked in focus at his workbench, fingers assembling microscopic circuits like he was building a living creature out of pure will.

"Hey..." Kiriya called gently, trying to pull Ren’s attention away.

No response. Ren’s eyes narrowed, absorbed in the hum of the soldering iron, the background buzz of cooling fans, and the soft static of the radio—waiting like an unspoken alarm.

"Hey, I know you can hear me!" Kiriya’s voice sharpened, anxiety cutting through the quiet hiss of steam and wire.

Still nothing.

Furious, Kiriya stormed forward and grabbed Ren by the shoulder. "HEY!"

Ren finally turned, slowly setting down the soldering iron. He pulled off his safety goggles and wiped his forehead, smudging it with streaks of grease. He looked exhausted—but his eyes still burned sharp. They held determination. And pressure.

"You hungry?" Ren asked calmly, like waking from a dream.

That one sentence lit the fuse.

He jabbed a finger into Ren’s shoulder. "Hey. I said we can’t get exposed! This is serious. For me, for you, for anyone connected to us!" His voice cracked like thunder across the cable-strewn lab.

Ren finally stopped what he was doing. His hands hovered, frozen above a mess of wires and metal. He slowly removed his goggles, meeting Kiriya’s fiery glare with tired but unwavering eyes.

"Haah... so what? You think we should’ve let that guy drown? Just vanish, pretend none of it happened?" he replied, his sarcasm thinly veiled beneath fatigue.

Kiriya shook his head so hard his shoulders tensed. "No! I just... I’m scared. The tech you’ve built here—it’s too powerful. What if someone finds out? What if the military or the government shows up? What if they steal everything—or worse—" he gasped, "what if they kill us to keep your secret buried?"

Ren said nothing. His heart pounded. He looked back at the tools scattered in front of them—resonance sensors, guidance units, and a miniature plasma orb prototype. All of them his creations: innovation born from brilliance and a dream to become something more

He exhaled slowly. "Kiriya... none of this is just for fun. Everything in this room—they’re monsters of innovation I gave life to. I created them because I wanted to be... a hero. A real superhero. The world’s safe now—no monsters in the streets, no supernatural threats. Not yet, at least. And I’m thankful for that. Because I can’t even imagine the destruction I’d cause if I had to face those threats... unfinished."

Kiriya stared at Ren, eyes full of a mix of worry and frustration. "Then why are you building things that could give someone superpowers? Dude, it’s like you’re making your own future villains!"

Ren lowered his head. Silence blanketed the room, broken only by the hum of machines and monitors. Then he spoke again, quieter—but more certain. "I’m doing this for the future, Kiriya. For a legacy. I can’t just relax the way you dream of... We don’t know when disaster will strike—be it natural, scientific, or man-made. Who’s going to protect people then? If not us?"

Kiriya fell silent, then shot back. "So we’re gambling our lives on that?"

Ren nodded. "Yeah. Ever since I built my first device, all I could think about was how it could help someone—really help them. I’m not doing this for ego, like Tony Stark—traumatized by his past, trying to prove something by being loud. I’m not him. I have a family. I have you. I want to be good—not by words, but by action."

The two stood there in a quiet filled with meaning. Their gazes traded sparks of courage and doubt—an emotional current that only best friends, who understood each other’s dreams and burdens, could share.

The electric glow of the monitors dimmed slightly, casting a shadow over their faces, mirroring their thoughts. Kiriya closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again, warmth flickering behind his usually cool expression. "If I give up now..." he said, voice low but firm, "I’ll regret it forever. I’ll keep watching over you, man. So you don’t burn yourself alive chasing a dream—if this all turns out to be crap, remember that when it’s time to stop."

Ren took a deep breath and smiled faintly, eyes shimmering. "Thanks, man." His words were soft, like they were soothing the wildfire inside him.

"One more thing..." Kiriya suddenly shifted his tone. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a colorful poster—a little too cheerful, but with a bold design of a fighter in tactical glasses.

"What’s this?" Ren asked, curiosity piqued.

"An airsoft tactical tournament," Kiriya said, pointing at the JDSF logo. "It’s part of the national celebration. They’re using new infrared rifles—safe for kids like us, they said."

Ren stared at the poster for a long moment, imagining himself in tactical armor and a visor. He shook his head slightly. "You sure about this? We’ll be going up against adults—our baby faces are going to stand out."

Kiriya smirked, eyes bright. "Exactly! I want to challenge limits—for once, let’s step into the arena. Who cares if they laugh? We’ll laugh like grown-ups."

They exchanged a long look, then Ren gave a determined smile. "Alright. You asked for it—I’m in."

---

When tournament day arrived, Ren and Kiriya boarded a high-speed train, heading to a site three hours away from home.

Upon arrival, the tournament grounds were packed. Under the bright blue sky, the JDSF ground force base stood tall—complete with tanks, armored vehicles, and cutting-edge military hardware. There were demo stages, exhibition booths, and military-themed souvenir shops everywhere.

"Man, they don’t open up their military hardware to the public like this often," Ren muttered, eyes fixated on Mitsubishi’s latest tank model. His eyes sparkled, half in awe, half in contemplation. "Is this a sign of our PM leaning more pro-military?"

Kiriya exhaled, still holding the folded poster in hand. "Maybe. But let’s treat this as a learning opportunity—and yeah, prove we’ve got some combat skills too. Even if we’re just using fake infrared guns."

The afternoon sky aged into gold, but the excitement only grew. Kids, high schoolers, and families sat in rows watching tank demos, airsoft live fire, and mock evacuation drills. The JDSF booths offered briefings on urban warfare protocols and new-generation military gear. The breeze carried the scent of ocean salt, but to Ren, his pulse synced with the pounding of engines—it all felt like a window to something bigger.

Near the main exhibition booth, Ren and Kiriya stood watching a dramatic disaster rescue simulation led by ground forces. They were in awe of how coordinated and precise the military moved, like clockwork under pressure.

But their curiosity hadn’t been satisfied.

Far in the distance, they spotted a restricted zone—reserved for adults only—where a special forces unit was demonstrating a hostage rescue operation. Though it was off-limits, the two teens—armed with rebellious instincts—slipped through the crowd, held their breath past the barricades, and merged into the line of adult spectators.

From there, they watched with wide-eyed wonder as the elite unit moved in formation, executing the scenario with breathtaking precision and intensity.

Ren leaned forward, eyes locked and unblinking as he watched an operator glide silently from behind a crumbled wall with perfect stealth.

"Look at that... the entry angle—exactly like in the CQB scenarios I read about," he whispered to Kiriya.

"This is insane... they’re seriously cool," Kiriya replied, awe in his voice.

Rubber bullets fired, smoke grenades rolled into a cleared room—it all played out like a live-action movie right before their eyes. Ren soaked it all in, mind racing, unconsciously mimicking the operators’ hand motions.

In silence, he was studying. Learning.

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