Tech Hero in Another World
Chapter 50: [49] A short break (2)

Chapter 50: [49] A short break (2)

Elaria let out a quiet breath, then began recounting what had happened over the past three days. "While you were unconscious... the palace was thrown into a frenzy because it turned out that my savior was a human," she said, her voice hesitant, as if she still couldn’t fully believe it.

"And also... the Hornet princess who was captured alongside me—she’s currently resting in one of the palace’s secure chambers," she continued. "She’s in the middle of her metamorphosis, inside her cocoon now. The elves transferred her with extreme care."

Ren gazed at the ceiling for a moment before turning back to her. "The Hornets and elves... were allies, right?"

"Yes," Elaria replied softly. "Their kind helped pollinate the World Tree. We shared a long-standing bond. Because of that, their queen has already begun pulling back the troops sent into human territory."

She lowered her head slightly before continuing. "But Veskar... he’s different. He can’t come back. Not anymore. He’s become a slave now—bound by human magic."

Ren exhaled slowly. "So the situation’s still tense... But at least we’ve locked down some of the more dangerous pieces."

"Yes. We, the Elven Kingdom, owe you a great debt." Her gaze softened. "You saved the hostages... and me. If it hadn’t been for you, I can’t imagine what would’ve happened."

She folded her hands in her lap. "They used us as shields. I... I was forced to weaken my own fortress’s defenses. It was humiliating..."

Ren didn’t say anything. He simply looked at her. There were no perfect words for pain like that. But a dull ache grew in his chest. Even though he came from another world, his instinct as a human demanded the same thing it always had—to stand against injustice, to protect the vulnerable.

"Ahem." Ren cleared his throat, trying to break the heavy silence. "So... we’ve got three days before the human army regroups and attacks?"

Elaria nodded gently, her face calmer now. "That’s right... There are many of them. But now that I’ve returned, my mother—the Queen—is more at ease. We can finally focus our efforts on driving the invaders off our lands."

Ren rubbed his temple slowly, trying to keep up with the ever-changing situation. "I see... But what about Veskar? Is he still a threat?"

The question made Elaria pause. Her expression dimmed slightly. "That... remains uncertain. Veskar is an anomaly now. He’s no longer an ally of the Hornets, but not truly a servant of the humans either... He’s become something else."

Ren frowned. "You don’t have a way to deal with him?"

The princess hesitated before finally answering. "There was someone... my father. He was the only one who could face Veskar in single combat. But he’s gone now. Since his passing, none of our warriors have matched his strength."

Silence returned to the room, broken only by the soft rustle of wind through the slightly open window. Ren closed his eyes for a moment, then looked at Elaria with a different gaze—firm, resolved.

"Then I’ll be the one to face him," Ren said, slowly rising from the bed even as pain still pulsed through his body. "I’m already involved. I can’t turn my back now."

Elaria bit her lower lip, holding back the words rising to her throat. She had seen firsthand how close he’d come to death in her arms. But that look in his eyes—clear, unwavering, filled with conviction—left her no room to object. She could only nod softly.

"Then... you need to recover properly first," she said gently, though the concern in her voice was hard to hide.

Ren shook his head, then turned toward the window, where morning light framed the world in gold. "No," he said, firm. "I can move now. I won’t lie in bed while war marches forward. If I’m going to be part of this, then let me join the war council. Bring me before the Queen."

There was no mistaking the tone in his voice. He didn’t speak as a patient or a hero—but as a warrior ready to bear the consequences of his choice. His fist clenched, even as pain still lingered under his skin.

Elaria stared at him for a long moment, as if weighing the magnitude of the decision. Then she sighed deeply, yielding to his stubborn resolve. "Very well... But if your body collapses in the middle of it, I’ll take responsibility."

Ren flashed a small, defiant grin. "You’ll find I’m more stubborn than I look."

And in that moment, deep within her heart, Elaria realized—something within her had begun to stir. Despite the trauma, despite the political tension between their races, something about Ren felt different. He wasn’t just a savior. Somehow, he was... a calm presence in the eye of the storm.

---

Ten kilometers from the elven kingdom’s fortress, the central command tent of the human army was thick with the scent of concentration incense and strategy parchments darkened by countless revisions. The magical veil surrounding the room pulsed gently, reflecting the faint red glow of the guards’ torches.​

King Yordan stood at the center, clad in a regal black cloak adorned with the emblem of a winged lion. His gaze was piercing, scrutinizing each individual present as if weighing their loyalty and worth with a single glance.​

"Status of Veskar’s stabilization?" he inquired, his voice low yet commanding enough to tense the air.​

A man in a mage’s robe, bearing the symbol of a closed eye on his right chest, stepped forward. "The enslavement mark functions flawlessly, Your Majesty. Though the creature thrashes like a wild beast, he is now completely subdued. No mana leakage or resistance detected."​

"Good," King Yordan replied softly, as if contemplating more than just the report. "He’s the only hornet capable of cutting down two platoons of elves in a single strike. Now he’s mine... and that weapon will be my hammer of judgment."​

The generals seated around the strategy table exchanged glances. One of them, an elderly man with a gray beard, spoke hesitantly. "However, Your Majesty... employing slavery on an enemy commander might provoke a full-scale war. The elves aren’t our only adversaries. The hornet race might seek retribution—"​

"Damn it, this war ignited the moment they rejected our alliance," King Yordan snapped sharply. "We need not fear them. They don’t even know how to handle Veskar now. He’s our bait and our key."​

He lightly tapped the map spread before him. "In three days, we attack. The siege division will advance from the northeast. From the south, the breaching troops and Veskar will launch a preliminary assault. We’ll force them to choose—defend their gates or save their queen."​

The officers fell silent. The king’s strategy—using Veskar as the spearhead and attacking from two fronts—sounded insane. Yet, its very madness made it nearly unpredictable. And in war, unpredictability is a deadly weapon.​

A young general on the left flank, clad in purple-accented plate armor, finally spoke, hesitantly. "But what about the possibility of the grand hornet army retaliating? If they discover their princess is no longer in our hands..."​

"Unless one of you sings like a cheap bird, they won’t know," King Yordan interrupted coldly. His voice was calm, but the pressure it exuded silenced the entire tent. "That’s why I’m advancing the attack. We must conclude this before news spreads. In three days, it all ends."​

The officers nodded slowly, though many did so with barely concealed doubt. Some even swallowed hard, trying to mask the growing tension suffocating the command tent. King Yordan ignored them, his gaze sharp like an eagle that had spotted its prey.​

He stepped forward slowly, leaning over the large table filled with maps and small flags representing combat units. His long, cold fingers pointed to a spot on the border—the boundary separating the Kingdom of Yordan and the Kingdom of Eldoria. The pressure of his finger was not just a symbol of strategy, but an intent to seize.​

"This is where it all will explode," he murmured, loud enough for the entire tent to hear.​

The political stability in that region had long been fragile, but everything worsened after Eldoria summoned a hero. For some, it was the last step to defend their sovereignty amid the era’s turmoil. But for King Yordan, it was the trigger of war—a unilateral act that shattered the already fragile balance of power.