Tech Hero in Another World
Chapter 66: [65] Relics of the past

Chapter 66: [65] Relics of the past

The moment Ren stepped into the main hall of the hornet wasp kingdom, his steps faltered. His gaze locked onto a massive, golden figure at the end of the hall. The body was immense, with neatly folded transparent wings on its back and sturdy legs supporting a glistening chitin-plated frame. Unlike Veskar or the princess, the queen bee retained her pure, insectoid form.

(Okay... this isn’t like an elf queen who could waltz around. This... this is literally a giant egg-laying bee.) Ren swallowed hard, glancing sideways at Veskar and the princess who stood calmly by his side. (Alright, stay cool. Don’t let it show. Focus on diplomacy. Don’t comment on her size or shape. Don’t comment on—)

『Master, your heart rate has increased by thirty percent.』

"Thanks for the reminder, Ultro..." Ren muttered under his breath.

From the direction of the throne, a soft yet resonant voice rang out, carried through the air by subtle vibrations—a voice transmitted directly from the queen. It was feminine, calm, and somehow... wise.

「Greetings to you, human from beyond the forest. I have heard of your role in saving my daughter.」

Ren bowed slightly, lowering his head in respect. "Greetings, Your Majesty. I merely did what I thought was right. And... well, I didn’t exactly want to die either."

The queen let out a low hum, a soft laugh familiar to her kind. 「That is a refreshingly honest motivation. We appreciate it.」

The princess stepped forward, bowing politely to her mother before returning to Ren’s side like a kitten unwilling to stray from its owner.

「In this kingdom, we do not forget our debts. Thus, I, Queen Melanithe IX, sovereign of the Central Hive of the Aurelian Swarm, hereby name you—Nico Mustang—as ’Honorary Companion of the Kingdom,’ protector beyond the swarm, and friend to my daughter.」

Ren froze for a moment.

(Wait... Did she say ’friend’... or ’mate’?)

『Linguistic analysis: the term is ambiguous in hornet hive social structure.』

"Fantastic..." Ren muttered in resignation.

「As a token of our gratitude, our kingdom shall also grant you diplomatic access across territories, and a small gift from our hive—pure nectar crystals and royal wax.」

Ren offered an awkward smile and bowed again. "I truly appreciate this honor. And—uh—I’ll... maintain our relations with great care."

Veskar stood tall beside him, as composed as ever, while the little princess clung to the edge of Ren’s cloak, swinging her legs like a child growing restless.

「You saved more than just my daughter. You preserved our dignity, and for that... we shall never forget you.」

Ren looked up at the massive queen once more and nodded more sincerely. "I’ll accept this honor... though I apologize if I seem a little nervous. It’s my first time being honored by... an egg-laying queen."

The queen let out a soft, resonating hum, and the whole hall seemed to vibrate gently. Somehow, Ren could tell it was her way of laughing.

「You are allowed to be nervous. But your sincerity... feels very human.」

Ren glanced down at the princess beside him, who was smiling shyly, then back at Veskar, who gave him a slow, approving nod.

(Well... as bad as today could get, at least I’m not being eaten. And now I’ve got another title. One from the elf kingdom... and one from the insect kingdom. Maybe I need a badge?) Ren rested a hand on his hip, a wry smile finally creeping onto his face.

But his moment of reflection was quickly interrupted as the queen addressed Veskar directly, her golden-green eyes glowing softly.

「Veskar, how is your condition?」

The insect knight bowed deeply. "I am well, Your Majesty."

「Good. Do not push yourself too hard. You have already given more than enough to defend our hive... and my daughter.」 Her voice was warm but carried the weight of command.

Then, her tone grew heavier.

「What of the one who manipulated you?」

Veskar let out a quiet breath, his antennae twitching slightly. "Most of them have been dealt with by the Elf Kingdom authorities. Because they were nobles from the human kingdoms, direct punishment could not be carried out. However, before I left their land... I delivered a ’reminder’ to them."

Elaria turned her head slightly, her expression neutral but her eyes narrowing at Veskar’s heavily laden words.

「I see... Good. Anything else I should be aware of?」

"There is, Your Majesty." Veskar straightened his posture slightly. "I did not find the true culprit. The one who implanted the slave mark in me... left no trace on the battlefield or within the Elf Kingdom. Even with my tracking abilities, I could not sense his presence."

「Hmm...」 A soft hum rumbled from the queen’s chest, a sign of deep contemplation. 「The slave mark placed upon you... is not something an ordinary mage could accomplish. It would require not only vast magical capacity but also an intricate technique.」

Her voice dropped to a whisper, yet it carried through the entire hall, making it fall completely silent.

「Most likely, the perpetrator is part of the old faction... those who hunt the Primordial Stones.」

Hearing that term, Ren—who had been standing quietly, either out of politeness or pure confusion—suddenly leaned forward, his eyes sharpening. "Sorry to interrupt... but... what stone did you say?" he asked reflexively, like a kid who just heard the word candy.

Silence fell instantly.

Elaria turned toward him slowly, her face a mixture of horror and resignation. Veskar tilted his head slightly, almost like a confused insect. Even the queen paused, her antennae slowly angling toward Ren as if questioning the diplomatic tact of her guest.

Ren raised his hands awkwardly. "Okay, okay... I know that sounded rude. But—uh—I have a thing for minerals. Materials, metals, stones... basically, if it’s shiny and can be turned into weapons or machines, I’m interested," he added with a stiff laugh.

「Such... a unique interest,」 the queen said, her voice tinged with faint amusement. 「The Primordial Stones are not ordinary stones, Nico Mustang. They are not just sources of energy, but fragments of the world’s very foundation—the remnants from its origin.」

Ren froze. "So they’re... the building blocks of this world?"

「Indeed. Those who possess them can tap into powers... beyond mortal comprehension. But they also attract disaster.」 The queen dipped her head slightly, her antennae swaying gently through the air.

「And... one of those stones is embedded within Veskar.」

Ren swallowed hard.

Elaria finally spoke, her voice soft. "That’s why you were being hunted..."

Veskar nodded slowly, his broad shoulders shifting slightly. "And that is why I am known as the strongest mutated knight in six generations of the Hornet Wasp Kingdom."

The queen gave a short hum before speaking again, her voice resonating through the grand hall, rich with the scent of wax and honey.

「In truth, the stone came from our ancestors, from the founding of our hive. It has been with us for six generations. According to our traditions, our ancestors received it as a gift—from a hero from another world.」

Ren stiffened, his breath catching slightly before he arched an eyebrow. "Wait... So someone just handed over a world-shaping artifact? Did they not think about the consequences?"

His tone was half-sarcastic, though his eyes gleamed with genuine curiosity.

「It would be unkind to frame it that way, Sir Nico,」 the queen said gently, her voice carrying a subtle reprimand. 「That person was known as the first hero from another world to set foot on this continent. He was not only powerful but also wise...」

(Ah...) Ren swallowed again, feeling the conversation creeping dangerously close to home.

The queen gazed deeply at Ren. Though she lacked eyes like a human, the subtle trembling of her antennae revealed the intensity of her focus.「And... I can surmise, from your movements, and from my soldiers’ reports... Sir Nico, you are not from this world, are you?」

The room fell silent at once. Elaria quickly turned to Ren, her eyes wide with shock. Even the usually carefree bee princess straightened her posture, wearing an expression of keen curiosity.

"No way..." Elaria whispered. "Now that I think about it... there were a lot of strange things... but I never dared to ask."

She shifted her gaze to Veskar. "I did hear rumors. After the fall of the Yordan Kingdom, whispers spread that the western human kingdom—Eldoria—had conducted a large-scale summoning. They summoned far more heroes than ever before... It’s highly unusual. Their goddess usually calls only one."

Veskar crossed his arms, his antennae lowering slightly. "That explains it... No wonder you were able to defeat me. Even though my body is enhanced by a Primordial Stone, your fighting style and technology are far beyond our understanding."

Ren exhaled slowly. He touched his temple, trying to ignore the weight of all the stares now pinned on him. "Well... I guess the secret’s out."

Elaria looked at him with a complex blend of emotions—admiration, confusion, and a slight sting of hurt at having been left in the dark.

"But don’t get the wrong idea," Ren continued. "I wasn’t sent here to conquer this world. I don’t even know why I was summoned. And for personal reasons... I chose to walk away from the place that called me."

The queen paused for a moment, then nodded solemnly.

「I believe you. A person who risked their life to protect my child does not deserve suspicion.」

Veskar added firmly, "Nor from me. One who chose not to kill his enemy when he had the chance... is more honorable than many knights I have known."

Ren let out a soft breath of relief. And with it, he realized—this journey would be filled with twists and challenges he had never anticipated.Yet at the same time, he could feel it—he was beginning to spread his wings, not just figuratively, but in the company of trusted companions, moving steadily toward his true destiny as a hero.

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