Tech Hero in Another World
Chapter 77: [76] Bad experience after three days in the desert

Chapter 77: [76] Bad experience after three days in the desert

In the Kingdom of Eldoria, the once-unified group of heroes had fractured. Trial after trial that tested their morals and strength gradually eroded the trust that once bound them.

Some still remained together, clinging to the hope that unity was the key to surviving this hostile world. But many had gone their separate ways—like Kiriya, who chose the path of a solo fighter, distancing himself from the crowd and its constant noise.

Amid the chaos, their homeroom teacher—the only adult among a group of hormone-charged teens—was nowhere to be found. Rumors had spread that he had been captured and detained by certain factions vying for power in Eldoria’s inner court. His prison was said to be located in a remote, tightly guarded region that was nearly unreachable.

But far from the political intrigues of the royal capital, in a different place altogether—right in the middle of the Mandaley Desert—Ren Takamura was facing a crisis of his own. He was on a delivery mission transporting a rare Penal tiger family, a protected species, back to their isolated homeland: the Penal Plains.

At first, the mission had sounded simple—escort, protect, return. But as always, Ren’s life never went as neatly as the quest descriptions.

While driving across the sand in his heavily modified van designed for extreme environments, the ground suddenly began to tremble.

"Damn it... they didn’t tell me there’d be a freaking Shai-Hulud here!" Ren shouted, gripping the steering wheel tightly as the entire vehicle bounced over rapidly shifting dunes.

From the wall of rising sand came a massive creature—a sandworm, towering as tall as a three-story building, its gaping circular mouth lined with spinning razor-sharp teeth. Its roar echoed like a thunderstorm, rattling the bones.

Ren yanked the wheel hard, switching into off-road mode and slamming the gearshift into low. The van veered off onto the side of a sand ridge, dodging the monster’s lunge by mere seconds.

Inside the van, Bella—the female tiger, about the size of a large dog—let out a panicked hiss, while her mate Alfred, a small male barely the size of a cat, ducked under the dashboard. Their three cubs clung to the back seats like stuffed toys tossed into a washing machine.

"I should be getting paid double for this!" Ren yelled, activating the magical shield on the van’s right side. Glowing metal panels snapped out from the frame, shielding the wheels from the waves of sand churned up by the creature’s pursuit.

The dashboard sensors lit up. 『Master, Type-Teratorus sandworm approaching from the rear. Estimated speed: 80 kilometers per hour.』

"Thanks, Ultro! That’s super helpful... NOT!" Ren grumbled, then slammed the nitro pedal. The engine roared like a beast, and the van surged forward in a screaming blur.

Sand blasted in every direction, a long white streak tracing behind the vehicle like a wound slashed across the desert. But the monster kept coming—it wasn’t just hungry, it was pissed about being disturbed.

"At this rate, we’re not gonna reach Penal—we’re gonna end up as toppings between the teeth of this Dune reject!" Ren cursed, then fired two flares from the back of the van. The bright red lights shot out in opposite directions, distracting the sandworm just long enough.

The beast paused, confused by the sudden lights. Ren seized the moment, making a sharp turn into a sandy ravine to the right. The van nearly tipped, but his self-designed balance system kept it steady as they slid down the dune.

After several nerve-wracking minutes, the rumbling finally faded. The sandworm had lost interest, sinking back into the depths of the desert, leaving behind only shifting mounds that slowly sealed themselves like a healing wound.

Ren exhaled deeply, cold sweat trickling down his temples. He glanced back, confirming the special tiger family was still alive—if a bit traumatized.

"I’m dead serious... starting tomorrow, I’m becoming a mushroom farmer," he muttered, leaning back in the driver’s seat. A dry laugh escaped him, filling the cramped space of the van with the only relief he had to offer.

『Shall I engineer flora, Master? I could cultivate a species of bioluminescent mushrooms with high nutritional value, if you wish.』 Ultro’s voice was as flat as always, filled with that over-technical earnestness so ill-suited to the moment.

Ren raised an eyebrow at the holographic dashboard display. "Yeah, yeah... thanks, world’s least funny AI assistant," he muttered with a sigh. He rubbed his temples, fighting off the fatigue-induced headache.

His eyes turned to the vast desert stretching beyond the windshield—the endless, unforgiving Mandaley Sands, full of more surprises than he’d ever wanted. They’d been driving through this sea of dunes for three days straight, and still no signs of life, settlements, or even the faintest traces of intelligent activity.

"Haah... seriously, this place is massive. Three days in, and all we’ve found are storms, rocks, and a cosplaying Shai-Hulud," he muttered, lightly tapping the steering wheel. Even by this world’s standards, the Mandaley Desert was beginning to feel like a test of patience.

In the rear passenger seat, Bella lifted her head from her makeshift bed—a nest of cargo blankets—snorted softly, then went back to sleep as if saying, "If you can sleep, then sleep. Better than whining." Alfred, the tiny male tiger, was busy licking his paw pads, utterly uninterested in the outside world.

Their cubs—three golden-furred little tigers—were piled on top of each other like fuzzy balls beneath the navigation table. They were already used to wild rides with Ren, though their ears still twitched each time the van jolted.

Ren powered the control panel back on, reviewing the digital route mapped from data he’d gathered in the previous border town. "Ultro, recheck the map using updated topographical data and simulate the most probable habitable location based on wind patterns and terrestrial shadow distribution."

『Processing. Please wait 8 seconds...』

Ren closed his eyes for a moment, trying to steal a breath of calm in the heat and uncertainty. But even silence felt heavy when there was no clear direction.

『Master, possible natural oasis detected approximately 43 kilometers northeast. Settlement potential: 68%.』

Ren sat up straight, a flicker of energy returning to his voice. "Finally, a bit of hope," he said, sounding more alive. His hands swiftly adjusted the steering direction, then activated the van’s sand suspension system, causing the vehicle to lift slightly for smoother travel.

"Everyone get ready—we’ve got a new destination!" he announced, though he was clearly the only one who looked remotely excited. But, as always, Ren didn’t need an audience to be dramatic.

The van surged forward over the sand once more, this time with a clearer heading. The sun began to sink, painting the horizon in shades of gold and crimson, and the Mandaley Desert stretched out ahead—an empty battlefield full of riddles and silence.

---

It took Ren five hours to reach the location projected by Ultro—a small oasis nestled in a hidden valley between two sand dunes as night began to fall. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting streaks of golden-orange light across the desert sky, slowly swallowed by shadow.

As he approached the oasis, the silhouette of a settlement began to emerge. Structures made of sandstone and mud circled the water source, forming a small village that looked like it had stood against the harshness of Mandaley for generations. Though remote, its layout was organized, hinting at a structured community.

But the moment Ren crossed the village boundary, something felt off. The atmosphere was quiet... too quiet. No sound of playing children, no greetings from sentries—only silent stares from the villagers who slowly stepped out of their homes.

They stood along the dirt path, watching his vehicle with sharp, suspicious eyes. Some even clutched simple tools like hoes and spears, as if bracing for the worst.

Ren slowed the van, rolled down the window, and raised a hand with a faint smile. "Yo, excuse me... just a delivery guy, not a criminal," he called out casually, trying his usual tactic of disarming tension with charm.

But no one responded. Just pairs of wary eyes, and a few that turned away with cold, scornful expressions. The silence was louder than shouting—it screamed that he wasn’t welcome.

『Master, elevated social tension detected. Body language suggests defensive posture, but no immediate aggression,』 Ultro’s voice echoed calmly through the dashboard, confirming what Ren already sensed.

Ren gave a slight nod and muttered, "Yeah, I can feel it too. This place feels like the saloon right before a gunfight." He stepped out of the van with open hands, making sure not to make any sudden moves.

This village, according to the local data Ren had read, belonged to a tribe of beastmen—specifically, desert rabbit-folk. Their builds were lean, with long drooping ears and eyes sharp like small predators in the wild. Normally known for being peaceful and friendly, something had clearly thrown their balance off.

Ren approached an old beastman standing by the well—a man wrapped in a tattered brown cloak and leaning on a wooden staff worn by time. He looked wise, or at least more approachable than the others, and Ren decided to try his luck there.

"I’m looking for a place to stay... and maybe some info about the Penal Plains," Ren said calmly, keeping a respectful tone despite the heavy tension in the air. He spoke slowly on purpose, careful not to spark any further alarm.

But before the old man could speak, a sharp female voice rang out from behind—piercing the village silence like an arrow shot with ill intent.

"You... you’re from outside? Are you one of Khan’s people!?" she yelled, her tone high-pitched and full of suspicion. Her eyes narrowed as if she were seeing a ghost from the past.

"Huh?" Ren blinked, completely thrown by the sudden accusation. "Khan who? I don’t even know who that is..."

"Don’t play dumb! You must be one of Khan’s men! You’ve got that weird vehicle, you came from the desert just like him!" The woman now pointed at Ren with open hostility, and more villagers began to move in with tense expressions.

"Wait, wait—you’re making a huge mistake!" Ren raised both hands, trying to calm the crowd. "I’m not working for anyone—I literally just heard that name for the first time!"

But in the middle of the panic, something clicked in Ren’s mind. He reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out a necklace—a simple leather cord with an animal fang dangling at the center. "Right... I’ve got this," he said, holding it up for all to see.

The necklace had been a gift from Ryul. But as soon as it was visible, the villagers’ reactions got even worse. Their faces stiffened, some stepping back with expressions of fear and rage.

"This...!" the old man rasped, his eyes going wide as he stared at the fang. "Everyone! He really is one of Khan’s people!"

Chaos erupted. Several beastmen rushed to grab simple weapons from their homes—spears, clubs, even farming tools—and began to surround Ren’s van. Children were pulled indoors, and doors slammed shut with urgency.

Ren backed away, body tense, still holding the necklace in the air. "Wait! This is a misunderstanding! Who the hell is Khan!? At least explain before you start swinging hoes at me!"

『Master, situation escalating toward potential open conflict. Recommendation: tactical retreat or defensive neutralization.』

"Yeah, yeah, I know it’s bad!" Ren muttered, mind racing. He didn’t want to fight, especially not against civilians—even if they were dangerously mistaken.

Before he could retreat to the vehicle, someone in the crowd shouted, "Catch him! Don’t let him escape like last time!"

Ren squinted. Like last time? he thought. "Okay, this is getting insane... Now I’m being mistaken for some criminal mastermind? I’ve only been here an hour!"

Things were spiraling out of control. But just then, from behind the crowd, a young girl with rabbit ears stood in the doorway of her home. Her eyes locked onto Ren’s—not with accusation, but curiosity.