The room inside the fortress felt cold, its air thick with tension. A number of elven soldiers stood guard around the chamber, their eyes filled with caution—some even with outright hostility. Understandable, really. To them, humans were the enemy, the very reason their villages lay in ruin. Were it not for the circumstances, Ren would likely have been thrown into a cell—or cut down on the spot.
His steps were steady as he entered the main hall, where a figure awaited him, seated on a large chair at the far end. Commander Ryul Venris, an elf with a tall, imposing posture and a face marked by calm authority. His sharp blue eyes scrutinized Ren, as if trying to peer into the depths of his mind.
"Welcome, human," Ryul said in a deep, composed voice. "I’ve heard you aided our children after passing through the village near the border fort."
Ren leaned back slightly in the chair prepared for him. "That’s right... The situation there was horrible," he said bluntly. "They were being hunted like animals. I couldn’t just sit and watch that happen."
Ryul narrowed his eyes, studying Ren’s expression closely. "You speak openly," he noted, his tone slightly pressing. "Aren’t you afraid of incurring our wrath?"
Ren shrugged casually. "Not really," he replied without a hint of concern. "Besides, if you were to attack me without a clear reason, wouldn’t that just damage your own dignity as protectors of the World Tree?" He paused, locking eyes with Ryul. "And anyway, I helped save your children. Sorry I couldn’t save all of them—I arrived too late. But it seems you managed to fend off the attack last night, didn’t you?"
Ryul let out a soft snort, then leaned back in his chair. "Yes... Thanks to someone in armor who fought like a monster. I don’t know who was inside that suit, but I’ll admit it—without them, we would’ve suffered far more losses."
Ren gave a faint smile. "Yeah, you’re welcome."
The room fell into a sudden silence. Ryul frowned, trying to make sense of Ren’s words. "...Huh?"
Ren sighed and leaned his head back with a lazy expression. "Yeah, that was me. I was the one inside the armor."
Ryul’s eyes widened, his mouth slightly agape in disbelief. "HAAAH?!"
At once, several nearby guards tensed up, hands instinctively reaching for their weapons. The tension that had filled the room now turned into utter confusion. The elves exchanged looks, finding it hard to believe the human sitting calmly before them was the same person who had obliterated an entire human force with a single devastating strike.
Ryul eventually let out a long breath, trying to compose himself. "So you’re telling me... the human who saved our children, and the one who annihilated a human battalion overnight... are the same person?"
Ren nodded nonchalantly. "Yup. That’s the short version."
Ryul stared at him for a moment, trying to determine if this was some kind of joke. But seeing Ren’s calm demeanor, he realized the young man wasn’t kidding.
"...Very well," Ryul finally spoke, his voice calmer now, but filled with curiosity. "In that case, we should talk a bit more seriously."
"By the way, I didn’t harm any hostages, right?"
Ryul leaned into his chair, his gaze contemplative. It was clear that although he appreciated the help, many questions still weighed heavily on his mind.
"No, you didn’t harm the hostages," Ryul answered at last, keeping his tone even. "But they are traumatized. And you did destroy a large portion of the forest, leaving scars that may not heal for decades." He sighed deeply. "Honestly, I thought it was some kind of high-level magic at first. So... what exactly did you use?"
Ren grinned slightly, folding his arms with a relaxed air. "Heh, that’s a secret," he said playfully, then continued in a more serious tone. "I’m just glad I didn’t hurt the hostages. I figured they might be used as meat shields, so I aimed for the rear of the enemy’s formation. Besides, you lot clearly wouldn’t have the heart to fire arrows at women being used as human shields."
Ryul paused, then nodded slowly, conceding the truth in Ren’s words.
"Good thing I showed up in time. You should thank Shua for that," Ren added, glancing toward the doorway, as if picturing the little elf girl still waiting outside.
Ryul raised an eyebrow. "Shua?"
"Yeah, that shy little elf girl. If she hadn’t screamed for me to save her mother, things would’ve been a lot worse that night," Ren explained casually. "This fortress might’ve been breached, or your casualties far greater."
Ryul fell silent, then gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. "I see... Personally, I thank you for your help. This war has already been difficult, and the humans’ sudden assault without a formal declaration has only made things worse."
"That’s what I wanted to ask about," Ren leaned forward slightly. "Don’t you have any spies among the humans? I mean, this region up north is all human territory, right? You should’ve had scouts posted days in advance. How did this catch you all off guard?"
Ryul opened his mouth as if to respond, but then stopped. His expression darkened, revealing some inner conflict—like he was holding back something difficult to say.
Ren raised a hand before Ryul could answer. "Don’t. You don’t need to tell me," he said quickly. "I’m just venting. If I ask any more, I’m sure there’ll be politics and a hundred complicated reasons behind it. I’m not interested in that right now."
Ryul studied him for a few seconds, then finally let out a sigh. "I won’t deny that the situation is far more complex than it seems," he said, his tone softer. "But very well. If you’re not ready to talk about it, I won’t press you."
Ren gave a small nod. "Good. So, is there anything else you want to talk about?" he asked, leaning back into the chair again with a relaxed expression, as if the whole conversation had just been casual chit-chat.
Ryul crossed his arms over his chest. His expression was still serious, though his tone had softened. "There are still many things I’d like to ask you personally, but for now, I think I’ve assessed you enough," he said. "However, there is one thing. Would you be willing to show us the armor you wore last night? Not just for confirmation, but it could also help shift the perception my soldiers have of you. Honestly, we’re all grateful to whoever was in that armor, but there’s still a lot of doubt."
Ren shrugged, a small smile forming on his lips. "Mmm, I don’t mind," he said casually. "But you’d better be ready to be surprised."
Ryul offered a faint smile, a confident note in his voice. "That’s fine," he replied. "I’ve had plenty of surprises today. One or two more won’t leave me speechless."
Ren chuckled at the response. He rose from his seat and strolled toward the door at a leisurely pace. "Alright then, let’s head outside," he said. "Let everyone see it for themselves."
Ryul nodded and followed behind him. As the door to the room opened, the elven guards standing outside immediately straightened up, their eyes tracking Ren’s every move with heightened caution. Not far off, Shua was still standing where she had been, her gaze filled with open curiosity as she watched him.
When they reached the inner courtyard of the fortress, Ren made his way toward his electric vehicle, parked beneath the stone steps of the keep. With a tap on the control panel on its side, the rear compartment of the vehicle began to shift and open with a smooth mechanical hum. A platform rose into view, and standing upon it was a black suit of armor lined with yellow streaks, radiating a powerful presence even in its inactive state.
The nearby elven soldiers instantly widened their eyes. Some instinctively reached for their weapons, as if preparing to counter a sudden threat.
Ryul observed the armor with a sharp gaze, his expression unreadable. "So... this is the armor you used last night," he muttered. He stepped closer, examining every inch of the armor that looked nothing like any war gear he’d ever seen. "There are no magical carvings on its surface, but... how does this thing even move?"
Ren grinned, clearly enjoying the confusion. "Told you you’d be surprised," he said. "It’s not magic—at least not the kind you know. It’s technology."
Ryul furrowed his brow. "Technology?" he echoed, clearly still not grasping it.
Ren patted the armor proudly. "Yup. Not magic, not some ancient artifact, and definitely not a gift from spirits or gods. Just mechanics, energy, and systems I developed myself."
Whispers rippled among the watching soldiers. Some still looked doubtful, while others began to show genuine intrigue. Ryul remained silent for a few moments, then finally sighed and turned his eyes back to Ren.
"In that case... would you be willing to explain more about this technology?" he asked. "If it truly isn’t magic, I’d like to know how something could cause such massive destruction."
Ren grinned even wider. "Of course not."