Ren was still fixated on the old computer screen embedded in his car, now transformed into a portable workshop. Lines of code filled the display, mirroring his thoughts as he searched for a way to deal with the mutated Hornet—rumored to be a looming threat.
But his thoughts were interrupted when he felt a light tug on his shoulder. Instinctively, he turned to find a small silver-haired girl looking up at him with a shy expression.
"Oh... You again, little one?" Ren said casually, leaning back in his seat.
Shua lowered her head slightly, her fingers nervously fidgeting with each other. But this time, she wasn’t alone. Behind her stood a young woman with long hair and the pointed ears typical of elves. Her face was smooth like porcelain—gentle in appearance, yet her eyes held a firm, unwavering gaze.
Ren could tell immediately who she was. Her mother, huh?
As expected of an elf with a long lifespan, the woman looked more like an older sister than the mother of the little girl standing before him.
"I... I..." Shua opened her mouth, but her voice was so soft it was nearly inaudible.
Seeing her daughter struggling, the elven woman stepped forward and gave a slight bow. "Greetings, human. My name is Sylphia. I wanted to thank you for what you did for my daughter and her friends."
Ren glanced over at Shua, who was now half-hiding behind her mother. He let out a small smile and shrugged. "Ah, don’t be so formal. I just happened to be there and lent a hand. No need to make a big deal out of it."
Sylphia shook her head gently. "You didn’t just save Shua... You rescued many elven children who were taken hostage. That’s more than just a coincidence, at least to me."
Ren paused for a moment before chuckling softly. "Yeah yeah, fine. If that’s how you want to see it, I won’t stop you."
Shua, who had been silent all this time, finally gathered the courage to speak. "M-Mister Ren..."
"Hm?" Ren turned to her.
"T-Thank you... for saving my mom..." she said quietly, but with heartfelt sincerity.
Ren paused, then gently ruffled the girl’s hair. "No problem. But next time, don’t go running into the middle of a battlefield, alright?"
Shua nodded quickly, her cheeks turning a bit red. Sylphia smiled warmly at the exchange, then glanced over at the large vehicle filled with strange technological equipment.
"I’ve never seen anything before... Is this where you live?" she asked.
Ren grinned. "You could say that. It’s more than just a home—it’s a portable workshop, a combat vehicle, and a personal kitchen. Pretty multifunctional, right?"
Sylphia looked genuinely impressed, while Shua simply blinked in confusion, clearly not understanding everything Ren had said.
Ren folded his arms and leaned back into his seat. "So, anything I can help you with?" he asked.
Sylphia glanced at her daughter for a moment before returning her gaze to Ren. "I’d like to know... what are your plans from here?"
Ren offered a faint smile. "Hah... That’s a good question." He closed the laptop, then looked at the mother and daughter standing before him. "I guess I’ll stay here a bit longer before heading to the Penal Plains. But there are a few things I need to take care of first."
Shua looked a little disheartened hearing that he’d be leaving, but she didn’t say a word. Sylphia let out a soft breath. "I see... In that case, at least allow us to thank you properly before you go."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And how would you do that?"
Sylphia gave a gentle smile. "Join us for dinner. I’d like to cook something for you."
Ren paused, then chuckled. "Hah... That’s a hard offer to refuse."
The rich aroma of spices filled the air as Sylphia deftly laid out dishes on the simple wooden table. The elven cuisine she served carried a deep, earthy scent, rich with fermented seasonings that immediately caught Ren’s attention.
The moment he took a bite, his tongue recognized the familiar flavors—soy sauce, miso, and tofu. These ingredients—though known by different names in this world—were strikingly similar to what existed on Earth. Ren smirked slightly as he scooped up a spoonful of soup, its fermented soybean aroma warming his senses.
"Hmm... Interesting. So you guys have fermented foods too?" he said, glancing at Sylphia sitting across from him.
The elven woman smiled gently, clearly pleased to see him enjoying the meal. "Yes, we call it rahnir
Ren nodded thoughtfully. Despite the vast differences between worlds, it was these little similarities that made him feel a bit more connected to this place.
Shua, seated beside her mother, was happily eating, unaware of the deeper thoughts swirling between the adults. But the warmth of the dinner began to shift when Sylphia finally spoke again, her tone more somber as she shared her experience as a hostage.
"When we were captured... at first, we thought it would be far worse," she began softly. Her fingers gripped the wooden spoon tightly, and her gaze dimmed.
Ren said nothing, simply listening.
"We were all afraid... None of us knew if we’d live or die at their hands." Sylphia took a breath, steadying herself before continuing. "At the start, they intended to... defile us."
Shua clutched her mother’s arm tightly, her face paling.
"But for some reason, they changed their minds," Sylphia went on. "Instead, they used us as meat shields."
Ren stopped mid-bite. His eyes narrowed, his expression turning cold. "Meat shields...?" he repeated, his voice nearly flat.
Sylphia nodded. "They forced us to run toward the elven fortress... hoping our own forces would hesitate to shoot." Her voice trembled slightly, the memory still vivid in her mind.
Under the table, Ren’s fists clenched. That wasn’t just a coward’s tactic—it was utterly immoral. War was already full of cruelty, but using hostages as living shields crossed a line even the battlefield rarely accepted.
"Some of us were killed by arrows from our own allies... because there was no other choice. And those who made it to the fortress were then hit with magic attacks from the human army behind us." Sylphia bowed her head, her voice growing even softer.
Shua’s eyes shimmered with tears as she looked at her mother, while Ren sat silently, jaw tight as he absorbed the story.
"In the end, all we could do was run and try to survive..." Sylphia continued. "Some of us reached the fortress... but many weren’t so lucky."
She stared into her nearly empty bowl. Her slender hands still gripped the spoon, as if trying to find something else to say. After sharing such pain from the hands of the human army, the air around the table grew heavy. Yet Ren’s presence added a strange balance—between bitter reality and a glimmer of remaining hope.
"And then you came, like some kind of savior," she added, her tone lightening slightly. "At the time, we thought a monster was attacking the human army from behind... but it was just one person—you."
Ren offered a small smirk, letting her continue.
"To see such a large force retreat in panic, losing half their strength in moments... it was beyond what we could’ve imagined." Sylphia gave a faint, slightly awkward smile. "Though... I guess our forest did take a bit of a beating from those explosions."
Ren scratched the back of his head, looking mildly guilty. "Ahaha... Sorry about that. I might’ve gone overboard."
"At least we’re still alive," Sylphia replied, her voice softer. "And... well, I’m grateful to still be able to sit here today."
Ren nodded, then took another spoonful of food. "By the way, this is great. Thanks for cooking."
Sylphia looked a little surprised, but her smile gradually grew. "Ehehe... You’re welcome."
But the warmth didn’t last long. Ren set his spoon down and looked at Sylphia with a serious expression.
"By the way... your husband’s dead, right?" he asked bluntly.
Sylphia flinched, her face tightening. Shua immediately lowered her head, holding onto her mother’s arm tightly.
Ren observed their reaction for a moment before continuing. "So... do you have any plans moving forward?"
Sylphia opened her mouth, but no words came. She looked hesitant—like even she hadn’t thought that far ahead.
"There’s... someone I know in the capital, but with everything going on, she’s probably busy so..."
"You don’t, huh?" Ren cut in, his voice casual but sharp.
Sylphia fell silent. It was obvious she had no clear plan. As a widow with a child, no real place to call safe, and no certainty for the future, she probably hadn’t had the luxury to even think about it.
Ren leaned back in his chair, eyes locked on her.
"How about this," he finally said. "Can you help me source materials from the local market?"
Sylphia blinked. "Materials... for what?"
"Anything." Ren shrugged. "I need a lot of supplies for my experiments and upgrades. Problem is, I’m human. I can’t just stroll through elven markets without raising eyebrows. But if you buy them, it’s easier."
Sylphia glanced at Shua, who still sat quietly beside her. The task sounded simple, but it gave her something she’d been needing—purpose.
"And of course," Ren added, "I’ll pay you for it."
Sylphia stared at him for a few moments in silence. Then slowly, she nodded. "Alright... I’ll give it a try."
Ren grinned. "Good. I’ll make a list of what I need later."
The air around the dinner table finally began to lighten again. Though their conversation had been laced with painful memories and heavy truths, at least now they had taken a small step forward—toward something resembling a future.