Tech Hero in Another World

At the foot of the hill stood a new Shinto-style shrine, its bright red torii stark against the green of the surrounding trees. The shrine was built on sacred ground, right where the great stone had fallen and become the seal of the nine-tailed fox. Though the fox spirit had long since been corrupted, to the kitsune it was still an ancestral god. That place had now become a new symbol—a symbol of prayer, of hope, and of wounds from the past that could never be completely erased.

Kumara stood before the torii, sweeping the shrine courtyard with slow, steady strokes. Her long black hair flowed down her back, occasionally swayed by the evening breeze. Her eyes kept flicking toward the massive stone at the center of the altar, as if trying to calm her heart. A dream she had carried for so long had finally come true: a shrine to honor their ancestors, a place where the kitsune could pray without fear. And all of this was thanks to Ren—the young champion who had enforced his authority in every way and chosen to build this shrine as a bridge between humans and their kind.

Yet even with gratitude, the weight of guilt still gripped her heart. The chaos that struck the city yesterday, the destruction and ruin—she knew full well… it had all started with her.

"Yo!"

A cheerful voice echoed from the bottom of the shrine steps. Kumara looked up, her fox ears perking straight. Ren was climbing the stairs, waving casually.

"Ah! Master!" Kumara hurriedly bowed, a little flustered.

Ren smiled faintly, his eyes glancing at the courtyard, now neat and tidy. "Thank you for your hard work. The grounds look really clean."

Kumara tightened her grip on the broom handle. "Mm… I don't deserve that much praise."

"Don't belittle yourself." Ren gave her shoulder a light pat. "Come on, I actually have something I want to talk to you about."

Kumara obeyed, leading Ren to the partition room at the side of the shrine. Her two sisters, fellow kitsune, were quickly called to join them. Soon, they served hot tea and simple rice cakes on the tatami. Ren sat cross-legged, receiving the offering politely.

"Ahem," Ren began the conversation in a serious tone. "How have you been this past week?"

Kumara lowered her gaze before answering. "We… are better than before. We can finally sleep in peace, and… people are not as hostile as they used to be."

Ren nodded lightly. "That's good." He drew in a deep breath, then bowed his head low. "But… I want to apologize."

All three kitsune were stunned. "M-Master!?" they exclaimed together.

"Even though I've tried, it's not enough," Ren said softly, his voice trembling with emotion. "The racism against you won't disappear anytime soon. The hatred toward your race has already taken root in the hearts of some people in this city. I could issue commands, force them to stop… but that would only create more problems. You'd be hated in secret, pushed aside even more. So… truly, forgive me."

"M-Master, please raise your head!" Kumara cried in panic, seeing their leader bow so deeply.

Ren shook his head, his eyes shut tight. "No. I've failed if children like you have to keep living in misery. I swore to myself… I wanted every child to grow up without scars like that. But the truth is, I still haven't been able to do anything. I'm sorry."

Kumara's fingers trembled as she clutched the broom. Her heart shook at the sincerity of a boy not even eighteen years old. Slowly, she stepped closer, placing her hand on Ren's shoulder.

"Master," she said softly. "It's alright. We understand. It's not that easy to make everyone accept us. That's why my sisters and I have already learned to make peace with reality. But still, we are truly grateful. You gave us a home, a shrine, and a chance to be trusted again. That is more than enough. One day, we will surely repay your kindness."

Ren opened his eyes, silent for a moment. The late afternoon sun streamed through the wooden slats, casting light over his weary face. He took a deep breath, then gave a faint smile. "You children are strong. You've come to terms with things better than most adults ever could. It's only a matter of time before the whole city accepts you for real."

The three kitsune lowered their heads together, their eyes glistening. Kumara whispered, "We believe in you, Master."

Ren nodded, his heart easing a little, though he knew the road ahead was still long and full of thorns.

---

After the long talk inside the shrine's partition room, Ren finally rose to his feet. Evening crept in, the sun glowing red behind the trees, while the wind carried the faint scent of incense from the altar. Time pressed on him; as a champion, there were too many matters waiting back in the city.

"I have to go," he said with a small smile. "There's still a lot I need to take care of."

Kumara and her two sisters quickly stood, walking with him until the torii gate. The three kitsune looked reluctant to part with their leader, but they kept their respectful composure.

Just before descending the steps, Ren glanced back with a relaxed expression. "By the way, do you three want to join me for dinner? Ultro's cooking something different today. He said the ingredients were plentiful, so the menu's more varied than usual."

Kumara's eyes sparkled. "Mm, we'll come!" she said eagerly.

"Good," Ren replied. "You don't have to climb all the way up to my place. Just come to my office—it'll be easier."

The three nodded firmly. As Ren was about to turn and walk away, his gaze caught sight of a lone figure standing not far from the torii. A man was staring at the shrine with an unreadable expression. Unease pricked at Ren's mind instantly. In the southern region, nearly everyone was a beastman. The only human living here was himself. But that man was unmistakably human.

Ren narrowed his eyes. "Kumara," he called softly. "Was that man standing there the whole time?"

Kumara turned. Her gaze locked onto the stranger before she shook her head quickly. "No, Master. I just noticed him now."

Ren subtly signaled Kumara and her sisters to step back. He moved forward, descending a few steps. His face wore a friendly smile, though his fingers were already poised to move fast if things went wrong.

"Hello~," Ren greeted lightly.

The man turned. His face bore the marks of age, black hair streaked with gray at the temples, eyes sharp and calculating. He studied Ren from head to toe, as if weighing his worth.

"Hm?" the man muttered briefly.

Ren held his breath. "Sorry to intrude, but I was really surprised to see another human here besides me. So… this might sound stupid, but…"

The man raised an eyebrow, as if expecting the next words.

"…Are you an enemy?" Ren asked as he slid his hand. In one swift motion, he drew his pistol from his waist and aimed it straight at the man's forehead. "Are you a spy?"

Instead of panicking, the man gave a faint smile. "Heh. That would be a good joke if I really were a spy. But fine, I'll introduce myself. I've gone by many names in the past, but now… you may call me Mr. X."

The name made Ren tense instantly. His heart pounded, his gaze hardened. "You… you're from the Sinister Seven?"

The man crossed his arms. "I never mentioned my organization. But it seems Z has told you a little. Hm, that'll make this conversation easier."

"What do you want!?" Ren barked, his finger stiffening against the trigger.

"Me? Heh… this talk could go on for a long time. But for now, I only want to confirm something," Mr. X answered calmly.

Ren grit his teeth. "I heard from Freddy… someone pushed Kumara into breaking the Kyuubi seal. Don't tell me that person was from your group!"

Mr. X shook his head slowly. "No. He was never one of us. Someone like that… isn't worthy to enter our circle. Too weak, too reckless."

"So you just used him," Ren hissed.

"Hm, you could say that," the man replied casually, as if discussing chess pieces.

Ren drew a deep breath. Even with the muzzle pressed against his forehead, the man stood tall, unshaken. That only deepened Ren's suspicion: one bullet clearly wouldn't matter.

"What's your real goal?" Ren demanded.

Mr. X looked up toward the sky, then back down with a faint smile. "Our goal… think of it as a global restoration."

Ren's eyes widened. "What!? You people really are insane!"

"Or maybe… we're the smart ones," Mr. X said in a relaxed tone, as if chatting about something trivial. His gaze was cold, yet filled with conviction. "This world is full of those who don't agree with us. They call us mad only because they cannot understand. But what we're doing… is salvation itself. Boy, you're too young. You have no idea how rotten this world's system truly is—how every thinking creature is just a pawn on a board far larger than you can imagine."

Ren clenched his jaw. His breathing grew heavy, not from exhaustion, but from boiling rage. "I don't know… and I don't care! Whatever your reasons are, I don't care!" he shouted, his voice shaking, his eyes sharp as blades.

Mr. X only smiled, his face calm. "Well, I was actually considering recruiting you."

Ren froze for a fraction of a second. "Recruit me?"

"Yes." Mr. X nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "If you join us, you'll learn the true reason why we cause so much chaos. Why we search for all kinds of artifacts… including that rune stone you carry." His fingers lifted, pointing straight at the faintly glowing stone hanging from Ren's neck.

Instinctively, Ren clutched the pendant tightly. His gaze sharpened even further.

Mr. X then glanced at the new shrine towering beyond the torii, where the Kyuubi's seal lay hidden. "Releasing the Kyuubi was never part of our original plan. But, because of its potential to manifest the Gate of Hell… I decided to let that man go through with it. Naturally, thousands of demons would flood the mortal world."

Ren's chest tightened, rage surging all the way to his head. "You… you're vile," he hissed. He knew all too well what it meant for the Gate of Hell to fully open—the unimaginable destruction, civilizations swallowed mercilessly by waves of demons.

Mr. X shrugged indifferently. "I never claimed to be good. But yes… that's how it is. So, what now? Will you refuse my offer?"

"You already know my answer," Ren shot back, his voice heavy with resolve.

"Heh, just as I thought." Mr. X let out a short sigh, showing not even the slightest hint of disappointment. "So, what will you do now? Shoot me with that little toy of yours?" he said, glancing dismissively at Ren's pistol. "Or perhaps summon your prized armor?"

"Enough!" Ren growled, his body tensing. "There's no point in this conversation anymore!"

His finger pressed harder against the trigger. Cold sweat dripped down his temple—not from fear, but from the awareness that the man before him was no ordinary person. Mr. X stood with unshakable confidence, his eyes carrying the air of a father watching over a mischievous child, showing not a single trace of fear even with the pistol barrel almost touching his forehead.

The air around them grew heavy, as if time itself held its breath, waiting for Ren's next move.