"That's why I want to ask you to return these children to their natural habitat."
Eleanor spoke in a gentle voice, but it was filled with hope. Around her, the five giant tigers rested peacefully, surrounding her with affection, as if they understood that their time together might soon come to an end.
Wendy and Ren exchanged glances, trying to grasp the situation. However, what they saw was quite the contrast—Ren was sitting on the grass while a massive male tiger enthusiastically licked his face.
"Their habitat?" Wendy finally spoke, her face full of confusion. "Isn't that really far? It would take at least two months to reach the Penal Plains..."
Eleanor nodded slowly, her expression shifting slightly.
"And to get there, you'd have to pass through the territories of the Elf and Beastman kingdoms," Wendy continued, her voice tinged with concern.
"Neither of those kingdoms allow humans, right?" she added, narrowing her eyes as she realized just how difficult this mission would be.
"Hmm, I see..." Eleanor let out a long sigh before looking at the five giant tigers with a hint of sadness.
"Haah… I'm sorry, my children. It seems you'll have to stay with me a little longer."
Wendy sighed as well, realizing how impossible this request was.
However, unlike Wendy, Ren had something else on his mind.
(Traveling the world, huh…? Isn't that my goal to begin with?)
A journey to the Penal Plains sounded challenging, but at the same time, it was the perfect opportunity to see more of this world.
After a few moments of thought, he finally looked up at Eleanor with a more serious expression.
"Can you wait at least two weeks?"
"WHAT?!"
Wendy was immediately shocked, her voice nearly rising in pitch.
Eleanor also reacted with surprise, her eyebrows lifting slightly in intrigue.
"Are you serious?" she asked, her eyes glimmering with curiosity.
Ren wiped his face, still slightly damp from the tiger's licking, and nodded casually.
"I was planning on going on a long journey anyway. If I can prepare everything properly within two weeks, I might as well take them with me."
Eleanor studied Ren for a moment before offering a small smile, as if amused by his enthusiasm. With a graceful motion, she knelt and gently stroked the head of one of the female tigers that had approached her.
"I see… In that case, I'll entrust them to you."
Her hand softly ran through the fur of the largest female tiger among them.
"Bella..." she whispered, gazing at the beast with deep affection.
The tigress purred softly, her eyes locked onto Eleanor with unwavering loyalty.
"Go with this man," Eleanor continued, her hand still caressing Bella's head. "He will take you back to your true home."
For a moment, the atmosphere grew still.
Bella looked at Eleanor before shifting her gaze toward Ren.
"Meoow…"
Despite sounding like an ordinary cat, the deep resonance in her voice was a stark reminder that this was a powerful predator capable of tearing through steel with her claws.
Ren could only smirk, his eyes meeting the tigress's sharp gaze.
"Well… Looks like I just got a new travel companion."
Bella swished her tail, as if agreeing with Ren's words, while her cubs excitedly gathered around her.
On the other hand, Wendy let out a long sigh, feeling conflicted.
(So, he really is a wanderer, huh…) she thought, watching Ren, who seemed completely unfazed by the idea of embarking on such a journey.
If Ren was going on a long trip…
If he was going to take these tigers back to their home…
(Does that mean… we'll be separated?)
The thought crossed her mind so suddenly that her chest felt a little heavier.
She looked at Ren again, as if trying to etch his image into her memory.
But she didn't want to ask.
Not yet.
The mansion courtyard was quiet, accompanied only by the gentle breeze rustling through the trees.
Eleanor remained kneeling beside Bella, the large tigress purring softly as she enjoyed Eleanor's gentle touch. Eleanor's gaze was filled with love but also a hint of sadness, as if she had been preparing for this farewell for a long time.
Ren observed the interaction in silence before finally taking a deep breath and standing up straight.
"Alright, two weeks from now. I'll be ready."
Eleanor turned to him, her expression still calm, but there was a faint sense of relief in her eyes.
"I'll be waiting for your word, Mr. Strom."
Bella nuzzled Eleanor with her nose before slowly shifting her attention to Ren. Her sharp, intelligent eyes studied him carefully.
"Meoow…"
Though her voice still carried the softness of a regular cat, the deep vibrations in her tone made the ground tremble slightly.
The main street of Vermont's commercial district was livelier than usual in the late afternoon.
Even though the concept of weekends didn't fully exist in this world, that didn't mean people couldn't enjoy their free time. Young couples strolled side by side, merchants busily attended to customers, and the air was filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread and warm soup.
Amidst the crowd, Wendy walked beside Ren, occasionally sneaking glances at him with an uncertain expression.
Her heart pounded. Something stirred inside her every time she recalled their earlier conversation.
Ren, as always, remained calm and composed. His steps were steady, his hands tucked into the pockets of his long coat, his gaze fixed straight ahead as if he wasn't particularly interested in his surroundings.
Wendy, on the other hand, felt increasingly restless.
(What's wrong with me…? Why am I like this?)
Her fingers instinctively gripped the strap of her small bag, trying to steady the thumping in her chest.
(Strom is just a kind person who helped me… I have no right to stop him from leaving.)
Logically, this was natural.
They were both adventurers.
Adventurers constantly moved from place to place, taking jobs in different regions, never staying in one place for too long.
So why did this feel different?
Why did she feel uneasy every time she imagined Ren leaving—traveling the world without her?
She bit her lip, staring at the cobblestone street beneath her feet as if the answer would somehow appear there.
Meanwhile, Ren finally noticed that Wendy was acting a little strange.
Without breaking his stride, he glanced at her.
"What's wrong? You've been looking at me for a while now."
Wendy flinched, her cheeks heating up as she was caught.
"A-Ah… N-No, it's nothing!" She waved her hands quickly, trying to brush off his suspicion.
Ren raised an eyebrow before turning back ahead.
"Huh. If you say so."
Silence returned between them for a brief moment.
But Wendy could still feel her heart racing faster than usual.
(Ugh… Why does he have to be so perceptive about things like this?)
She took a slow breath, trying to calm herself down before she got any more flustered.
Then, out of nowhere, Ren spoke up, breaking the silence.
"By the way, are you hungry?"
"Huh!?"
Wendy snapped her head toward him, her eyes widening, completely caught off guard by the simple question.
Ren looked at her with a neutral expression, one eyebrow slightly raised.
"What's with that reaction…?" he muttered, looking mildly confused. "I'm hungry. If you don't mind, can we grab something to eat?"
Wendy blinked several times, trying to process the situation before quickly nodding.
"Ah, y-yeah… Let's go!"
Her voice came out a little higher than she intended, but she quickly walked ahead, trying to hide the small smile forming on her face.
Ren let out a small sigh and followed behind her at a relaxed pace.
###
I made a mistake when setting the premium chapter, which should be in chapter 35 but ended up in chapter 22. For readers who want to read without paying until chapter 35, please read it on my Royal Road account.
Please copy the following link: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/109976/tech-hero-in-another-world