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ArabicHonkai Star Rail: I Became the World Tree — Chapter 14
Chapter 14: Gepard, Furina Figures It Out
Dan Heng surveyed the freezing wasteland. “These monsters should be products of the Stellaron. We need to proceed with caution for the rest of the journey.”
Stelle and March 7th nodded, their boots crunching against the thick frost as the trio pushed forward.
It did not take long for Stelle to spot an unnatural mound of snow. She squinted, noticing the faint outline of a person buried inside.
Dan Heng stepped up, leveling his Cloud-Piercer. With a swift, measured thrust, he jabbed into the snowdrift, forcing the freezing man out into the open.
The shivering man brushed the ice off his coat and introduced himself as Sampo, a fast-talking local.
Unfortunately, following Sampo’s lead proved to be a terrible mistake. Thanks to his guidance, Stelle, Dan Heng, and March 7th quickly found themselves surrounded by heavily armed soldiers—the Silvermane Guards.
March 7th leaped high into the freezing air, drawing her bowstring taut. “Taste this!”
She loosed a crystalline arrow straight at the blond man leading the troops. The man did not flinch. He slammed a massive, heavy guitar case into the snow with one hand. A hexagonal, invisible barrier flared to life, completely absorbing March 7th’s attack.
Landing gracefully, March 7th pouted. “Oh ho, quite a tough guy, aren’t you? Take another arrow! Precision Arrow!”
She drew back again, the bow glowing with newfound energy. This shot carried the system-granted skill effect of Precision Arrow, instantly doubling the DMG dealt upon impact.
The arrow struck the barrier. The shield summoned by the blond man shattered like fragile glass, scattering into fading fragments of light.
The blond man’s pupils constricted sharply. He executed a rapid side-step, barely dodging the empowered projectile as it buried itself into the snow behind him.
Seeing her success, March 7th rubbed her nose with sheer satisfaction. ‘Hehe, this skill is really useful. I wonder how I can learn other ones.’
Nearby, Stelle swung her baseball bat in a wide arc, knocking a charging Silvermane Guard out cold with a dull thud. She rested the bat on her shoulder and turned back.
“Let’s ask Samuel about it once we reach the human settlement on this planet,” Stelle suggested. “We can’t return to the Astral Express right now, so we might as well go to his place for lunch. I am a bit hungry.”
March 7th nodded enthusiastically. That sounded like a perfect plan.
Lowering her bow, March 7th looked at the blond commander and sighed. “Can we stop fighting? We already told you, we are not with that shady guy. Why don’t you believe us?”
The blond man snorted coldly, keeping his stance wide and defensive. “If you are not with him, why are you opposing us, the Silvermane Guards?”
March 7th threw up her hands in exasperation. “You were just trying to arrest us! We can’t just stand here and not resist, right? We haven’t committed any crimes.”
Stelle stepped forward, her expression flat. “Stop. Your group is no match for us. Let’s pause for a moment. We have evidence to prove we are not with that person from before.”
Hearing the absolute confidence in Stelle’s voice, the blond man pondered for a moment. He raised his right hand high. “Everyone, stop.”
At their captain’s command, the Silvermane Guards who were still putting up a desperate struggle immediately lowered their halberds and rifles.
The blond man took a few measured steps forward, his posture rigid and formal. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am the Captain of the Silvermane Guards, Gepard Landau.”
Seeing the hostility fade, March 7th offered a bright smile. “I am March 7th, and these two beside me are my companions, Stelle and Dan Heng. We really don’t know that guy. None of us are from this planet, so how could we possibly know a local?”
Gepard frowned deeply at the claim. Not from this planet? Could it be… these people were visitors from beyond the sky? Historical records stated that outworlders had indeed descended upon Belobog in the past, but that was centuries ago.
“What evidence do you have to prove you come from beyond the sky?” Gepard asked, his tone skeptical but willing to listen.
Stelle thought for a second and nudged her friend. “March, take out the photos you took and show him. Didn’t you just take a picture of Jarilo-VI from space?”
March 7th gasped in realization, quickly pulling out her camera. She tapped the screen and held it up for Gepard to see.
Gepard stared at the vibrant images of the white planet suspended in the dark void of space. After a few seconds of silence, the tension left his shoulders. He finally believed the three were outworlders.
With the misunderstanding resolved, Gepard offered to escort the trio to meet the Supreme Guardian. The journey through the blizzard was long, but Gepard filled the silence by explaining the history and current state of Belobog.
Two hours later, the heavy doors of the Goethe Hotel in the Belobog Administrative District closed behind them, shutting out the biting cold.
Dan Heng crossed his arms, his gaze sweeping the ornate lobby. “Did you feel that the Supreme Guardian just now was a bit strange?”
Stelle nodded slowly. “Yeah. In that room just now, I felt like there was someone else there.”
March 7th hugged her arms, looking around nervously. “Huh? No way! Don’t scare me!”
“I had that feeling too,” Dan Heng continued, his voice low. “Like an invisible pair of eyes was watching us from the shadows. Anyway, let’s proceed with caution. We need to find the Stellaron and seal it as soon as possible.”
They had just concluded their audience with Cocolia, the Supreme Guardian of Belobog. Cocolia had arranged their accommodation in the Goethe Hotel, instructing them to rest while she considered whether or not to cooperate with their mission.
Stelle rubbed her empty stomach, her face deadpan. “I am a bit hungry. What do you guys think?”
Dan Heng sighed. “Let’s just eat something in the hotel and get some rest early.”
Stelle and March 7th agreed, and the trio headed straight for the hotel restaurant.
A moment later, sitting at a quiet table, Stelle gloomily gripped a piece of complimentary bread. She lifted it and brought it down hard against the wooden table.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The bread did not even dent. It sounded like a hammer striking an anvil.
A massive drop of cold sweat formed on March 7th and Dan Heng’s foreheads as they stared at the rock-hard pastry.
“Ah…” March 7th forced a smile. “How about we just go to Samuel’s place instead?”
“Agreed,” Stelle and Dan Heng replied in unison.
The restaurant only provided this weaponized bread; it was completely inedible. They abandoned the table and retreated to Stelle’s assigned room. After Dan Heng checked the hallway to confirm no guards were watching, Stelle summoned a glowing portal, and the three of them stepped through.
In Samuel’s world, the afternoon sun hung low in the sky. It was already past four o’clock.
Furina had returned to the central plaza after a long session of fighting low-level monsters. She was currently sitting in front of the General Store, chatting animatedly with Samuel.
Furina leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with ambition. “Samuel, do you think I should create an Adventurers Guild?”
Samuel took a slow sip from his teacup, setting it down gently on the saucer. “Previously, you probably held off on creating a guild due to certain political considerations back home. But, Furina, think of it this way. The more people you have in your guild, the more your collective strength will allow you to challenge higher-level monsters. You will gain more EXP, level up faster, and grow stronger.”
He looked at her, his expression turning serious. “As far as I know, your world of Teyvat is also a world full of impending calamities. I believe you understand the importance of power better than I do. As long as you have enough power, many complex problems will naturally be resolved.”
Samuel paused, letting the words sink in. “At least… you will be able to protect the people or things you want to protect, right?”
He emphasized that last sentence deliberately, knowing exactly what weighed on Furina’s mind. If she became strong enough, would she still fear that looming Prophecy? Would she still tremble when others questioned her identity as the Hydro Archon? With enough power, she could protect Fontaine with her own two hands.
Furina’s eyes widened slightly as the truth of his words struck her heart. She clenched her fists, a determined smile breaking across her face.
“Alright! I have decided! I am going to create an Adventurers Guild too!” Furina declared, placing a hand on her hip. “Now, let me think, what would be a good name…”
While Furina was deep in thought, the familiar hum of a portal echoed nearby. Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng walked over from the direction of the Star Adventurer Group Station.
Before they even reached the plaza, Stelle raised a hand and called out loudly. “Furina! Samuel!”
Samuel and Furina turned toward the voice. Furina’s face lit up with delight when she saw the Astral Express crew approaching.
“Stelle!” Furina waved excitedly. “What are you guys doing here? Didn’t you say you were busy exploring a new planet today?”
March 7th drooped her shoulders and let out a long, exhausted sigh. “Don’t even mention it. Today was such bad luck. We ended up in a massive fight in the snow for absolutely no reason.”