Honkai Star Rail: I Became the World Tree — Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Pitch-Dark Hook the Great

Stelle blinked against the harsh overhead light, rubbing her temples. ‘My head feels like someone stuffed it with wet cotton.’

A gentle voice drifted from the side of the room. “That is perfectly normal. You only just woke up from a rather deep faint, so a bit of grogginess is to be expected.”

Stelle turned her head to see a woman with soft, ash-gray hair and a warm, reassuring smile.

“By the way, my name is Natasha. I am the doctor of this clinic. And you are?”

Stelle pushed herself up into a sitting position. “I am Stelle. I am a Trailblazer, and part of the Astral Express Crew. How long was I out?”

Natasha checked a chart at the end of the bed. “Not long at all. Just a few hours.”

Had things gone according to the original trajectory of this world, Stelle would have been unconscious for far longer. However, her physical constitution had undergone a massive overhaul after leveling up through Samuel’s system. The enhanced stats had forcefully shortened her recovery time, dragging her back to consciousness in record speed.

Natasha offered a slight, approving nod. “Hello, Stelle. A man named Sampo brought you and your companions here a little while ago. Your two friends woke up before you did. They stepped outside just a moment ago.”

Hearing that her crew was safe, Stelle swung her legs over the edge of the hospital bed and dropped her boots to the floor. “Thank you, Natasha. I should go find them.”

Natasha smiled, stepping aside to clear the path. “You are very welcome. Go right ahead.”

Stelle waved goodbye and hurried down the stairs. The moment she pushed open the heavy iron doors of the clinic, the rusty, metallic scent of Boulder Town hit her nose. She scanned the intersection and immediately spotted a familiar mop of pink hair pacing around the dirt road.

“March!”

March 7th spun around on her heels, her face lighting up. “Stelle, you are awake!”

Stelle closed the distance between them. “Yeah. Where is Dan Heng? Natasha said you two left the clinic together.”

March 7th crossed her arms, letting out a small sigh. “Dan Heng said he needed to scout the perimeter and investigate our current situation, so we split up.”

Stelle processed the information. “So, what is our game plan now?”

March 7th planted her hands on her hips, puffing out her chest. “Hmph hmph. This is exactly where the advantage of having a veteran Trailblazer comes in handy. At a time like this, we obviously need to find the locals and ask them about the Stellaron.”

Stelle raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Oh? Then, my wise and veteran Trailblazer, who exactly do you propose we interrogate for this highly classified information?”

March 7th confidently pointed a finger toward a dusty corner of the plaza, where a small group of children were chasing each other around a pile of crates. “Those kids over there, obviously! Children possess pure hearts. They do not lie or deceive people. Well? Aren’t I a genius? You still have a lot to learn, Stelle. Stick with me, and this veteran Trailblazer will teach you the ropes.”

Stelle stared at her for a long, flat second before offering a slow, deeply sarcastic thumbs-up.

Asking literal toddlers for high-level cosmic intelligence. Only March 7th could formulate a strategy with such flawless, airtight logic. Children might not be master liars, but their geopolitical knowledge of world-ending anomalies was generally lacking.

Seeing March 7th already marching toward the playground, Stelle dragged her feet and followed.

March 7th leaned down, flashing her brightest, most approachable smile. “Hey kids, can I play with you?”

The three children stopped their game and turned around. There were two girls and one boy. The leader of the trio, a little girl sporting a massive Cossack hat, a thick fuzzy jacket, and bright emerald-green eyes, took a bold step forward.

“Oh? Do you want to play with Pitch-Dark Hook the Great?”

Stelle reached out and tugged sharply on the hem of March 7th’s skirt. “March, didn’t we come here to gather intelligence? Why are you trying to join a game of tag?”

March 7th swatted Stelle’s hand away, whispering out of the corner of her mouth. “You just do not get it. You have to build a rapport first. Once we are friends, the information flows naturally.”

Stelle let out a long, exhausted breath. “Can we not just ask them directly? If they do not know anything, we move on and find an adult.”

Their hushed bickering was not nearly as quiet as they thought. The blonde girl in the oversized hat narrowed her eyes, studying the two outsiders with intense scrutiny.

“Oho. So you are here to ask for information?” Hook planted her little boots firmly in the dirt. “Hmph hmph. Then you have definitely found the right person. Listen closely! In the Underworld, the adults are managed by Wildfire, but the children answer to The Moles. And I, Pitch-Dark Hook the Great, am the boss of The Moles!”

March 7th clapped her hands together, instantly delighted. “Really? That is amazing, Hook.”

Hook puffed out her cheeks, her hands flying to her hips. “Of course it is! And you must address me by my full title. I am Pitch-Dark Hook the Great!”

March 7th nodded along eagerly. “Fine, fine, fine. So, Pitch-Dark Hook the Great, do you happen to know anything about a Stellaron?”

Hook froze. The confident swagger completely vanished from her posture. “Stellar-what-now?”

March 7th leaned in closer. “A Stellaron. Have you ever heard of it?”

A wave of sheer panic washed over Hook’s face. This Stellaron thing sounded super important, but she had absolutely no idea what it was. What was she supposed to do? Was the legendary reputation of Pitch-Dark Hook the Great going to be shattered right here in the dirt?

‘Let me think, let me think…’Hook’s brain worked in overdrive.’I’ve got it! Hook might not know, but Hook can order someone else to find out! Hmph hmph!’

Hook lifted her chin, adopting an expression of absolute righteousness. “Hook does not know!”

Stelle gave March 7th a deadpan look, gesturing to the proud child with open palms. “See? I told you this was a terrible idea. Let’s go find someone who has actually hit puberty.”

Seeing her new subjects preparing to walk away, Hook panicked and threw her arms out. “Stop right there! I was not finished speaking! Even though I do not know what this stellar-whatever thing is, I can totally help you look for it.”

March 7th tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Help us look? Wait, wouldn’t that count as hiring child labor?”

Stelle crossed her arms, her expression turning deadly serious. “Technically, since we have no money to pay them, it is not child labor. It is just child abuse.”

March 7th gasped, taking a step back. “Yikes. Then forget it. We are already wanted criminals in the Overworld. I really do not want to be a wanted criminal in the Underworld too.”

Hook stomped her foot in frustration. “Do not worry about that! As long as you can beat me in a game, I will voluntarily command The Moles to help you search for your stellar-thingy.”

Stelle and March 7th exchanged a glance.

“I suppose we can humor them for a bit,” Stelle muttered.

Just as they were about to accept the challenge, the heavy iron doors of the clinic swung open again. Natasha stepped out into the dim street light, her tone carrying the gentle but absolute authority of a seasoned mother.

“Hook, please do not bother the adults. If you want to play, take your friends and play together. Besides, it is dinner time. Everyone, come inside and wash up.”

Hook’s shoulders slumped instantly. The fierce boss of The Moles deflated into a pouty child. “Okay. Hook understands.”

Dragging her feet, Hook led her little companions toward a large, sturdy building attached to the side of the clinic.

This annex was Natasha’s makeshift orphanage and daycare. Life in the Underworld was brutal. The vast majority of the adults in Boulder Town survived by working the geomarrow mines, pulling grueling, day-long shifts deep in the dangerous caverns. As a result, the town was filled with unattended children left to wander the rusty streets. Natasha had taken it upon herself to gather them up, providing a safe haven and a hot meal until their exhausted parents returned late in the evening to take them home.

Natasha turned her attention back to the two Trailblazers. “Stelle, March. Would you two like to come in and have something to eat as well? I must warn you, it is nothing lavish, but it will fill your stomachs.”

Stelle’s stomach gave a quiet, treacherous rumble at the mention of food. “We would not want to impose.”

Natasha offered a warm, easy smile. “It is no trouble at all. Come along, follow me.”

Unable to resist a free meal, Stelle and March 7th followed the doctor into the annex. The moment they stepped through the doorway, the sheer scale of Natasha’s operation became clear. Dozens of children were packed into the dining hall, their voices echoing off the stone walls as they lined up neatly by a serving window to receive their dinner.

Natasha handed the two girls a pair of battered metal trays. “Let’s get in line. It will be our turn shortly.”

Stelle nodded, taking her place behind March 7th. The line moved with practiced efficiency. Two minutes later, Stelle stepped up to the serving window, her tray extended.

She peered past the glass to look at the evening’s menu, and her brow furrowed into a deep knot.

There were only two options available. The first was a stack of rock-hard, pitch-black bread that looked like it could double as building material. The second was a murky stew filled with chunks of pale, greenish meat harvested from some sort of subterranean crab creature.

Stelle and March 7th stared at the food, then looked at each other. Without a word, they stepped out of the line and moved to a quiet corner of the room.

“March,” Stelle whispered, her usual deadpan demeanor cracking slightly. “The living conditions down here are worse than I thought. How can they feed growing kids this kind of stuff?”

March 7th clutched her tray tightly, her eyes filled with genuine distress. “I know, Stelle. It breaks my heart watching them eat that. What if we brought them some proper supplies? We have to do something.”

Stelle’s eyes lit up with a sudden realization. “That is actually a great idea. We can go to Samuel’s place. With his system, he should be able to pull some decent food for us.”

March 7th nodded vigorously, her determination returning in full force. “Then let’s go right now. We will drop in, grab the supplies, and come right back.”