Honkai Star Rail: I Became the World Tree — Chapter 32

Chapter 32: Uncle Yang Joins the Fray

The biting chill of Jarilo-VI rattled against the frost-caked windows, but inside the shelter, the atmosphere remained comfortably warm. The remnants of a hearty meal sat on the table as the crew gathered to discuss their next move.

Dan Heng turned his calm gaze toward Samuel.

“Samuel, can you help us contact the Astral Express? Our phones completely lost their signal the moment we landed on this planet.”

Samuel leaned back in his chair and shook his head slowly.

“You know my current situation. My strength has not fully recovered yet, so I cannot project anything into the vacuum of space. However, I do have a practical suggestion. Since the planetary interference is causing the poor signal, you could try finding a higher vantage point to bypass the interference.”

March 7th clapped her hands together, her eyes lighting up with sudden realization.

“Oh, right! That makes perfect sense!”

She immediately spun around to face the silver-haired Silvermane Guard commander.

“Bronya, what is the absolute highest place around here?”

Bronya lowered her head, her expression shifting into a mask of serious thought as she mentally mapped out the frozen terrain.

“If we are talking about locations close to Belobog, that would be Everwinter Hill. But that area is heavily affected by Rift corrosion, making it extremely dangerous. If we look further away, there are the towering mountains deep within the snowfields. The problem is the freezing cold there is absolute. It is practically impossible for any human to reach the summit alive.”

The bright enthusiasm drained from March 7th’s face, replaced by a heavy pout of disappointment.

“Huh? How can that be? Doesn’t that mean we still have no way to contact Himeko and Uncle Yang?”

The heavy, rhythmic thud of metal footsteps drew their attention. Svarog, who had remained entirely silent in the corner of the room like a towering iron sentinel, suddenly spoke. His synthetic voice was deep and resonant.

“If your only objective is to transport the communication device you call a phone, I can provide assistance. The Automaton Beetles possess powerful cold resistance protocols. They are more than capable of reaching the highest peaks deep within the snowfields.”

Dan Heng crossed his arms, his mind already piecing together the logistics of the mechanical transport.

“We can send the phone over with the machine. We will program the Automaton to dial the Express’s frequency repeatedly while it ascends. We can also attach a handwritten note to the device just in case the call drops. That way, we can at least get a message to Himeko and Mr. Welt. It is a bit troublesome, and there is a margin for error, but it is our best option.”

Stelle casually tossed her phone onto the table, her golden eyes gleaming with chaotic indifference.

“Let’s give it a try. Even if the little bug fails and drops it off a cliff, it is just the loss of one phone. Use mine. There is nothing much on it anyway. If it breaks, I will just bother someone to buy me a new one.”

Dan Heng nodded in agreement, picking up the device to begin the preparations.

The group finished the last of their meal, the tension in the room easing into casual chatter.

Once the plates were cleared, the party temporarily split up to handle their respective duties.

Bronya and Seele departed for Boulder Town. They needed to report the surface situation to Natasha and planned to bring the Underworld doctor and the others back to the settlement later. Stelle had already approved Bronya and Seele’s applications to join the guild. Once the Adventurers Guild leveled up tonight, she would officially pull them into the system roster.

In the meantime, Dan Heng and Svarog stood over a deactivated Automaton Beetle, their hands moving swiftly as they modified its pathing and communication programs.

Across the dimensional divide, Furina and Clorinde had already returned to Fontaine. The pristine, hydro-powered streets of the Court of Fontaine awaited them, but more pressing was the trial scheduled at the Opera Epiclese this afternoon.

To the people of Fontaine, a trial might have seemed like a grand theatrical performance, a circus of drama and judgment. But Furina knew better. She would never miss a single trial.

She could not.

Because the self in the mirror had spoken those haunting words to her.

Everything would eventually come to an end in one final, grand trial. The heavy burden of that prophecy weighed on her heart with every step she took toward the opera house.

Back on Jarilo-VI, Stelle and March 7th took Anviel and Clara out for a leisurely stroll through the relatively safe zones of the settlement, enjoying the brief respite.

Far above the frozen atmosphere, aboard the Astral Express.

The parlor car clock read exactly 3:47 PM.

Himeko and Welt stood before the main monitor, both letting out a collective sigh of relief as the screen displayed the grainy visual of an Automaton Beetle holding a phone with a note securely taped to its chassis.

Himeko brushed a lock of crimson hair behind her ear, a soft smile gracing her lips.

“Very good. Although it is still incredibly inconvenient to communicate through a robotic courier, at least we have visual confirmation that they are safe.”

The note Dan Heng had attached provided a concise summary of their landing, the situation on the frozen planet, and their specific plan to handle the Adventurers Guild upgrade later tonight.

Welt adjusted his glasses, his eyes lingering on the monitor.

“How about I go down there as well? An Adventurers Guild promotion quest does not sound like a simple walk in the park.”

Himeko turned to look at Welt, catching the subtle gleam of eagerness hidden behind his usually composed demeanor.

“You cannot sit still anymore, can you? It is quite rare to see you acting so anxious.”

Welt offered a small, self-deprecating smile, making no effort to deny her observation.

“I really cannot sit still. The last time I actually got off the Express for a proper Trailblaze feels like a lifetime ago.”

Himeko tapped her chin, considering the logistics. Given the unknown variables of this Adventurers Guild promotion dungeon, having a seasoned veteran like Welt on the ground would provide a massive safety net for the younger crew members.

“Go ahead. Take this high-frequency signal booster with you so we can stay in touch without relying on mechanical bugs. However, you must promise not to interfere too much with their Trailblaze this time. This is Stelle’s very first Trailblaze journey, and she needs to experience it for herself.”

Welt nodded solemnly, accepting the small metallic device.

“I am only going down to assist with the Adventurers Guild promotion dungeon. Once that particular problem is solved, I will find a quiet place to wander around on my own.”

Without wasting another moment, Welt made his way to the lander and initiated the descent sequence toward Belobog.

Watching the lander detach and streak toward the white planet below, Himeko let out a helpless little sigh.

“Someone has to stay behind to watch over the Express. Otherwise, I would want to go down there too. I have only lived in my newly decorated treehouse for two days, after all.”

The harsh winds of Belobog had settled into a quiet, freezing night by the time Welt finally met up with Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng at the Robot Settlement. The clock had just struck 9 PM.

March 7th threw her hands up in the air, her face breaking into a massive grin as she trotted over to greet the older man.

“Uncle Yang! Uncle Yang! You actually came down to join us!”

Welt offered a warm, paternal nod.

“Yes, I am here to help you all clear the Adventurers Guild promotion dungeon. By the way, I brought a signal booster from the Express. You should all take a moment to report to Himeko directly and let her know you are safe.”

March 7th practically vibrated with joy at the news.

“Really? That is awesome! I have been bored to death without my phone to play with these past two days. Let me connect to the network first and see what the discounted items on IPC Shopping are today.”

Nearby, Stelle immediately snatched her phone back, her fingers flying across the screen as she opened her private chat with the genius of the Space Station.

Galactic Baseballer: Hey hey hey? Anyone there? Where is my Galaxy Frog Hero? Has it been sent back yet?

Ms. Herta: Your message has been received. The great Ms. Herta will reply after she sees your message. Please wait patiently.

Galactic Baseballer:??? Where are you?

Ms. Herta: Your message has been…

Galactic Baseballer: [Speechless.JPG]

Stelle stared at the screen, her eye twitching slightly at the blatant automated brush-off.

A commotion near the settlement entrance drew their attention. Seele, Natasha, and Bronya had arrived, bringing the energetic little Hook along with them.

Hook had begged to come play with Clara. Since Hook’s father was busy leading an expedition down into the dangerous mines tonight, he had entrusted his daughter to Natasha’s careful supervision. Naturally, the Underworld doctor had brought the little boss along for the trip.

Seele hovered right behind March 7th, poking her head over the pink-haired girl’s shoulder to stare at the glowing screen with intense curiosity.

“March, can you actually buy real things with this little glowing box?”

March 7th nodded enthusiastically, scrolling through pages of colorful holographic advertisements.

“Yeah, yeah! This thing is super convenient. You just place an order for whatever you want to buy, and someone from the IPC will eventually deliver it right to your door.”

Seele let out a soft gasp of genuine surprise, her purple eyes wide.

“Oh… that is really impressive.”

Welt scanned the gathered crowd, his brow furrowing slightly.

“Where is Samuel? Is he not joining us here?”

Dan Heng stepped forward to clarify.

“Yes, Samuel is currently in the Source Continent.”

Welt accepted the answer with a nod, then turned his attention back to the eager Trailblazers.

“Stelle, Little March 7th, let us head out. We should finish this dungeon early so we can all get some proper rest. It is getting quite late.”

Hearing the call to action, Stelle shoved her phone into her pocket. She stepped forward, struck a highly dramatic, wide-stanced pose, and thrust her hand forward to summon the dimensional portal.

“Open Sesame!”

A swirling vortex of energy tore through the frigid air, illuminating the snowy ground with a brilliant, otherworldly glow.

March 7th quickly handed her phone over to Seele before stepping toward the rift.

“Seele, here, you can play a game while we are gone. This little game is very simple. These round things are birds, and these green things are pigs. You win if you control the birds to knock the pigs away. Have fun!”

Seele took the sleek device with a face full of absolute novelty. She stared at the screen, her expression shifting into one of deadly, combat-ready seriousness as she launched her first Angry Bird.

With the entertainment sorted, Welt led Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng toward the swirling portal.

March 7th paused right at the shimmering entrance, turning back to wave enthusiastically at the Underworlders.

“Natasha! Bronya! Wait right here for our good news!”

Stelle flashed a confident thumbs-up, her golden eyes burning with the thrill of the impending fight.

Natasha and Bronya smiled and waved back, watching in silence as the four figures stepped through the threshold.

The moment Stelle’s boots cleared the event horizon, the portal collapsed in on itself, dissipating into a beautiful shower of floating light particles that quickly faded into the cold night air.

The Robot Settlement grew quiet once more, save for the distant hum of machinery and the faint sound of digital pigs popping on a smartphone screen.

Bronya turned her gaze away from the fading light and looked directly at the soft-spoken doctor.

“Natasha, I must admit, I never expected the true leader of Wildfire to be you.”

Natasha offered a gentle, knowing smile, choosing not to answer the statement directly.

Bronya did not press the issue. She straightened her posture, the authoritative aura of the Supreme Guardian taking hold.

“Since you are the leader, I need you to tell me everything about the current situation in the Underworld. I need to calculate exactly how many supplies are required to bring the people’s lives up to a proper subsistence level.”