Honkai Star Rail: I Became the World Tree — Chapter 33

Chapter 33: A Rocking Chair? Fun, Fun!

The Source Continent was draped in a velvety night sky. Within the dense, tranquil forest, a sea of luminescent fireflies drifted through the air, casting a warm, starlit glow over the foliage. Stelle, March 7th, Dan Heng, and Welt emerged from the Star Adventurer Group Station, the wooden floorboards of the treehouse creaking softly beneath their boots.

Because their station was nestled right next to the General Store, the first thing Stelle noticed as she stepped outside was a newly placed rocking chair sitting proudly by the entrance. Furina was lounging on it, swaying back and forth in a steady, rhythmic motion. She held a frosty glass bottle of iced cola in one hand, looking utterly at peace with the world.

Catching sight of the Astral Express crew, Furina sprang up from the rocking chair with a theatrical, gravity-defying leap.

“Stelle! March! Dan Heng! Mr. Welt! Good evening!” she cheered, striking a dramatic pose with her bottle. “Come over here and try some iced cola! It’s absolutely divine!”

Curious, the four of them walked over to the storefront. Furina skipped over to the nearby Refrigerator, slotted four copper coins into the payment box, and pulled out four chilled bottles to distribute among the group.

“Come, come! I just discovered this magnificent beverage today. It’s a masterpiece!”

Welt held the cold glass bottle, his thumb brushing against the condensation. A soft, distant look crossed his eyes. Back in his own world, this exact drink had been a familiar comfort.

Stelle, meanwhile, popped the cap, tipped her head back, and chugged half the bottle in one breath. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and let out a resounding, unabashed burp.

“Burp~ Ah, that hits the spot. But Furina, it’s so late. Why aren’t you resting yet?”

Furina patted her stomach lightly. “I indulged a bit too much at dinner, so I came out for a stroll to aid my digestion. Besides, the night view here in Samuel’s territory is simply gorgeous, so I decided to linger. Are you all heading out to hunt Goblins?”

March 7th nodded, adjusting her bow. “Yep! We’re planning to grind it out tonight and upgrade our Adventurers Guild rank to E-class.”

“Then I shall accompany you,” Furina declared, placing a hand on her hip. “You’re probably still lacking a bit of experience. We can clear them out together and return victorious!”

Stelle and the others had no objections. “Sure, let’s go.”

With their party assembled, the five of them headed down Trunk Avenue, disappearing into the night to hunt Goblins.

Time flowed until the next morning.

Golden morning sunlight spilled through the window of the Star Adventurer Group Station, accompanied by the cheerful chirping of a passing flock of birds. Stelle lay sprawled spread-eagle across her bed, dead to the world. Her peaceful slumber was only broken when a small, curious bird fluttered through the open window, landed on her wooden nightstand, and tilted its head. It chirped a few sharp, melodic notes directly at her face.

Stelle groaned, her eyelids fluttering open. She sat up in a daze, her gray hair sticking out in every direction like a messy bird’s nest. Startled by her sudden movement, the little bird took flight and darted back out the window.

Stelle rubbed her eyes and squinted at the vine-woven clock hanging on the wall. “Nine o’clock already? Ugh… I’m still half-dead.”

Just as she was contemplating falling back onto her pillows, a soft knock echoed from the door. Dragging her feet, Stelle slipped into her slippers and pulled the door open. March 7th stood in the hallway, clad in her pajamas and looking just as exhausted, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

March yawned, covering her mouth. “Stelle, Furina brought breakfast over. She told us to come downstairs and eat.”

Stelle nodded sluggishly, retreating into her room to wash her face and change out of her pajamas. The exhaustion was entirely justified; the crew had stayed up past two in the morning hunting Goblins to secure their Adventurers Guild promotion. The grueling effort had paid off, successfully elevating them to E-rank, but the lack of sleep was hitting them hard.

Downstairs, the ground floor of the station was bustling with quiet morning energy. Furina sat elegantly on the central sofa, sipping a cup of rich black tea while chatting animatedly with March 7th, Clorinde, and Escofier. Furina had officially invited the master chef into the Adventurers Guild so he could personally harvest fresh ingredients from the Source Continent to develop new gourmet recipes.

To the right of the stairs, Neuvillette, Welt, and Samuel were seated around a sunlit dining table, engaged in a calm, measured conversation. Dan Heng had claimed a quiet corner near the floor-to-ceiling window, wearing his noise-canceling headphones and completely absorbed in a thick book. Beside Samuel, the young elf Anviel sat obediently, her hands resting in her lap as she waited for the meal to begin.

Stelle trudged down the final few steps and offered a lazy wave. “Morning, everyone.”

“Stelle, you finally made it down!” Furina stood up from the sofa, her eyes sparkling. “Come over here and have breakfast.”

Stelle took a seat at the large dining table. Escofier, wearing his pristine chef’s uniform, stepped forward to present the morning spread.

“Ladies and gentlemen, today’s breakfast features Tomato Seafood Noodles, Soft-boiled Eggs, Pan-seared Pork Chops, and a rich Cream of Mushroom Soup.”

“Please, dig in!” Furina urged, gesturing to the feast. “These are all Escofier’s specialties. I guarantee they are absolutely delicious.”

Samuel and the others picked up their cutlery and began to eat. However, Anviel was struggling. As an Elf, her people’s diet was primarily vegetarian. On the rare occasions they did eat meat, it was always pre-cut into bite-sized pieces. Faced with a whole pork chop, she gripped her knife and fork awkwardly, trying and failing to saw through the meat.

Samuel noticed her plight and offered a warm, reassuring smile. “Here, Anviel. Let me show you. It’s much easier if you hold them like this.”

He gently guided her hands, correcting her grip on the utensils. After a few moments of practice, Anviel’s innate elven learning ability shone through, and she began slicing the meat with smooth proficiency.

Furina twirled a forkful of Tomato Seafood Noodles and glanced at Stelle. “So, Stelle, what are your plans for today? Anything exciting?”

Stelle opened her mouth wide, shoving a massive piece of beef inside. She chewed vigorously for several seconds, swallowed hard, and finally answered. “In a bit, we’re heading back to Belobog. I need to hand out Recruitment Invitations to Natasha, Bronya, and the rest of the crew.”

“Oh?” Furina leaned forward. “And after that?”

“Our plan is to investigate the Stellaron situation this morning, then come back here in the afternoon to grind some more monsters and level up.”

Hearing the mention of the Stellaron, Samuel set down his fork. “If you’re looking into the Stellaron, you should go ask Svarog directly. He has the data you need.”

Stelle blinked, pausing her meal. “Svarog? Samuel, how do you know he has that information?”

“I’ve spoken with him,” Samuel replied smoothly. “But a word of advice: when you ask him about it, make sure Clara is present. In Svarog’s core programming, the Stellaron is classified as a strict taboo. If you push the subject without Clara there to anchor him, he might go berserk.”

Stelle flashed an OK sign with her fingers. “Got it. We’ll talk to Clara first. I’ve noticed the big guy listens to whatever she says.”

Welt set his teacup down, looking at Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng with a gentle, fatherly expression. “I won’t be joining you for this next phase. This Trailblaze journey belongs to the three of you. It wouldn’t be right for me to interfere and stunt your growth.”

He adjusted his glasses. “Instead, I’ll be joining Mr. Neuvillette, Furina, and the others to hunt Goblins shortly. Then, this afternoon, I plan to take Mr. Neuvillette up on his invitation and pay a visit to Fontaine.”

Furina’s eyes widened in genuine surprise. “Huh? Neuvillette, you invited Mr. Welt to Fontaine? How did I not know about this? When did this happen?”

Neuvillette took a slow, refined sip of his water before answering. “Just a moment ago. Mr. Welt expressed an interest in seeing more of our world, so I extended an invitation. The scenery and waters of Fontaine are quite exceptional; I am certain Mr. Welt will find the visit satisfactory.”

Furina puffed out her chest, her surprise instantly replaced by theatrical pride. “But of course! The scenery of our beloved Fontaine is second to none! Mr. Welt, I wish you a truly spectacular time in our nation of hydro.”

Welt offered a polite, appreciative nod. “Thank you. I am very much looking forward to the journey.”