Honkai Star Rail: I Became the World Tree — Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Honkai Star Rail’s Bian Que, Stelle

Natasha gently patted the top of Hook’s hat. “Hook, that isn’t a roof. That’s the sky.”

Having spent her entire life buried in the subterranean depths of the Underworld, the little boss of the Moles had never laid eyes on the open heavens; she hadn’t even known the word for it. Hook scratched her cheek, her small face scrunching up in deep thought.

“The… sky? Oh, Hook remembers now! The old storybooks talked about the sky! So this is what it looks like… it’s so pretty~”

Nearby, Clara was busy marveling at the vibrant surroundings, her wide eyes tracing the thick vines that coiled around the wooden fences lining Trunk Avenue. Bright, colorful flowers bloomed in heavy clusters along the green stems, filling the air with a sweet fragrance.

Bronya walked beside them, a complicated mix of awe and melancholy reflecting in her eyes. “According to the old architectural archives, Belobog must have been a beautiful world like this before the Eternal Freeze.”

Hearing this, Stelle immediately stepped forward, wagging her index finger with a dramatic tsk-tsk. “No, no, no, you’re giving Belobog way too much credit. The scenery in Samuel’s world is leagues better than ours.”

March 7th nodded vigorously in agreement. “She’s right! I’ve traveled to quite a few planets with the Astral Express, and honestly, none of them hold a candle to this place. Walking around here feels like stepping straight into a fairy tale kingdom.”

The group strolled out of Trunk Avenue and stepped into the sprawling central plaza. Bronya and the Belobog crew immediately spotted Samuel and offered their warm greetings.

Samuel returned their smiles easily, then turned toward the shop. “Anviel, Clara is here.”

A sudden clatter echoed from inside the General Store, and Anviel practically flew out the front door. “Really?”

She skidded to a halt on the porch, her eyes locking onto the barefoot girl walking toward her. The two children hadn’t seen each other in a whole day. The moment their eyes met, they broke into a dead sprint.

“Anviel!”

“Clara!”

They collided in a tight hug, jumping up and down in a dizzying circle of pure joy.

Hook swaggered over, resting her hands on her hips. “Honorary Member Clara, who is this?”

Clara pulled back from the hug to introduce them. “This is Anviel, Clara’s new friend. And Anviel, this is Hook. She is also Clara’s good friend.”

Hook tilted her chin up, sizing Anviel up with a critical eye before patting her own chest in a classic big-boss pose. “Anviel, huh? Well, since you’re Clara’s good pal, that naturally makes you a good pal of Pitch-Dark Hook the Great! From this day forward, you are officially an honorary member of the Moles!”

Anviel giggled, nodding happily. “Okay~ Hook, Clara, come inside with me! I’ll treat you to some candy.”

She grabbed both of their hands and pulled them into the General Store. The moment they crossed the threshold, Clara and Hook’s eyes sparkled like stars. The shelves were packed with an overwhelming array of snacks, sweets, and colorful toys.

“Wow! So much food!” Hook gasped, pointing at a shelf. “Is all of this edible? Hook wants to eat that stick thing!”

“Do you want a lollipop, Hook?” Anviel asked proudly. “I’ll buy it for you. Clara, look around and see what you want!”

Anviel was currently flush with cash—ten whole silver coins. It was her first month’s salary, which Samuel had paid her in advance just so she could buy whatever snacks she wanted. The three little girls immediately vanished into the aisles, completely helpless against the store’s charm.

Outside, Stelle marched over to the large commercial freezer by the door. She yanked it open, grabbed an armful of iced colas, and began tossing them to Bronya, Seele, and the rest of the crew. “Come on, grab a drink. It’s on the house.”

Seele caught the freezing bottle, shivering slightly at the chill. Mimicking March 7th, she popped the cap and took a cautious sip. The intense carbonation hit her tongue, and her eyes shot wide open. “Whoa! This water is amazing!”

Stelle chuckled, a knowing smirk on her face. “Of course it is. That right there is ‘Happy Water’.”

Satisfied with her distribution, Stelle threw herself into the rocking chair Furina had claimed the night before, kicking her legs back and rocking lazily.

Seeing the group standing around, Samuel gestured for them to relax. With a casual wave of his hand, thick vines sprouted from the earth, rapidly weaving themselves into several comfortable, high-backed chairs.

Dan Heng took a seat and looked over at Samuel. “Samuel, could you please activate the `[Character Panel]` and class systems for Bronya and the others?”

Samuel nodded slightly. “Take your time and discuss which classes you want to choose. Once you’ve all decided, just let me know.”

The Belobog crew began to murmur among themselves. Clara and Hook were called out from the shop to join the discussion.

Hook scratched her hat, completely lost. “What is Hook supposed to pick?”

Clara looked equally conflicted. “Clara doesn’t know how to choose either.”

Anviel peeked out from behind Clara. “How about… Hook, Clara, you two choose `[Magician Apprentice]`. Because… Anviel is a Magician.”

Everyone in the plaza—except Samuel—turned to stare at the shy girl in absolute shock.

Stelle stopped rocking so fast the chair nearly tipped over. “Wait, what? Anviel, you can use magic?!”

Being the center of attention made Anviel’s social anxiety flare up instantly. She had gotten much better at talking after spending two days with Clara, but this was too many eyes. She shrank back. “Um… yes… Anviel knows magic.”

Samuel leaned against the storefront, offering a helpful explanation. “Anviel has been a magical prodigy since she was very young. She can replicate most spells just by seeing them cast once, and she specializes in mind-altering magic.”

Stelle’s jaw dropped. “Whoa. Talk about a hidden boss. I totally underestimated you, Anviel.”

Inspired by their new friend, both Clara and Hook immediately locked in `[Magician Apprentice]`. Seele, preferring a straightforward approach, selected `[Warrior Apprentice]`. Bronya followed March 7th’s lead and chose `[Archer Apprentice]`. Natasha, ever the caretaker, naturally selected `[Cleric]`.

With their classes officially registered, Stelle took the lead, guiding Bronya and the others down the massive roots of Irminsul toward the ground-level forest to gather food. Back in the plaza, the three little girls resumed their chaotic playtime.

Down in the dense foliage of the ground forest, Bronya adjusted the woven bamboo basket on her back. She leaned over, gripping the thick stalk of a wild mushroom, and heaved. The thing popped out of the dirt—it was the size of a cast-iron cooking pot. A single mushroom this massive could easily feed over a dozen people.

With Seele and Natasha’s help, Bronya managed to shove the monstrous fungus into her basket.

Seele wiped her hands, staring at the patch of dirt in disbelief. “This mushroom is ridiculously huge. And you’re telling me these things just refresh and grow back every single day? That makes zero sense.”

Nearby, Stelle casually ripped a bright red berry off a thorny bush and popped it into her mouth, chewing loudly. “Nothing on Samuel’s side makes sense, Seele. We can’t even use our own powers here, but the game-system powers we get from him actually work back in our own universe.”

March 7th watched Stelle swallow the berry and immediately crossed her arms, her face caught between horror and exasperation. “Stelle! Stop eating random things off the ground! Did you completely forget what happened when we first met Anviel? Half the stuff in this forest is highly poisonous!”

Stelle waved her hand dismissively, swallowing another berry. “Relax, relax~ I’m built different. I won’t die anyway. You want one? It’s actually super sweet.”

She plucked a third berry and offered it to March.

March 7th stared at the trash raccoon with a deadpan expression. “I think I’ll wait to see if you start foaming at the mouth first.”

Natasha sighed, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead. “Let’s just focus on gathering supplies, everyone. We need to pick as much as we can carry.”

[Elysian’s Note: “Bian Que” referenced in the chapter title was a legendary Chinese physician from antiquity, known for his miraculous healing abilities. The title jokingly compares Stelle’s fearless habit of taste-testing random, potentially poisonous wild plants to a miracle doctor testing medicinal herbs.]