Honkai Star Rail: I Became the World Tree — Chapter 52

Chapter 52: The Three Gods Arrive in Fontaine

Anviel bit down on the sweet candy Hook offered, a bright smile breaking across her face. The sugary taste grounded her senses. After resting against the cold stone for a while, she felt a fair amount of her magic power stabilize in her veins. The dizzying fog in her head finally cleared, allowing her to stand up on her own.

Seeing this, Clara walked over, her bare feet padding softly against the uneven ground, and gently took Anviel by the hand.

“Anviel, let me help you walk a bit,” Clara offered, her voice soft and caring.

Hook immediately threw her hand high into the air, her oversized hat bobbing. “The pitch-dark Hook the Great will help too!”

With the two girls supporting her, the trio began a slow stroll through the dim, rusted streets of Rivet Town. Along the way, the hardened members of Wildfire stopped their patrols and scavenging to actively greet Anviel. Their eyes held nothing but absolute reverence. Everything Anviel had just accomplished was nothing short of a divine miracle in the eyes of these weary Underworlders.

A few of the older miners even bowed their heads, addressing her as the Saintess.

Hearing such a lofty title made Anviel blush a deep crimson, her shyness getting the better of her as she tried to hide her face behind Clara’s shoulder.

Meanwhile, in a quieter corner of the underground settlement…

Bronya, Natasha, Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng stood gathered around a makeshift table, finalizing their tactical plans for the ascent to Everwinter Hill the following morning.

Bronya traced a line across a worn map. “We will set off at first light tomorrow. To reach Everwinter Hill, we have no choice but to pass directly through the restricted zone. A massive contingent of Silvermane Guards is stationed there, heavily fortified. I will go ahead first to see if I can still command them. As the Supreme Guardian successor, if they still heed my orders, our path forward will be much simpler.”

March 7th tilted her head, clearly puzzled by the cautious approach. “Why do we not just take the Wildfire fighters and Clara’s robots, then smash our way right up to the top?”

Before Bronya could formulate a diplomatic response, the usually taciturn Dan Heng spoke up from the side, his arms crossed over his chest.

“That will not do. There is already a deep, festering rift between the Overworld and the Underworld. If another armed conflict breaks out between the two sides, even with the fate of the world as a valid reason, it would permanently damage the relationship between the people of both cities. That would leave a deadly hidden danger for the future of Belobog.”

Bronya nodded firmly, agreeing entirely with Dan Heng’s assessment. “Yes, precisely for that reason. I absolutely do not plan to send Wildfire or the mechanical units from the Robot Settlement to the Overworld. This is a burden the Express and I must bear alone.”

March 7th formed an ‘O’ with her mouth, an expression of dawning understanding washing over her features. “Oh, I see now. That makes a lot of sense.”

Stelle swung her trusty baseball bat through the air, the metallic whoosh echoing in the quiet room. She wore a grin of absolute, chaotic confidence. “What is there to fear? We are all elite trailblazers! It is just like a special forces unit infiltrating the enemy stronghold to carry out a tactical decapitation strike. How cool is that! When the time comes, I will definitely make that Stellaron taste my skills. I guarantee I will give it a real kick.”

She mimed a series of exaggerated combat moves. “I will charge right in with an Uppercut, follow it up with Ghostflame, and then finish the job with a Heavy Strike!”

Natasha watched Stelle’s energetic display and offered a warm, maternal smile. “Everything depends on tomorrow. As long as you can deal with the Stellaron, the future of Belobog will finally see the light of day.”

Bronya looked at Stelle, March, and Dan Heng, her eyes softening with genuine gratitude. “Stelle, March, Dan Heng… thank you for everything you have done today. Why do you not all head back and rest for now? I have already spoken with Escofier. We will have a grand feast at your quarters tonight. I had the freshest ingredients sent over to her kitchen.”

Hearing the promise of good food, March 7th clapped her hands together, pleasantly surprised. “That is great! We are in for another massive treat tonight!”

Shortly after the meeting concluded, Stelle, March 7th, Dan Heng, and Welt gathered Anviel and made their way back to the Source Continent to rest and prepare.

Far away, beneath a completely different sky…

Fontaine, the Port of Fontaine.

The bustling merchant caravan from Liyue had already arrived at the docks and was currently waiting for the massive aquabus they had chartered. The waterways of Fontaine were vastly different from the scaled-down versions depicted in games or stories. In reality, each major waterway stretched over fifty meters wide, a grand expanse of crystal-clear water reflecting the majestic architecture. Besides the small, elegant sightseeing boats gliding along the edges, massive passenger ships and heavy merchant vessels handled the deep channels with ease.

This time, the wealthy Liyue caravan had booked an entire merchant ship for their journey.

Zhongli, Nahida, and Venti stood together on the elevated viewing platform near the towering Statue of The Seven, quietly admiring the stunning scenery of the nation of justice.

Nahida leaned forward against the cold metal railing, her small feet dangling playfully in the air. She gazed out across the vast sea toward the distant, shimmering sands of the desert, a soft sigh escaping her lips.

“My divine power is still far too weak,” she murmured, her voice carrying a trace of melancholy. “If I possessed the boundless abilities of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, that land over there would not be a barren desert. It would be a flourishing rainforest.”

Venti, completely unbothered by the heavy atmosphere, happily took a long sip from a bottle of Snake Cold Wine he had specifically purchased back in Caravan Ribat. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and chuckled.

“Nahida, it is not nearly as easy as you think. I have heard that the desert is crawling with fierce mercenary groups, and they all fiercely worship the Scarlet King. Managing the desert and its people is not a simple task, you know.”

Nahida gripped the railing a little tighter, her eyes shining with unwavering determination. “No matter how difficult the path may be, I will strive to do it. Whether the people of the desert choose to worship me or the Scarlet King, it truly does not matter. As long as they are a part of Sumeru, I will do everything in my power to help them.”

Zhongli, standing tall with his arms folded behind his back, added his own measured perspective. “A noble sentiment. However, rewards and punishments must still be clearly defined. Order must be maintained.”

Nahida nodded in agreement. “Of course. Some of those mercenaries have committed unforgivable crimes that cannot be ignored.”

A short while later, the seasoned leader of the Liyue caravan approached the trio with a respectful bow.

“Mr. Zhongli, the merchant ship we booked has finally arrived at the pier. Please board with your friends at your earliest convenience. We will be traveling directly to the Court of Fontaine.”

Zhongli gave a slight, polite nod. He turned on his heel and walked toward the designated boarding point with measured, elegant steps.

Seeing this, Venti quickly corked his wine bottle, stashed it away, and skipped after the former Geo Archon.

Nahida gave a little heave-ho as she hopped down from the high railing, her small shoes clicking against the stone as she trotted to catch up with the two older gods.

The journey aboard the merchant ship took roughly an hour. The rhythmic churning of the water and the cool breeze eventually gave way to the towering, opulent skyline of their destination.

They had arrived at the Court of Fontaine.

Zhongli had not set foot in this nation for many long years. Looking at the towering mechanical structures, the complex aqueducts, and the elegantly dressed citizens, everything around him felt entirely unfamiliar. The passage of time had reshaped the city of water into a marvel of modern engineering.

Venti, however, did not share this nostalgic disconnect. As the old saying went, you could spot the Anemo Archon causing trouble in any nation except Mondstadt. He was a true wanderer at heart—playing music in the streets of Fontaine today, strolling through the volcanic springs of Natlan tomorrow, and perhaps running off to Sumeru the day after.

Though, in truth, Sumeru was the place he visited the absolute least. The Akademiya strictly prohibited public entertainment activities. Venti could not even perform his bardic tunes to earn a few meager coins for wine there, meaning there was absolutely no fun to be had in the land of wisdom.

Nahida, on the other hand, observed her new surroundings with wide, curious eyes. This was her very first time visiting Fontaine. The architectural style, so radically different from the organic, nature-woven buildings of Sumeru, felt incredibly novel to her. She was especially captivated by the Melusines. Watching the small, colorful creatures walking and bouncing cheerfully along the pristine roads made Nahida smile. She found them utterly adorable, secretly wishing they were a native race back in Sumeru.

Upon arriving at the bustling main plaza of the Court of Fontaine, the three gods parted ways with the Liyue caravan. The merchants went off to handle their lucrative trade deals, while Zhongli, Venti, and Nahida set out to investigate the pressing matter of the mysterious visitors from another world.

As they walked down a lively street lined with cafes and boutiques, Venti’s eyes suddenly lit up with a familiar, mischievous gleam. He nudged Zhongli’s arm.

“Old man, we have been standing on that ship for so long. Nahida must be feeling a bit tired by now. Let us go sit in that cozy little Tavern over there, okay? Nahida is still young and growing; she absolutely should not be overworked.”

Nahida, who had been happily watching a local street band perform a lively jazz number, was suddenly mentioned. She blinked, looking utterly confused.

‘Huh? But I am not tired at all?’ she thought, tilting her head.

Zhongli cast a long, flat side-glance at Venti.

Was Nahida tired? It seemed glaringly obvious to him that Barbatos simply wanted an excuse to drink more alcohol. And the bard actually had the nerve to disguise his vice as a noble attempt to let Nahida rest. Nahida was a reigning Archon, after all; her divine constitution was nowhere near weak enough to be exhausted by a simple boat ride.

However, Zhongli did genuinely want to sit down and rest his legs for a bit. That much was true.

“Let us go,” Zhongli agreed smoothly.

Seeing the usually strict old man agree so easily, Venti cheered, overjoyed at the prospect of Fontaine wine. Nahida simply followed along behind them, her face still a picture of total confusion.

Entering the warmly lit Tavern, Zhongli bypassed the crowded bar and spoke directly to the sharply dressed attendant.

“A private room, please. It must be sufficiently quiet, away from the main floor.”

Hearing the deep, authoritative timbre of his voice and taking in Zhongli’s immaculate, tailored attire, the attendant’s eyes widened slightly.

‘This man is definitely high nobility!’the attendant thought excitedly.’He must be incredibly wealthy. My commission for today is probably going to be through the roof. If I work hard, provide perfect service, and upsell a few of our most expensive vintage bottles… maybe I can finally afford to buy that limited-edition Lady Furina merchandise I have had my eye on!’