Honkai Star Rail: I Became the World Tree — Chapter 55

Chapter 55: Three Gods Join the Justice Adventure Team

However, Furina still harbored a lingering knot of anxiety.

If these three formidable deities actually joined her Adventurers Guild, they would inevitably spend a significant amount of time in her orbit. Would that proximity allow them to peel back her theatrical layers? Would they discover that she wasn’t the all-powerful Hydro Archon, but merely a fragile, ordinary human playing a desperate role?

But Stelle’s logic was obvious—these three were top-tier combatants.

Furina desperately needed to level up her Adventurers Guild and expand its roster. A mere hundred member slots was woefully insufficient for her grand designs. She cast a subtle glance toward March 7th, who was currently being politely but thoroughly interrogated by Zhongli. After a brief moment of intense internal debate, Furina made her final decision.

Recruit them. Recruit them all!

She could simply appoint Morax as the deputy guild leader and have him lead Barbatos and Nahida through the teleportation gate to the Source Continent. Over there, the rules of reality were dictated by the system. Everyone, no matter how divine, had to build their strength from Level 1. Stripped of their overwhelming power, they would be far less likely to notice her own glaring lack of it.

Meanwhile, March 7th was animatedly explaining the mechanics of the Source Continent to Zhongli and the others.

“And then there’s the Source Continent itself,” the pink-haired girl explained, gesturing expansively. “It’s the nexus that connects people from our two completely different universes. But if you want to go there, you have to join Furina’s Justice Adventure Team. You’ll have to ask her about the details. Our Star Adventure Group is strictly limited to recruiting people from our side of the tracks.”

Upon hearing this, Zhongli offered a polite, measured nod. “Thank you for the thorough explanation, Miss March 7th.”

March 7th’s eyes sparkled, and she shook her head with a delighted grin, placing her hands proudly on her hips. “No problem, no problem! You called me ‘Miss’~ It makes me sound so mature and elegant! I think that’s the very first time someone’s addressed me like that.”

As Zhongli turned his amber gaze toward Furina, preparing to speak, the Hydro Archon seized the initiative, slipping effortlessly into her grand, theatrical persona.

“Since the three of you are now fully aware of the existence of another world, I suppose I won’t hide the truth from you any longer,” Furina declared, striking a dramatic pose. “That’s right! I, Focalors, am the very first person from Teyvat to be invited by Samuel, and I stand before you as the proud leader of the Justice Adventure Team! Esteemed guests, our guild is currently recruiting talented individuals. I hereby extend a formal invitation to you, three Gods from foreign lands, to join our ranks. What say you?”

Nahida’s emerald eyes widened, a deep joy blooming across her delicate features at the mention of that specific name. “Furina, you know Samuel?”

Furina offered a confident, airy laugh. “Yes, of course I know him. He is the Irminsul incarnate, the absolute ruler of the Source Continent. He was the one who personally invited me to traverse the worlds. Why? Are you acquainted with him as well?”

She paused, tapping her chin as if recalling a distant memory. “Oh~ right, right, it’s all coming back to me now. You must be the dear friend Samuel mentioned! Previously, he specifically instructed me to reserve a slot in the Justice Adventure Team, stating he wanted to invite someone important. Looking at the situation now, that person must undoubtedly be you.”

Nahida nodded happily, her usual serene composure giving way to genuine eagerness. “Yes, I came to Fontaine specifically to find him. I am more than willing to join the Justice Adventure Team. Can you take me to him?”

Hearing this, Furina immediately summoned her system interface and fired off a guild invitation.

Perfect! Fighter number one is locked in! Furina cheered internally. The Dendro Archon, huh? She might look small, but she has to be incredibly powerful!

Her Adventurers Guild currently required a staggering 10,000 EXP to reach the next level, and the system was notoriously stingy—slaying monsters below Level 5 didn’t yield a single point. Even taking down a `[Lv. 5 Big Goblin]` only granted one measly point of experience. She desperately needed seasoned experts to grind mobs and farm EXP.

Furina was counting the days until the guild leveled up, which would grant her the capacity to bring more members of the Gardes over to the Source Continent. Once they leveled up and harnessed the system’s power, her Gardes would evolve into the most formidable military force in all of Teyvat. Facing the apocalyptic prophecy that haunted her every waking moment, she needed that absolute military confidence.

Nahida looked at the glowing virtual interface hovering before her and gently pressed the `[Accept]` button.

Furina then pivoted, her mismatched eyes locking onto Zhongli and Venti. “And what about you two? Have you considered my generous offer?”

Zhongli gave a slight, dignified nod. “I shall join as well. Another world… if such a rare opportunity presents itself, I definitely wish to witness it with my own eyes.”

Venti chimed in with a bright, cheerful laugh, strumming an invisible chord in the air. “Well, if the old man is joining the fun, then count me in too!”

With a few swift gestures, Furina sent the guild invitations to both the Geo and Anemo Archons.

“You three should return to your lodgings and rest for the night,” Furina instructed, waving a hand dismissively. “Early tomorrow morning, I shall personally escort you over. See you tomorrow!”

After bidding farewell to the newly recruited deities, Furina bounded off with Stelle and March 7th, eager to spend the rest of the evening messing around with the futuristic Flying Skateboard.

Early the next morning, the crisp sunlight bathed the Palais Mermonia as Nahida, Zhongli, and Venti arrived to meet Furina. Having received the guard’s report, Furina promptly ushered the three VIPs into her opulent private lounge.

“Have a seat on the sofa and rest for a bit,” Furina said, gesturing to the velvet cushions. “I need to go change my clothes. We’re going to watch some prime excitement today!”

As she vanished into her dressing room, Neuvillette sat in quiet observation, his piercing, slit-pupiled gaze sweeping over the three foreign deities. The air in the room felt dense, heavy with the latent, thrumming power of three Archons. Last night, Furina had briefed him on her audacious plan to recruit them into the Justice Adventure Team.

Historically, the Iudex held little love for The Seven, viewing the usurpers of the old world with cold, draconic disdain. Yet, time and his tenure in Fontaine had eroded the sharpest edges of his resentment. He had come to realize that these gods, flawed as they might be, genuinely loved humanity. Over the centuries, a quiet corner of his own heart had carved out a tender place for those very same fragile, fleeting human lives.

Fortunately, the heavy silence was broken when Furina emerged. She had completely shed her usual elegant, aristocratic “Demoiselle” attire, replacing it with surprisingly thick winter clothes.

She wore a puffy, blue-and-white down jacket that swallowed her slender frame, shifting her entire aura from a haughty Archon to a cozy, approachable girl next door.

Seeing Furina dressed for a blizzard, Neuvillette frowned, genuine puzzlement crossing his stoic features. “Lady Furina, it is currently the height of summer. Why are you dressed so heavily?”

Furina adjusted her collar and explained brightly, “Today, Stelle and March are going to fight a Stellaron! I’m heading over to watch the excitement, and Clorinde is coming with me. It’s going to be freezing where they’re fighting!”

Neuvillette’s frown deepened into a severe scowl. A Stellaron? He had heard Mr. Welt speak of that cosmic anomaly. It was the Cancer of All Worlds, an entity of catastrophic danger. What if something went wrong?

“Lady Furina, a Stellaron is no ordinary object,” Neuvillette warned, his deep voice vibrating with authoritative concern. “Its danger level is extraordinarily high. I believe it would be best if you did not attend.”

Furina planted her hands firmly on her hips, puffing out her chest. “It’s fine, it’s fine! I am the great God Focalors! A mere Stellaron can’t possibly do anything to me!”

Neuvillette opened his mouth to issue a firmer dissuasion, but Clorinde, who had been standing silently by the doorway, finally spoke up.

“Do not worry, Monsieur Neuvillette,” the Champion Duelist said, her tone calm and steady. “Mr. Welt will also be present to observe the battle. He is fully confident in his ability to suppress and control the Stellaron should the situation deteriorate.”

Hearing this, Neuvillette fell silent, his mind calculating the variables. “Then I shall accompany you as well. It is a rare opportunity to witness exactly what kind of existence this Stellaron is, that it possesses the power to drag an entire world into its doom.”

Zhongli, sipping a cup of freshly poured tea, set his saucer down with a soft clink. His interest was visibly piqued. “Drag an entire world into its doom? Fascinating. I, too, would like to witness this phenomenon.”

Nahida, however, remained entirely uninterested in cosmic disasters. She simply wanted to find Samuel and listen to the end of the story he had left unfinished during their last encounter.

Furina’s heart skipped a frantic beat. If the Geo Archon tagged along to watch the fight, her carefully constructed facade might crumble under his ancient, discerning eyes. Absolutely not! She had to redirect him immediately.

Striding over, Furina patted Zhongli’s broad shoulder with the exaggerated, overly familiar camaraderie of a seasoned guild master.

“Now, now, as the newly appointed deputy leader of the Justice Adventure Team, your priorities should be different! You need to go fight Goblins instead,” Furina coaxed smoothly. “You see, in Samuel’s world, we cannot rely on our innate Teyvat strength. We all have to start from the very beginning. As the deputy leader, you need to cultivate a level of strength that commands absolute respect from the guild~”

Zhongli considered her words, finding the logic sound. He gave a calm nod. “That is a reasonable assessment. When shall we depart, Lady Furina?”

Furina hummed a cheerful, melodic tune. “Hmm, hmm~ It’s getting late, so let’s set off right now! Next, it’s time for me, the glorious Adventurers Guild leader, to show off my might!”

She stepped back, raising her hands with theatrical flair.

“Open Sesame!!!”

With a brilliant flash of arcane light, Furina summoned the towering, swirling vortex of the teleportation gate right in the middle of the room.

“Follow me, everyone! Keep up with your leader’s pace, GoGoGo!”