Honkai Star Rail: I Became the World Tree — Chapter 71

Chapter 71: The Tree Spirit Clan

The lingering tension of the Dragon Crisis had finally begun to dissipate from the winds of Mondstadt. Inside the tavern, the atmosphere was warm, thick with the scent of oak wood and spilled cider.

Diluc set his glass down, his crimson gaze shifting toward the bard nursing a drink nearby. “Venti. Now that the Stormterror threat has been resolved, care to elaborate on that matter you mentioned earlier?”

Venti paused mid-sip, turning his head with a breezy, unbothered smile. “You mean the matter regarding the other world? Let’s wait until order is fully restored to Mondstadt first. Having just weathered a dragon’s wrath, the Knights of Favonius are stretched incredibly thin as it is.”

A few paces away, Stelle—who had been deeply invested in a heated game of Ludo with Lumine and the others—suddenly perked up. Her golden eyes locked onto the conversation like a hawk spotting prey.

“Wait, are you guys talking about Samuel’s world?” she chimed in, abandoning her game piece.

Lumine blinked, surprised by the sudden intrusion. “Stelle? You know about it too?”

Stelle nodded, puffing out her chest as if she had just been asked if she knew how to breathe. “Of course I do. How could I not? I was the very first person from our world to be invited! I even run an Adventurers Guild over there!”

Hearing this, Lumine immediately abandoned the board game, pulling the trailblazer aside. “Stelle, Venti has been keeping us in the dark for days. Hurry up and tell me what’s actually going on.”

Sensing an eager audience, Stelle launched into a grand explanation of Samuel’s world. Dan Heng and March 7th chimed in from the sidelines to keep her chaotic exaggerations in check, providing the actual mechanical details. Lumine, Diluc, and Jean listened in absolute silence, hanging onto every word, terrified of missing a single detail.

When the explanation finally concluded, a heavy silence fell over the table.

For a rare moment, Diluc struggled to find the right words. “How could such a miraculous place exist? To be able to increase one’s strength so effortlessly through a system… and more, to be free from the concept of true death.”

Stelle offered a nonchalant shrug. “Beats me. Samuel is the boss; he’s the only one who knows the deep lore. If you want the full story, you’ll have to go bother him.”

Venti, meanwhile, leaned over the table and looked toward the stoic consultant sitting quietly nearby. “Old man, when does Liyue plan to start sending people over?”

Zhongli took a slow, measured sip of his tea. “Once I return, I will have the Qixing begin screening suitable candidates.”

A pair of plum-blossom pupils suddenly snapped toward him. Hu Tao, who had just casually tossed her dice onto the Ludo board, abandoned the game entirely.

“You’re having the Qixing screen people?” she asked, her voice dropping into a teasing, dangerous lilt. “My, my, Consultant, you’ve certainly got quite the reputation! You can actually order the Qixing around?”

Before Zhongli could react, Hu Tao leaned in uncomfortably close. Her vibrant eyes stared intently into his, carrying an interrogative weight that would make anyone else’s scalp tingle. “Consultant! Be honest! What exactly is your true identity? Out with it!”

Welt, recalling Zhongli’s earlier request to keep a low profile, smoothly intervened. “I believe I heard Mr. Zhongli mention in passing that he is an Adeptus.”

Hu Tao pulled back, clapping her hands together with an ‘I knew it’ expression. “So that’s how it is! Consultant, you really are an Adeptus! I was always wondering why your appearance never aged a day and how you possessed such an encyclopedic knowledge of ancient, forgotten rituals. It all makes sense now.”

Zhongli closed his eyes, smoothly adopting the provided alibi. “Since the truth has come to light, Director, I shall hide it no longer. I am indeed an Adeptus.”

The interrogation was mercifully cut short as Sarah, a waitress from Good Hunter, approached the table carrying a massive, lavish spread of food. “Dear guests, your dishes are ready.”

Stelle and the others immediately scrambled to shove the Ludo board aside, clearing the wooden surface for the feast. Within a minute, a mountain of steaming, perfectly roasted delicacies covered the table.

Paimon was already hovering above the plates, a visible trail of drool escaping the corner of her mouth. Lumine shot her floating companion a look of utter exasperation. What an absolute glutton.

Seeing the spread, Diluc gestured toward the food. “Everyone, please eat. You all did Mondstadt a tremendous favor today. Consider this a token of my gratitude.”

Stelle flashed a cheeky grin, already armed with a fork. “Hehe, I won’t hold back then. Let me at that roast chicken.”

She impaled a massive Sweet Madame drumstick and took a vicious bite. “Mmm, not bad. Quite delicious, actually.”

Internally, however, she kept the second half of her critique to herself: It’s good, but it still can’t beat the dishes Tangbao and Escoffier whip up back at the Holy City.

The group descended upon the meal with ravenous energy. Once the feast concluded, Zhongli, Stelle, and their respective companions bid their farewells, finally departing from Mondstadt.

Standing near the city gates, Diluc and Jean watched them leave. Once they were out of earshot, Diluc turned to the Acting Grand Master.

“Jean. I need you to allocate twenty slots to me.”

Jean blinked, caught off guard. “Senior, you’re planning to…?”

Diluc nodded, his expression hardening into pure pragmatism. “Venti made it clear that only strictly loyal individuals should be chosen. You know as well as I do that the Knights of Favonius are currently plagued by a faction of slackers just trying to get by. I can personally guarantee that the people I bring from my network will be tight-lipped, efficient, and absolutely loyal to Mondstadt.”

Jean fell silent. She couldn’t deny his assessment; the Knights’ ranks had indeed grown somewhat complacent in recent years.

“I have already discussed this with Venti,” Diluc added quietly. “He agreed.”

Hearing the Anemo Archon’s approval, Jean offered a firm nod, sealing the agreement.

Meanwhile, on the Main Continent, the Holy City Square was bustling with activity.

Beneath the towering, luminescent canopy of the Irminsul, Samuel had just finished erecting a massive wooden ‘Quest Board’. It stood in the most conspicuous spot possible, guaranteeing that anyone passing through the plaza would see it.

He pinned two fresh parchments to the wood.

[Special Quest: Defeat a Level 40 enemy.]

[Reward: Gold-Quality Weapon Selection Box x1]

[Daily Quest: Defeat 10 monsters of any kind.]

[Reward: 100 Copper Coins]

Just as he finished adjusting the daily notice, Anviel came jogging across the cobblestones. The young elf looked infinitely more vibrant and cheerful since returning to the safety of the Holy City.

“Lord Sacred Tree!” Anviel called out. “Sister Escoffier is calling you for dinner!”

Samuel turned around, offering the girl a warm smile. “Alright, I’m coming.”

Together, they walked away from the plaza, heading toward the Star Adventure Team’s station.

What Samuel didn’t know was that far to the south, deep within the shadows of the Elven Forest, a very peculiar group was currently marching toward the Holy City.

They were cats. Five of them, to be exact, walking perfectly upright on two legs, each carrying a tiny, overstuffed backpack.

Leading the pack was a tabby named Tycoon. Behind him waddled a remarkably fat orange cat named Workhorse, followed by a pristine white Siamese named Fairy, a lethargic British Shorthair named Slacker, and a sleek black Devon Rex wearing a tiny hat, known as Maestro.

Fairy trotted up beside the tabby. “Boss, has Lord Sacred Tree really revived?”

Tycoon nodded, his whiskers twitching with absolute certainty. “Yes! My senses are never wrong. Lord Sacred Tree has truly returned to us!”

Workhorse patted his round, orange belly. “Finally. Our Tree Spirit Clan won’t have to live in hiding anymore.”

Maestro adjusted his little hat, his pace quickening. “Let’s hurry. Lord Sacred Tree is going to need our help.”

Fairy beamed happily. “Mhm! The medicinal brews our clan makes will definitely help Lord Sacred Tree build a mighty army!”

This peculiar group of felines was the elusive Tree Spirit Clan. Born directly from the fallen leaves of the Irminsul, they were intrinsically tied to the World Tree. Unlike the hulking, coarse beastmen of the continent, the Tree Spirits took on adorable, compact animal forms—cats, dogs, birds, and the like.

Their greatest racial talent lay in brewing. The medicinal wines they crafted possessed a miraculous property: granting pure, concentrated experience points to whoever consumed them, allowing individuals to level up at terrifying speeds.

The five cats paused by a stream for a brief rest before adjusting their tiny backpacks and resuming their march toward the Holy City.

Back at the Star Adventure Team station, dinner was in full swing.

Samuel sat at the head of the table, flanked by Furina and Neuvillette. Furina was currently in the middle of a grand, theatrical boast, leaning across the table as if claiming a massive victory.

“Samuel, you’ll be thrilled to know that our Justice Adventure Team has already hit the current experience cap!” she declared proudly. “Once Zhongli and his people return, we are fully prepared to initiate the Adventurers Guild Promotion Challenge!”

Samuel raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed. “Oh? That fast? Not bad at all, Furina. I should have expected nothing less from you.”

Beside her, Neuvillette elegantly wiped his mouth with a napkin before speaking in his usual, measured tone. “If we are strictly discussing speed, Stelle’s guild remains superior. Ms. Herta and her legion clear out monster territories at a highly improved, terrifying rate.”

He took a slow sip of water before delivering the final blow to Furina’s pride. “In fact, their Star Adventure Team reached the experience limit yesterday. Had they not departed to assist Venti in Mondstadt, they likely would have already cleared the Promotion Dungeon by now.”

Furina’s triumphant posture instantly deflated. She slumped back into her chair, spreading her hands in dramatic defeat.

“Well, there’s simply no way to compete with that!” she complained. “Every single puppet under Ms. Herta is absurdly powerful and possesses flawless combat data., they follow orders with absolute, terrifying discipline. It’s basically cheating!”