Honkai: Star Rail: I Can Fix This Gender-Bent World — Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Disembarkation

A sudden patter of footsteps, laced with an uncharacteristic anxiety, echoed from the carriage connection. Pom-Pom, the Conductor, came hopping into view, his long, furry ears drooping and his expression unusually grim.

“The Conductor has a piece of not-so-good news to announce, pa…”

Pom-Pom looked up, his gaze shifting between Uncle Himeko and Ms. Welt.

“Environmental scans completed just after the jump show that there is an extremely strong, persistent, and abnormal energy field interfering with us in the near-orbit of Jarilo-VI. The source originates from the planet’s surface.”

He took a small, nervous breath. “Affected by this… the Astral Express’s docking time in this region will change from seven days to… indefinite. We can only return once the interference factor is eliminated, pa.”

Ms. Welt’s brow furrowed. She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, her eyes fixed on the frozen planet hanging silently outside the window. “An abnormal energy field… powerful enough to interfere with the Astral Express and encompassing the entire globe. An energy disturbance of this magnitude is almost certainly not a natural phenomenon.”

She turned, her gaze sweeping over Uncle Himeko and every other member present before slowly stating the conclusion that was already dawning on them all.

“It seems, nine times out of ten, this situation is once again the work of a Stellaron. On Jarilo-VI, there is likely an active Stellaron continuously unleashing its great power, dragging this entire world into a deep freeze and creating this chaotic field that obstructs the very stars.”

“Stellaron…” Dan Heng repeated the word softly, his eyes instinctively flicking toward Stelle.

The girl seemed to sense the weight of the word, unconsciously raising a hand to gently press against her chest, right over the spot where another Stellaron lay dormant within her.

Uncle Himeko crossed his arms, his expression regaining the calm and decisive air of the Express’s Navigator. His presence alone was enough to draw everyone’s attention back to the matter at hand.

“This isn’t the first time we’ve encountered a harsh environment affected by a Stellaron,” Uncle Himeko’s voice was steady and strong, carrying a power that immediately settled their nerves. “We have the ability to face this anomaly and deal with it. Therefore, while there is no need to be overly anxious, you must all maintain the highest degree of caution.”

His gaze fell upon each of the younger Trailblazers in turn: March 7th, who was eager but betrayed a hint of tension; Dan Heng, who stood quietly awaiting his instructions; and Stelle, whose expression was placid but whose eyes held a firm resolve. Finally, his eyes rested on Chen, whose expression was a complex mixture of emotions, his mind clearly racing.

“The initial contact and reconnaissance mission will be entrusted to the four of you,” Uncle Himeko declared, his decision made. “You will need to coordinate quickly and build your chemistry as a team.”

Just then, Ms. Welt took a step forward, the tip of her cane tapping lightly against the floor. “Himeko, I think I should go with them. The Stellaron’s influence is significant, and the situation on Jarilo-VI is completely unknown. An extra hand means extra security.”

However, Uncle Himeko simply shook his head, a trusting smile gracing his lips. “Yang, I understand your concern. But this time, we should give the young people more opportunities to gain experience.”

His gaze swept over the four new Trailblazers. “They need to face challenges independently, to learn judgment, cooperation, and how to grow in the face of true adversity. We cannot stand in front of them forever.”

Uncle Himeko’s reasoning was sound and irrefutable.

Ms. Welt fell silent for a moment, her gaze lingering on each of the four young people one by one. Her eyes paused for an extra moment on Stelle and Chen.

“…You are right.” She conceded, though her tone remained solemn. “In that case, the ground mission is entrusted to you. Remember, your primary goal is reconnaissance and initial contact. Assess the degree and scope of the Stellaron’s influence. Search for any potential local civilizations or resistance forces, as well as… the exact location of the energy source. Unless absolutely necessary, avoid direct conflict with powerful, unknown entities. Safety first.”

“Understood!” March 7th immediately chirped, his voice brimming with fighting spirit.

Dan Heng gave a silent nod, his mind already calculating potential landing points and surface routes.

Stelle looked from Ms. Welt to Uncle Himeko. Finally, her gaze met Chen’s, and she gave a small, soft nod, as if encouraging herself as much as him.

“I get it, Auntie Welt is just worried about us,” March 7th patted his chest, a brilliant smile spreading across his face. “Don’t worry! With me, the experienced veteran, leading the team this time, I guarantee a smooth journey! We’ll find the clues without a hitch, and then…”

Before he could finish his boast, a cool, clear voice cut in from the side.

“Experienced veteran?”

Dan Heng had his arms crossed, tilting his head toward March 7th. His tone was laced with a deep sense of helplessness. “Are you referring to the ‘experience’ from last time, when a coordinate input error during landing caused you to drop the landing module directly into a museum? The same experience that got us put on the wanted list by the local guard force?”

“Pfft—”

Chen couldn’t hold it in. A strangled noise escaped him as he slapped a hand over his mouth, his shoulders shaking with the effort of stifling his laughter. Even Stelle, who had been somewhat tense, now had a flicker of genuine curiosity in her eyes.

March 7th’s face went supernova, flushing a brilliant crimson. He practically jumped, looking for all the world like a cat whose tail had just been stomped on.

“Th-that was an accident! Pom-Pom’s navigation data had a delay! And… and didn’t we solve it perfectly in the end?!” His voice grew softer and softer as he spoke, until he was left just puffing out his chest and stiffening his neck to add emphasis. “A-anyway, this time is different! We are fully prepared!”

Watching March 7th’s flustered, embarrassed attempts to defend himself, Ms. Welt’s slightly furrowed brow finally relaxed. The corner of her mouth even curved into a faint, helpless smile. She shook her head, finally abandoning the idea of going along herself. Young people did indeed need this kind of… coordination. Even bickering and exposing each other’s flaws were part of a team learning to trust one another.

“Alright, just remember to learn from past experiences,” Uncle Himeko interjected, smoothing things over with a smile in his eyes. “Time is of the essence. Go and prepare. Pom-Pom has already adjusted the landing module for you, and basic supplies have been loaded. Remember Ms. Welt’s words: safety first, and maintain contact.”

“Yes!”

This time, the four of them responded in unison. Even March 7th had put away his playful attitude, his expression turning serious.

An hour later, they stood inside the small launch bay beneath the Parlor Car.

Chen tugged at the lightweight yet extremely warm Trailblazer uniform he was wearing, giving it a final check. His gaze drifted over to Dan Heng, who was making final adjustments to his gear, and then to Stelle, who was curiously touching the cold metal of the cabin wall. March 7th, meanwhile, was on the comms channel, confirming the landing coordinates with Pom-Pom one last time. He listened with exceptional focus, repeating the numbers aloud, terrified of making another mistake.

Ms. Welt and Uncle Himeko stood just outside the hatch, seeing them off.

“Remember, you are a single unit,” Ms. Welt’s gaze swept over the four of them, stern but full of care. “Look out for each other.”

“We will, Auntie Welt,” Chen nodded solemnly.

“Then, depart,” Uncle Himeko waved his hand. “May this journey uncover the truth beneath the ice and bring a glimmer of hope to this planet.”

The heavy hatch hissed shut, sealing them off from the concerned gazes of the two elders. A slight vibration ran through the deck as the landing module detached from the main body of the Astral Express. It began its steady descent toward the pale, ice-and-snow-covered planet below.

Outside the porthole, the friction of the thin atmosphere began to create a faint, fiery glow. The surface of Jarilo-VI magnified rapidly before their eyes: endless snowfields, majestic glaciers, and the vaguely visible remnants of a past civilization, all frozen in time, unfolding before them like a cold, desolate scroll.