Honkai: Star Rail: I Can Fix This Gender-Bent World — Chapter 85

Chapter 85: Back to the Astral Express

Lying on the cot, Chen focused on his performance, channeling the last of his energy into feigning a deep, bone-deep weakness that seemed to radiate from every fiber of the body he was currently wearing. He kept his breathing shallow, his eyes half-lidded, and mentally ticked off the names of the people gathered around him.

‘Doctor Natasha, March, Qiong, Teacher Dan Heng…’

With a soft, raspy voice that was pure affectation, he whispered, “Can… can you let me be alone for a while? I want… some peace and quiet.”

Qiong’s response was immediate and visceral. She shook her head, her grip on his hand tightening with a desperate strength.

“Precious Qiong, be good,” Chen cooed, gently scratching the palm of her hand with his fingertip. He managed a weak, reassuring smile. “Just for a moment. I promise, I won’t disappear.”

Dan Heng’s gaze shifted from Chen’s pale, drawn face to the stubborn set of Qiong’s jaw. He finally stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Qiong’s shoulder.

“Let her rest for a bit,” he said softly. “We’ll wait right outside.”

Qiong hesitated for a long, agonizing moment before she finally, and with extreme reluctance, let go of his hand. Dan Heng and March 7th gently guided her out of the room, but she looked back over her shoulder every few steps, her eyes wide with worry.

Natasha offered a sympathetic nod and considerately closed the door, leaving Chen alone in the quiet room.

The moment he heard the soft click of the latch, Chen took a deep, shuddering breath and closed his eyes.

A single thought was all it took.

The image of Bronya, frail and lying on the bed, shimmered and dissolved. In her place, Chen materialized, the illusion of frailty vanishing like smoke. The oppressive weakness evaporated, replaced by a surge of familiar strength that flooded his limbs.

He threw off the blanket, sat up, and stretched his neck and arms with a series of satisfying pops.

“Whew!” He let out a long, gusty sigh, feeling completely rejuvenated. “Finally back to life.”

This One-click Restore function was a godsend! A complete state refresh was truly an invincible cheat.

“…Hmm?”

He stretched, but a sudden sensation—or lack thereof—made him pause. An odd feeling of emptiness registered in front of his chest. He instinctively looked down, his hand patting the flat plane of his own torso.

A strange grin spread across Chen’s face.

‘Without those lumps on my chest… it really does feel a bit unusual.’

“But man, is it a lot lighter!” he mused aloud. “The original model is always the best!”

He quickly hopped out of bed and, with another flicker of thought, transformed back into Bronya’s form. This time, however, there was no trace of injury. His complexion was ruddy, his eyes were bright, and he looked the very picture of health—a far cry from someone who had been on death’s door moments ago.

He checked his reflection in a blurry metal plate on the wall, nodding in satisfaction at the convincing image. Then, he walked to the door, took a deep breath to compose his expression, and pulled it open.

Outside, Qiong was pacing anxiously. She was the first to spot him, rushing over in a blur. Seeing Bronya not only standing on her own but looking perfectly fine, she froze mid-step, momentarily stunned.

March 7th’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. “Bronya?! You—how did you get up? And… you look so much better?!”

A flicker of surprise crossed Dan Heng’s calm features as he looked her up and down.

Natasha, however, frowned deeply, striding forward to perform a quick check. “This is impossible… Your injuries…”

“I don’t know either,” Chen said, injecting the perfect amount of bewildered but pleasant surprise into his voice. “Just now, I felt… a sudden warmth spread through my body, and then… I just felt so much better?” He pressed a hand to his chest. “It doesn’t even hurt much anymore.”

Natasha conducted a careful examination, finding his vital signs to be stable and strong. It was simply inconceivable. But then, in a universe teeming with the powers of Paths and Aeons, what miracle was truly impossible? In the end, she could only attribute it to his own tenacious vitality.

Since the patient had miraculously recovered and the crisis on Jarilo-VI was temporarily resolved, it was naturally time for the Astral Express to depart.

As the news spread, Bronya Rand, accompanied by Gepard and Serval, personally came to the temporary spaceport at the edge of the Underworld to see them off. Seele, Natasha, and Oleg had also gathered to say their goodbyes. In the distance, Clara, held securely by Svarog, waved her small hand.

“Thank you all for everything you have done for Belobog.”

Bronya Rand stood at the forefront, clad in a crisp, well-fitted new uniform. His entire bearing had shifted; the youthful uncertainty was gone, replaced by a quiet composure. A weight of gravity and responsibility now settled between his brows, a burden he seemed ready to carry.

He looked at Dan Heng, March 7th, and Qiong in turn, but his gaze lingered on “Bronya” for a long time. His expression was a complex storm of emotions that was difficult to parse—pride and gratification warred with a deep reluctance, all of it highlighted by a deep, almost pained tenderness.

“You’re welcome to come back and visit anytime,” Bronya Rand said, his voice a bit low as he offered a small smile. “Belobog… will always welcome you.”

In everyone’s eyes, Bronya was a native of Belobog (albeit one with amnesia). Now, she was about to leave her home world with the Astral Express crew to venture into the vast sea of stars. It was a departure filled with blessings.

Chen, for his part, played the role of a traveler about to begin a grand journey to perfection. He bid farewell to the people of his “hometown” one by one, offering a solemn and heartfelt thank you to Bronya Rand.

Bronya Rand’s lips parted as if to say more, a conflict playing out on his face. He hesitated, then seemed to decide against it. Instead, he reached out and placed a firm, grounding hand on “her” shoulder. “Take care,” he said, his voice thick with unspoken words.

The hatch of the return shuttle slowly opened.

Just as “Bronya” turned to follow Dan Heng and the others up the ramp, a quiet voice spoke.

“Are you really not going to tell her?” Seele had moved to stand beside Bronya Rand, her gaze fixed on Bronya’s retreating back.

The smile on Bronya Rand’s face faded, and he fell silent for a moment. His eyes followed the silver-haired figure as he shook his head gently.

“What’s wrong with her wanting to chase her dreams? To see the vast, starry sky for herself?” he whispered, his words directed as much to himself as they were to Seele. “As an older brother… what right or reason do I have to stop her?”

His voice grew softer, laced with a heavy, suffocating guilt. “Besides… I owe her far too much as it is.”

“Letting her go like this… saying goodbye as a friend of Belobog. Letting her fly without any worries… perhaps that’s the best compensation I can offer.”

In the end, he never mentioned the conclusive blood relation report that Natasha had discovered during the past few days. He didn’t choose to reveal Bronya’s true background, nor did he use the bond of blood to try and make her stay.

Some truths, perhaps, were a kindness left unknown.

Seele glanced at Bronya Rand’s conflicted face, said no more, and simply folded her arms.

The ramp retracted, and the hatch sealed shut. Through the observation window, the waving crowd below grew smaller and smaller. The icy planet of Jarilo-VI slowly rotated, gradually receding into the blackness of space.

The Astral Express entered a steady course.

In the lounge car, March 7th could finally no longer contain his curiosity. He leaned over to “Bronya,” who was already back to her lively and vigorous self.

“Chen, how on earth did you recover so quickly? It’s amazing!”

Chen just smiled mysteriously. Instead of answering, his body was enveloped in a soft flash of light.

Before March 7th’s astonished eyes, the illusion of Bronya vanished. The silver hair shortened and darkened to black, the formal attire melting away into a casual jacket and trousers. In a blink, Chen was back.

He rubbed his chest and let out a long sigh of relief. “Ah, finally changed back! Pretending to be a girl is exhausting! It’s definitely more comfortable without those lumps on my chest!”

“Who asked you to transform in the first place?” March 7th grumbled, punching him playfully on the shoulder.

“And Qiong,” March 7th said, looking at the girl who had immediately stuck to Chen the moment he changed back. Qiong had already latched onto Chen from behind, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist, refusing to let go. March 7th sighed, a note of helplessness in his voice. “Don’t just keep hugging Chen like that! He’s not going to run away!”

Qiong pressed her face against Chen’s back and shook her head defiantly, her arms tightening like a little beast protecting its food.

Chen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at being squeezed so tightly. He patted the hands wrapped around his waist. “Alright, alright, Precious Qiong, let go for a second. I’ll perform a magic trick for you.”

Qiong hesitated for a moment, loosening her grip ever so slightly, but she remained pressed against his back.

Chen stretched out his hand, palm up, and communicated with the system in his mind.

A faint light flashed.

A crooked little robot, cobbled together from scrap metal and sporting half a gear on its head, appeared out of thin air in his palm.

“Beep boop! Creator! Geo-Map, ready to handle for you at any time!” the little robot chirped, happily spinning its gear as its lightbulb eyes flashed with blue light.

“Now,” Chen announced, proudly brandishing the little robot. He grinned at the dumbfounded March 7th and a visibly surprised Dan Heng. “I am now a noble Summoner, too!”

He added under his breath, “Although for now, I can only summon this chatterbox and directionally-challenged little idiot.”

Geo-Map protested instantly, “Protest! Geo-Map is the most efficient navigator!”

The car filled with laughter.

Just then, the door connecting the cars slid open, and the group stepped into the Astral Express’s main parlour.

Uncle Himeko approached, carrying two cups of steaming coffee, with the ever-composed Ms. Welt following in his wake. Seeing the lively group and the high-spirited Chen, a gentle smile graced Himeko’s face. He handed one cup to Ms. Welt.

Then he raised his own cup, addressing Chen and the others, his voice warm and clear.

“It seems our quartet has returned safely.”

He and Ms. Welt spoke in unison, their voices blending, echoing warmly through the carriage.

“Welcome back.”

Chen looked at them, then at March 7th, who was now curiously poking at Geo-Map. He glanced at Dan Heng, who was watching him with a quiet intensity, and felt Qiong still clinging to his back… and he smiled, nodding vigorously.

“Yeah,” he said, a genuine warmth spreading through his chest. “We’re back.”