Honkai Star Rail: I Played the Villain, Now the Heroines Want Revenge — Chapter 238

Chapter 238: Illusion Falls

“Then let’s go.”

“Alright, Benefactor.”

“You two…”

Under March 7th and Stelle’s indignant and annoyed gazes, “Tingyun” revealed the triumphant, subtle smile of a victor.

She elegantly walked to Orion’s side, and with a practiced, intimate motion, naturally linked her arm through his.

Then, she leaned in just a fraction and said softly, “Benefactor, this way, please.”

Their intimate posture made it seem as if they were companions who had known each other for a long time, not a guide and a tourist.

And Orion, seemingly completely oblivious to the gesture, or perhaps welcoming it, simply nodded and walked away with her side by side.

Seeing this scene, the two girls, March 7th and Stelle, instantly flushed red with anger!

“Darn it!” March 7th stomped her foot, waving her fist at their retreating backs. “That vixen! She definitely did it on purpose! Did you see that? She linked arms!”

“Exactly! How scheming!”

Stelle also pouted, kicking at the pebbles by her feet, her heart feeling heavy and unpleasantly tight.

Welt simply sighed and adjusted his glasses. “Let’s… let’s go investigate the Cloudford docks again. He’s right, splitting up is more efficient.”

Inside a famous teahouse in the Luofu’s Starskiff Haven, a secluded private room.

The air was thick with the scent of expensive, aged tea.

Tingyun and Orion sat opposite each other.

The two exchanged pleasantries for a moment, the perfect picture of a charming guide and an interested traveler.

At this point, Orion picked up his teacup and asked, seemingly casually:

“Speaking of which, I heard Miss Tingyun is the chief representative of the Sky-Faring Commission’s ‘Blazing Fire’ Merchant Guild. To achieve such success at such a young age is truly admirable.”

“May I ask what kind of family background Miss has, to cultivate such an outstanding talent?”

This question was exactly what Phantylia wanted. A test.

Fortunately, she had already prepared and thoroughly investigated the real Tingyun’s background before… disposing of her.

“Benefactor, you flatter me,” she said, half-covering her lips with her fan, smiling gracefully.

“This humble one has no distinguished background. I am naturally timid and dislike weapons and fighting, which is why I went into business. I never expected to stumble into success and make a name for myself.”

Good… Even though this Orion doesn’t know the real Tingyun, I couldn’t just make something up.

He is meticulous and has formed a partnership with Yukong. He might just go and ask a few questions, and any discrepancy would expose me.

Hmph… This man is truly difficult to deal with.

No wonder even that fool Asat Pramad fell into his hands…

Phantylia thought to herself, taking a delicate sip of tea.

Orion saw that she answered fluently and showed no change in expression, so he put on a curious look.

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on her.

“I see… However, I do think that Miss Tingyun’s intelligent personality is indeed more suited to strategizing. To be honest, I am truly very interested in Miss’s past.”

On his handsome face, he showed a sincere and focused expression, an intensity that was enough to make any girl’s heart flutter.

Even Phantylia, a Lord Ravager who had lived for an unknown number of years and orchestrated the fall of civilizations, felt her mind subtly waver when she met his eyes.

This guy…

She actually felt that if she were the real, mortal Tingyun, under such a direct, admiring offensive… she might really… succumb?

No, what am I thinking?

Phantylia immediately snapped back to reality. She hadn’t forgotten her goal. This was just a mortal shell, a weak vessel.

But Orion’s offensive continued.

“By the way, Miss Tingyun has lived in the Luofu for so long, you must have many friends, right?”

“I wonder if there’s a chance for me to meet your friends? After all…”

He smiled at Phantylia, with a hint of teasing:

“To truly understand a person, meeting her friends is the best way.”

Friends?

How could I let him meet them!

She didn’t know any of Tingyun’s real friends. Dealing with outsiders like the Astral Express Crew who hadn’t met Tingyun was fine, but if she met her close friends, her close colleagues at the Sky-Faring Commission…

She would definitely be exposed in a few words!

Tingyun’s smile stiffened for a moment.

This man!

He really is testing me! He’s cornering me!

And Orion looked at this ancient, powerful Lord Ravager.

To maintain the persona of a simple, mortal Luofu Foxian girl, she was currently on tenterhooks, her fingers gripping her fan so tightly her knuckles were white.

He could practically smell the cold sweat she was trying to hide with her perfume.

He laughed in his heart.

After all, he was now an Emanator of Elation.

[Inorin’s Note: As established in Chapter 233, Orion is an Emanator of Finality (from the system) but the Lord Ravagers believe he is an Emanator of Elation (Aha) due to the “farce” of Asat Pramad’s death.]

Watching an arrogant, ancient Lord Ravager squirm and act in front of him, occasionally revealing a flustered expression…

This was much, much more fun than fighting her outright.

“Friends, well… there are quite a few…”

Tingyun quickly composed herself and demurred:

“It’s just that the situation in the Xianzhou is urgent right now, and everyone is busy at their respective posts, so it’s really not good to disturb them.”

“Is that so? That’s truly a pity.”

Orion nodded, no longer pressing the issue.

He didn’t continue to press hard.

He knew that if you push a prey too hard, even a cornered dog will jump over the wall.

He hadn’t had enough fun with this Phantylia yet.

Seeing Orion cease his offensive, “Tingyun” immediately began to counterattack.

She proactively refilled Orion’s tea, her hand perfectly steady once more.

“Enough about me. It’s you, Benefactor Orion, with your mysterious origins and formidable strength, that I am truly curious about.”

“May I ask, Benefactor, if you would share your story?”

“Me?” Orion smiled candidly, a self-deprecating, charming smile. “There’s nothing much to tell. Just an orphan who grew up on an unknown small planet.”

“…If Benefactor is willing to speak, this humble one would truly like to listen carefully.”

“Alright.”

Afterward, Orion slowly recounted his experiences.

He spoke of the cold, of scrounging for a living daily in Belobog’s Underworld, of the darkness and the despair.

He spoke of climbing his way up, of serving Cocolia in the Overworld, of the hope and the betrayal.

He narrated his experiences of struggling and making his way.

Of course, he couldn’t tell the enemy about the system.

He just embellished and briefly mentioned it.

And there was no harm in mentioning his origin in Belobog.

With Phantylia’s abilities, it would be easy for her to find out his origins, so there was no need to hide it.

Moreover, the previous Lord Ravager, Asat Pramad, had come to Belobog, so she probably already knew these things.

If Phantylia truly intended to harm Belobog, Orion thought, his smile not wavering, I would tear her to pieces before that happened.

Tingyun listened attentively.

The expression on her face gradually changed from initial probing to genuine surprise, and finally, even a hint of admiration.

She knew Orion was from Belobog, but that was all; she hadn’t learned much more.

But after listening to Orion’s account…

Although she didn’t know how much of what he said was true, she could feel the resilience and ruthlessness of a man who had fought his way up from the absolute bottom. That kind of aura couldn’t be faked.

If he truly came from such humble beginnings, yet could reach this point today…

No wonder… she thought, …no wonder even the Aeon of Finality is so fond of him.

This person… he truly has the qualifications to become one of us.

At such close proximity, Phantylia could feel even more clearly that Orion, whether it was his style of action or his unfathomable strength…

He was absolutely the most perfect “seed” for Destruction!

Tingyun, at this moment, even desperately wanted to obtain Orion immediately!

To make him completely fall into Destruction…

To become her strongest colleague!

At this moment, her heart was filled with impatience.

…

“Speaking of which, a young and promising hero like Benefactor Orion must surely have no shortage of female confidantes, right?”

“May I ask… what type of woman does Benefactor prefer?” Tingyun asked, her fan playing coyly near her lips.

“Or perhaps… Benefactor’s preference is not for women? If so, this humble one could… also introduce you to other friends.”

As long as she could ascertain his desires—power, wealth, pleasure—she would have countless ways to make Orion succumb.

However, Orion looked directly into Tingyun’s eyes, his own gaze clear and intense.

“Miss Tingyun, I like exactly your type.”

“Eh?”

Even Phantylia, the Lord Ravager, was stunned by this sudden, direct hit.

“Very beautiful,” Orion continued, his voice low, “yet carrying a dangerous aura… which makes you even more captivating.”

“Dangerous?”

Tingyun feigned surprise, covering half her face with her fan. “Benefactor, what do you mean? This humble one is so weak, how could I be dangerous?”

“Beautiful women are all very dangerous.”

Orion leaned back in his chair, a knowing smirk on his face. “This is the experience I’ve gained over the years.”

“How can that be?” Tingyun smiled, “A delicate little woman like me is very safe for Benefactor, not dangerous at all.”

“That’s not necessarily true,” Orion glanced at her, his eyes lingering for a moment.

Tingyun didn’t know what he meant, so she could only smile and change the subject:

“Let’s not talk about that anymore. Since there’s no news of the Stellaron or the Stellaron Hunters yet, how about… I take Benefactor around to experience the customs and culture of my Luofu?”

“When you get tired, I can also arrange an inn for Benefactor to rest tonight, and I will personally host you…”

Orion, however, didn’t respond. Instead, he suddenly asked an unrelated question.

“Miss Tingyun, what are your thoughts on ‘longevity’?”

“Longevity?” Tingyun was stunned for a moment.

She thought for a moment, and a hint of genuine, deep yearning appeared in her eyes, but she quickly masked it, answering in a way that fit Tingyun’s persona:

“Longevity is naturally good. However, our Foxian people can live for several hundred years, which is enough to see all the splendors of the world. We dare not ask for more.”

Hmph, longevity… Phantylia scoffed internally. If one could have a truly immortal body of their own, who would be content with a mere few hundred years? No longer needing to rely on possession, but possessing one’s own, eternal body…

“Is that so…” Orion nodded. “Miss Tingyun certainly has an open mind.”

“…Then, if you had one chance to make any wish come true, what would you wish for?”

“Well, of course, I’d wish for all my family and friends to be safe and sound, and for the merchant guild’s business to go smoothly.”

Tingyun gave an answer that was as standard, and as hollow, as could be.

“What about you, Benefactor? What wish would you make?”

“Me…?”

Orion fell silent for a moment. He picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

Then, he suddenly looked up and uttered a shocking statement:

“If I said I wanted to destroy this Xianzhou… as a person of the Xianzhou, what would you think?”

“Eh?!”

Tingyun’s smile instantly froze.

She thought she had misheard.

What did he just say… destroy the Xianzhou?!

Orion’s wish was that?!

This… how is that possible?

He’s not one of us yet, there’s no reason, why would he…

No!

Or… is he testing me…!

Tingyun reacted immediately. She forced a smile, though it was strained.

“Benefactor, you jest. You have no grievances with the Xianzhou, so why would you wish for its destruction?”

“It is indeed a jest. It’s true I have no grievances…”

His gaze suddenly darkened. “But it’s not impossible for others to have them… or rather, for there to be individuals who simply wish for destruction without needing a reason, isn’t it?”

His eyes, full of meaning, looked directly towards Tingyun.

“Benefactor, what do you mean by that?”

Tingyun’s face completely changed!

She shivered all over, her hand clutching the fan so tightly that the delicate wood cracked!

At this moment, she was ready to completely drop all pretense with Orion and fight to the death here!

This man! He really knew!

But… even if he knew, what then?

This is just one of my avatars. If I lose, at most I’ll just be tormented by him…

No, that’s wrong, I’ll just turn into my Heliobus form and escape!

[Inorin’s Note: A Heliobus is a being of pure energy, a fragment of an Aeon. Phantylia is a Heliobus who possesses bodies, “Tingyun” being her current one.]

However, Orion smiled.

“What I mean is, given the severe Stellaron crisis currently facing the Luofu, there must be forces of the ‘Destruction’ path secretly interfering behind it.”

Upon hearing this, Tingyun calmed down slightly, but her body remained vigilant.

“Oh? Destruction?”

“Does Benefactor mean that this incident is related to Destruction’s…”

“Yes, I believe it’s the Lord Ravager’s doing!” Orion quickly interjected.

Hearing this, Tingyun’s eyes became dangerous. She stared at him and asked:

“I heard there are seven Lord Ravagers… No, now there are only six. Are you trying to say…”

“I think it must be Celenova!”

“Huh? Celenova?”

Tingyun was momentarily bewildered, completely unable to react.

“It is rumored that the Stellarons in the universe are scattered by the Lord Ravager, Celenova.”

Orion analyzed it logically, “So, I believe that this Stellaron incident in the Luofu must be inseparable from her.”

“Ah? Th-that’s… quite reasonable.”

Phantylia was completely confused by him.

She couldn’t figure out whether Orion genuinely believed it was Celenova, or if he was putting on an act for her.

Orion: “Legend says Celenova is female, often appearing in white robes.”

“Miss Tingyun, have you heard of any suspicious individuals resembling her appearing on the Luofu recently?”

Tingyun was about to shake her head, but immediately changed her mind:

…Speaking of which, a few days ago, I seem to have seen a suspicious woman in white robes near… the Exalting Sanctum. At the time, I just thought she had an extraordinary aura, so I looked at her a couple more times. Could it be…

“Oh? In the Exalting Sanctum?”

“This information is very valuable. Thank you for your assistance, Miss Tingyun. I will go and check it out later.”

“Then, I shall take my leave first.”

Orion stood up. “It’s been so long, my companions will probably worry if I don’t go find them.”

“So, Benefactor, you really think it’s Celenova…” Tingyun still wanted to confirm.

At this moment, Orion suddenly leaned down, bringing his face close to Tingyun’s.

Their gazes met at an extremely close distance, and he could clearly see the genuine surprise and panic in her eyes.

This posture only lasted a few seconds before Tingyun’s cheeks couldn’t help but flush red.

She hastily turned her head away. “Be-Benefactor, what are you doing… you’re making this humble one feel so…”

Orion stepped back, straightened up, a smile on his face.

“Nothing, I just wanted a closer look… Miss Tingyun’s face is indeed flawless. Very beautiful.”

“!” Tingyun’s face turned even redder.

“Well then, I’ll be going now. Let’s meet again next time…”

Orion waved his hand. “If Miss Tingyun needs it, I can prepare in advance and help you with a massage anytime to relieve your fatigue!”

Tingyun stared blankly at his retreating back. After a long while, she unconsciously touched her burning cheeks.

Very… beautiful?

No, that’s not right!

So, he really thought it was Celenova’s doing?

Hmm…

Forget it, I really can’t figure out this man.

Even Phantylia, at this moment, couldn’t fathom Orion’s thoughts at all.

She could only, with a strange, unfamiliar feeling, get up, pay for the tea, and leave the teahouse.

But as she walked, she couldn’t help but wonder:

When would she see him alone again?

Would he really… ask her out again?

No!

Why am I always thinking about him?!

I should hurry and continue my grand plan of destruction!

Right!

I am the Lord Ravager, Phantylia! I will not be swayed by a mere… handsome… mortal…