Honkai Star Rail: I Played the Villain, Now the Heroines Want Revenge — Chapter 258

Chapter 258: Win

“Wow!” March 7th leaned over, examining the small, pulsating orb in Orion’s hand curiously. “It looks just like the one Stelle has!”

“It doesn’t look particularly special. It’s so small.”

Stelle also reached out a finger, her curiosity overcoming her caution, wanting to poke it.

Orion immediately dodged away.

“Don’t touch it. It’s very dangerous.”

Although he had stabilized it, a Stellaron was a Stellaron after all. Contact still carried risks.

Dan Heng observed carefully, his gaze fixed on the object. “It really is a Stellaron. And… it’s exceptionally stable.”

“How did you do that?”

Welt said seriously, his voice filled with awe. “To be able to suppress a Stellaron’s energy to this extent… just by holding it…”

“Simple. You just hold it like this.”

Orion casually tossed the small Stellaron up and down in his palm, as if it were a common stone.

“Can’t you do it?”

The others, hearing this, looked at each other, speechless.

“This…”

March 7th: “Well… you’re amazing then.”

“Just so-so.”

Orion replied perfunctorily, palming the Stellaron. His gaze then returned to Fu Xuan.

“Now, Master Diviner Fu Xuan… who do you think won?”

Fu Xuan’s mouth opened and closed. Closed and opened.

She couldn’t utter a single word.

Win?

Win with what?

He had just moved a finger, casually, and completely resolved the source of disaster that had left the entire Luofu Celestial Ark helpless for weeks.

And herself?

She hadn’t even seen the process of him acting before she had already fainted from the psychic backlash.

This gap… this chasm… it could no longer be described as merely a world of difference.

This was the difference between a mortal and a god.

“How about it?”

Orion put away the Stellaron, crossed his arms, and looked at her.

“A bet is a bet, Master Diviner.”

Fu Xuan panicked.

Her small hands instinctively clenched at her sides.

“That… that Stellaron…”

She was still making a final, desperate struggle.

“It’s not as big as before! It was clearly that big just now!” she pointed at the spot where the Great Stellaron had been. “How did it get so small now?”

“You wouldn’t be… trying to fool me with a different one, would you?!”

“How could that be?” Orion chuckled softly.

“The ‘Great Stellaron’ was shattered by me. This is all that’s left. But you see, the Stellaron has been sealed by me, hasn’t it?”

“And…”

He took a step forward, closing in on Fu Xuan.

“Master Diviner, are you trying to say that I don’t have the ability to seal that large Stellaron?”

“Or are you saying that you think I couldn’t defeat Phantylia, and the battle just now was fake?”

Fu Xuan was intimidated by his aura and involuntarily took a step back.

“I… I didn’t mean that…”

“Then what do you mean?”

Orion pressed on, a teasing smile on his face.

“Could it be that the dignified Luofu Master Diviner is going to renege on a bet? In front of so many people? In front of your General?”

“I’m not reneging!”

Fu Xuan became anxious, her small face flushing crimson.

But looking into Orion’s eyes, which seemed to smile but not smile, she knew that any excuse would only make her appear more ridiculous.

“I… I…”

Fu Xuan’s face turned red, then white.

She wanted to retort, wanted to find an excuse, but facing the absolute, humiliating disparity in strength, all words were stuck in her throat.

Finally, she was like a deflated ball. Her whole body wilted.

“…I lost.”

After saying that, her head drooped even lower.

“Very good.”

Orion nodded in satisfaction.

“Wow!”

March 7th was the first to cheer.

“The Master Diviner lost! She has to be Orion’s servant! So, will she be on the Astral Express? Can we also benefit? Hehe, I still have a basket of clothes on the train that haven’t been washed…”

Stelle also fanned the flames, her eyes sparkling.

“Serving tea and pouring water, washing clothes and cooking, cleaning…”

“Master Diviner, can you do these things?”

“You! You two!”

Fu Xuan glared at them in shame and anger.

These two… they really loved to stir up trouble!

Jing Yuan, seeing this, walked over, his face the very picture of polite curiosity.

“What’s going on? What kind of bet?”

He looked at Orion, then at the fuming Fu Xuan, his eyes full of unconcealed gossip.

“It’s like this…”

Orion was about to explain.

“NOTHING!”

Fu Xuan suddenly interrupted loudly, her face so red it looked like it was steaming.

“It’s just a little… side entertainment! A game!”

She waved her hands frantically.

“General, please don’t ask! Anyway, a bet is a bet, and I’ll follow through!”

“It’s really nothing big!”

Jing Yuan looked at her trying to cover up and revealed a knowing smile.

It seems that our little Fu Xuan has truly fallen into Orion’s hands. How amusing.

However, he was also tactful and did not press further.

Just then, Orion walked in front of Fu Xuan.

Fu Xuan instinctively wanted to retreat but found her legs seemed to be nailed to the spot, unable to move.

She could only raise her head and meet Orion’s gaze.

“Since you lost…”

His voice was soft, but it carried.

“Then from now on, Fu Xuan… the bet is effective.”

Fu Xuan’s body trembled violently.

This guy!

In front of so many people, in front of the General, he actually… he got so close!

And he even called me by my name directly!

One should know that even General Jing Yuan, her oldest acquaintance, usually addressed her respectfully as “Master Diviner.”

But this man, he…

“You!”

Fu Xuan wanted to erupt, but meeting Orion’s calm, smiling eyes, all her words were swallowed back.

Her heart was completely in disarray.

“Mr. Orion.”

Just as the atmosphere became subtle, Jing Yuan walked over, his expression turning formal.

“The Luofu Celestial Ark was able to avert disaster this time, entirely thanks to your assistance.”

He bowed deeply, a full, formal bow of a General.

“Jing Yuan, on behalf of the Luofu Celestial Ark, extends his sincerest gratitude to you.”

Orion released his intense gaze from Fu Xuan and turned to face Jing Yuan.

“General, you are too kind.”

“I am also a member of the Astral Express Crew, and resolving the Stellaron crisis is simply part of my duty.”

“You are too modest.”

Jing Yuan shook his head.

“If not for you, and the members of the Astral Express… I fear the entire Luofu Celestial Ark would have been destroyed.”

He looked at the members of the Astral Express Crew, finally looking at Welt.

“This kindness, the Luofu Celestial Ark will never forget.”

Welt: “General Jing Yuan overpraises us.”

“Hehe, it’s alright.”

March 7th leaned over.

“Although we didn’t seem to help much, it was all thanks to Orion…”

Stelle patted Orion’s shoulder:

“After all, Orion is one of us!”

“Good brother, you must teach me in the future how to become as strong as you!”

“I also want to one-shot a Lord Ravager!”

Orion looked at her, thought for a moment, and said:

“As for you… you should be able to in the future.”

“Really?!” Stelle seemed very happy to be acknowledged by him.

“Yes, you have potential.”

Dan Heng also walked over, and although he didn’t say much, the admiration in his eyes was evident.

“Orion, thanks to you again this time.”

Everyone spoke one after another, and the tense atmosphere gradually eased.

After a moment.

“Alright, now that this matter is settled, we should go back.”

Orion looked at Jing Yuan.

“General, the subsequent matters will be handled by you.”

Jing Yuan nodded:

“Naturally. The seal on the Ambrosial Arbor needs to be reinforced, and the remnants of the Stellaron Sickness need to be cleared.”

“These are all internal affairs of the Luofu Celestial Ark; no need for you all to worry.”

He paused, then added:

“How about I escort you back? It just so happens that I’d like to invite you all to the Seat of Divine Foresight to personally bestow rewards upon you.”

[Inorin’s Note: The Seat of Divine Foresight (神策府/Shén Cè Fǔ) is the command center of the Luofu, where the General works.]

“That would be much appreciated.”

Orion nodded, then turned to look at Welt and the others.

“Let’s go, Uncle Yang, March, Stelle.”

“Oh… oh, alright.”

The three of them seemed to awaken from a dream and quickly followed.

As they passed Fu Xuan, March 7th couldn’t help but whisper:

“Master Diviner, good luck~”

“You should learn to make tea well~”

Stelle also chimed in:

“Actually, being Orion’s servant doesn’t seem so bad?”

“At least you can see him every day…”

“You two!”

Fu Xuan stomped her foot in shame and anger.

But they had already hurried to catch up with Orion, leaving behind only a string of bell-like laughter.

As Welt passed by, he merely patted Fu Xuan’s shoulder gently:

“Master Diviner, I’m sorry.”

“Orion, although he sometimes has… well, rather peculiar hobbies.”

“But he’s a good person.”

Dan Heng also said:

“Master Diviner, my condolences.”

“???”

Fu Xuan was utterly fuming.

Jing Yuan was the last to leave.

He walked to Fu Xuan’s side, a smile on his lips.

“Fu Qing.”

[Inorin’s Note: “Fu Qing” (符卿) is an affectionate, slightly formal nickname Jing Yuan uses for Fu Xuan.]

“Some destinies cannot be forced.”

“Don’t you agree?”

After speaking, he also strode away, his white hair flowing.

The figures of the group moved into the distance.

Leaving Fu Xuan alone, standing in a daze in the now-quiet cavern.

A moment later, she stomped her foot heavily on the stone floor.

“Darn you, Orion!”

“I… I won’t give up so easily!”

“Even if I have to be a servant, I’ll be the kind who gets served by the master!”

“Let’s see what you’ll do then!”

Although she said that.

Her cheeks, for some reason, flushed a little more.

Orion… was he really… the one from my dream…

Forget it…

She shook the jumbled thoughts out of her head.

Then quickly chased after them.

After all…

The bet was already in effect.

From now on, she was Orion’s…

Personal servant.