Honkai Star Rail: My Chat Group is Full of Broken Timelines — Chapter 106

Chapter 106: An Unexpected Broadcasting Accident

Within the studio on Xian’s capital star, the lights blazed with the intensity of an artificial sun. A faint, clean scent of pine resin drifted through the air—a deliberate touch from the production team, who had placed interstellar incense burners in the corners to cultivate a warm, inviting atmosphere.

A snowy owl, sporting a fluffy knitted hat, stood proudly behind the host’s podium. Its large, round eyes blinked once before it bowed deeply to the camera. “Hello! Whether your world acknowledges the concepts of day and night or not, I wish you a good morning, a good afternoon, and a good evening! Welcome to this special edition of Interstellar Peace News! I am your host, Owlbert!”

With a flourish of its wing, it gestured to the side. The camera panned to its assistant—a curious-looking mech with an old-fashioned cathode-ray tube television for a head. On its screen, a slightly delayed smiling emoji bounced with pixelated energy.

“H-hello everyone, I’m the co-host, Camerly.” The mech’s voice crackled with static, sounding endearingly shy as its metallic fingers twisted together in a gesture of nervousness.

Owlbert cleared its throat, and its tone immediately shifted, becoming grave and solemn. “Not long ago, the beautiful civilization of Xian faced an apocalyptic disaster. The Antimatter Legion, under the direct command of Nanook, the Aeon of Destruction, swept through this star sector like a tide of black ink. Under the claws of the Doomsday Beasts, planetary shields shattered one by one; beneath the relentless artillery of the Legion’s warships, entire cities were scorched into ruin. This civilization, once a thriving hub on the trade network, was pushed to the very brink of annihilation.”

It paused, pointing a wing at the massive screen behind the podium. The display flashed with harrowing footage from the invasion: buildings collapsing into dust, civilians fleeing in terror, and Doomsday Beasts roaring as they tore through defensive lines.

The scene then shifted, cutting to images of Rangers charging into the fray, their sword-lights and energy blasts carving brilliant streaks through the suffocating darkness.

“But at this most critical juncture, a group of long-silent heroes stepped forward. With justice as their spear and faith as their shield, they wrested Xian from the very jaws of destruction. They are… the Galaxy Rangers!”

“Having vanished into the corners of the galaxy since the Bloody Ongvak Incident of Aeon Era 2155, the Rangers have finally returned to the galactic stage. And fighting alongside them were several familiar figures.” Owlbert gave its wing a vigorous, excited wave.

“Next, let’s give a thunderous round of applause for our special guests today—the heavenly songstress, Lady Robin; the iron-willed empress, Titanium Tytania; and representing the Galaxy Rangers, the valiant Fei Peng!”

The director swiftly switched the camera feed, focusing on the plush sofa at the center of the studio.

Kazuki, Titanium, and Robin sat side by side. The holographic backdrop behind them projected a healing world—the star of Xian, slowly recovering in the war’s aftermath. Streets were being reconstructed, and the silhouettes of children could be seen flying kites in a temporary plaza.

Gazing at the camera and the teleprompter floating just out of view, Kazuki felt a strange wave of déjà vu wash over him. The entire setup was a stark reminder of the recording set for Into the Starry Abyss, blurring the lines between his virtual past and his tangible present.

“Ahaha, why don’t we start with some self-introductions?” Owlbert chirped, trying to regain a professional tone.

Robin nodded first, her light blue hair shimmering softly under the studio lights. She wore a pale purple gown today, its hem embroidered with complex, shimmering patterns—a formal attire she had not donned in years.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Robin,” she began, her voice as melodious as a song. “I believe many viewers may still remember me. Though now, I hold another identity—a Pure Beauty Knight.”

Titanium, seated in the middle, was the picture of regal composure. Her silver-gray formal wear accentuated her perfectly upright posture, and her iridescent pupils seemed exceptionally deep and thoughtful under the camera’s unflinching gaze.

She gave a slight, elegant nod, her voice as cool and clear as jade striking stone. “Titanium Tytania, Empress of Glamoth. It is a pleasure to meet you all here.”

In the presence of outsiders, she always maintained this aloof, taciturn demeanor. For a television program, this was already quite talkative of her.

Kazuki spoke last. The visor of his Firefly V armor completely concealed his expression, and his voice, filtered through a modulator, carried a distinct metallic quality. “Galaxy Ranger, Fei Peng.”

“Ahaha, each of you certainly has a distinct personality!” Owlbert’s wings trembled with barely contained excitement. “True heroes who saved Xian from the Antimatter Legion! If I may be so bold, what was it that brought you all together to lend a helping hand to this suffering world?”

Before the program began, the three had already reviewed the rundown. Aside from a few reserved segments for free-form discussion, most of the questions had pre-approved answers.

Kazuki spoke first, his armor’s external speakers emitting a steady, unwavering voice. “There are no complex reasons, only simple justice. Guided by the will of the Great Gale God, we Rangers are driven to hunt evil and uphold justice for the afflicted.”

“Glamoth once teetered on the brink of annihilation, eroded by the Swarm,” Titanium stated, her words calm yet carrying the immense weight of history. “It was the blood of countless warriors that purchased its rebirth. When I began to venture into the galaxy, I discovered many worlds facing similar fates. When faced with the threat of total destruction, offering aid is simply the natural choice.” Her words were placid, yet they conveyed a steadfastness born of enduring calamity that connected deeply with the audience watching from across the cosmos.

Both of them tacitly avoided mentioning their personal connection, framing this alliance as a chance convergence of righteous forces.

“For me, it might be a bit more complicated.” Robin took a gentle breath, her expression shifting as she decided to improvise. This was, after all, one of the core reasons she had agreed to the interview: to seize this platform to announce her return and the charity concert she was planning for Xian.

Her gaze swept over the camera lens, as if making direct eye contact with every single person watching. “Long ago, I traveled the galaxy as a singer, hoping to promote Harmony. I saw orphans left behind in the midst of war, planets left barren after being plundered for their resources, and countless people struggling in hardship. Back then, I thought that if I just hosted a few more charity concerts and raised enough funds, I could help them overcome their dilemma.”

A shadow of melancholy flickered in her voice, and her fingers tightened unconsciously on the fine fabric of her gown. “But I gradually realized that a celebrity who only sings on a stage, no matter how influential, cannot cure the root causes of suffering. War, plunder, the malice of others… these are not things that can be erased by donations. Being a celebrity, in the end, means you cannot personally cleave through the darkness for others.”

“It was then,” she continued, “that the idea of becoming a Pure Beauty Knight took root in my mind.”

Her eyes suddenly brightened, now filled with a resolute determination, like a butterfly finally emerging from its chrysalis. “I wanted to step onto the battlefield myself, to protect those I could once only pity from afar. This path is far more difficult than being a celebrity. It took me a very long time to even find the way, but when I finally stood before them, when I saw the light rekindled in their eyes, I knew… I knew this path was not wrong.”

She paused, her gaze toward the camera becoming exceptionally gentle. “But coming to Xian this time, a child changed my perspective. She told me that during her most desperate moments, it was my songs that helped her endure the long, terrifying nights. In that moment, I understood that my past career as a celebrity was not meaningless. Perhaps I cannot personally end all suffering, but my singing, in some corner of the universe unknown to me, had already become someone else’s light.”

“So, I’ve decided to make peace with my past self.” Robin’s voice now carried a liberating strength, a sense of deep relief. “Whether as a singer or as a knight, as long as I can bring even a sliver of warmth and hope to others, it is worth persisting.”

At this, she leaned forward slightly, her tone holding a sincere and open invitation. “Therefore, I plan to hold a charity concert soon at the spherical stadium in Xian’s capital, which will be streamed simultaneously online and offline. All proceeds will go directly toward Xian’s post-disaster reconstruction. I will also be performing a new song—a song about the Galaxy Rangers, about the struggle of Xian’s people, about every soul that refused to give up in the darkness.”

The studio fell utterly silent for several seconds.

Then, a small sniffling sound broke the quiet.

Host Owlbert was already in tears, its large, round eyes red and puffy as its wings frantically wiped at its cheeks. “Sniffle… Miss Robin, I-I’ve been a fan since your very first album! Do you have any idea how heartbroken I was when you announced your retirement? Finally… finally…”

It cried so hard its feathers puffed up, making it look twice its size. Its little knitted hat tilted precariously to one side, its hosting duties completely forgotten in a wave of pure, unadulterated fandom.

“Director! Director! Quick, cut the feed!” The co-host, Camerly, was so flustered its screen began to flicker with static snow. Its metal hands flew over the control panel in a panic.

“Insert a commercial break! Now! Quick!”