章節 109: Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking [109]
March 7th looked utterly perplexed as she questioned him.
"Why would you go out of your way to do that?"
"Eh? Well, even if I'm not the most reliable god, I am still a deity of a nation. If I left with you in plain view of everyone, don't you think it would spark all sorts of rumors?"
Relaxing on the plush sofa, Venti grinned as he sipped the coffee Himeko had brewed for him.
The very next moment:
"—Ugh, what is this taste?!"
"Haha, that's a specialty coffee brewed from beans we picked up on the planet Mohan. The flavor is a sophisticated mix of bitterness, sourness, and spiciness—almost like a gourmet dish, isn't it?"
"...Sophisticated or not, it's definitely unique. Easily one of the most memorable coffees I've ever tasted."
Venti stuck out his tongue, staring at the cup with a mixture of dismay and reluctant acceptance. It was as if the trouble of leaving his home planet couldn't compare to the small yet profound challenge posed by this coffee.
Dan Heng, watching Venti intently, turned to Welt.
"Uncle Yang, you knew about this, didn't you?"
"No… I only learned about it after we got here. Honestly, emotionally speaking, I was leaning toward him staying behind."
Welt adjusted his glasses, speaking gently.
"Even though you were the one who extended the invitation?" Dan Heng pressed.
"Inviting Venti to join us on our adventures doesn't contradict believing he might choose to stay."
The mature, dependable middle-aged man met Dan Heng's gaze with calm resolve, as if he could see straight through his lingering doubts.
After a moment of silence, Dan Heng relented and shifted his attention to Venti. He extended a hand.
"Let's start over. I'm Dan Heng. I serve as the train's guard and manage the onboard archives."
Not to be outdone, March 7th squeezed in from the side, flashing Venti an exuberant smile.
"Well, since you're officially on the train, welcome aboard, Venti! I'm March 7th, a crew member and your new coworker. Now, let's take your onboarding photo—pfft, what's that face for?"
Before she could finish, Venti's pitiful expression had her laughing.
"Ah… nothing. It just reminded me of my old job photos. Who knew we'd need them here, too? This really isn't some makeshift operation, huh?"
"While the Astral Express may have a small crew, we see each other as family. We support each other to ensure the success of our journey. Compared to the cold relationships in large corporations, our atmosphere is much more comforting."
Welt nodded with a warm smile.
"Besides, I imagine we'll have plenty to discuss about storytelling. In some ways, you could call me a bard as well. Though, I worked with animations rather than words."
"Hehe, then let's perform together one day and see who's more popular!"
Venti's words, though playful, carried a sense of sincerity that made it hard to tell if he was joking. It was part of his straightforward charm, which even softened Himeko's initial wariness toward his "stowaway" antics.
Although she hadn't left the train herself, Himeko had been in constant contact with the crew and had heard all about Belobog's stories. Knowing Venti wasn't a threat helped ease her concerns, though she remained cautiously vigilant.
Even Pom-Pom, who was usually the most territorial about the train, stood off to the side without protest, leaving the decision up to the others.
This level of acceptance from Pom-Pom, who had been part of Akivili's original Trailblazing journeys, was no small feat. Despite its soft and unassuming demeanor, Pom-Pom held absolute authority aboard the Astral Express, a fact that even Himeko acknowledged.
For now, they could only hope that Venti and Pom-Pom would get along. After all, Venti had accepted the bitter coffee Himeko served as a subtle test and had earned everyone's trust.
With an ambiguous smile that seemed to spark an inexplicable warmth in those around her, Himeko finally broke the silence.
"Welcome aboard, Venti. I'm Himeko, the Astral Express' navigator. I look forward to sharing an interesting journey with you."
Standing there in her white evening gown with red accents, draped elegantly with her conductor's coat, Himeko exuded grace and poise. Her half-bared shoulder and fiery confidence gave her an air of mature allure.
Even Venti, who had endured Bronya's reserved charms and Seele's battle-ready practicality, had to admit—Himeko was in a league of her own.
Unlike Bronya's youthful poise or Seele's pragmatic edge, Himeko radiated the bold beauty of a rose in full bloom.
Of course, Venti's admiration was entirely innocent.
After a quick yet thorough glance at everyone, he placed a hand over his chest and bowed like a proper bard.
"Though it's only been a day since we last met, I trust no one's forgotten who I am. But since I now stand in the presence of such a striking lady, I must reintroduce myself! I am Venti, the world's greatest bard, here to recover lost songs and recount the tales of brave Trailblazers!"
He straightened up with a mischievous grin.
"So, where to next? A planet teeming with giant monsters? A kingdom beneath the ocean ruled by scaly sovereigns? Or perhaps the enigmatic end of the starry skies?"
Himeko chuckled softly.
"That enthusiasm is admirable, but our next destination is the Herta Space Station. We need to restock supplies, submit reports, and visit a 'friend.'"
"Until we leave, I'll have to ask you to be patient," she added gently.
"Oh, that's no problem! Dan Heng and I can take Venti around while we're there. I'm sure we'll find plenty of fascinating things!"
March 7th's mischievous grin hinted at some mischievous plan.
"And when we do, I'll give you an official score—heh!"
---
The Herta Space Station
The Herta Space Station was born out of Lady Herta's frustration with managing her vast collection of interstellar curiosities. Too numerous to handle and difficult to store, she refused to deal with them herself.
Ever-resourceful, the Interastral Peace Corporation proposed a solution. Thus, the Herta Space Station—designed to safeguard knowledge and secrets—came into existence.
Every aspect of the station revolved around cataloging its collections, with detailed containment measures ensuring order amidst chaos.
Phenomena were stored in specialized containers, curiosities were categorized meticulously, and the countless artifacts were secured in the station's depths for study.
The station became a beacon for scholars, drawn by the Interastral Peace Corporation's call to unravel the mysteries of the stars. These individuals were united in their admiration for Lady Herta, pledging to pursue the ideals of interstellar exploration and uncover the secrets whispered by the stars.
Their research spanned vast disciplines: charting the boundaries of life, debating the ethics of existence, exploring the fields of the galaxy, unraveling ritualistic mysteries, and advancing knowledge through empirical study.
In essence, the station was a space-based research facility rooted in "secrets and danger."
While it earned fame as a repository of the galaxy's strangest treasures, it also attracted peril, like a perfectly roasted pig laid before ravenous diners.
The station's defenses, staffed by hired guards and enhanced by advanced security systems, were insufficient to deter all threats. At times, Lady Herta's preemptive measures—shifting the station's position along its orbit—thwarted spacefaring conspiracies before they could begin.
But at other times, when facing prepared adversaries intent on seizing its treasures, the station required additional assistance.
---
For Venti, interstellar travel wasn't as exciting as he had imagined. Once the novelty wore off, he began spending more time asleep than awake.
March 7th, eager for his company, often found herself bored and resorted to occasional pranks—snapping photos of his sleeping face for her collection.
Each time Welt or Himeko caught her, they put a stop to her antics.
Strangely, Venti never minded. In fact, he seemed delighted to join March 7th in her playful escapades once he woke up.
It was as though the concept of "trouble" didn't exist in his dictionary.
His frequent naps were simply a response to the monotony of travel. Like a reader skimming through dull sections of a book, Venti preferred to skip over the boring parts of his day.
---
On the second crescent of the Trailblazing calendar, the Astral Express successfully docked at the Herta Space Station.
The platform's intercom echoed with directives as the train eased into its designated track.
The viewing car's doors slid open, and March 7th was the first to step out, followed by Dan Heng and Venti.
This time, Himeko planned to personally deliver their survey data to Herta, while Welt stayed aboard the train to oversee resupply efforts.
With tasks divided, March 7th led Venti along the station's corridors, pointing out interesting spots while explaining its personnel structure.
The first person she introduced was, of course, Lady Herta, the station's namesake.
"Her tastes are... hard to define," March 7th admitted. "But judging by how the researchers here speak of her with such admiration, she's pretty famous around these parts."
Herta herself was described as a "genius" who only cared about things that caught her interest, abandoning them the moment she grew bored.
Next, March 7th introduced the station's administrator, Asta—a petite girl with pink hair and a charming demeanor.
"Oh, and one more thing," March 7th warned. "Don't get any funny ideas about her. Asta isn't just the station's administrator—she's also the corporation's heiress. If you upset her, we might all end up blacklisted, and then it's goodbye luxury train and hello sleeping under the stars."
"Eh? Why does that make me sound like some kind of flirt?" Venti protested, his tone aggrieved.
"Well, normal people don't usually have so many 'close female friends,' do they?" March 7th teased.
"Hey now, let's not mix up our terms," Venti shot back. "Friends are friends, confidantes are confidantes. Let's try to be precise, okay?"
He shook his head like a rattle drum, earning a chuckle from Dan Heng.
"Enough, March. Don't spread baseless rumors," Dan Heng interjected, his stern gaze silencing the conversation.
Relenting, March 7th changed the subject.
"Anyway, those are the two people you should keep in mind. The Express doesn't stay docked for long, so once Himeko finishes delivering the data, we'll probably be ready to leave."
"Wow, sounds like you guys are busy Trailblazers!" Venti quipped.
"Hehe. You could say that! Gotta keep moving to chase dreams and fill our bellies!"
March 7th grinned cheekily, while Dan Heng maintained his usual stoic demeanor.
In truth, the Astral Express didn't need to Trailblaze just to fund their meals. Compared to the train's maintenance costs, their personal expenses were negligible.
The train itself was no mere relic of a bygone era. Keeping it operational required regular use, technical expertise, and access to specialized parts.
Given the train's constant movement along the galaxy's tracks, it rarely lingered in one place, driving up logistical costs.
The Herta Space Station served as both a repository for Herta's collections and a convenient hub where the crew could retrieve orders and supplies.
March 7th and Dan Heng had planned to show Venti around, but the station's support sector, typically bustling with activity, was eerily silent.
The once-busy researchers were nowhere to be seen, as though they had all vanished, leaving behind an unsettling stillness.
Dan Heng immediately tensed, his instincts honed by the station's dangerous curiosities. Even he couldn't afford to let his guard down.
Meanwhile, March 7th stood puzzled before an unresponsive door, waving at the nearby security camera.
"Hey—! Anyone watching? We're from the Astral Express. Could you open this door for us? It seems broken!"
As she reached to knock, Dan Heng's sharp voice cut through the air.
"Something's wrong! March, get back—now!"
No sooner had he spoken than the door burst open, and a Voidranger lunged out, its blade poised to strike.
At that moment, Asta's message notification chimed urgently on their communicators.
Before anyone could react further, a pulse explosion echoed through the station, plunging it into an ominous silence.
---
Elsewhere, inside a space elevator, a woman with wine-red hair and a striking ensemble of a black coat, white shirt, and violet stockings hummed the melody of Canon to herself.
Immersed in her imaginary performance, she remained unfazed by the chaos brewing outside.
---
T/N: I do the same thing as Venti! When I'm waiting for something or I'm bored I simply sleep!
Oh, hey there, Traveler! 🍃 My friend here is the one bringing these stories to you—quite the talent, wouldn't you agree? If anything feels off, just give them a nudge—they're always happy to make things even better.
Now, don't forget to take a moment to rest! Grab a drink (perhaps something as refreshing as Mondstadt's finest), and let the stories whisk you away.
Oh, and if you're feeling generous, you could check out [patreon.com/WiseTL]. Supporting them is like throwing a coin to your favorite bard—it keeps the magic flowing!
Here's to more adventures and endless inspiration~ 🎵
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