Honkai Star Rail Simulation: I'm Surrounded By Characters

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"This place used to be chaotic and lawless, controlled by the Slag Gang."

"However, after creating four intelligent personas with her smart pistol named 'Prometheus' to form her own team,"

"Her first mission was to eliminate the Slag Gang."

Su Qing seemed surprised, "As a first mission, that sounds incredibly difficult. Moreover..."

"Hmm." Silver Wolf nodded, "Moreover, perhaps the client never expected me to succeed, just wanting to observe the performance of a newcomer, regardless of whether I lived or died."

"But ultimately, I did complete that task. The reward was a chest filled with gold ingots."

Su Qing expressed his admiration; indeed, Silver Wolf possessed many traits characteristic of legendary hackers.

In Punklorde, people always worked together, making it exceedingly tough for lone individuals to survive.

This meant that those who managed to thrive independently often became legends themselves.

[Firefly: Silver Wolf is amazing! (clap clap clap)]

[Kafka: Darling, you're truly fantastic.]

[Silver Wolf: ...No using such baby-talk tones!]

[Qingque: But indeed, it's quite impressive. The first mission she undertook alone was to eliminate an entire gang.]

[Fu Xuan: Unfortunately, this prowess wasn't put to good use, and she ultimately became a Stellaron Hunter.]

[Silver Wolf: My stance remains unchanged—shouldn't I be a company lackey instead of a Stellaron Hunter?]

[Topaz: I really wanted to say, give me some face...]

[Topaz (somewhat resigned): But upon thinking about it, never mind; telling someone with a 5.1 billion Credit bounty seems futile.]

[Silver Wolf: Wise choice. ?]

[Stelle (shocked): 5.1 billion Credits?!]

[Silver Wolf: ... Put aside those dangerous thoughts. And Kafka's bounty is double mine.]

[Stelle: Oh, well then, no worries.]

[Kafka (smiling): You're such a good kid, Stelle.]

***

[Next stop, Silver Wolf brings you to a less bustling neighborhood.]

[She shares stories of the fast-food restaurant where she was the only employee and the arcade in its basement—the places that shaped her childhood.]

[Without a legal name or identification number, even "Silver Wolf" was just a nickname given to her by the shop owner.]

[Silver Wolf: Come to think of it, I once said something like, "Why are all my teammates so unlucky..."

[Silver Wolf: Looking back now, seems like I'm not much better off myself, ha-ha-ha-ha!]

[Firefly: (pats head)]

[Kafka: Silver Wolf is very strong.]

[Bronya: Uh, although Silver Wolf's laughing, I feel like only you two could manage that...

]

By this point, you realize this isn't some challenge but rather Silver Wolf sharing her past with you.

As you listen to her journey and the hardships she faced alone, you can't help feeling sympathy.

However, you don't show it, as it's clear Silver Wolf isn't recounting these stories for pity. She's simply sharing her experiences, a gesture of trust. The best response you can give is attentive listening.

The arcade located in the basement is nearly empty, featuring only outdated, aged machines.

On the leaderboard above, every top score was uniformly Silver Wolf's name.

It seemed as though from these scores alone, one could envision her solitary figure passing time here back then.

Su Qing didn't find the games boring either. He casually picked a bowling arcade machine, sat down, and attempted to beat the highest score.

Seeing his reaction, Silver Wolf felt inexplicably pleased inside.

However, she didn't express it aloud and instead took a seat nearby. "Heh, with such a simple game, actually refreshing my record will be quite challenging."

The proprietress approached with a tray holding two meal sets. She mentioned that it was rare to see Silver Wolf bring friends, so today's meals were on the house.

Glancing at the food, Su Qing quickly assessed that the burgers here, unsurprisingly, couldn't possibly contain real beef.

Nevertheless, the portions for both meal sets were generous, with fries overflowing abundantly.

Smiling despite himself, Su Qing looked sideways and said, "See, Silver Wolf? There are people who care about you too."

Silver Wolf, wearing a hoodie again today, responded by pulling up her hood, seemingly focusing more intently on the game. "...Sappy," she muttered.

The proprietress appeared delighted and later brought over additional snacks as well.

[Bronya: Quite touching.]

[March 7th: Yes!]

[March 7th: Also, speaking of which, Su Qing's emotional intelligence is really high now.]

[March 7th: Whether it's attentively listening to Silver Wolf's past without judgment, showing genuine interest in games despite their simplicity, or responding perfectly when the proprietor spoke...]

[March 7th: Every time, his reactions are impeccably spot-on! And most importantly, they all come from the heart!]

[March 7th: It's hard for me to believe that just recently, I thought he was so wooden?!]

[Silver Wolf: @Himeko, it's all thanks to your guidance. Thank you.]

[Himeko: ...]

[Sparkle: Heh, with this "flag" of self-sacrifice passing around?, does everyone have to take a turn carrying it?]

[Himeko naturally didn't want to accept such gratitude.]

[Himeko: @Kafka, credit goes to you as well.]

[Kafka: @Firefly, perhaps even a tiny bit to you too.]

[Firefly: Why only a tiny bit?!?!]

[Firefly: Th-then... @Asta, you deserve some credit too!]

[Qingque: Hahaha.]

[Stelle: ? Heh, taking advantage of Asta not being here, huh?]

[Sparkle: All returns to one! The original and ultimate substitute—Asta!]

[Seele: Haha, what is Sparkle saying now? I'm starting to lose track... But regardless, whenever you mention Asta, it always makes me laugh. 😄]

[Bronya: Same here. 😂]

Not far from the fast-food restaurant lay a riverside promenade, with the towering skyscrapers of the neon city visible across the water.

Despite being separated by just a river, the architecture on both sides contrasted greatly.

Near the railing at the riverbank, Su Qing and Silver Wolf continued their gaming session before engaging in conversation.

Silver Wolf leaned against the barrier, arms crossed, one foot resting on the lower railings. She gazed at the cityscape opposite her. "So, this is my past."

From the arcade to the fast-food joint, she had single-handedly conquered Waste Heap Mountain before arriving at the neon city—a straightforward and uncomplicated journey.

She approached each stage of life as if it were a game level to clear, always preferring solitude. It wasn't until encountering Su Qing, seemingly an insurmountable challenge, that she shared her story for the first time.

Impressed, Su Qing expressed his admiration for her ability to progress so far alone.

Silver Wolf waved her hand dismissively. "That's not what I meant. What I'm saying is, there should be an equal exchange. Your past... well, I must admit, I have some interest too."

"I see," Su Qing acknowledged, finding it reasonable. "What specific aspects would you like to hear about?"

Adopting an open stance, ready to answer any question, Su Qing waited while Silver Wolf swiftly pondered her inquiries.

For instance, did he have other teammates before? Or why was his close combat skill so exceptional?

A sudden realization struck Silver Wolf, reminding her of a casual topic she'd brought up earlier.

The corner of her lips curled with a mischievous grin. "Alright then, how about sharing your love stories?"

Silver Wolf thought it best to start with the most intriguing part—just for some amusement, curious to hear how he ended up breaking up.

"Sure, why not?" Su Qing didn't refuse. He felt that talking with friends and opening up might...

Might help him calm down better, move on from this relationship more easily.

[Himeko: (eyes wide with shock)]

[March 7th: Wait, wait! What?! Don't move on! How could you move on?!]

[Himeko: (hand gripping coffee trembles violently) Don't panic, little March. First, let's just...]

[Himeko: ???]

[Sparkle: Heh, first put on sunglasses, take a deep breath, right?]

[Firefly: Excellent! Silver Wolf, well done, truly well done!]

[Kafka: My verdict is: This episode showcases Silver Wolf's greatest achievement.]

[Silver Wolf: ?]

[Bronya: Despite identical sunglasses, they conceal vastly different emotions.]

Su Qing didn't delve into specifics, only giving a broad overview of his romantic journey. Occasionally, while reminiscing, he would mention some details.

To be honest, love was a realm completely foreign to Silver Wolf. Even when playing games, she rarely chose themes related to romance.

Initially, Silver Wolf found it refreshing to hear about love letters and declarations of affection, listening with keen interest, her lips curving into a smile.

However, as she continued hearing Su Qing's story, she suddenly turned her head, noticing his gaze.

The expression in Su Qing's eyes while talking about his past lover was something she had never seen before, not as a gaming partner, friend, or teammate...

Unbeknownst to her, her smile gradually faded away.

[Sparkle: Ha ha, what happened to your smile? Why did you stop laughing?]

Seeing that look in Su Qing's eyes, Silver Wolf felt a deep sense of unease.

What was this feeling?

It wasn't jealousy related to romantic love.

Rather, it resembled the frustration and dejection one might feel when their closest friend or companion is taken away by someone else.

...Silver Wolf knew that this dejection was somewhat irrational.

After all, Su Qing must have met his ex-girlfriend long before he ever knew Silver Wolf.

[Kafka: Let's emphasize the keyword here - ex-girlfriend.]

[Himeko: ... (Feeling devastated) (No energy to speak)]

Silver Wolf also observed that when Su Qing recounted sweet memories from his past relationship, his emotions reflected nostalgia or joy.

These were emotions that could never arise between them, no matter how close they became, fundamentally speaking.

Perhaps many people have experienced such feelings at some point in their lives.

The first time making a close friend, opening up to someone for the first time, finding someone with whom conversations flowed effortlessly across all topics... only to discover...

That they secretly befriended another very close companion without involving him! And not even including him in their activities!

[Stelle: Ah! (Exclaiming)... White Album vibes again...]

[March 7th: Let's beat down those white romantics first!!]

[Pela: But wait, Silver Wolf's situation seems off here.]

[Pela: Surely he can't just shout: "But...but I arrived later! Why do you always think about her?!"]

[Seele: Ha ha ha, true, it doesn't make sense.]

[Bronya: Regardless, wouldn't anyone in Silver Wolf's position feel somewhat disheartened?]

[Stelle: Bronya is right!]

Silver Wolf initially intended to find amusement in this story, but as he listened, his mood grew increasingly gloomy instead.

Especially at the end, when Su Qing recounted the part about their breakup.

Although Su Qing narrated it gently, Silver Wolf still felt intensely angry and thought it unjustified.

"Break up just because of a short separation?" Unable to hold back, Silver Wolf exclaimed, "If that's the case, she definitely wasn't worthy of being your girlfriend!"

[Himeko: Cough cough cough...(Suffering intense shock)]

[Seele: Whoa! Silver Wolf just unleashed her full power?!]

[Firefly: Yes! That's the spirit! Hit hard with all you've got!]

[Kafka: @Silver Wolf, what would you like to eat? I'll treat you later.]

[Sparkle: Heh (Joy).]

[Qingque: Heh (Joy).]

Upon hearing Silver Wolf's words,

Su Qing looked at her gently, but his tone was earnest, "Don't say that."

By the riverside, everything fell silent.

[Clink!!]

[Himeko's HP instantly drops to zero, collapsing onto the table.]

[Even in front of others, he still defends me!!!]

[It's the most lethal and emotionally devastating blow.]

[Ahhh! Su Qing, my lover, my true love... What have I done?!]

[As a navigator, Himeko, usually composed and elegant, now finds herself utterly shaken.]

[Clutching her tender abdomen, she feels both stomach pain and a mix of emotions—moved yet regretful—with conflicting feelings overwhelming her.]

Silver Wolf also felt somewhat struck by this exchange.

She realized she had spoken too impulsively, knowing it wasn't her place to comment on someone else's relationship. However, Silver Wolf genuinely believed it was unfair to Su Qing. She felt that such a good person deserved a much better girlfriend.

His ex-girlfriend must have had terrible taste. If it were someone else, even if... even if it were herself...

Silver Wolf vigorously shook her head, banishing that peculiar thought from her mind.

Mocking herself, Silver Wolf said, "Alright, based on your description, your ex-girlfriend was undoubtedly both beautiful and well-figured. Someone like me... someone like me shouldn't casually pass judgment."

Upon hearing this, Su Qing momentarily froze before suddenly bursting out laughing.

Thinking he was also mocking her, Silver Wolf felt even more vexed. "What's so funny?! I'm just plain and ordinary, alright?! Got any problem with that?!"

"No, no, don't misunderstand," Su Qing hastily explained with a smile. "It's just that seeing you like this, how should I put it, is somewhat cute."

[Natasha: Ha ha, to Su Qing, Silver Wolf now seems like a sulking little girl.]

[Black Swan: (Smiling) Indeed. Although she's self-deprecating, at its core, Silver Wolf merely wants attention.]

[March 7th: It's here! The poise of the elder sisters!]

[Stelle: A sulking little Silver Wolf does seem quite adorable.]

Caught off guard by this comment, Silver Wolf momentarily lost her words. "Wha...?! Adorable? What do you mean by that?" She gripped the railing tightly, her gloved fingers lifting and falling uncertainly as she felt her face growing warm.

Silver Wolf didn't want to remain in such a flustered and passive state; she sought a retort to counter Su Qing's remark.

However, she saw Su Qing gazing at the distant neon-lit cityscape. "After hearing your experiences today, I'm even more convinced that Silver Wolf, you are truly one-of-a-kind."

"You will become a legendary hacker, leave Punklorde behind, and shine brilliantly across the universe."

"Perhaps someday, the entire galaxy will know your name. No organization, regardless of its nature, will be able to overlook your presence. And I firmly believe that day is not far away."

With these words, Su Qing turned towards her with a smile. "So, for someone as unique and with limitless potential like you, does something trivial like appearance really matter?"

"I mean, you didn't need to say those things; it sounded somewhat self-deprecating."

Silver Wolf's emotions surged at these words. "Of course... I will achieve everything you've mentioned, and even surpass those expectations."

After briefly envisioning her future, Silver Wolf returned to reality.

Clearing her throat, she asked with a mix of anticipation yet feigning nonchalance, "So, just out of curiosity, do physical appearances not matter to you either?"

Su Qing looked at her for a moment before smiling slightly. "No, I definitely prefer good physiques."

Instantly, Silver Wolf threw a punch. "Go die already!"

[Sparkle: Hahahaha!!]

[Seele: ? This sudden twist... Oh no, I can't stop laughing!]

[Guinaifen: hhh Laughing like thunder over here, folks!]

[Stelle: Su Qing: Don't worry, appearance isn't important.]

[Stelle: Su Qing: Ah? You're asking me? Well, naturally, I prefer good physiques.]

[Qingque: Absolutely hilarious.]

[Sushang: Too funny.]

[Sparkle: Literally dying from laughter.]

[Bronya: (Unable to suppress laughter) Honesty, indeed one of his virtues.]

[Firefly: Ha ha ha, watching Su Qing rile others up is so entertaining!]

[Silver Wolf: ... Just wait until it's your turn; we'll see if you're still laughing then!]

Su Qing effortlessly blocked Silver Wolf's punch. "Want to hit me? You're not ready yet."

Silver Wolf's tone was furious. "Let go, at least let me land one strike!"

"Nope." Holding her pale fist firmly without releasing, Su Qing replied, "If you want to hit me, earn it with your skills."

"Who can beat you, though?!"

At a nearby fast-food restaurant, the proprietress leaned against the door, smiling as she watched the playful tussle by the riverside.

It seemed that after their encounter, Silver Wolf had been doing well and even made a great friend.

***

Upon returning home,

Silver Wolf took a shower, letting her long hair cascade loose, and sat back down in her gaming chair. With chin propped up, she casually navigated through the holographic interface, browsing the web for a while.

Then, memories of the earlier events resurfaced. Recalling the joyful moments, Silver Wolf couldn't help but smile.

But as she thought about the end, her lips pursed, feeling slightly irked.

Ugh, infuriating!

The mood had reached its peak; even a half-hearted response would've sufficed!

Why must he always tell the brutal truth?!

[Stelle: @Bailu, oh doctor, doctor. I have a friend who, when thinking about a certain guy, alternates between happiness and anger with rapidly changing expressions. What could be causing this?]

[Bailu: Ah? (pauses to think) It might be some form of hysteria.]

[Stelle: (bursting out laughing) Hahahaha!!!]

[Bailu: What's so funny?!]

[Stelle: I was expecting something like lovesickness or similar.]

[March 7th: ? Actually, you shouldn't have tagged Bailu for this question; it should've been Natasha. Bailu doesn't really understand matters of love.]

[Natasha: (smiling) Don't place too much trust in me, either. My knowledge in that area is quite limited.]

After pondering for a moment, Silver Wolf once again summoned her intelligent persona.

To vent her frustration, she first changed "Employee" to resemble Su Qing.

Silver Wolf commanded, "You! Bring my water cup over here."

Su Qing's avatar saluted promptly, "Yes, boss!"

Seeing Su Qing obediently carrying out her order, Silver Wolf finally smiled again.

[Sparkle: Heh.]

[Herta: Engaging in wishful thinking again, aren't we?]

Apparently hooked on playing around, Silver Wolf switched back from "Employee" and then changed "Slave" to Su Qing's appearance.

[Himeko: ?]

[Kafka: Silver Wolf, what are you doing?]

[Firefly: ???, Silver Wolf, are you feeling alright??]

[Sparkle: Are you tired of being a masochist and want to switch things up?]

[Silver Wolf: I've never been one, okay?!]

Fortunately, at that time, Silver Wolf was still quite innocent and hadn't done anything peculiar.

She merely had Su Qing, the little imp, carry out two tasks akin to odd jobs before reverting his intelligent personality back and storing him away.

[Firefly: But! This Su Qing fellow is indeed so cute!!!]

[Firefly: We need to find a way to steal Silver Wolf's smart pistol...]

[Kafka: (Smiling) Count me in for this operation.]

[Silver Wolf: Behold, our Stellaron Hunters—truly tight-knit, huh.?]

***

Today, Silver Wolf was playing games alone at the arcade.

There weren't many customers, only a handful present.

Noticing a couple among them, the proprietress suddenly asked, "By the way, Silver Wolf, have you been in any relationships since leaving here?"

Silver Wolf, intensely focused on the black-and-white arcade screen, replied, "Huh? No, not really interested."

The proprietress continued, "That friend who came with you the other day seemed pretty nice. Haven't you considered it?"

[Himeko: ???]

[Kafka: ???]

[Stelle: SIZZLING TWIST ENDING]

Upon hearing this, Silver Wolf froze momentarily.

"... No interest," she replied after a pause. Seeing "Game Over" on the screen, she inserted another credit to continue. "It's all your fault; now I died."

Following that exchange, the proprietress went back to her other tasks.

However, it became increasingly difficult for Silver Wolf to focus solely on the old arcade machine anymore.