Honkai Star Rail Simulation: I'm Surrounded By Characters

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Su Qing first examined the invitation in his left hand.

[Auction Invitation: A beautifully crafted and practical invitation. For safety and confidentiality, carrying this invitation during the auction conceals your appearance.]

For an auction event, concealing one's appearance was a standard practice. However, integrating such technology into a thin invitation card seemed quite remarkable.

After briefly reading the invitation, Su Qing noted it was issued by the official auction organizers. Holding this invitation granted him entry as a guest.

Next, he looked at his right hand.

[Cell Phone: An ordinary smartphone.]

This was the same phone he had been using throughout Punklorde.

[Silver Wolf: ...What kind of simulation is this? Couldn't they provide a new phone?]

[Silver Wolf: Why is this old simulation phone still being used here?]

[Sparkle: Fun, precisely because it's the same phone that can receive your messages.]

[Sparkle: If we switched to a new phone, how could it be called 'Joyful Simulation' then~]

Su Qing logged into his account.

Although he anticipated some new messages, as soon as he signed in, the phone erupted with incessant notification sounds.

At the top of the list was Silver Wolf's chat window, displaying unread message notifications...

999+!!!

Su Qing: What?!

With a bewildered expression akin to someone lost on public transit, he double-checked and confirmed he hadn't misread.

[Qingque: Wow, Su Qing seems quite startled.]

Su Qing clicked into the chat, revealing detailed information this time—it indicated over five thousand unread messages.

His confusion deepened even further.

To put it mildly, it reminded him of an instance when he was intensely focused on cooking, keeping his phone on silent mode.

In just a couple of days, Asta had sent him over a hundred messages and made dozens of calls.

[Seele: Impressive! Silver Wolf rivals Asta now!]

[March 7th: No way!? If you just do some quick calculations, you'll find Asta's messaging frequency far exceeds Silver Wolf's by a lot!!]

[Seele: Seems true...]

[Stelle: Ah, when it comes to intensity, Silver Wolf still falls significantly short compared to Asta, wouldn't you agree?]

[Silver Wolf: ...Is there really a need for such comparisons?]

[Stelle (shrugging): First lost to Firefly, now to Asta—there's no one else left to lose against.]

Unconsciously, Su Qing tapped on the upward-pointing arrow in the top right corner of the interface, indicating a return to the first message.

The chat rapidly scrolled upwards, moving faster and faster...

Then, the app abruptly crashed.

It instantly exited the chat window, returning him to the home screen!

Su Qing was speechless.

[Chat: ...]

[March 7th: What kind of app is this?! Just handling a few thousand messages!]

[March 7th: Isn't Punklorde known for advanced hacking technology? How could they mess this up?!]

[Fu Xuan: "Just a few thousand messages"?]

[Herta: @March 7th, remember that technological advancement doesn't always equate to user-friendly apps.]

[March 7th: Ugh, infuriating!!!]

[Qingque: Little March is livid! She's very unhappy that Su Qing didn't see the confession text!]

[Stelle: No sweet moments this time? Well, I'm invested anyway.]

[Sparkle: Looks like we won't have any entertainment now.]

[Silver Wolf: (instead feeling relieved)]

[Those confession messages I sent... Reading them now, they were indeed quite foolish.]

[Now it's perfect; Su Qing absolutely, absolutely won't see them anymore.]

[Stelle: Huh? Why do I sense a flag being raised?]

[Silver Wolf: Must be your imagination.?]

Su Qing clicked back in again, and this time all unread message indicators had disappeared, along with the upward-pointing arrows.

He proceeded to read the most recent messages first.

At the very bottom was Silver Wolf inviting him to join a mission related to the auction.

Su Qing pondered.

Is this the mentioned Option B from earlier?

By undertaking a mission with Silver Wolf, would that count as joining a faction?

Further up were several random messages from Silver Wolf.

Su Qing noticed that these messages covered a wide range of topics—from daily life updates to new experiences. Perhaps Silver Wolf treated his account like a confessional treehole.

Only then did Su Qing slightly relax.

Fortunately, it wasn't similar to Asta's messages; otherwise, he would have genuinely needed more contemplation...

[Bronya: Suddenly, I'm curious about what those hundreds of messages from Asta were.]

[Stelle: Judging by Su Qing's reaction, one could surmise they likely contained black hole-inducing content.]

[Bronya: ???]

In any case, Su Qing first replied with a few messages to Silver Wolf, seeking specific details about the mission.

Before deciding which faction to join, it was crucial to understand the situation fully.

***

Near the auction house, under the gaze of a surveillance camera—

Silver Wolf was reverse-hacking this camera to gain insights into the distribution of surveillance systems around the area.

Hearing the notification for a new message on her phone:

"Tch..."

Slightly annoyed, Silver Wolf paused her actions.

Who would be messaging me at a time like this?

Better not be some spam, or you're in for trouble.

She opened her phone.

The latest message displayed, sent by Su Qing.

Su Qing: Shall we discuss the details in person? Where should we meet?

Realizing who sent the message, Silver Wolf's earlier impatience vanished instantly as she forgot all about her current task. Her jaw slowly dropped.

Shocked!!!

[Stelle: Silver Wolf - Wow! Su Qing is alive!]

[Qingque: Hahahaha.]

[Bronya (somewhat elated): So, does this mean Silver Wolf now has the advantage? Does it increase our chances of winning?]

[Seele: @Bronya, I'd advise against celebrating too soon.]

[Herta: +1]

[Kafka: +2]

[Himeko: +3]

[Bronya: Huh?!]

[Silver Wolf: Ignore them; go buy champagne instead—we're ready to celebrate.?]

***

Arriving at the agreed location, Silver Wolf felt somewhat dazed. It reminded her uncannily of her first encounter with Su Qing.

There stood Su Qing once more, quietly waiting just as before, still looking so...

[Silver Wolf: Ignore them, let's go buy champagne—we're ready to celebrate.]

[Stelle: Awesome!]

[March 7th: Classic beauty fanatic, little Silver Wolf—always so nostalgic and sentimental!?]

Despite her anxious excitement, Silver Wolf managed to suppress her emotions.

Instead of directly greeting Su Qing, she initiated a subtle probe using Ether communication.

[Sushang: Straight into a contest?]

[Bronya: Very much her style.]

On Su Qing's side, after deflecting this test, a hint of surprise showed on her face.

In such a "short" time apart, how had Silver Wolf's skills improved so significantly?

This brief exchange was enough for Silver Wolf to confirm her suspicions.

The signature and nuances of Ether manipulation matched exactly as she remembered, unchanged even after several years.

With confirmation, Silver Wolf's eyes sparkled with joy, a wide smile spreading across her lips.

Even she didn't expect feeling this elated upon seeing Su Qing again!

[March 7th: Yay, yay, yay, I'm so happy!?]

Realizing her reaction might have been too enthusiastic, Silver Wolf cleared her throat, subtly lifting her smooth chin, attempting to feign indifference.

[Stelle: Back to pretending to be all cool!]

[Firefly: Acting tough again!]

[Bronya: Oh no, now I'm suddenly feeling worried too. Maybe we shouldn't open the champagne just yet...]

Su Qing greeted them with familiarity and ease.

Silver Wolf maintained her reserved demeanor. "We haven't seen each other for years, but you don't seem to have changed much."

Years without seeing each other? Su Qing pondered this key phrase and realized something. He then scrutinized Silver Wolf carefully from head to toe once more. "But you've changed," he paused briefly before continuing, "...you've grown taller, and significantly stronger."

He hadn't anticipated another chance to meet Silver Wolf. Moreover, it had already been several years for her, seemingly passing in the blink of an eye. His tone carried a hint of wistfulness.

Upon hearing this, Silver Wolf's feigned indifference instantly faltered. After a moment of hesitation, she managed to suppress the joy of their reunion and responded, striving for calmness, "...Hmph. Well, obviously, of course."

Recalling the missed farewell back then and the subsequent regret,

alongside Su Qing's words now, "You've grown taller and stronger."

If not for the significant growth Silver Wolf experienced over these years,

Her nose might have tingled again, threatening to spill more tiny pearls of tears on the spot.

[Stelle: As expected from Su Qing, just two lines and already breaking through defenses.]

[Black Swan: Those words truly evoke emotions.]

[Black Swan: Reuniting across time and space—while one greets with familiar warmth as before, the other has changed significantly...]

[March 7th: ? Unchanged? I'm sure she's still that naive little Silver Wolf.]

[Silver Wolf: Trust me, that part definitely changed.]

Regardless of pleasantries or any other matters, they couldn't stand talking indefinitely. The duo found a nearby café and chose a corner seat.

With a few swift gestures, Silver Wolf discreetly isolated their conversation from nearby patrons' hearing.

"...A Stellaron Hunter?" Su Qing sounded somewhat surprised upon hearing her introduction.

The Stellaron Hunters were the company's most wanted criminals. Even though he was deeply immersed in cooking and not well-versed in these affairs, he had certainly heard of them.

Instantly, Su Qing's expression conveyed a subtle hint of "you've indeed changed" and "look at you turning rogue now."

[Seele: ? Ha ha ha ha ha.]

[Herta: Laughed.]

[Firefly: Hilarious, gone rogue! Little Silver Wolf!]

[Silver Wolf: ... And you aren't also a Stellaron Hunter?!]

Seeing Su Qing's expression, Silver Wolf couldn't quite hold back her reaction and immediately began explaining.

She clarified that being called "Stellaron Hunters" didn't mean they were akin to the crazed pure villains of the Antimatter Legion or as inept thugs like the Annihilation Gang. Rather, their organization should at least be comprised of individuals with ideals and ambitions. In terms of alignment, they would likely fall under Chaotic Good.

[Stelle: Annihilation Gang: Are you serious?]

Silver Wolf intended to explain further, but Su Qing nodded understandingly.

"It's alright; I was just joking. I trust your choices."

"Stellaron Hunters, huh? Perhaps, I've had some bias against this group."

Silver Wolf swallowed her unspoken words. Faced with Su Qing's unconditional trust, she felt momentarily vulnerable again.

[Seele: Seriously? @Silver Wolf, with all that power, haven't you invested any points into defense? It's nonexistent!]

[Stelle: Because focusing solely on offense means ignoring defense entirely, right?]

After a brief exchange, Su Qing naturally brought up the numerous messages Silver Wolf had sent him.

Su Qing took out his phone. "What we ate a few days ago, how many points you scored in games..."

"You really sent me everything, didn't you? Are you using it as a personal diary?"

Initially, Silver Wolf was emotionally charged, wanting to say so much. She longed to ask where Su Qing had been during their time apart, how he'd been doing, and what experiences he had encountered. Additionally, she wished to apologize for missing the chance to bid farewell properly...

However, as Su Qing scrolled through his phone, Silver Wolf gradually remembered sending that explosively embarrassing confession message.

Instantly, she pushed those thoughts aside!

Silver Wolf's beautiful eyes began to blink rapidly, feeling uneasy in her seat. She alternated between leaning forward, gripping the table edge, and attempting to raise her hand.

[Seele: ?? She's panicking! She's panicking!]

[Natasha: Sweating yet, Little Sister?]

[Stelle: Is Silver Wolf's current state similar to how Sister Himeko felt when reading Su Qing's love letter?]

[March 7th: Not quite!]

[March 7th: Himeko crafted that confession meticulously with every word, while Silver Wolf's message seems more like a spontaneous, impulsive decision!]

[Sparkle: @Silver Wolf, judging by your reaction, it must be really embarrassing? Care to share with us?]

[Silver Wolf: Don't ask, this isn't something you need to know. ?]

"Oh right!"

As Su Qing was about to suggest, "Should I export all the messages and send them to you?"

Silver Wolf abruptly stood up, pushing off the table: "It's not convenient to talk here. How about meeting my current teammates instead?" She desperately tried to divert Su Qing's attention from the text messages, adding, "We can also discuss the mission properly!"

[Himeko: ?]

[Himeko: Silver Wolf, you're not planning to...?!]

***

A few streets away from the auction house, at a high-end hotel.

Su Qing waited briefly in the corridor.

From inside the room, a voice emerged, "Silver Wolf, adding a teammate on a whim like this is just too reckless."

"Hmm?" Su Qing felt puzzled.

The voice sounded strikingly familiar, yet slightly more mature than he remembered.

[Bronya: @Silver Wolf, What are you doing?! Why did you bring Su Qing straight to Kafka?!]

[Sparkle: Laughing! So much for self-sacrifice...]

As Su Qing pondered the situation,

Silver Wolf's voice reassured them, "Don't worry, I vouch for him—he's absolutely trustworthy."

With that, Silver Wolf opened the door. "The auction's network defenses are quite challenging. With his skills and assistance, our task will become significantly easier."

Kafka gently shook her head, "It's not about skill, but rather..."

As the door swung open, she looked towards the person outside.

She instantly froze, taken aback.

Kafka recalled why she joined the Stellaron Hunters.

"Fate presented me with two paths before my eyes."

"And when I embarked on one, the other would inevitably converge at some point along the journey."

Kafka believed that reuniting with Su Qing should be akin to a cinematic destiny's reunion, occurring under significant circumstances.

Perhaps it would be during a grand banquet or amidst a life-threatening crisis.

But Kafka never expected their meeting again to happen on such an ordinary day.

Outside the window, the weather was serene and peaceful. With just a simple push of a door, there he stood.

Caught off guard, Kafka froze in place, unable to react immediately.

"...Silver Wolf, is this 'Su Yu' whom you mentioned?" Kafka whispered softly, her gaze still fixed intently on Su Qing, as if fearing he might vanish any second.

Silver Wolf found her reaction somewhat peculiar. "Yes, that's right. What seems to be the matter?"

"Su Yu"?

No, the name didn't matter.

Years of close companionship had given Kafka an unparalleled understanding of Su Qing. After observing him briefly and noting his reactions, she became instantly certain.

[Stelle: Instant recognition! This highlights the skill gap between little Silver Wolf and Kafka!]

Kafka took two quick, subtle breaths. "Silver Wolf, could you please double-check the auction setup again?"

Her emotions were on the verge of overwhelming her, so naturally, she didn't want Silver Wolf around.

Completely oblivious to the situation, Silver Wolf responded, "Huh?? That urgent? I'm in the middle of introducing our new teammate."

Kafka's tone grew slightly more insistent. "Please, Silver Wolf, this is crucial... It really matters for the mission."

Silver Wolf found it even stranger now. She had rarely heard Kafka sound so formal and earnestly pleading.

Is there truly some critical oversight in the mission that I've missed?

Without hesitation, Silver Wolf agreed, "Alright." She then added with a specific warning, "Su Qing is my... friend. Don't make things difficult for him."

Silver Wolf might have thought Kafka was either asking her to leave or perhaps wanting to assess Su Qing herself.

"...Yes, of course," Kafka replied hesitantly.

Feeling that staying wouldn't change much, and believing a brief departure should be fine, Silver Wolf decided to comply. First, she greeted Su Qing briefly.

Then, true to her word, she left the room to inspect the auction setup.

[Himeko: ???]

[Bronya: ???]

[The earlier reunion had captivated the viewers' attention seriously. But now, they couldn't resist flooding the chat with question marks.]

[Seele: No way, Silver Wolf, you're actually leaving???]

[Qingque: Giving up right at the start again?]

[Himeko: ...@Silver Wolf, if you want to throw yourself away, fine, but what's the meaning of directly handing Su Qing over to Kafka??]

[Himeko: ? Are you here just to cause chaos?! Maybe you should withdraw too, huh?]

[Stelle: Sister Himeko is about to explode from anger!]

[Sparkle: Indeed, who wouldn't be furious? We initially thought weak opponents could be disregarded.]

[Sparkle: Yet Silver Wolf goes against expectations and assists one of the strongest contenders!]

[Sparkle: ? Silver Wolf's move is truly remarkable! It's eye-opening!]

[Firefly: If such moves by Silver Wolf are allowed on the field, why can't I do the same? ???]

[Kafka: Everyone, please calm down. Let's not disparage Silver Wolf, okay?]

[Kafka: @Silver Wolf, listen, thank you.]

[Kafka: Having such a great teammate as you is my fortune.?]

[Seele: Ha ha ha ha, killing them mentally after physically!]

[Sparkle: ?? Are you speechless at your own blunder now?]

[Stelle: I've noticed it too—Silver Wolf always messes up from the start! Let's call this inevitable occurrence "Silver Wolf Law #1"!]

[March 7th: What a pity. It was rare to gain such an early advantage.]

[March 7th: @Silver Wolf, didn't you notice anything unusual about Kafka?]

[Silver Wolf: Although I did pick up on something...]

[Silver Wolf (frustrated tone): But seriously! Who could have imagined this happening?! How am I supposed to guess that my former teammate and current teammate were previously teammates themselves!?]

[Stelle: Silver Wolf: Well, great, now wasn't switching teams pointless?!]

[Qingque: Hahahaha!!]

[Sparkle: Laughing.]

[Firefly: Laughing.]

[Bronya: ?, I can't find it funny.]

[Bronya (covering her eyes)]

[Bronya (muttering to herself)]: It's okay, I never intended to win from the beginning. It's okay, I never intended to win..."]

[March 7th: Oh no, even Bronya is losing hope!]

[Qingque: She's practically trying to hypnotize herself now!]

[Seele: Tragic! Bronya bet on Silver Wolf, only for him to spectacularly fail right from the start.]

["Qingque: Good thing I bet on Kafka."]

["Qingque: Silver Wolf's opening move was a complete giveaway. How will Kafka's start compare?"]

["Stelle: No worries, it'll be absolutely flawless!"]

After Silver Wolf left, only Su Qing and Kafka remained in the room.

Kafka locked the door.

[Himeko: ?]

[Firefly: ??]

Then, leaning against the closed door with her head bowed, Kafka momentarily fell silent, perhaps unable to speak right away.

From the trembling of her shoulders, it was clear she was deeply unsettled.

[March 7th: Speaking of...]

[March 7th: Kafka's emotions seem much stronger than Silver Wolf's...]