Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking

"…Is it really over? Just like that…"

On the way back, Seele murmured to herself, a trace of confusion on her face.

If Venti were here, he'd have the perfect answer, but now, all she felt was a strange mixture of relief and uncertainty. She felt lighter, freed from her duty—yet, at the same time, unsure of what to do next.

It was an unfamiliar feeling for her, considering people from the Underworld didn't usually have the luxury of worrying about the future.

In that claustrophobic place where even the sky was mostly hidden, just surviving took everything they had.

But now, through her efforts, everyone's efforts, and Venti's as well, they had won the freedom to make choices—freedom, available to all.

Was this what it meant to be rich in experience?

While she savored this newfound joy, Bronya gave her a soft smile and spoke with her usual sense of responsibility.

"From a battle's perspective, yes, this fight that decided our world's fate ended in victory for us.

"But, there's still much left to do. The enormous changes to this planet weren't just noticed by us; I'm sure the people have sensed them, too. They deserve answers, and we should make the truth known to them."

Even if it caused some instability, she believed that people loved by a godlike youth would never forsake a beautiful future or allow it to fall prey to the ambitions of a few. Besides—

As their leader, it was her duty to secure a better life for them, to guide them towards it.

Gepard's thoughts clearly aligned with hers, and he answered with his usual dependable tone.

"Whatever happens, we will do everything in our power to support you."

"Hey—who said you could make that choice for me?" Seele snapped, her expression turning sour.

"Ah, apologies! Fighting alongside you was such a joy that I thought of you as one of us, a Silvermane Guard. If it bothers you, I'll gladly apologize again!"

Gepard bowed his head, genuinely apologetic.

That only made Seele more uncomfortable. She pouted, waving a hand dismissively.

"We only worked together temporarily under Wildfire. And you—seriously, between you and Miss High-and-Mighty over here, you guys from the Overworld are all way too formal."

"Including Venti?" Bronya's voice had a playful edge.

"That guy would never say something like that. Knowing him, he'd probably just be asking where the best tavern is so he could spend the night drinking!"

Seele glanced back at the feathered cocoon strapped to Gepard's shield, being carefully dragged along, and clicked her tongue.

"The one person who ought to be causing a ruckus is now the one sleeping like a baby."

"I believe Venti will wake up someday."

"Obviously. He's a carefree, airheaded bard who couldn't just sleep his life away, could he?"

"Hm... that's true. Venti staying still like some statue is hard to picture—"

The two, often bickering, shared a moment of agreement, an unexpectedly warm atmosphere settling between them.

Gepard, meanwhile, found the scene comforting. Lady Bronya didn't have many friends, and while he could consider himself her comrade and subordinate, he couldn't presume to be her friend.

Only someone like Seele could banter with her so freely.

Yet, after their lighthearted conversation, they turned back to serious matters—

The truth they'd reveal would, of course, include Cocolia's part in all this—the actions of a Guardian who had forsaken her duties.

In the past, the task of maintaining legitimacy after such a scandal would've seemed overwhelming to Bronya, who'd always been aligned with Cocolia's faction.

But now, it felt surprisingly simple. Not only had Venti's influence exposed Cocolia's betrayal, but the spectacle of that battle with the dragon had crowned Bronya with the power of preservation.

Seen as chosen by Preservation itself, she was now the undisputed heir to the Guardians, and no one would challenge her authority under such circumstances.

If anyone did, the people, driven by anger, would string any opportunists up before she even gave the order.

Besides, compared to the transformation the planet had undergone, the actions of Cocolia and the Stellaron felt insignificant.

People had a brighter future to focus on, one they wouldn't abandon in favor of past grievances or lies.

And so, as they made their way back, the warmth of the afternoon sun greeted them as they arrived at Belobog, where Silvermane Guards, led by intelligence officer Pela, awaited them.

People lined the streets, their gazes filled with reverence for the heroes, cheering louder with each passing moment.

Bronya knew well that much of this glory belonged to the currently unassuming Venti.

But that was fine—she had plenty of time to tell everyone, and plenty of time to guide her people toward a better tomorrow. In the end—

(One day, I'll make sure you see the sight of birds soaring across a blue sky.)

---

In the silent expanse of space—

The Astral Express was preparing for a warp.

The conductor Pom-Pom moved efficiently, issuing orders, including one to ensure a certain restless passenger stayed seated.

"March 7th, please sit tight and hold on! Warp jump incoming!"

"Uh... was it really necessary to remind me, Pom-Pom? It's not like I haven't done this a thousand times~"

"Well, considering that you trip every single time you try to be brave?"

"Heh. That's called resilience."

The adorable, mascot-like conductor sighed at the pink-haired girl's lack of caution.

He turned his gaze toward two of the train's more mature passengers—a striking woman with deep red hair and a glass of wine, and a reliable, glasses-wearing man.

"Navigator Himeko, Passenger Welt. Please talk some sense into March!"

"Aww, Pom-Pom, don't tattle!" March pouted, sitting obediently on the sofa as Himeko raised her coffee cup with a wry smile.

Welt chuckled, clearly used to the train's lively interactions by now.

Only Dan Heng, who'd been quietly reading before March squished in beside him, gave her a sideways glance.

"March, you seem unusually excited."

"Hehe. Of course! We're being sent on a major mission—it's thrilling!"

"But haven't we already done countless missions for Miss Herta?"

"That's different! Before, it was just fetching stuff. It was fun, sure, but do it enough, and it gets dull, right?"

March kicked her legs playfully, her tone light.

"This time, we're going somewhere that Herta herself called 'interesting.' When someone as big as her says that, you know it'll be filled with epic adventures!"

"...I'm hoping for a smooth trip, not one filled with unexpected trouble. Besides, the situation over there is a bit complicated, so it might not have the kind of 'adventure' you're expecting."

Dan Heng's tone was measured, though those on board knew this was simply his cool exterior; deep down, he cared deeply about the crew.

For example, he was already trying to temper March's expectations.

"Oh? So you did your homework again, Teacher Dan Heng! Tell me, what's different about this one?"

March's initial disappointment at possibly missing out on adventure faded as quickly as it came.

To her, any journey shared with friends was worth it, far better than her days drifting alone in suspended animation.

Dan Heng closed his book and glanced over at Himeko, who gave a gentle smile, leaving the explaining to him.

Resigned to his navigator's not-so-subtle "delegation," Dan Heng began.

"Our destination is a small planet. The star system designation is Jarilo-VI. According to the archives, the last time the Express visited was thousands of years ago. Back then, it was a lush, beautiful planet."

"Huh? Back then?"

"Yes. At some point over the centuries, something caused drastic climate changes there. Based on the footage from Miss Herta, it now appears like an entirely different world."

He projected the astronomical data onto a screen.

The image revealed a planet blanketed in ice and snow, frigid even to look at.

March's eyes widened in surprise as she covered her mouth.

"Wait, isn't this like how we were before? Does this frozen wasteland really hold something that would catch Herta's interest? I'd think it'd have more in common with my past than hers."

"I don't know. We'll need to investigate the planet ourselves to understand."

Dan Heng shook his head, feeling a sense of mystery around this particular destination.

"I see. Does this mean Uncle Yang will come with us this time?"

"Of course. Since we're going somewhere with this much 'uncertainty,' I'll join you."

But Welt glanced at Himeko, the true leader on board, as though seeking her approval.

She returned his gaze with a gentle, slightly exasperated smile.

"In that case, I'll stay on the train this time. You can accompany March and Dan Heng to gather ecological data on Jarilo-VI. We may be able to find clues about the climate shift from it."

"Understood."

Welt nodded. Neither he nor Himeko were new to interstellar travel; they both recognized that Jarilo-VI's situation was anything but ordinary.

He looked at the screen showing the final recorded image—a massive vortex—and frowned.

If a planet's ecosystem could shift so radically over millennia due to external forces, it might seem trivial from the universe's standpoint, but for the residents, it was no small ordeal.

He wasn't sure if there were still people living on Jarilo-VI, but if there were, they might already be too late—

A man driven by the desire to save could never turn a blind eye to any form of suffering.

But he also knew that to a Trailblazer, respecting each planet's fate was part of the journey.

In the quiet of the train, Pom-Pom's voice came over the intercom.

"Testing—testing—"

After a few mic adjustments, the conductor's usual cheery tone took on a serious note.

"Please, everyone, take your seats. Warp jump initiating!"

"I won't fall—I won't fall—I won't fall—"

March whispered a cute prayer to herself.

"Get ready, everyone. Countdown begins—"

5

4

3

2

1

A blinding white light filled the cabin, and as the warp ended, everyone regained their senses.

March, sprawled across the sofa, straightened herself, while Dan Heng opened his eyes, a hint of surprise on his face.

Both Welt and Himeko, seasoned veterans of space travel, also shared a brief moment of astonishment.

"Is this… Jarilo-VI?"

"Where? Where? I don't see anything!"

March pressed her face to the observation car's glass, searching the surroundings, but all she could see was a verdant, habitable-looking planet.

"Did we come to the wrong place?"

"Passenger March, please don't doubt the conductor's navigation skills."

The adorable, red-uniformed conductor, a small, floppy-eared rabbit, appeared, hands on its hips in a defiant stance.

"Sorry, sorry, Pom-Pom! I know you're amazing. It's just… this planet doesn't look like the one Dan Heng showed us."

"Hmm... simply put, the warp coordinates don't have a 'wrong' destination. It's more like a direct jump from one point to another; there isn't an alternate 'track' to take us off course."

Welt peered at the planet, feeling an old rush of excitement.

"For a place to undergo such a rapid climate reversal, there must be no shortage of secrets hidden on this planet."

The planet before them was no longer the white wasteland captured on screen.

Instead, it resembled the verdant beauty of Welt's own home planet.

---

so... turns out the weapon master can die. webnovel blocked it again for copyright stuff, so i'm not reposting it. don't wanna risk losing my other translations too.

but don't worry, the weapon master's alive and well on patreon. thinking about setting up a scribble hub for stories like this—because some battles can't be won on webnovel.

thanks for sticking with me. you're the real MVPs.

If you notice anything that feels off, just let me know—I don't mind fixing things up.

Oh, and don't forget to sit up, grab some water, and take it easy while you're here. No rush, right?

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