Honkai: Star Rail: I'm the Ultimate Villain, Wiping Out the Astral Express Crew From the Start

"Interesting…"

"It seems Bronya's experiences in the Upper District these past years have been far more complex than I imagined."

Has her past been deliberately erased?

Has she been subjected to some kind of subtle brainwashing?

Or is it simply that with age, she has forgotten her childhood playmate?

If her memories have been tampered with, then Cocolia is the most likely suspect.

As Bronya's adoptive mother, that Supreme Guardian probably doesn't want her heir to dwell on the past in the Underworld, only wanting her to remember her future identity and mission.

Jiang Mo's original plan was to quickly close the distance with Bronya by evoking old feelings.

Now it seems that this shortcut is not going to work?

No, it's too early to draw conclusions.

Perhaps it's just the first meeting, and my current appearance is indeed quite different from what it was back then. It's not impossible that she didn't recognize me right away.

In any case, I'll have to try a few more times to see if I can awaken her dormant memories.

In the following days, Jiang Mo began to gradually familiarize himself with the rhythm of life at Belobog Academy.

To his surprise, this academy, reputed to be the top institution for cultivating elites in the Upper District, had a teaching model that was strikingly similar to the schools in his previous life—a typical exam-oriented education.

The schedule was packed tightly.

Belobog History,Classical Literature,Principles of Advanced Mathematics,Introduction to Precision Mechanical Structures…

The teachers of each subject lectured eloquently on the platform, tirelessly pouring out knowledge.

The students below were drowsy, mechanically copying notes.

On the corridor bulletin board of the teaching building, a banner with the words "Midterm Unified Test Countdown" was written in eye-catching font.

"So the kids in the Upper District are grinding this hard too."

Jiang Mo found it somewhat amusing. This was quite different from the steampunk-style elite academy he had imagined.

However, this kind of standardized school was actually easier for him to adapt to and integrate into.

After that, Jiang Mo's main focus was naturally still on observing Bronya beside him.

In class, she always sat up straight, her silver-gray hair hanging quietly behind her head, perfectly still.

She listened to the lectures with extreme focus, and her notes were well-organized and neatly written.

Occasionally, when the teacher asked questions in class, her answers were always the standard answers, often earning the teacher's approving nod.

It was almost impossible for Jiang Mo to find an opportunity to talk to her in class. She was too focused on studying.

Even during the short ten-minute break after class, Bronya never joined the other girls in her class in their laughter and play.

She would take out a thick book that wasn't a textbook from her bag and read it quietly.

Jiang Mo discovered that Bronya read a wide variety of books: Rules of Social Etiquette, History of Belobog Fortifications, and even books like Military Command and Tactics, which seemed somewhat inappropriate for her current age.

"Social etiquette is probably Cocolia's requirement for her. That military command... is it her own interest?"

Jiang Mo analyzed silently in his heart.

At this moment, Bronya seemed to be surrounded by an invisible aura, isolating everyone else.

The other students in the class, although they would occasionally steal glances at her with curiosity or inquiry—

After all, she was the Supreme Guardian's adopted daughter and designated heir, with a noble status and outstanding appearance… but no one dared to take the initiative to talk to her.

Jiang Mo judged that this situation was due to both her special status and her current cold and indifferent personality.

Days passed, and life at the academy went on as usual.

During a relatively free self-study class, Jiang Mo decided not to wait any longer.

He needed to break this deadlock.

He reached out and gently touched Bronya's elbow beside him.

The girl looked up from the thick book, her brown-gray eyes turning to him.

"Is there something you need?"

Instantly, in the classroom.

Gazes, some curious, some surprised, some with a bit of a "watching the show" mentality, all converged on Jiang Mo.

"That transfer student from the Underworld actually dared to talk to Lady Bronya!"

"Doesn't he know that Lady Bronya never says half a word to us commoners?"

"Keep it down, don't let her hear you… just wait and see, he's definitely going to be reprimanded in public."

Lowered voices buzzed like mosquitoes in every corner of the classroom.

Jiang Mo maintained his gentle, polite smile.

"Sorry to bother you, Bronya."

"It's just that I'm new here and not familiar with the academy's arrangements."

"The midterm for history class is next month, and I was wondering if the teacher has outlined the key areas for the 'Pre-City Building Era' or recommended any reference books?"

"I'm worried I won't study effectively and will take the wrong path."

Jiang Mo's words were earnest and natural, like a diligent new student asking his deskmate for advice.

The expressions of the students around them, who had been craning their necks to watch the show, became somewhat subtle.

They had expected a farce, but this transfer student was just a bookworm focused on his studies.

Bronya quietly scrutinized Jiang Mo.

A flicker seemed to pass through her beautiful brown-gray eyes, perhaps Jiang Mo's earnest request had taken her by surprise.

After a moment, she spoke, seeming less aloof than before:

"The history teacher distributed a study guide last week with detailed explanations of the exam points."

She paused slightly.

Then, she took a folded piece of paper from her textbook.

"If you didn't receive one," she gently pushed the paper towards Jiang Mo's desk, "you can borrow mine to look at first."

"Remember to get your own copy from the teacher after class."

"Really? Thank you so much, Bronya."

A smile spread across Jiang Mo's face as he accepted the outline.

At the same time, he felt a stirring in his heart.

She's still kind at heart... but does she really not remember me at all? Is it because we've been apart for so long, and my appearance has changed so much that she didn't recognize me right away?

Well, there's no need to rush. Take it slow. There will always be a chance for her to remember.

From that day on, Jiang Mo naturally used studying as an excuse to approach Bronya.

Bronya mostly remained immersed in her own world of reading, and her interactions with Jiang Mo seemed limited to purely academic discussions.

She wasn't opposed to this kind of interaction, which didn't involve other motives and was entirely focused on learning.

Occasionally, she would even briefly argue with Jiang Mo about a study question.

Although her tone remained calm and devoid of much personal emotion, at least she no longer completely ignored him as she had at first.

This scene became a spectacle in the eyes of the other students in the class.

"That transfer student from the Underworld, he can actually talk to Miss Bronya?"

"Don't you think... Miss Bronya's attitude towards him seems a little... nicer than it is towards us?"

"Nonsense! Have you ever seen anyone go to Miss Bronya with a stack of review materials thicker than a city wall to ask her questions? All we've been racking our brains about is how to ask her out for afternoon tea after school!"

The students' private discussions were filled with jealousy, confusion, and a hint of admiration.

Jiang Mo remained calm and composed in the face of these surrounding discussions and gazes.

During Wednesday's lunch break, Jiang Mo was, as usual, reading materials in the classroom.

At this moment, a commotion came from the other side of the classroom.

Two older male students walked up to Bronya's desk, one of them tall and with an arrogant expression.

"Miss Bronya, my family is hosting a party this weekend, and I'd like to invite you to attend... I wonder, would you do us the honor?"

Chapter 54 Natasha: Offer Loyalty!

"Miss Bronya, my family is hosting a party this weekend, and I'd like to invite you to attend... I wonder, would you do us the honor?"

The tall boy spoke with a sense of superiority, "After all, my father has a close relationship with the Supreme Guardian. As their children, we should also interact more and build relationships, shouldn't we?"

Bronya shook her head slightly: "Thank you, but I'm not interested."

The boy was clearly not expecting to be rejected, and his face darkened:

"Miss Bronya, forgive me for being blunt, but even though you are the daughter of the Supreme Guardian, you shouldn't disregard the friendship of Belobog's nobles so lightly."

The classroom instantly fell silent, and the air froze.

Jiang Mo closed his book, his gaze lingering on the section of the history textbook describing the "Post-City Building Era."

It just so happened to mention the Belobog nobles who, in the late City-Builder era, nearly caused the city to fall due to their arrogance.

"Volume 5 of The City-Builder Chronicles records, 'Arrogant nobles are Belobog's most deadly enemy, more terrifying than Riftworld Monsters.'"

Jiang Mo said in a calm tone, "Didn't you know that the fifth Supreme Guardian abolished the power of the nobles hundreds of years ago?"

"So compared to the Supreme Guardian and her successor... you're at most outdated nobles, about as useful as decorations. They could crush you as easily as crushing an ant."

As soon as he finished speaking, the classroom erupted in laughter.

The boy's face turned red, and he turned to Jiang Mo: "You Underworld scum, how dare you—"

"Enough," Bronya interrupted coldly. "I have no interest in parties. Please leave."

The tall boy clenched his fist, but ultimately left dejectedly.

Little did everyone know that the next day, the boy would be hospitalized due to an accident and never return to the academy.

After the classroom returned to silence, Jiang Mo continued to look down at his book.

But he felt Bronya's gaze linger on him for a few seconds.

When school ended that day, Jiang Mo packed his bag to leave.

Bronya hesitated for a moment, then walked to his side. "That quote was brilliant."

Jiang Mo looked up. "What?"

Bronya shook her head. "It's nothing. I just wanted to say... thank you."

"No need to thank me. Oh, by the way, I found a valuable book about the Builder era. I'll bring it tomorrow for you to take a look at," Jiang Mo replied smoothly.

Bronya nodded in agreement and turned to leave.

After walking a few steps, the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up slightly, revealing a smile that even she didn't realize.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

Jiang Mo and Bronya's relationship progressed from complete strangers to ordinary classmates who could discuss schoolwork, but that was it.

Apart from academic exchanges, Bronya's attitude toward him hadn't changed much; they weren't even friends.

Jiang Mo knew that it would take more time to truly move this "iceberg."

In this month, in addition to studying at the academy, Jiang Mo had also made progress on another matter.

Information from the Upper District wasn't difficult to obtain; as long as you had enough Winter City Coins, you could buy a lot of news.