My Honkai Star Rail: Reversing All Phenomena

Since Hua Yi could not be monopolized by a single research department, the assistant positions at his side became another highly sought-after resource.

What a joke. Such a talented and virtuous young man naturally deserved to be approached more often.

Pursuing Justice

The Department of Secret Scrolls arranged another high-spec private office for Hua Yi, while the Department of Applied Materials carefully selected a new dormitory for him. Level IV Researchers and Level II Researchers differed not only in authority, but also in treatment by worlds apart.

Combined with the Department of Boundary Seeds assigning a researcher to serve as his assistant, the several research departments seemed to have reached another unspoken agreement.

Seeing Lamina carefully place the documents from the previous meeting on the desk, while repeatedly stealing glances at his expression from the corner of her eye, timidly afraid of making a mistake, Hua Yi spoke kindly.

"Thank you for introducing me to the Department of Boundary Seeds earlier. Otherwise, I wouldn't have learned about the common problems researchers encounter when using work programs, which let me optimize the Database."

"N-No need to thank me!"

Lamina was a Level III Researcher, yet every movement she made was exceptionally tense. She was far more restrained than Emily.

Hua Yi was certain that even though he now possessed Level IV authority, Miss Emily, who was not very good at speaking, would probably still act the same when talking to him.

At least, she would seem the same on the surface.

Deep down, after discovering that a newcomer who had just arrived had suddenly become a Level IV Researcher, widening the gap between their positions, she would probably feel something different from jealousy.

It was reasonable to suspect that if he simply left Emily alone, she would be very upset and might even secretly wipe away tears somewhere no one could see.

Hua Yi sent normal chat messages to Emily, who was merely a little clumsy with words but was actually enthusiastic and kind, and who had introduced him to plenty of Space Station common knowledge a few days ago, lest the young researcher shed little pearls. After replying to questions from his little fan Wen Shiling, he raised his head again and examined the secretary the Department of Boundary Seeds had quietly arranged for him.

Lamina had another reason for her restraint. It involved matters close to her heart. Some secret she had never told anyone made the importance of this job infinitely greater. She cared so much that even handling ordinary work smoothly had become difficult.

As an assistant, being restrained and polite was naturally not a bad thing. But if she did not even know what to do next and had to wait for instructions before acting, then she would inevitably lose points in the eyes of a superior who fixated on details.

If Hua Yi said the word to the Five Research Departments, countless researchers on Herta Space Station, including those with Level III and even Level IV authority, would surely scramble to become his assistant. Replacing Lamina would take only a single sentence.

Yet he had not become smug because of his rapidly rising rank, nor had he changed the way he treated others or enjoyed ordering people around from a position of power. It was as though this unprecedented identity as a special Level IV Researcher were merely an ordinary label.

"I remember you were planning to apply to the Department of Applied Materials for a Curio to study. How did it go? Was your application approved?"

Both his earlier thanks and his current question were expressions of concern—thoughtfulness without the slightest pretense, possible only because he had remembered Lamina's affairs.

Even though the young researcher knew Hua Yi had an exceptionally good reputation on the Space Station, she had not expected that he could still remain so calm after being showered with attention by the Five Research Departments and becoming the hottest figure on the Space Station.

Honestly, if she were in Hua Yi's position, she would wake up laughing from her dreams and practically bounce while walking.

Why could he stay so levelheaded?

Lamina was only a Level III Researcher. Unlike those top Scholars, she had not immediately recognized the value contained within the Seed of Erudition and the Key of Inspiration. She had only indirectly confirmed just how outstanding Hua Yi's research talent was through the reactions of the important figures in the departments during the meeting.

But now, gazing at that handsome face whose attitude seemed unchanged from when they had first met, Lamina vaguely realized that the rising new star of the Space Station might be even more remarkable within than he appeared on the surface.

"My application was just approved yesterday. I applied to study [Heart of Total Eclipse]."

"That Curio? I remember it's a conical device polished from an unknown rock material, right? When activated, any object that intersects with the pathway of its outer stellar ring is eroded and broken down into basic particles. It's generally used to decompose discarded items from the Space Station and convert them into materials that laboratories can use."

"I didn't expect you to remember it so clearly. Many researchers who have stayed on the Space Station for years can't recall information about a specific Curio so easily without first searching the Keywords."

Of course, there were even more cases of researchers with several years, or even over a decade, of work experience still failing to obtain Level IV authority.

"I have a pretty good memory~ Once the volume of items decomposed by Heart of Total Eclipse reaches a certain level, its erosion expands and has a significant negative effect on the minds of organic lifeforms. Remember to be careful."

"Mhm, mhm. I'll strictly follow the operating manual."

Without realizing it, Lamina had put aside her earlier restraint, and her face revealed the vitality appropriate for a girl her age.

"Oh, right. Do you know what happens after someone's mind is eroded? Several people on the Space Station have been eroded by Heart of Total Eclipse."

"What happens?"

"Besides becoming depressed, the affected person's terminal gains an extra tag. The words [Blackened] appear after their name. They need psychological counseling and a backend edit to the note before they can return to normal."

"It's actually that terrifying?"

Since Hua Yi could casually recite the information on Heart of Total Eclipse, he naturally knew the amusing stories concerning that Curio—or rather, the black history of the researchers affected by it.

Even so, he cooperatively revealed an expression of surprise and amusement, allowing the young researcher to further put down her unnecessary psychological burden.

"Are you going to write a paper on Heart of Total Eclipse? As it happens, I'm also planning to write down some shallow thoughts about how to seek a balance in human nature in a universe where Aeons truly exist, then send it to Old Gunn, the founder of the Department of Legal Affairs, so he won't keep staring into the stars with countless emotions. Next, let's each focus on our work."

Hua Yi understood the broad circumstances of the Honkai Star Rail Universe. He had also read works such as "A Theory of Justice" and "The Republic" in his hometown. Although humanity seemed incomparably insignificant compared to Sentient Celestial Bodies, and justice was indeed an excessively luxurious word for those without power in many cases, that did not mean some things had vanished completely.

Setting aside his pursuit of truth, perhaps the Department of Legal Affairs truly was the department most compatible with Hua Yi. He himself pursued the justice in his heart. He disliked every tragedy and did not want any beautiful thing to disappear.

When reality demanded it, Hua Yi would also use his own strength to stop powerful beings who regarded human lives as worthless, saving the weak who were fading away in the wind.

He picked up his pen and wrote line after line, hoping to bring a little valuable light to the lost Department of Legal Affairs.

Herta Automaton

Perhaps because the private office was much quieter than the public work area, Lamina felt that she wrote her paper more efficiently than usual. Before she knew it, she had filled out most of the content, connecting the Curio with the Department of Boundary Seeds' research direction. As long as she maintained the quality of the content, passing this stage of assessment was practically guaranteed.

Amid her happiness, the young researcher suddenly realized that as Hua Yi's assistant, aside from pouring him a glass of water at the beginning and helping him fetch documents afterward, she had not done much else that could count as assisting his work.

Lamina sprang to her feet, wanting to make up for it, only to see Hua Yi tidying his desk. Looking at the time, she realized it was already time to get off work.

"Don't panic. I don't feel neglected just because my assistant focused on her own research field. Wouldn't that make me like a child seeking an adult's attention?"

At his words, Lamina was both anxious and amused, and the expression on her face was quite wonderful.

"I-I'm sorry."

"We both worked quite well today. It was pleasant working together. If you really feel bad about it, I'm prepared to drink another glass of water, though I'm not thirsty at all."

"Thank you... Thank you. I'm truly grateful."

Hua Yi patted Lamina's shoulder. She seemed to want to say something, yet hesitated as if she wished to reveal her feelings. He left the office first, but did not head toward the new dormitory the Department of Applied Materials had arranged for him, nor did he go to his old dormitory, which had already been emptied.

The document sent to the Department of Legal Affairs was ultimately only his personal opinion. In this universe, where Aeons and their followers occupied the vast majority of the stage and power was the absolute main theme, ideas and words had limited effects. The very existence of the powerless Department of Legal Affairs was destined to carry a measure of helplessness and sorrow.

Hua Yi wanted to help that bitter old man. His goal was not especially grand. He did not seek to promote justice across the universe with words and writing. As long as Gunn could live well on the Space Station with a more positive and peaceful mindset, Hua Yi's wish would be fulfilled.

His destination at present was the containment area of the Department of Astral Boundary and Flora.

That department explored unusual lifeforms in the universe and conducted systematic research. Just as the Department of Applied Materials managed all sorts of Curios, the Department of Boundary Seeds contained some special creatures on the Space Station and made them available to researchers for cross-species ecological studies.

Most of those contained entities were relatively safe. Take Wubbaboos, classified as spirit creatures, Realm: Spirit, Class: Astral Spirit, Order: Formless, Family: Soul Essence, Subspecies: Heliobi, for example. They resembled ghosts, with a pair of round ear-like structures resembling animal ears. They varied in size, with most only as large as basketballs, though some special individuals were enormous.

Under the Space Station's containment classification system, Wubbaboos belonged to the moderate containment attention level. They posed no threat to life, but could cause trouble, so researchers needed to guard against them wandering around for no reason.

Hua Yi had naturally not come to the Department of Boundary Seeds late at night to study Wubbaboos, which even a Level II Researcher could apply to contact. He had come for a dangerous existence that only Level IV Researchers were qualified to study.

Outworld Blaze. A strange lifeform not belonging to the conventional universe, it grew from the Fragmentum brought by a Stellaron, parasitizing the foundational structure of worlds to draw energy. The armor shell covering its body burned with the flames of a stellar core.

Among all the contained entities in the Department of Boundary Seeds, Outworld Blaze was probably among the most dangerous.

Using his Level IV Researcher authority to pass through layer after layer of security, Hua Yi entered the depths of the department's containment zone. Standing in the observation room and watching the monster restrained by various energy fields, he did not reveal the tension or fear most researchers who understood what Outworld Blaze represented showed upon seeing it.

It was not ignorance.

Obscure and incomprehensible matter disrupted the flow of Imaginary Energy. Highly aggressive, it continuously infected neighboring worlds in the form of a mysterious object called a [Stellaron], spreading throughout the universe like cancer cells. The Interastral Peace Corporation called it the [Cancer of All Worlds], and twisted lifeforms such as Outworld Blaze were byproducts of the Cancer of All Worlds—the Stellaron.

The flames constantly burning on its body were enough to warp space and burn most of the universe's unyielding materials into ash.

It was a Void construct. Its very existence was equivalent to declaring the arrival of the end. Most civilizations in the universe lacked the ability to seal the Stellaron. In some corner of the endless starry sea, the Cancer of All Worlds might be invading a planet and destroying its civilization, while pitiful mortals struggled desperately there, staging an elegy of blood and tears.

Closing his eyes, Hua Yi relied on no technological equipment. With only his own keen perception in the Imaginary domain, he examined Outworld Blaze's influence on Imaginary Energy and further calculated what level of disruption the Stellaron possessed.

He was analyzing the unknown, and he was also preparing for future events.

As the newly promoted Level IV Researcher observed Outworld Blaze, another pair of purple eyes, so calm they held no trace of liveliness, silently observed him and packaged the image data before sending it to the system administrator.

Second by second, the Space Station's most prominent newcomer made no further movements. He did not operate the console to give Outworld Blaze the permitted conservative stimuli and study the relevant parameters. He had not even packaged the data from the silently operating observation equipment and sent it to his terminal for storage. He merely watched that monster and the brightly burning flames on its body.

Instead, a certain Genius decisively took control of the Automaton, and those purple eyes came alive.

"Are you interested in Outworld Blaze, or in the Stellaron I sealed?"

Hua Yi turned around and followed the source of the voice. Before him stood a doll-like girl wearing a black round hat, with brown hair and purple eyes.

Her beautiful face was as exquisitely flawless as a doll's, as though it were a work of art. Though she was petite and not very tall, anyone who saw her would sincerely sigh, "She's so pretty."

And she had spherical joints like a doll's.

She truly was a doll.

"Actually, I'm interested in both, but I'm more interested in the Stellaron, Madam Herta."

"Oh? You didn't beat around the bush. You're quite honest. Your reaction upon seeing me isn't as intense as that of the other researchers on the Space Station, either. That's very good. Otherwise, if I had to waste time waiting for someone so excited that he couldn't speak to calm down, that would be far too boring."

The Herta Automaton assessed Hua Yi.

"You knew I would appear, so you've been standing here waiting?"

"No. I wasn't merely standing here. I was genuinely observing it."

"Whatever. Study Outworld Blaze as much as you like. Asta rarely recommends someone to me by name, and I trust her judgment. As for the Stellaron—you can forget it. I built this entire Space Station to restrain that inactive Stellaron and keep Azure Planet safe from disaster. If I let you fiddle with it as you pleased, wouldn't I be the one cleaning up the mess in the end?"

The Test

"I won't beat around the bush, Hua Yi. Compared to the Stellaron, I'm working on a far more important major project. If it succeeds, we'll solve the ultimate problem that has troubled us for thousands of Amber Eras in one stroke: Aeon Mysteries."

From beginning to end, the Herta Automaton's gaze never rested on Outworld Blaze. To a Genius, a Void creature that supposedly heralded the end was not worth mentioning.

"Aeons—just think about it. What miraculous existences! Some Aeons were once ordinary humans like you and me, but somehow, They gained power beyond our imagination! Mysterious, powerful, silent, terrifying! The mysteries surrounding Them cannot possibly be explained in a few words."

Herta was the most intelligent human on Azure Planet and only did things that interested her. Once she lost interest, she left immediately. The fire of her interest did not burn forever; many times, it lasted only a few days, or even a few System Times.

But Aeons were an exception. Those unfathomably profound Sentient Celestial Bodies could forever stir a Genius's enthusiasm for research.

"How were They born? Why were They born? What were They born for?... Tell me, have you ever considered these questions?"

"I have. I specifically searched the Department of Light Abyss Archives for information concerning Aeons, but those fragmentary words and scattered conjectures were insufficient to derive any answer."

"..."

Watching Hua Yi, who had never revealed overwhelming excitement or fanatical fervor, Herta almost suspected that she was the one soliciting investment and begging someone else to join the project. Although he was seriously answering her question, he was somewhat different from far too many people on the Space Station.

If this project were made public, who knew how many capable people across the endless starry sea would scramble to participate and contribute even a negligible amount.

Herta had chosen Hua Yi because of Asta's recommendation. She hoped this fellow could be like the girl who managed the Space Station in perfect order and spared her trouble, helping resolve certain neither-big-nor-small problems.

No one in the universe could learn of the existence of Aeons and remain completely uninterested in such an exalted concept.

Hua Yi had indeed become lost in thought, clearly recalling the Aeon lore he knew.

Could this guy think I'm making empty promises?!

Originally, Herta had not wanted to waste time setting up an unnecessary test. She had planned to let Hua Yi directly enter that place still under construction and decide his subsequent arrangements according to his performance. But after having her emotions stirred by someone she had only just met, she decided to patiently set aside some time specifically for him.

"Join my project, and the knowledge about Aeons you will obtain will definitely be more than what the Department of Secret Scrolls can provide. So—prove to me that you are qualified. Enter the isolation chamber holding Outworld Blaze."

"And then defeat it?"

"Oh?"

At his words, the Herta Automaton curled her lips with interest.

What had she just heard?

An unarmed research worker was asking whether he should next defeat a Void creature.

Outworld Blaze would not hold back just because of Hua Yi's research talent. The roaring stellar-core flames burning on its armored shell would scorch every living being. Not even the Antimatter Legion that followed Nanook, the Aeon of Destruction, would be an exception.

Glancing around the isolation chamber, which contained nothing besides energy generators and specially reinforced superalloy walls that could be called tools, Herta became curious. What gave Hua Yi the confidence to make such a boast as "defeat it"?

Her original intention had only been to see whether this fellow, who appeared rather calm before her, could truly remain composed when approaching Outworld Blaze. In other words, it was a test of courage and posed no danger whatsoever.

Before a Genius, a mere Void creature could not possibly hurt anyone.

"If you can enter the isolation chamber in this state and defeat Outworld Blaze, I won't just let you join the project involving Aeon Mysteries. I'll also give you the chance to view my personal collection on the Space Station."

"It's a deal."

Hua Yi pressed the control button on the console. With the highest-level authority Herta had temporarily granted him, the passage to the isolation chamber opened at once. The energy fields restraining Outworld Blaze vanished as well, and the undying flames on the Void creature suddenly blazed brighter, ready to declare to the world that it was about to break free.

Then, Genius Miss watched helplessly as Hua Yi walked directly into the isolation chamber without making any further preparations.

Was this guy trying to get himself killed?

She had originally assumed that he would spot the verbal loophole she had casually left behind, use the emergency response button on the console to activate the Space Station's defensive mechanisms, and rely on the automated interception modules hidden in the Department of Boundary Seeds to destroy Outworld Blaze. So long as Hua Yi calculated the timing slightly and entered the isolation chamber normally before the Void creature was completely erased, he would have passed the test.

But what was he planning now?

In an instant, Herta took control of every module in the isolation chamber. This authority surpassed the visible console and belonged to the true owner of the Space Station.