Star Rail, Starting as Kiana

Then Seele looked at Bronya beside her, and in just a few exchanges, the two were already arguing.

Even though Bronya had begun to doubt Cocolia's decisions, facing Seele's barrage of accusations, she still couldn't help but retort.

"Kiana, should we try to stop them? Bronya and Seele aren't going to actually fight, are they?"

"..."

Kiana sighed. As expected of the Honkai: Star Rail version of Seele—every word cut deep, and she was giving it her all. Bronya was completely on the back foot.

But just watching the show wasn't great either, so she decided to step in and help Bronya out.

"Seele, we're actually here to help the Underworld. Can you take us to see Oleg?"

"You want to see the boss? But help the Underworld? With just the three of you? Or with this self-righteous young lady?"

Kiana felt like maybe she shouldn't have butted in. Why did it seem like Seele was even angrier now?

Chapter 25: Seele, Don't Look at Me Like That, Bronya Will Get Jealous

"If the Upper Zone really wanted to help, why only step in now? Just lift the blockade, and the Underworld wouldn't have fallen to this state!"

The more Seele spoke, the angrier she got, as if she was thinking of the areas lost to the Underworld, and the comrades who were injured or lost their homes and families in the fighting.

She looked ready to throw hands if no explanation was given.

"Seele, we're actually not from this planet. We came here to help resolve the Cracked Boundary crisis caused by the Stellaron. Oh, and the Stellaron is the root of everything—you can think of it as the culprit behind it all."

"Oh?" Seele scrutinized Kiana for a moment, seemingly suppressing her anger and calming down, her tone turning teasing. "So you're saying you're the so-called saviors? And you want us to help you find the culprit and bring clarity back to the world?"

Just as March 7th nodded and was about to praise Seele for being so reasonable, Seele's tone suddenly shifted.

"Do you take me for a three-year-old?"

"Forget it, I'm done talking. I'm not interested in helping you. If you want to tell that story, go tell someone else.

The Underworld Fire has run into some trouble in the Great Mining Area, and the boss is busy dealing with it. If you really want to see him, follow me to the mine entrance."

With that, Seele turned and left.

She didn't think they could keep up with her. In the Underworld, her speed, while not unmatched, was among the best.

But since Sampo was around and she'd given the location, they should be able to find it, right?

To her surprise, though, someone actually matched her pace.

They even had the energy to talk to her.

Turning her head, she saw it was that little princess who'd spoken to her taste—mocking Sampo but loving to tell stories.

But the other wasn't running; she seemed to be floating along.

"I'm Kiana Kaslana. You can call me Kiana. Seele, trust me, we really are here to help you. How can I make you believe me?"

Hearing Kiana's words, Seele slowed down, thought about the Underworld's current situation and needs, and then named a demand she herself thought was impossible.

"If you're serious—food, medicine, weapons. That's what the Underworld needs most right now. If you really want to help, instead of just talking, put up some actual supplies.

If you can produce 1,000 kilograms of grain, I'll believe you. Can you do that?"

Seele had originally wanted to say 500 kilograms—that would be enough for hundreds, or even a thousand if they rationed—but after a moment's thought, to shake off the hassle, she doubled the number she could think of.

That was already the kind of supplies the Underworld could only get by trading large amounts of Geomarrow gathered over a long time.

But Seele was part of the combat unit, not logistics, so the biggest amount of supplies she could think of was about that level.

"That's it?"

Hearing Kiana's voice, Seele paused mid-step. Normally, if someone dared say that to her, she wouldn't have the patience to hold back and would go teach them a lesson.

But now, that sentence sounded so beautiful.

As Kiana raised her hand, various packaged foods appeared before Seele.

Staring at the pile of food she'd never seen before, Seele even pinched her own arm hard.

"Ow."

Then, the look in Seele's eyes toward Kiana was no longer so cold, softening a bit, which gave Kiana goosebumps all over.

"Seele, don't look at me like that. Bronya will get jealous."

Seele.jpg

Seele: ?

The three behind them caught up after a moment when Seele stopped. Seeing Seele's happy expression and the pile of supplies, their gazes inevitably landed on Kiana.

"Whoa, so much stuff. Miss Kiana, tell me, are you some kind of mobile human warehouse? All these supplies, even rare medicine—worth a fortune even in the Upper Zone. You're not really some rich young lady, are you?"

Only March 7th knew that the total amount of supplies and oddities Kiana had bought even exceeded what the train had restocked.

As for Sampo's jab about a "young lady"?

Kiana's identity had always been a mystery, but from Uncle Yang and Kiana's conversations, her status in her original world seemed anything but ordinary. Still, no matter how extraordinary, it couldn't beat Asta casually handing out a billion Credit Points as pocket money.

"What do you say?"

"Ahem."

Seele was interrupted by Kiana's voice. Fortunately, there weren't many people passing by on this road, so no one else spotted the pile of supplies.

Seele cleared her throat twice to ease the awkwardness, then returned to Kiana's side and said, "Put it away first. If those drifters see it, there'll be trouble. I'll take you to see the boss now."

Seele's attitude had improved considerably, though she barely held back the urge to blurt out some crude remarks.

The pace on the road ahead was still brisk, but slower than before—slow enough that even Bronya could keep up easily.

It wasn't until they reached the mine entrance that March 7th suddenly turned around, glanced at the silent Stelle who hadn't spoken the whole way, then looked ahead at Kiana, who had been floating along the entire journey.

Something felt off.

"What's missing?"

"There aren't many trash cans around here—way fewer than in the upper district. March 7th, don't you think that's weird?"

"Yeah... the hell it is!"

March 7th counted heads a few times before it clicked. The numbers were wrong.

"Where's Dan Heng!?"

At that moment, a certain Cold-faced Little Azure Dragon was on the arena platform, fighting while waiting for his teammates to come find him.

"Huh?"

Kiana and March 7th exchanged glances, blurting out the same words in unison.

"You didn't call him?" *2

"Uh, well." *2

Thankfully, even in the lower district, phones still worked. So March 7th quickly opened the group chat named "Star Rail Express Family" and @ed Dan Heng.

March 7th: Dan Heng, Dan Heng, hurry to the mine entrance.

Dan Heng: ?

March 7th: Sorry, we forgot you.

Dan Heng: ...

Himeko: ...

Ouyang: ...

Pam: ...

Kiana Dominating Moon Sea Fish Fish Cat: [Image].jpg Ouyang

When Ouyang opened the photo, he wore the same expression as an old man reading a newspaper on the subway.

Because the picture was a group shot of Seele, Bronya, and Kiana.

Even though Seele looked reluctant and Bronya seemed a bit awkward, that wasn't the point.

Ouyang: Damn, my heir and the Herrscher of Death are here too. Did the Honkai chase us all the way here?

Chapter 26: Saintess, That Side's Dirty—Come Over Here

"Saintess, that side's dirty—come over here."

"Saintess, are you tired from walking? I remember there's an old car in my place from before the lockdown. I'll go get it—can't let this filthy ground dirty your feet."

"Saintess, watch out, there's a rock ahead. I'll clear it right away."

Watching a crowd surround her, calling her "Saintess" left and right, and even a tiny pebble just a few centimeters wide lying innocently ahead being cleared by someone immediately—Kiana felt like they were overdoing it.

This all started when they arrived at the mine entrance and saw the injured miners and Underworld Fire members, hurt by various patrols and drifters.

Kiana noticed many people had wounds—some minor, with a few bloody scrapes left untreated. Others were more serious, bleeding heavily, but due to resource shortages, they'd only wrapped the wounds with burlap. And some, likely with bone or internal injuries, lay on makeshift stretchers pieced together by Underworld Fire members.

So Kiana took out the Healing Spray she'd bought from the Interastral Peace Corporation, treated a few people's wounds, and used medical gauze for simple bandaging. She also used a Simple Resuscitator and some medicine on a few who looked on the verge of collapse. Just like that, Kiana was hailed as the Saintess who had come to save them.

To Kiana, these things weren't worth much, but in the lower district, deaths from overwork or battle were rare—most people died from various inflammations.

A girl who could casually produce medicine and supplies seemed no different from the Saintesses in pre-lockdown books. Add in Kiana's aura and that intangible Favorability Aura.

And so, Kiana got a taste of what it was like to bring modern supplies to a barren, ancient, impoverished region.

"Seele, are all Underworld Fire people this enthusiastic?"

"..."

Not to mention March 7th and the others who had just arrived—even Seele had been forgotten. When they heard Kiana wanted to see their boss, everyone didn't hesitate, knowing full well it was dangerous below, and still volunteered to lead the way.

"By the way, didn't you say it's dangerous here? Aren't you going to prepare some weapons?"

"Weapons, Saintess? We've brought them all, haven't we?"

Aside from the old, weak, sick, and disabled, everyone from Underworld Fire and the miners who could fight had come. But when Kiana saw what they called weapons, she couldn't help falling silent.

Shovels, pickaxes, wooden sticks from who-knows-where, and railings pried off fences.

This wasn't going to battle—anyone watching would think it was a street gang brawl.

Just then, Kiana heard a "gurgle" sound.

Kiana followed the noise and saw Seele still wearing a cold face, though whether it was an illusion or a trick of the light, her cheeks seemed slightly flushed.

When Seele noticed everyone following Kiana's gaze to look at her, she quickly said:

"Don't look at me. It didn't come from me."

She'd have been better off saying nothing. Now it felt like a classic case of protesting too much.

Seeing the silence, many of Underworld Fire's comrades, remembering Seele's temper, forcibly suppressed their urge to roast her and quickly shifted their gazes back to Kiana.

Kiana and the others, however, clearly had no such reservations.

"Alright, let's go. Weren't we going to see the boss? If we don't hurry, we'll miss the fight."

Seele seemed to have forgotten that everyone capable of fighting here wasn't part of Underworld Fire, and the rest of Underworld Fire's members and miners weren't in any combat formation either—none of them actually had the ability to fight.

They'd only come because of Kiana.

"Alright, everyone must be hungry. I've got some food here. Eat up first, and I'll prepare some things for you to defend yourselves with too."

As bags of food appeared before each person, many nearly went weak in the knees, about to kneel toward Kiana.

Luckily, Kiana reacted quickly and stopped them in time.

"What's this about?"

Bronya wasn't hungry, but Kiana had prepared food for her too. Looking at the cookies, cake, and a bottle of energy drink in her hands, Bronya understood these items were precious to the lower district's people, but wasn't this gesture a bit much?

All she got in reply was a cold snort from Seele.