Honkai Star Rail: Corruption System

Alarm bells blared in Daziel's mind, but he maintained a stern expression, secretly on guard.

"Sparkle, this 'world of adults' you're talking about, what exactly do you mean?"

Sparkle watched with keen interest as Daziel, who was clearly so nervous internally he felt like a tightly wound string about to snap, yet stubbornly maintained an air of unruffled composure. The mischievous curve of her lips widened, growing increasingly wicked.

The delight in her heart was about to overflow…

She didn't know when it started, but her greatest pleasure had become watching Daziel like this—every inch of his body craved to succumb, yet he insisted on wearing a prim mask that kept everyone at arm's length.

This was all thanks to Daziel's self-imposed persona of a hero of justice.

Sparkle deliberately drew out her voice, long and coquettish, coiling through the air, thick with an almost palpable, cloying seduction.

"Oh my, oh my, what could it possibly be… Big Brother Daziel, and this little liar who looks so pitiful, if you just obediently follow me, won't it all become clear~?"

She spun lightly, her bright red skirt swirled, tracing dazzling, chaotic arcs under the multicolored neon lights.

Daziel's chest rose and fell slightly as he forcibly suppressed the surging tide of vigilance mixed with an unidentifiable restlessness within him.

He shot a sharp glance at Firefly beside him, who was still maintaining her pitiful demeanor, giving her a subtle but unmistakable look.

Firefly understood immediately. Her eyelashes fluttered, and she obediently lowered her gaze, perfectly concealing the sharp glint that flashed momentarily in the depths of her eyes.

No more words were exchanged between the three, only the faint sound of their footsteps on the damp, greasy ground.

They silently followed Sparkle's nimble figure, weaving through these labyrinthine alleys, teeming with a motley assortment of characters, in the lower levels of the Reverie Galleria.

The air was thick with the cloying sweetness of cheap SoulGlad, the scorched smell of fried food, the pungent aroma of inexpensive perfume, and a faint, almost imperceptible metallic tang, like that of over-evaporated Memoria, all mixed into a uniquely "dream-like" scent that made one dizzy.

Finally, Sparkle stopped in front of a sign emitting an ambiguous pink glow.

The words [Peppy Pepeshi Salon] flickered distortedly. Two short, stout Pepeshi in crisp security uniforms, their faces looking as if they'd been cast from the same mold, stood guard at the entrance.

They were as uniform as background NPCs a modeler might design just to fill space.

The pink light, however, held a soft yet eerie allure, clashing with the noisy, chaotic surroundings, as if it were an entrance to another dimension.

Daziel's gaze swept back and forth between the bizarre sign and the two Pepeshi guards. His brows furrowed even tighter, the doubt in his mind almost palpable.

A Pepeshi salon?

Why is it suddenly normal now?

In this inner world setting, which is perfect for breeding darkness, chaos, and all sorts of restricted content, after all Sparkle's dramatic buildup, this so-called "adult entertainment"... I was all ready for something, and this is what you show me?

These round, harmless-looking little guys, how could they possibly be related to any form of "sensory pleasure"?

Even if Pepeshi are a legitimate race in the lore, their unique physique…

Even female Pepeshi, if one were to forcibly associate them with "certain services," how would that be fundamentally different from those "affectionate cat-girl" sex toys?

Could it be that I was misled by Sparkle's earlier hints and overthought things?

…

Is it still the relatively "innocent" Pepeshi gathering place from the original plot?

If that's really the case, then it's far too…

Boring.

Countless thoughts churned in Daziel's mind. For a moment, he couldn't quite figure out what Sparkle was up to.

"Tsk, tsk, Big Brother Daziel, your expression is truly priceless."

As if possessing the ability to read minds, Sparkle turned her head at the perfect moment, the pink eyes behind her smiley face mask glinting with an all-knowing cunning.

"Don't underestimate this place~ This salon, there's a whole other world inside."

Her tone took on a layer of mystery, her voice dropping slightly.

"These little guys outside are just for show. Only guests with a real VIP card can go in and enjoy… ahem~ the real services."

Sparkle tilted her chin proudly, her voice full of undeniable confidence and control.

"Of course—in this Penacony, there's no one Sparkle can't handle, no place Sparkle can't enter!"

Before her words faded, she was already swaying her slender waist, sauntering over with a graceful gait to one of the Pepeshi guards, her demeanor as affectionate as if greeting an old friend.

"Hey there~ Mr. Bodyguard!"

Sparkle's voice instantly switched to a sickeningly sweet mode, carrying an undisguised, overly familiar, coquettish charm. "We meet again! Did you miss me?"

The slightly taller Pepeshi guard's head swiveled with a series of clicks, like rusty gears. Its gaze focused on Sparkle's iconic smiley face, and it emitted an emotionless voice:

"Identification… Sparkle. Access recorded. Purpose: Return visit?"

Only then did Daziel understand…

So these two Pepeshi really are robots. No wonder they look like they were stamped from the same mold.

"That's right, that's right!"

Sparkle giggled in agreement, her voice like a coquettish complaint.

"Big Sister here is in a good mood today and specially brought two new friends to your esteemed place to have some fun, broaden their horizons, you know!"

She leaned in closer, almost pressing against the bodyguard, her voice dropping even lower, carrying an ambiguous, suggestive tone, and whispered:

"And you know, this time… we want to try something a bit more exciting, go for something really wild! I wonder if your salon… still has any sufficiently thrilling spots available?"

The Pepeshi bodyguard showed no emotional fluctuation; after all, it was just a mechanical device. It merely inquired instinctively, "Number of visitors?"

Sparkle held up three slender, fair fingers, waving them in front of the bodyguard. "Three~ No more, no less, exactly three."

"VIP access card. Executing verification procedure."

"Alrighty! Here you go, sir!"

With extreme deftness, Sparkle pulled out a card shimmering with a strange, flowing light from her skirt pocket. The pattern on the card's surface was constantly changing as she waved it proudly in front of the bodyguard.

The Pepeshi bodyguard shook its head slightly, still looking as lifeless as ever.

"Verification target: Your companions. Your access level has been recorded; re-verification is not required."

"Ah, well about that…"

The sweet, almost artificial smile on Sparkle's face faltered for an infinitesimally small moment, but was immediately replaced by an even sweeter grin.

"Oh dear, you see, these two friends of mine, they're newcomers to Penacony, completely unfamiliar with the place. How could they possibly have a VIP card for your esteemed establishment?"

Sparkle reached out, intending to affectionately pat the Pepeshi bodyguard's shoulder, but was met with a programmed, impassive sidestep, avoiding her touch.

"Oh come on, Mr. Bodyguard, just bend the rules a little."

Sparkle whined, her voice tinged with a coquettish plea. "Can't we just use my card?"

"These two, I, Sparkle, can guarantee, are absolutely safe and reliable friends!"

Sparkle patted her own modest chest in assurance. "If anything happens, it's all on me!"

The Pepeshi bodyguard's vacant eyes seemed to flicker for a moment, but its tone remained as emotionless and cold as ever:

"Apologies, Miss Sparkle, rules are rules and cannot be broken. Without authentication, please leave."

Firefly opportunely tugged lightly on Sparkle's sleeve, her delicate face showing just the right amount of disappointment and helplessness.

"Sister Sparkle, it seems… we can't get in."

Her voice was soft, with a barely perceptible hint of disappointment.

In Firefly's subconscious, she didn't have a good impression of this Masked Fool. Sparkle failing to achieve her goal was exactly what she wanted to see.

"Tsk."

Sparkle clicked her tongue in annoyance, clearly somewhat surprised and irritated by this minor setback.

However, her eyes darted around, and a cunning glint flashed in them once more; a new idea had already formed in her mind.

"Alright, alright, if we can't go in, we can't go in."

Sparkle immediately adopted an air of settling for second best. "Well then, Mr. Bodyguard, we won't make things difficult for you."

Sparkle leaned closer to the Pepeshi bodyguard again, her voice so low that almost only the two of them could hear.

"Do me a small favor and retrieve a few 'little trinkets' I left here before—you know, 'The Rear Entry: A Moment's Hesitation, A Lasting Thrill,' 'The Untamed Garden: Shame and Novelty,' 'The Unstoppable Torrent'..."

She paused, then added, "Just tell Lady Thunderhand inside that these are the 'materials' prepared by 'Joker.' She'll definitely know what I mean."

Standing nearby, Daziel listened as these bizarre, highly suggestive phrases tumbled out of Sparkle's mouth, and the corners of his lips couldn't help but twitch uncontrollably.

What in the world is this?

What kind of mischief is she up to now?

'The Rear Entry: A Moment's Hesitation, A Lasting Thrill,' 'The Untamed Garden: Shame and Novelty,' 'The Unstoppable Torrent'?

Daziel's brows furrowed tightly, his eyes filled with confusion and suspicion.

The Pepeshi bodyguard remained silent for a full few seconds before slowly turning and walking into the salon with mechanical steps.

The brief wait felt exceptionally long for the group.

A moment later, the Pepeshi bodyguard reappeared, holding a very ordinary-looking black bag.

"Retrieved."

The Pepeshi bodyguard handed the black bag to Sparkle, its electronic synthesized voice emotionlessly repeating.

"Lady Thunderhand said that just these 'materials' aren't thrilling enough. She's added an extra 'dilator' for you. Said you'll know what to do with it."

Dilator?!

Those two words rang in Daziel's ears. He felt the corners of his eyes twitching uncontrollably.

Is it the kind of dilator I'm thinking of?

What on earth does Sparkle want to do?

"Oh my! Big Sis is so thoughtful! She really gets me!"

Sparkle snatched the black bag, her face blooming into an even brighter smile, and repeatedly thanked the Pepeshi bodyguard.

"Thanks a bunch, Mr. Bodyguard! I'll definitely patronize again next time!"

Having gotten what she wanted, Sparkle immediately grabbed Daziel's and Firefly's wrists and turned to leave, her movements crisp and efficient, without any hesitation.

"Alright, key props acquired! Now all that's left is one last thing."

Sparkle weighed the black bag in her hand, her tone light and triumphant.

"We need to find a nearby arcade machine…"

Sparkle looked left and right, her pink eyes scanning the surroundings under the hazy lights.

"Huh? It seems like all the nearby arcade machines have been dismantled? Really, no fun at all…"

She muttered with slight disappointment, her tone filled with childish complaint.

Sparkle tilted her head, her finger gently tapping her chin, seeming to be seriously pondering something.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up. She snapped her fingers sharply, an excited expression returning to her face.

"Got it! Let's just get a private room! Come on, come on, I'll show you something really fun!"

Without giving them a chance to object, Sparkle once again pulled Daziel and Firefly along. After many twists and turns, they finally entered a place that looked like some kind of small, private entertainment venue.

The air was thick with an even richer sweet fragrance, tinged with an ambiguous scent that couldn't help but make one think of certain clandestine places.

She expertly used the VIP card at the front desk to get a small private booth.

The booth wasn't large, and its decorative style was extremely bizarre. The walls flickered with psychedelic colors, and the lighting alternated between dim and bright, creating a hazy and ambiguous atmosphere.

In the very center of the room stood an antique-looking machine.

The air was filled with the faint scent of aromatherapy, mixed with a subtle, cloying sweetness.

The machine looked like an old-fashioned arcade cabinet, but its screen was completely dark, and its body was covered with various incomprehensible buttons and slots.

The machine's cold, hard metal casing reflected a chilling glint under the hazy light.

Firefly looked at the antique-looking machine before her, an appropriate amount of curiosity and confusion showing in her eyes.

"That… what's that? A television?"

She asked softly, her voice carrying a girlish shyness and innocence, like a young girl ignorant of worldly affairs.

"Haha! Wrong!" Sparkle immediately seized the opportunity to laugh triumphantly, her tone full of mockery and superiority.

"You little stowaway girl, you really haven't seen much, have you!"

Sparkle walked up and patted the machine's cold casing, producing a dull thud.

"Look closely, this isn't some run-of-the-mill television. This is a 'Dream Arcade Machine'—not like that electronic junk you find everywhere on Punklorde!"

"This is a unique, immersive game, much more fitting for Penacony's dreamlike atmosphere!"

Daziel's gaze was fixed on this so-called "Dream Arcade Machine," especially when he saw the familiar icon of a little man wearing a bowler hat on its body…

He understood instantly.

This thing… wasn't just any arcade machine; it was a "Brother Hanu" transformation device!

In the game Honkai: Star Rail, players could use this device to transform into the tiny Hanu, undertaking stealth missions, solving puzzles, and so on.

Daziel was all too familiar with this mechanic, even somewhat tired of it.

Honestly, this gameplay is pretty boring.

This was indeed a unique "device" to Penacony, but connecting it with Sparkle's so-called "adult entertainment," especially with those bizarrely named props from earlier…

Daziel felt his scalp tingle. Could Sparkle really be intending to…

The ominous premonition resurfaced in Daziel's mind, and this time, it was stronger, clearer.

Sparkle's so-called "adult entertainment"—could it be that she wants me to turn into a little Hanu man, and then use those strange "materials" and the "dilator" on her?!

An indescribable sense of absurdity and chilling horror welled up in Daziel's heart.

This kind of play is too perverted!

"Big Brother Daziel~"

Sparkle turned her head, the eyes behind her mask curving into two crescent moons, her voice so sweet it made one's scalp crawl.

"Could you go touch that button, please?"

Daziel's body stiffened instantly. He instinctively took half a step back, looking at Sparkle with a complex expression.

"…Touch it for what?"

He couldn't help but ask, his tone laced with bewilderment.

After all, there aren't any holes here for me to crawl into.

The only holes available in this room are…

"Oh, don't be so tense."

Sparkle giggled and sidled up to Daziel, giving him a gentle push. "It's true, to get that last thing we need, this is an indispensable step."

Her breath, warm and fragrant as orchids, brushed past Daziel's ear, carrying a sweet scent that nonetheless filled Daziel with a sense of foreboding.

Daziel hesitated, looking at the machine exuding a bizarre aura, then at Sparkle's face, full of anticipation and mischievous intent.

He took a deep breath, rapidly weighing the pros and cons of cooperating versus resisting in his mind.

Oh well, since it's come to this, let's see what kind of tricks Sparkle is really up to.

Daziel sighed internally, ultimately choosing to investigate.

The pink marking on Sparkle's stomach, symbolizing her fully fallen state, was his greatest reassurance.

With that, Daziel was confident Sparkle couldn't cause any real trouble.

Daziel slowly reached out, his fingertips cold and slightly trembling as they touched the red button.

The moment his fingertips made contact with the button, an icy sensation shot through him.

Buzz—

A slight electric current instantly flowed through his entire body. A tingling sensation, like countless tiny currents dancing on his skin, was accompanied by a brief dizziness and a feeling of spatial distortion.

The surrounding scene began to blur, colors becoming distorted and psychedelic, as if falling into a spinning vortex. A humming sound filled his ears, as if the entire world was vibrating.

The next second, the scene before Daziel's eyes underwent a cataclysmic change. Everything around him became incredibly enormous, as if he had shrunk countless times in an instant.

Strange smells assaulted his nostrils, a hint of disinfectant mixed with a faint, cloying sweetness, creating a nauseating odor. The ground beneath his feet became rough and hard, like gravel pricking the soles of his feet.

He looked down at his hands—

They were tiny hands in white gloves, with fine fuzz on the back, the fingertips rounded and short, not at all like his own.

Looking at his body—

He was wearing a well-tailored little black suit, the fabric smooth and soft, but it felt very awkward on him. On his head was an exquisite bowler hat, its brim pulled low, almost covering his eyes. A pair of small sunglasses rested on his nose, the lenses reflecting a cold light.

He had transformed into the ubiquitous figure from Penacony's graffiti and animations—Brother Hanu!

That comical yet mysterious cartoon character.

Daziel felt this short, comical body, and an indescribable sense of absurdity welled up in his heart, as if he had been forcibly stuffed into a shell that didn't belong to him. The corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch, and an extremely displeased grunt escaped his throat—or rather, now he could only make cool-sounding grunts.

"Hmph!"

The sound was low and raspy, completely different from his original voice, sounding utterly comical.

"Heeheehee! That's more like it!"

Sparkle looked at Daziel, who had instantly shrunk into a little Hanu man, and could no longer hold back. A series of bell-like laughter erupted from her, the crisp sound echoing in the small private room, filled with the triumph of a successful prank.

She laughed so hard she was practically doubled over, almost out of breath.

"This is exactly the effect I wanted!"

Sparkle clapped her hands, jumping up and down in excitement, her tone reaching a fever pitch, her eyes glinting with a morbid excitement and delight.

"The real show, my good brother, is just beginning~!"

Sparkle leaned close to Daziel, who had turned into Hanu, and whispered seductively in a voice only the two of them could hear, filled with anticipation and excitement.

It was as if a grand performance was about to begin, and she was both the director and the star.

Daziel couldn't respond to her, only able to let out a very cool grunt. "Hmph!"

Now, he barely reached Sparkle's knees.

Sparkle turned around, her grinning mask facing Firefly, who was still standing there, looking somewhat helpless.

"Alright, little pitiful one."

Sparkle's voice, through the mask, carried a deliberately lighthearted sweetness. "What happens next isn't for a little girl like you to see."

She paused intentionally, seeming to enjoy the feigned bewilderment on Firefly's face.

"My Big Brother Daziel and I are about to do some things that only adults do together."

Sparkle's tone was full of insinuation, carrying an undeniable dismissive air. "You should probably wait outside for a bit, wouldn't want to corrupt your eyes."

A glint of sharpness, so fast it was almost imperceptible, flashed in Firefly's eyes, then was quickly covered again by that meticulously feigned layer of frailty and worry.

"Adult… things?"

Her voice was faint, carrying just the right amount of hesitation and a timid curiosity. "But… Sparkle, Daziel, right now he's…"

Firefly carefully pointed a finger at the short, stout Brother Hanu figure Sparkle was shielding behind her.

"Like this, you won't… do anything bad to him, will you?"

Her tone was filled with sincere concern, as if genuinely afraid this capricious girl would harm Daziel, who had been turned into a doll. "I, I'm a little worried about him. Maybe I should stay here and watch, in case there's anything I can help with?"

Behind Sparkle, Daziel heard Firefly's "heartfelt" words and nearly fainted.

Damn it! This impish brat…!

Firefly, just leave! What show are you staying to watch!

What happens next might very well be the kind of X-rated stuff that would make you want to gouge out your eyes and scream, 'Aargh! I can't unsee this!'

He roared internally but couldn't express it. A thousand words could only be reduced to a cool— "Hmph!"

Daziel instantly realized this couldn't go on…

He just wanted to change back quickly and then properly "educate" these two who were addicted to acting!

He moved his short legs in their little leather shoes, in an extremely awkward posture, wobbling towards the machine nearby that was emitting an eerie red light.

He wanted to press that button again.

I have to explain immediately!

However, he had only taken two steps when Sparkle, reacting with lightning speed from behind, grabbed him by the waist and easily lifted him off the ground.

"Oh my, brother, don't be in such a hurry to leave~"

Sparkle giggled, hugging Daziel, who had turned into Hanu, tightly in her arms, her soft chest pressing against his back, her tone full of mockery.

Daziel struggled helplessly in her embrace, his small, white-gloved hands flailing uselessly, swatting at Sparkle but having no effect, like cotton hitting a steel plate.

"Hmph! Hmph! Hmph!"

Rapid, angry grunts continuously escaped his throat.

Sparkle looked down at the fuming little Hanu man in her arms, then looked up at Firefly opposite her, who wore an expression of "concern." A thoroughly wicked curve formed on her lips behind the mask.

"You see, this little sister here said so herself."

Sparkle shrugged at Firefly, her tone innocent yet tinged with an excited anticipation of the drama to come. "Since you're so worried about my brother and insist on staying to observe…"

She deliberately emphasized the word "worried," her eyes, through the holes in her mask, sharply scanning Firefly's face, as if trying to see through her disguise to her true thoughts.

"…"

Sparkle magnanimously agreed.

She tightened her arms, hugging Hanu-Daziel even closer, even adjusting his position so that Daziel's little sunglasses were facing Firefly directly.

Sparkle leaned close to Daziel's bowler hat, her voice dropping to a whisper filled with a morbid excitement that only the two of them (and perhaps Firefly, if she was listening intently with pricked ears) could hear, a bewitching murmur:

"Anyway, I've already warned her."

"Since she wants to see it herself…"

Sparkle's voice was filled with the undisguised delight of an impending successful prank. "Then the two of us will just have to 'do it' for her to see~"

As she spoke, Sparkle's hands started to roam all over Daziel's Hanu form.

Daziel felt extremely uncomfortable being touched like that.

Aargh! Sparkle, get your hands off me!

This scene…

Why does it feel somewhat familiar?

Again, it's this impish brat Sparkle, and again, I'm restrained, unable to escape, completely at her mercy…

What's even more absurd is that what she's about to do to me actually perfectly fits the prerequisite of 'not harming me'!

This is a complete disaster!

Last time, at least Herta was there, and I managed to edge successfully, waiting for reinforcements…

Who can I ask for help this time? Firefly?

Why does she look so interested?!

It's not just physical harm that counts as harm! Stop looking!

Firefly, save me!

___

Greetings! ✨ Walnut here!

🔥 AN INCREDIBLE OFFER IS ON THE TABLE! 🔥

We're only 15 members away from our 65-member goal! 🎯

The second we hit it, 10 BONUS CHAPTERS for ALL STORIES will be released to everyone. No exceptions!

🪦 Your membership is the key. Let's make it happen!

100 powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone! 5 reviews = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone!

Secure your early access before it's too late!

👻 patreon.com/Walnutchan