Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking

"The script has run its course. From the Demon King's rise to the hero's triumph—it's a fitting conclusion to the story we set in motion."

In the God of Knowledge's study, a frail old man adjusted his thick glasses, his voice distant and reflective.

"According to the agreement, this type of script ends here. The next one will be a grand hodgepodge of the Four Corners World, more intricate and exciting than anything before. But it holds no meaning for me—I'm ready to leave."

"You don't seem attached to this world at all," another voice interjected.

"Why would I be? Does a student hesitate to leave home for a better education, no matter how warm their house may be? To me, this place isn't a home. It's a prison—an endless one," the old man replied with a touch of bitterness.

He rambled on, "By the way, about that request of yours to wipe out the goblins—it's done. After rounds of divine curses and the death of their ruling god, their intelligence has regressed to less than that of giant rats. They're no longer even fit to serve as livestock in the Four Corners World."

"Good work. I'll be going now."

The other speaker, Venti, nodded and turned to leave. But the old man stopped him.

"Wait a moment!"

"What now?"

"There's something I've always been curious about. When the veil still existed, the outside world shouldn't have been able to perceive what was happening inside the box. Yet, you still received contact, didn't you?"

He was referring to the time Venti had spent in the Golden Forest, when a certain apothecary had caught a glimpse of him.

"Yes, that's true."

"Just as I suspected. That World Tree isn't as simple as it seems. Could it be some kind of anchor or a signal base?"

The old man muttered to himself, stroking his beard.

"You know, I used to believe it was something that appeared alongside the gods themselves. But now it seems its existence predates even that.

"And we, who pride ourselves on possessing the power of creation, are no more than opportunists who scattered seeds onto fertile soil destined to bear fruit. That's the origin of the many 'races' in the Four Corners World…"

He sighed heavily.

"How tragic. While we were indulging in our games on the chessboard, we missed out on knowledge so vast that no amount of parchment could record it.

"And then we had the audacity to weave a veil, fabricate starlight, and deceive ourselves. How is that any different from a fool sitting atop a mountain of treasure, oblivious to its worth?"

"Alright, alright, I get it. You stay here and enjoy your revelations," Venti said, cutting him off as he waved goodbye.

After parting ways with the still-ranting God of Knowledge, Venti made a minor change to his appearance and headed to the Golden Forest.

---

The forest bathed in soft golden light remained timeless and unchanging, as though forgotten by the flow of time.

There, Nahida met the Fairy Queen, who greeted her with a gentle smile. Though as beautiful as ever, the queen now bore a streak of silver in her hair—a sign of aging, the prelude to her return to the cycle of life.

"I'm sorry… I wasn't the hero after all," Nahida said softly.

"It doesn't matter. At least you came back. How long will you stay this time?"

"Just a few days."

"That's hardly more than a nap."

Their conversation carried the same rhythm as before but was laced with a newfound understanding.

Together, they strolled through streets that seemed destined never to change.

---

Getlow Town.

This small frontier town was as lively as ever. After submitting their mission report at the Adventurer's Guild, March 7th, Stelle, and Dan Heng headed to the orphanage funded by the townsfolk.

From a distance, they saw Zaryus with a human girl perched on his shoulders, surrounded by children of various races.

Fina, dressed in her role as the headmistress, watched the scene fondly despite her helpless expression. Mimiya lounged on a tree branch, gnawing on an apple with a bored look.

"Hey, everyone! March 7th is here to see you again!" March 7th called out cheerfully.

The children's response was a cacophony of excited cheers.

"Wow! It's the hero—and her teammates!"

"Teammates?! That makes it sound like I'm just tagging along!" March 7th protested, stomping her foot in mock indignation.

"Because you are," Dan Heng replied, his tone flat and unbothered.

"No worries. I can afford it," Stelle said smugly, striking a pose as she basked in the children's admiration.

Zaryus chuckled at the sight and remarked, "The ways of the world are truly unpredictable. Once, I doubted all of this, but now you've proven yourselves beyond question, fulfilling the monumental task of saving the world."

"If only I hadn't been injured at the time. I would have loved to witness the birth of this legend firsthand. Mimiya, you're quite fortunate."

"Hah! That's what you get for not taking care of yourself, you shriveled lizard. But don't worry. With proper recovery, you might still be able to help Fina around here for another 20 or 30 years. At least you'd be of some use," Mimiya teased, tossing away her apple core with a mischievous grin.

"Well… in that case, I'd better start preparing 20 or 30 years' worth of wages in advance," Fina said earnestly, already calculating expenses in her head.

Zaryus burst into hearty laughter. "You're too kind! But alas, our lifespan is fixed. I won't last that long."

"Then become a dragon! Isn't that a good goal to strive for?" Mimiya quipped.

"If I were twenty or thirty years younger, maybe I'd consider it. But now—"

Zaryus gently lifted the child from his shoulders and set her down. The usually stern lizardman squinted comfortably in the warm sunlight, his demeanor softened.

"I'm not like you young folks anymore. I don't have the energy to keep running around. I'm planning to live out the rest of my days here peacefully."

"Hopefully, we'll see you again when we visit next time."

Stelle's words were blunt, and March 7th quickly clamped a hand over her mouth, alarmed.

"Hey! Don't jinx it! Dan Heng, come on, say something to her!"

"…"

Caught in the middle, Dan Heng sighed and reluctantly joined the scolding.

The orphanage remained lively, filled with the sounds of children playing and laughter echoing in the sunlit yard.

---

Nightfall at the Ranch.

The Goblin Slayer, having completed his mission, now lay quietly on the grass. Through the narrow slit of his helmet, he gazed silently at the starry sky, where one less moon hung in the heavens.

The green-glowing moon, ever present in the past, had vanished—just like the goblins.

Even now, he still didn't know if the words his sister had once spoken to him were true.

"The moon is beautiful tonight," said a soft voice beside him. It belonged to the ranch girl, his childhood friend.

Her figure, silhouetted in the faint moonlight, carried a peach-like warmth and maturity.

Goblin Slayer murmured a distracted "Mhm."

The girl, familiar with his taciturn nature, lay down beside him, her head resting in the grass as she gazed up at the same sky. After a while, she broke the silence again.

"Hey, are you going to keep being an adventurer?"

"Yes," he replied after a pause, adding, "There might still be goblins in other worlds. I can't stop."

"I see…"

The girl fell into a long silence, the weight of his words settling over her. As she sat up, preparing to say more, a rustling sound came from beyond the fence.

It was faint, like some small creature trying to wriggle through the barrier.

Goblin Slayer immediately tensed, his muscles coiling as he reflexively threw a dagger from his waist.

The blade struck the ground with a thud, eliciting a startled yelp.

"Whoa! That was close!"

"What is it?"

Though phrased as a question, his tone came across as a demand. Shield in hand, Goblin Slayer cautiously parted the tall grass to investigate.

Behind the foliage was a small, translucent blue slime.

The creature, apparently as startled by him as he was by it, quickly shed its initial panic and introduced itself in a soft, almost playful voice.

"Hello! I'm Rimuru the Slime~ Not an evil slime, I promise!"

"?"

—And so, peculiar events continued to unfold in this strange world.

But for the Trailblazers, this was no longer their concern.

---

Back aboard the Astral Express.

"Welcome home, everyone."

Uncle Yang greeted them at the train's entrance, a newspaper still in hand.

"Thank you for finishing things up out there. You've all done a great job."

Himeko, as calm and composed as ever, wore her characteristic gentle smile. She had just finished repairing her coffee machine and was now programming it to brew a fresh pot for everyone to enjoy.

"Hehe, this special Trailblazing mission is finally complete. That wasn't easy at all!"

March 7th stretched lazily, already thinking about a hot bath and her favorite outfit.

Dan Heng gave a small nod and quietly returned to his library room. He had gathered a wealth of useful materials and information during this mission and needed to update the records.

Meanwhile, Stelle—usually brimming with energy—was stifling yawns.

"Can I request a break next time?" she asked, her voice groggy.

"Well, technically, the train crew doesn't force anyone to go on adventures," Himeko replied, a playful glint in her eye. "But if you oversleep and miss out on an exciting journey, I'm not sure you'd enjoy that feeling."

She smirked and added, "After all, it's rare to keep up with the group's progress. If you fall behind, you'll just have to catch up again!"

Welt chuckled softly. "Now, now. Let's allow the kids to rest for a while. The Stellaron has been completely sealed, and once everyone has recovered from their time on Snail III, we'll think about the next destination."

He turned his gaze toward Venti. "Even you must be tired after this trip, right?"

"Uh, yeah… a bit…"

The Windborne Bard looked flustered, his cheeks faintly red—not from embarrassment but from a lingering daze.

"Hmm? Venti, you don't look well. Are you feeling unwell?"

Just as Welt noticed something amiss, a sudden beep beep filled the air.

"Ow! It's hot!"

Himeko dropped her coffee cup, spilling the dark liquid across the crimson carpet.

At the same moment, Uncle Yang stood abruptly, and Venti collapsed like a marionette with its strings cut.

Stelle stared in stunned confusion but quickly moved to catch Venti. His face was flushed red, and he muttered incoherently.

"I'm fine… I can still drink…"

"?"

An alarm sounded within the train.

"Attention! Attention! Spatial anomaly detected—huh? The readings are returning to normal," Pom-Pom's voice announced, shifting from urgent to puzzled.

"The current Astral Rail stability is improving—76%, 87%, 98%! Operational thresholds have been met. The train is cleared for departure."

The rear carriage door slid open, revealing March 7th, who had just returned in her signature outfit.

"Hey, Pom-Pom! Why's the train moving so soon? I was just about to—" She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening as she noticed everyone's bewildered expressions.

"What's going on here?"

"March, step aside," Dan Heng's voice came from behind her as he moved forward.

"Oh, uh, sure."

"Everyone, just moments ago, the time around us shifted again. And…" Dan Heng paused, taking a deep breath and glancing at the unconscious Venti.

"The disturbance was significant—it seems to have affected nearby Star Rails as well."

"What the heck is happening?!" March 7th exclaimed, utterly lost.

At that moment, a projection flickered to life in the middle of the carriage.

It revealed a familiar figure, who glanced at her watch before offering a sly smile.

"Long time no see, crew of the Astral Express. I'm Kafka."

Himeko, wiping her hands with a cloth, averted her gaze in disdain. Stelle, however, glared daggers at the projection.

"What did you do?!"

"Ah, perfect timing. Everyone seems to be here—or mostly here?" Kafka's eyes briefly flicked to the unconscious Venti before Himeko cut her off.

"Spare us the charming introductions, Stellaron Hunter. State your purpose, and depending on the damage you've caused, I'll decide whether to remove you gently, firmly, or very firmly."

Kafka chuckled, her captivating smile unbroken.

"Himeko, right?" she said, as if confirming a detail. "I'm sorry to interrupt your reunion. But I'm sure you're aware—just moments ago, a time distortion rippled outward, affecting dozens of star systems. And the reason…"

She paused, her tone turning ominous.

"…is him, isn't it?"

The atmosphere turned tense, and Himeko stepped between Kafka's gaze and the unconscious Venti, shielding him from her predatory eyes.

"Ah, so intrusiveness is the Stellaron Hunters' signature trait? I'd once assumed there was some talent among you, but it seems I was mistaken."

Himeko's voice was laced with venom as she added, "To appear on the Company's bounty list, you'd have to be skilled. And your bounty is astronomical—dead or alive."

Her smile was equally dangerous. "Care to guess what your bounty and that of your companions amount to?"

"I couldn't care less. To us, a bounty isn't infamy; it's a compliment. The bigger the number, the higher the praise."

Kafka's smile remained serene, even as a childlike voice chimed in from the side of the projection.

"Pfft. Obviously, mine's the highest—it's maxed out, of course!"

"You fugitives… what exactly are you planning?!" March 7th barked, brimming with indignation.

"Good question." Kafka gave a light snap of her fingers. Behind her, a massive celestial vessel shimmered into view.

"I'd like to request a change of destination. Have you heard of the Xianzhou Luofu?"

---

T/N: RIMURU?? HUHHHHHHHHHHHH

Attention, all. I am pleased to announce the release of a new translation, "This Is My Holy Grail War." Your support is acknowledged. Engage with this work at your discretion.

Reader, your presence signifies commitment.

To walk this path is to contribute to the pursuit of eternity.

Should you wish to further fortify our resolve, step forward: [patreon.com/WiseTL].

Each action contributes to the unyielding foundation of our creation. Together, we etch a mark that transcends the fleeting nature of time.

For those who aspire to push the limits further, offering one 'Burger' will unlock an additional 5 chapters: [ko-fi.com/wisetl]. Specify which story your donation pertains to; this offer applies exclusively to stories available on Scribble Hub.

— Raiden Shogun