Added to the Gacha as Rukkhadevata (Honkai Star Rail)

"Today was such a lucky day!" Lumina exclaimed.

After leaving the Card Pavilion, Lumina arranged to meet Qingque again the next morning and returned to her hotel room.

Lying on the bed, she stared at the ceiling, reminiscing about her masterful performance on the Celestial Jade Battlefield. She sighed contentedly, relishing the memory of her strategic brilliance.

[ Luck? Cheating is cheating. Why pretend it's luck? ] the System's words appeared on the screen as subtitles, devoid of tone or expression. Yet, Lumina could still sense the cold mockery behind them.

Irritated, she retorted, "Just because I'm using it doesn't mean it's cheating, does it?"

"Just because it's not turned off doesn't mean it's on!"

"Isn't cheating just another form of luck anyway?"

"I earned this 'cheat' through my own skill. What right do you have to call it cheating?"

"I simply have more perseverance and work harder than the average person. Why accuse me of cheating!"

[You...]

[Never mind...]

The System had wanted to say something, but remembering its previous banter with Lumina, it realized it had never managed to get a word in. This time would likely be no different, so continuing would only be a waste of time.

With that thought, the System obediently shut its mouth.

"Hmm?"

Ignoring the childish System, Lumina pulled out her phone, opened the Bilibili app, and clicked on the most popular live stream to check the players' progress in the game.

"Huh?"

"How are they already... facing Kafka?"

Staring at the Main Story progress in the live stream, Lumina froze, muttering in confusion.

She distinctly remembered that the Astral Express crew only learned about the Stellaron explosion on Xianzhou Luofu forty-eight System Time after the event.

Yet now, less than twenty-four hours System Time had passed since the Stellaron's eruption. How could Kafka already be on the Astral Express?

"What's going on? How has the timeline diverged again...?"

The Saintess scratched her head, utterly baffled. She had completely forgotten everything she had done on Jarilo and Xianzhou.

Lumina's remark gave the System the perfect opportunity to switch into battle mode, unleashing a relentless tirade against her.

["Of course things changed!"]

["You resolved the Jarilo crisis. After March 7th, Dan Heng, and Stelle said their goodbyes, they didn't linger and promptly returned to the Astral Express."]

["As for why Kafka boarded the Astral Express early, that's all thanks to you, my dear Saintess!"]

["Without your intervention, how could Blade have been captured ahead of schedule?"]

Lumina: ...

Noticing her silence, the System helpfully added:

["I bet Lumina's got her head in the clouds too."]

"Sigh... You're so childish," Lumina said, shaking her head and sighing at the System's childish antics. "I know you've been itching to tear me apart for ages."

"I've realized my mistake," Lumina said, her expression tinged with remorse, her tone earnest and sincere, as if she genuinely regretted her actions and wanted to make amends.

Not that she was planning to trick the System into manifesting so she could beat it senseless and teach it a harsh lesson about the cruel realities of the world...

[Do you think I'm March 7th?]

The System remained completely unconvinced, scoffing at Lumina's proposal.

"?" Lumina's expression turned neutral, slightly surprised that the System hadn't fallen for her ruse.

But the next moment, she understood everything when she saw the message displayed on the System's screen.

It's not that it wasn't fooled—it simply can't materialize...

I thought it was smarter than this. It's barely a step above March 7th.

At best, it's an April 7th.

With that thought, a flicker of disdain flashed in Lumina's eyes.

Little April 7th? Piece of cake!

-

"March, what's your take on this?" Himeko asked March 7th on the Astral Express after Kafka had left.

"My opinion? What opinion could I possibly have?" March 7th scoffed, recalling Kafka's words. "Who would believe anything the Stellaron Hunters say? Xianzhou Luofu in danger? What could possibly go wrong there?"

"I bet they're just..." March 7th trailed off abruptly.

As if remembering something, she pulled out her phone and began swiping through it frantically, either searching for something or verifying information.

It didn't take long for March 7th to find what she was looking for. After putting her phone away, her expression shifted dramatically.

"I think they might be right," she said. "If half the people on Luofu really will die if we don't go there, as she claims..."

"As Trailblazers who inherit Akivili's spirit of Trailblaze, we can't just stand by and do nothing!"

The Astral Express Crew: ?

Hearing March 7th's words, everyone stared at her as if they'd seen a ghost.

Could March 7th really say something like that?

Recalling her earlier reluctance, the crew couldn't help but wonder what she had seen. What could have transformed her from that unwilling, "no, no, no" demeanor into this unfamiliar composure?

"Heh heh..." Sensing their gazes, March 7th reverted to her usual goofy self, scratching the back of her head with an awkward chuckle.

Seeing this, the crew refrained from further questioning. Whatever secrets March 7th's phone might hold, as long as they didn't endanger the Astral Express, it was none of their concern.

"Ahem."

Himeko cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention.

Once all eyes were on her, she smiled and slowly began, "The Stellaron isn't a major issue for the Xianzhou. Kafka's statement leaves only two possibilities."

"Either she's lying, or... the Xianzhou is harboring an even greater threat..."

Himeko paused, surveying the silent group before continuing, "As per standard procedure, whether we go or not will be decided by a vote among the Astral Express Crew. Raise your hand to agree; keep it down to disagree."

After explaining the voting method, Himeko glanced at the group and began the countdown.

"Three... Two... One..."

When the countdown ended, everyone except Dan Heng had raised their hands.

Dan Heng, who seemed to have anticipated this outcome, remained with his arms crossed, eyes closed, and said nothing.

"Four to one. By majority vote, the Astral Express Crew agrees to travel to the Xianzhou," Himeko declared, not pressing Dan Heng for his reasons.

"Yay!" March 7th jumped up excitedly.

The others: ?

Staring at March 7th's reaction, the group turned to her with renewed confusion.

"Uh... never mind..." Sensing their gazes, March 7th immediately composed herself, awkwardly rubbing her nose and forcing a smile. "Nothing to see here..."

Back in her room, March 7th hummed a cheerful tune as she quickly changed into her pajamas and dove onto the bed.

She threw back the covers and burrowed completely underneath them.

Pulling out her phone, she sent a message to someone and wriggled with delight, as if she hadn't been home in ages and was finally about to see her mother again.