The Gamer who traveled to Honkai: Star Rail

Stelle had formed a team with Bucket. Since she had accidentally ended up here, Stelle had no idea there was a massive incubator in this place, let alone what she was about to face.

All she wanted was to happily track down where the anomalous object had last appeared, help Herta retrieve it, and finish this light and cheerful little quest.

As she followed the bucket forward, Stelle couldn't help but complain a little. "Ah Guang was right: rewards in missions are always proportional to their complexity. I'm just helping track down a missing object, there's no way they'll throw a tough battle at me~"

She watched as the bucket casually took out all the bugs hiding in the dark. She had no idea why there were bugs here, but who cared? She had a carry on her team. 

Finishing the mission happily sounded way better.

Soon, she and Bucket arrived at the experiment zone, and the surrounding darkness completely disappeared once they entered.

"So this is where the anomaly went missing… Let me check around and see if there's anything!"

Stelle was just about to investigate when she suddenly spotted an incredibly cute little creature. This creature had a shell like a plum blossom, and inside was… a cat?

The little guy spotted Stelle too. The moment their eyes met, it let out a pitiful little "meow~"

"So cute!!!"

In an instant, Stelle felt like her heart had been melted by the creature's cuteness. "I didn't think a simple mission like this would have such an adorable little animal!"

"Meow~"

Stelle could somehow understand what the creature was saying. It called itself Gray Bean Paste and clutched its tiny paws, looking at her expectantly, then started crying.

"Wuwuwu, I'm not… not a creation recognized by Ruan Mei… wuwu! I have too much negative energy, and I hate eating when I'm full of negative energy… wuwuwu… Ruan Mei, why… why am I… a failure…"

Just as Stelle was about to comfort the creature, Bucket came walking over with its arms crossed. The moment Gray Bean Paste saw the bucket, it didn't act scared. It just meowed again.

Hearing those meows, Bucket shook its head, then raised a fist.

Even if it was a completely different species, Stelle could now understand a bit of the communication between them.

Gray Bean Paste: "Ruan Mei, Ruan Mei… you smell like Ruan Mei~ That's the scent of being acknowledged by her! Wuwuwu… Please teach me—how can I get Ruan Mei's recognition?"

Below One Bucket didn't respond with words. It simply stood with its arms crossed, silently emanating elegance. It was showing this creature, also a creation, what the meaning of life was.

Gray Bean Paste: "So if we stop relying on Ruan Mei and show our own dignity, Ruan Mei will recognize us?"

Bucket still said nothing, but at that moment, its pearly pink and white form gleamed with its own aura and will! With its arms crossed, the bucket radiated the dignity and resolve of a true trash can. 

Even Stelle, who had been quietly watching, had stars in her eyes!

So dazzling… It was blinding, like a sun rising in the dark.

Gray Bean Paste: "Then what should we do? Can we follow you?"

The little creature had only just been born and didn't know what to do. That's why it hoped the large being in front of it, the one that carried the scent of Ruan Mei's acknowledgment, could guide them, and help them earn recognition too.

Bucket didn't reject them. It opened its lid. Without saying a word, the little creature understood.

"Thank you!"

Even though it still didn't understand why Ruan Mei didn't approve of them, it knew that if it followed this large, recognized being, one day it would be acknowledged too.

As the little creature joined them, more of Ruan Mei's creations came and entered the bucket's body as well. 

Bucket accepted them all without hesitation.

Being a trash can didn't mean only holding garbage: it also meant providing warmth to life. Whether it was someone who believed their life was trash, or a stray cat or dog that had been abandoned, this trash can would use its body to protect these small lives. 

It would use its "trash" to help them grow!

Even if the entire world rejected them, Below One Bucket can would use its sturdy frame and its unwanted contents to nourish these beings that still wanted to live.

If preventing garbage from scattering everywhere was the dignity of a trash can—then helping life survive was its honor.

Ruan Mei's creations followed Bucket in hopes of earning her recognition. Bucket would protect them whenever they needed it.

When all of Ruan Mei's creations entered the bucket, when dignity and honor intertwined, Stelle couldn't help but cry at the sight.

Wiping her tears, she looked at the tiny creatures peeking out from the top of Bucket: "Sorry to interrupt, but I'm actually here on a mission. Have any of you seen a missing anomalous object?"

She forgot they might not know what an "anomalous object" was. But they were smart: they understood what "something strange" meant. Even if they didn't know why Stelle was looking for something odd, they still pointed her in the right direction.

"Meow~"

"Meow meow~"

"Meow~"

Stelle: "Oh? Is that so? A special place on the lowest level, and there's a clue inside? Thank you! I'll go check it out!"

With a clue in hand, Stelle was ready to continue her search for the anomaly. Bucket didn't say anything but silently followed. Not because it was following her, but because their goals were aligned: to destroy the biggest piece of trash here.

Earlier, it had acted alone because it had sensed scattered garbage that needed to be cleaned up. Now that those were dealt with, and it had adopted some small creatures, it was time to take out the biggest trash.

It could sense the overwhelming strength and destructive power of the target ahead. But as a trash can, it feared no enemy. 

Even if it were trampled underfoot by humans or melted down into slag, it would still shout in its decaying voice:

"Trash belongs in the trash can!"

Stelle, Bucket, and the newly joined creatures all moved together. 

Stelle headed to the place they mentioned to look for the clue. She left the room, but just as she was about to descend to the lower level, she fell silent.

Because the way back was now completely bathed in festive red, and the cheerfully echoing "Good luck is coming!" across the silent space station didn't give her any sense of luck at all.

While Stelle was now facing something out of an Eastern horror story, on the other side, Pei Guang's expression had become much more serious.

Because during his continued exploration, someone blocked his path.

This person had a plaster cast on his head, a book in his hand, and muscles that told Pei Guang clearly: this was someone you didn't mess with.

And it wasn't just Pei Guang thinking that. The man with the headgear, Veritas Ratio, had also spotted Pei Guang wandering around with his loudspeaker and musical instruments.

Seeing Pei Guang stop, he immediately spoke: "You look distressed. Is something troubling you?"

Pei Guang: "Nope! Are you a companion? Will you help me deal with a terrifying monster that's about to be born?"

Veritas: "No. I won't."

Pei Guang: "Oh! I see!"

Veritas: "You don't have anything else to ask?"

Veritas had grown curious about Pei Guang. It was the first time he had seen someone casually rearranging things in Herta Space Station, even running around with a loudspeaker.

Pei Guang: "I do! Then if I can't beat the monster below, will you help me out?"

Veritas: "No."

Hearing that response, Pei Guang looked troubled, then continued, "You're not a companion, you won't help me, then what are you doing here?"

Veritas: "Think for yourself."

That remark lit up Pei Guang's eyes: "Think for myself? I get it—you want me to use my brain, right? My brain's always working! Look! I brought it all the way here, and hey! Now I've moved it over here!"

"…"