The Gamer who traveled to Honkai: Star Rail

Himeko wasn't the only one who stayed behind. Asta and Veritas were also on the bridge, quietly observing without saying a word.

Asta knew now wasn't the time to express concern or ask questions. Veritas, outwardly expressionless, silently paid his respects to Pei Guang.

Even though he didn't understand how a Propagation Emanator that was only supposed to last 56 seconds turned real, the fact remained that Pei Guang and his team had participated in its defeat, and even helped the weak before the battle started. 

During the wait, he also learned about Pei Guang's deeds from Himeko.

Twice, he had saved the entire space station. He'd rescued Belobog. He'd helped the Xianzhou Luofu. He'd won Belobog the right to develop freely as it returned to the embrace of the universe. He had eliminated the massive Swarm that blocked the Star Rail path.

These weren't things Pei Guang had done alone: but he had led the charge. Under his influence, these efforts reached heights few could ever hope to achieve.

At this point, calling him a genius or a fool wasn't enough. In literary terms, people like him would be called a hero, a champion, or a savior.

That's why, knowing all of this, Veritas offered the highest level of respect. 

In his eyes, the universe could use more people like Pei Guang: it was because of people like him that those who otherwise wouldn't even get a taste of life could savor it till the very end. People like that deserved more respect.

Meanwhile, Pei Guang and Stelle began to recount the events. Once Pei Guang finished, Himeko's expression turned serious.

"So… that Propagation Emanator was artificially bred... That means only one person could be behind it…"

Pei Guang replied, "Yup~ She was all like, 'I swear there'll be no problems,' and then bam, problems. That wasn't a clone: that was a perfected enhanced version. Good thing we had an important NPC helping us, otherwise, us two rookie babies would've been toast."

Stelle nodded. "Totally! The trash can was awesome!"

As soon as she said that, Asta and Veritas's faces froze.

Just moments earlier, they had both experienced a strange, fleeting illusion: as if they were surrounded by trash cans with limbs, charging into an endless swarm of bugs.

In that instant, they had become trash cans too.

But how were they supposed to say that out loud?!!

At that moment, Pei Guang turned to Asta as if remembering something. "Oh, right, Asta! We got quite the haul from this fight. I have a few leg hairs that dropped from the Propagation Emanator: want 'em?"

"…Huh?"

Pei Guang pulled out two items from his inventory. Each was about the length and thickness of a forearm and glowed faint blue. 

Just as he said, they were leg hairs from the Starcrusher Swarm King: Skaracabaz.

As for the Propagation Emanator's body, most of it was sold to the Ten-Lords Commission, who also expressed interest in acquiring it. 

Why only most of it? Because Pei Guang pulled out its teeth, tore off part of its wings, and hid away the glowing bead-like objects from its body: he planned to gift those to March 7th.

He also removed its brain and some of its internal organs.

After all, it was his spoils of war, so he kept anything that looked useful, or rather, anything he could pry off. What remained was sold to the Ten-Lords Commission. 

In simpler terms, they were sold an empty shell… a shell with no teeth, or rather, no mouthparts. 

But even just a shell, both the Commission and the Xianzhou Alliance were more than happy to buy it. 

Emanators normally disappear completely upon death. Having an intact corpse of one, especially one belonging to an Emanator, was already a powerful deterrent just by hanging it up somewhere.

This was a Propagation Emanator! Even if Pei Guang only sold the outer shell, it was still impressive. 

Now the Xianzhou Alliance's higher-ups were debating who had the right to store it. 

Some proposed a battle to decide: the strong shall take it. Others argued it should go to whoever contributed the most. None of this had anything to do with Pei Guang, and he knew nothing of it.

When Pei Guang pulled out the Emanator's leg hair, everyone present, except for Stelle and March, fell silent. Because in that instant, the pure Path of Propagation energy radiating from it made it clear this was the real deal.

Asta gulped. "Is this… safe? What if—"

Pei Guang: "Worried it'll come back to life? Not a big deal. Just let me 'cook' it properly and we'll be fine. Just make sure no one eats it afterward, that would be a disaster. So, do you want it or not?"

Asta: "I do! How much?!"

Pei Guang: "Talking money hurts the friendship. Just treat me a little better, give me some better mission rewards down the line, and we're good. This one's the longest, thickest leg hair: I'm giving it to you. Go have fun with it!"

Asta: "Thank you so much!"

Pei Guang: "Don't mention it! Hey, everyone who's here gets a share! There aren't many leg hairs, but enough to go around!"

When he said "everyone," it was really just Veritas as the only "outsider." Veritas wanted to decline, but when the leg hair of the Starcrusher Swarm King was placed before him, he fell silent.

Parts of a Propagation Emanator's body had incredible research value. Still, he knew he shouldn't…

Before he could even say "no," Pei Guang shoved the leg hair into his arms. 

"Don't be polite! The fact that you're standing here proves we're on the same side—and it also proves what you said before was true. Since we're all on the same team, no need to be shy. Take the leg hair. As for what me and Stelle did to you before, let's just turn the page, yeah? Skip the favor-building steps and just raise that affection for us~"

Pei Guang looked at him with eyes that practically sparkled.

Faced with such sincerity, Veritas didn't even know how to respond. So, he just nodded and said, "Alright."

Pei Guang: "Nice~ It's a deal! No lowering that affection level, okay? If you do, I'll have no choice but to figure out how to get credits out of you."

Pei Guang breathed a sigh of relief. After all, both he and Stelle had attacked Veritas mid-mission and in most games, attacking an NPC tanked affection points and made raising them again a pain.

But now? Raising affection didn't seem so hard. Just like using bones on a wolf mob: one Emanator leg hair and boom, affection restored.

While Pei Guang was distributing his spoils, Herta, Ruan Mei, and Screwllum arrived.

The moment she showed up, Herta called out: "Not bad! You actually took down a Propagation Emanator."

Stelle: "Of course! That's our unbeatable Ah Guang!"

Pei Guang didn't bother correcting her anymore. If she wanted to keep stacking debuffs on his name, let her. 

He'd just stock up on invincibility-debuff-removal potions later.

Pei Guang: "Just lucky! Besides, me and Stelle weren't even the main force this time. Oh? Herta, perfect timing, I've got something good here. Want to see if I can trade it with you for something fun?"

As he spoke, Pei Guang pulled out the Emanator's brain. 

Now, how to describe this thing? It had an attribute, technically, but it was a negative one.

[Starcrusher Swarm King Skaracabaz: Carrying this item will draw the highest level of hostility from the Swarm. You will be targeted with focused aggression.]

[Note: Can be roasted and eaten, but it probably tastes worse than pig brains. It's even less valuable than its leg hair.]

Debuff or not, it still had a special effect: rounded up, it counted as a rare artifact. 

And Herta did love collecting rare artifacts, so Pei Guang figured he'd try trading it for something interesting.

Seeing the bug brain in Pei Guang's hands, Herta's eyes lit up. "Not bad! That's a fun item: I'll take it. Aside from a few pieces in my collection, feel free to borrow whatever catches your eye. Just return it when you're done."

To Herta, the Emanator's brain was a pretty solid collector's item. 

Definitely one of a kind.

After accepting it, Herta turned to Pei Guang. "Let me introduce you: these two are also part of the Genius Society. This is Screwllum, and this is Ruan Mei."

Screwllum looked at Pei Guang. "A pleasure to meet you, Pei Guang."

Before Ruan Mei could even speak, Pei Guang smiled at her. "I know her! So you're Ruan Mei, huh?"

Herta: "Hmm? Is there bad blood between you two?"

She turned to Ruan Mei. "You'd better be ready. Players hold grudges. If you've pissed him off and you want his help later, you're in for trouble."

As Herta said this, Pei Guang wasted no time proving exactly how petty a player could be. He pulled out a piece of the Emanator's leg hair and held it out.

"Screwllum, my man, a pleasure! You remind me of my old mechanical ascension days. Since you're here, this is my gift for you. Fate brought us together; let's drink to friendship!"

Screwllum accepted the leg hair and replied, "Thank you for the gift. I'll treasure it. To our friendship!"

Everyone smiled at Pei Guang's friendliness with Screwllum. 

But the smiles didn't last long, because then everyone present noticed something.

Pei Guang had handed out a share of the loot to everyone… except for one particular person.

Most of the people here knew Pei Guang well. He might not have the highest emotional intelligence, but he was the kind of guy who, when he had something good, made sure all his allies got a piece.

And yet, this time, when it came to the Propagation Emanator's leg hair… one person was left out.