Penecony. The Family.
Inside the recording studio.
Robin was wearing headphones.
Displayed on the large screen in front of her was a live stream of Honkai: Star Rail~, hosted by a streamer called Xiaoguizi—also known in-game as the character Guinaifen."
At this moment.
The battle against the [Swarm King: Skaracabaz] was nearing its end.
At the cost of one death and three injuries, they had finally managed to defeat this formidable foe.
The chat on the left side of the stream was scrolling rapidly.
However.
Robin wasn't paying attention to the players' comments.
Instead, with one hand holding her headphones, she quietly walked over to another set of equipment.
Some players were concerned about the Swarm King's difficulty, worried that their own account progression might not be enough to clear it after seeing how hard Xiaoguizi struggled in the fight.........
Others were focused on the story, as Ruan Mei's revelation that she had cultivated a replica of the Swarm King in the space station was nothing short of a bombshell.........
But as a musician.
Robin was far more interested in the BGM of this battle!
The recording studio was naturally a top-tier, million-dollar facility, equipped with the most professional audio gear in the galaxy!
She had already isolated and recorded the battle music.
Now.
Playing through her headphones was the pure, unadulterated version of the combat track!
Robin's gaze sharpened slightly.
As a powerful rhythm kicked in, signaling the true start of the battle.
Robin closed her eyes, raised her fist, and swayed along with the beat.
When listening to music.
Her imagination always reached its peak, vivid and unrestrained.
Right now!
Robin felt as though she had been transported to a neon-lit cyberpunk planet.
Every instrument had come to life.
And together, they began to rave!
At the one-minute mark.
The electronic music suddenly took an intensely dramatic turn!
Instantly sending the already-immersed Robin into overdrive!
"This transition is textbook perfection!"
"Incredible!"
In her mind's eye.
The Swarm King had transformed into a drummer!
Its drums were skyscrapers.
Its limbs became drumsticks, pounding against the buildings.
Meanwhile, Robin herself had grown into a towering giant.
Swaying wildly across the city!
So wildly, in fact, that she ended up shattering the planet beneath her feet from the sheer force of her movements!
As the track came to an end.
Robin opened her eyes.
A gleam of brilliance practically shot from them!
"This BGM... it's pure, unfiltered aggression and intensity!"
"The style is wildly unrestrained."
"It's like something Yu Ling composed while raving in a Swarm nest, hahaha........."
Without a doubt.
This was yet another uniquely styled masterpiece from Yu Ling.
Robin couldn't wait to send Yuling a private message.
To ask her what mental state she was in when she composed this track.
Just then.
A chime sounded in the recording studio.
Signaling that someone was looking for her.
Robin took a slow breath.
Suppressing the emotions stirred by the music for now.
She stepped outside the studio.
And saw her older brother.
Sunday.
"Brother, I just found another incredible BGM in Yu Ling's game—"
Seeing Robin's excitement.
Sunday smiled fondly.
However.
A trace of heaviness flickered in his eyes.
As siblings who had grown up together.
Even if he tried to hide it.
Robin still caught that fleeting hint of distress.
Immediately.
Her cheerful expression stiffened.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"..."
Sunday sighed.
Then said, "This news... won't be pleasant for you."
"The Family has issued a complete ban on any engagement with Honkai: Star Rail content........."
"...What?"
Robin's pupils shrank.
For a moment, she couldn't believe what she was hearing!
Seeing her shock.
Sunday reluctantly explained further, "It's the 'Dreammaster's' decision........."
"They've already notified all five Families—no member is permitted to interact with anything related to Honkai: Star Rail."
"But—"
"Why?!"
Robin was furious!
"Yu Ling's game has already become one of the most brilliant cultural phenomena in the universe!"
"Why would the 'Dreammaster' do this!?"
Sunday gently placed a hand on Robin's shoulder.
"They only said—Honkai: Star Rail would interfere with the Family's faith in 'Harmony'..."
"But as for the specifics... I don't know either."
Robin bit her lip.
Her pupils trembled slightly.
She didn't understand!
She refused to accept it!
Just moments ago, she had been listening to music so breathtaking it felt divine.
And now—
Her own brother was telling her...
That she could no longer engage with anything related to Honkai: Star Rail.
That she could no longer discuss music with Yu Ling.........!
!?
Her heart shattered instantly!
"This isn't the 'Harmony' I believe in at all!"
With those words.
Robin stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Meanwhile, Sunday—uncharacteristically—did not immediately go after her to console her.
Instead, his gaze darkened.
He murmured, "I'm sorry, little sister........."
"But I will ensure you find true happiness in the dream."
"This... is just the brief darkness before dawn."
---
Private spacecraft.
Robin sat in the cockpit.
Wiping her tears with the back of her hand.
Ignition.
Start-up.
Where to? It didn't matter.
All she knew was—
She didn't want to stay in Penacony.
She didn't want to stay with the Family!
Right now, she resented every single member of the Family.
Including her brother!
The 'Harmony' Family was supposed to have no hierarchy—everyone was meant to bathe together in the hymns of the Aeon Xipe, embracing all things in the universe.
But Robin had been feeling more and more lately.
That under the 'Dreammaster's' leadership.
The Family was drifting further and further from Xipe.
Perhaps even moving in the opposite direction.
She didn't know if it was just her imagination.........
Or if the entire Family had truly strayed from its path.
Right now.
She didn't want to think about it.
Alone, she piloted the ship.
Drifting through the galaxy in solitude.
How much time had passed?
Two system hours?
Three?
Slowly, Robin's emotions began to settle.
The universe was vast.
But finding a sanctuary within it was far from easy.
Then.
Robin spotted a planet nearby on the map.
Her heart stirred slightly.
She descended toward it.
This was an ocean planet, its surface almost entirely covered in water.
But there were still a few scattered islands.
Robin chose one of the larger ones to land on.
Stepping out of the ship.
She walked barefoot along the beach, her steps aimless.
Listening to the waves.
Though the scenery was nothing but untouched nature.
At this moment.
She felt an unprecedented sense of peace and tranquility.
---
Above the planet.
Two Family ships hovered in orbit.
A security officer from the Hound Kin reported to Sunday: "Miss Robin has landed on a tourism planet still under development by the IPC. I'll send you the coordinates now!"
Sunday replied, "No need."
"I know that planet. There's no danger there. Don't disturb her—let her have some time alone to calm down."
"Understood."
However.
What Sunday didn't know was.
At this very moment.
The developer of Honkai: Star Rail—Yu Ling, whom the Family had outright banned—
Had also arrived on this very planet.
And was about to whisk away his dearest little sister............
To be continued…
Guys, kindly support me on my Patreon. I mentioned it quite a few times in the past, too that this fic is a paid fic and I support the author directly on Faloo and tl the chaps after. I would be grateful if you guys could assist me financially as well. I might drop this fic soon if I don't receive a specific amount of subs now.
Advance 100 Chapters are up on my Patreon!
pat reon.com/AlphaSenatus
Join my Discord server for the latest updates and have face-to-face talks with me!
discord.gg /fD76Qn4VhB