"Alright, let's get down to business!"
Owlbert, no longer dwelling on his thoughts, decided not to waste any more time. He wanted to host his final preview special without any regrets!
"Speaking of Lady Lumina's homeland, we absolutely cannot overlook two words: Medical Arts!"
As Owlbert spoke, the screen went black. When it lit up again, the scene had changed completely, showcasing the new regions one by one.
A bustling town, a sea of flowers, and the towering Irminsul, a tree whose branches pierced the clouds.
Once the new regions had been fully showcased, the preview special's visuals returned to their original setting.
"Wow, no wonder it's Lady Lumina's homeland! No wonder it's considered the Holy Land of Healers by all people in the galaxy!"
"Indeed, the homeland that gave birth to someone like Lady Lumina was destined to be no ordinary place!"
Having watched the demonstration of the new regions, Owlbert couldn't resist praising Lumina, flattering her.
After all, Lumina was now his superior. Flattering her was much better than flattering the IPC...
"Ah ha, thank you for the praise, Owlbert, but Apricot Grove is hardly some 'holy land.' It's just an ordinary planet."
Hearing Owlbert's effusive praise, Chibi Lumina smiled gently, waved her hand dismissively, and offered a modest response.
Then, nodding thoughtfully, she said:
"Since it's my homeland, allow me to introduce it myself."
As Lumina spoke, the massive screen at the center of the group displayed scenes from Apricot Grove.
First to appear was a planet bathed in vibrant emerald green.
Looking at the planet, Chibi Lumina explained: "Apricot Grove lies at the heart of the Sumeru Star System, serving as its core."
"As far as I know, the entire Sumeru Star System seems to revolve around Apricot Grove."
"You could say Apricot Grove is the heart of the Sumeru Star System."
"Ugh... the Sumeru Star System... it brings back unpleasant memories..." Hearing Lumina's introduction, Chibi March 7th, seated beside Lumina, seemed to recall something and said awkwardly.
"Indeed, I hope this doesn't end with another..."
"Whoa, whoa, hold up!" Just as Chibi Stelle and Chibi March 7th were about to delve further into the "Sumeru Star System" topic, Owlbert interrupted them sternly.
This is the live stream for the Honkai: Star Rail Version 1.7 Special Preview Program, not the live stream for that other two-word game.
If I keep going, they'll dock my pay!
Hmm... Come to think of it, I don't have any pay left to dock anyway. /(ㄒoㄒ)/~~
Owlbert silently shed tears of sorrow in his heart, his disappointment seeping through to his expression. But his formidable "mental fortitude and professional ethics" quickly restored his composure.
"Ahem, the Cosmos is vast! It's perfectly normal for similar but distinct things to exist!"
"Lady Lumina, wouldn't you agree?"
Owlbert delivered this righteous declaration, then rubbed his hands together, his face beaming with flattery as he turned to Lumina.
"Yes, Owlbert is correct," Chibi Lumina nodded with a smile.
She continued, "This Sumeru Star System has absolutely no connection to the Sumeru next door, okay? ♪"
"The Sumeru Star System reveres the Medical Arts. It boasts the highest level of medical expertise in the entire Cosmos, and many renowned Cosmic Physicians hail from this region."
"Most importantly, every Physician from the Sumeru Star System practices medicine free of charge, regardless of whether the illness is minor or severe!"
As Chibi Lumina finished speaking, Owlbert's eyes lit up instantly.
"Looks like you've seen plenty of physicians from the Sumeru Star System whenever you're sick," March 7th remarked with a smile, noticing Owlbert's reaction.
"Well, they don't charge a thing and their medical skills are top-notch. As a disgruntled worker toiling overtime without pay, constantly exploited by my boss, why wouldn't I go to them for treatment?" Owlbert poked his tiny claw, grinning sheepishly.
Ever since learning he was no longer employed by the Interastral Peace Corporation, Owlbert no longer cherished the company as his own. He now freely voiced criticisms he'd previously suppressed.
Unbeknownst to Owlbert, Lumina, who overheard his words, darkened half her face and flashed a sinister smile.
"Eek..." The moment Lumina's sinister smile appeared, Owlbert suddenly shivered violently, a sense of foreboding washing over him.
"Someone must be thinking about me..." Owlbert shook his head, muttering to himself.
As Owlbert finally realized what was happening, the sinister smile vanished from Lumina's face, replaced by her usual gentle, serene smile, as if that wicked grin had never appeared at all.
"At the same time, the Sumeru Star System is considered a dream destination for the sick and injured across the Cosmos... Because in the Sumeru Star System, there is no such thing as death from illness or injury."
"Whether patients come from other star systems or fall ill within our borders, regardless of the severity of their condition, a solution will ultimately be found."
"Of course, this is likely an exaggeration."
The special preview program continued airing as Lumina continued her introduction to the Sumeru Star System and Apricot Grove.
"When a patient's condition proves too complex for most experts in the Sumeru Star System, they are sent to Apricot Grove for treatment... If Apricot Grove still cannot resolve the issue, the patient is brought before me, and I personally intervene to heal them."
"But what if even Lady Lumina can't solve it?" Owlbert asked, his curiosity piqued.
The moment those words left his mouth, he felt two gazes pierce him like daggers, as if they wanted to kill him on the spot.
"Sister Lumina is so amazing! There's no way she can't solve this!"
The next moment, March 7th's dissatisfied voice rang in Owlbert's ears.
"Y-yes, yes! My apologies! Lady Lumina's medical arts are unparalleled in the world—how could there possibly be any problem she couldn't solve?!"
Realizing his mistake, Owlbert quickly apologized, scratching his head with a paw and offering an awkward smile to cover his embarrassment while simultaneously flattering Lumina.
"Ahem?" Chibi Lumina chuckled, seemingly pleased by the praise.
"Although I haven't encountered such a problem yet, if I ever encounter an injury or illness beyond my capabilities, I will utilize the power of Irminsul to heal it."
Lumina then elaborated on the matter.
"Irminsul? Was that the colossal tree in the demonstration earlier, the one many times larger than the Ambrosial Arbor on the Luofu?"
"Yes," Lumina nodded, and the scene on the large screen shifted to the massive tree on Apricot Grove.
"Irminsul is one of Yaoshi's Divine Miracles, responsible for maintaining the vital pulse of the entire Apricot Grove."
"If Apricot Grove is the heart of the Sumeru Star System, then Irminsul is the heart of Apricot Grove."
"As for why Apricot Grove's pulse requires Irminsul's maintenance, we invite all Trailblazers to explore it in Version 1.7! ♪"
To avoid spoilers, Lumina kept her explanation vague, leaving a hint of mystery and planting a subtle emotional dagger.
After all, anything connected to Irminsul rarely ends well...
As Lumina finished speaking, the screen shifted to a new city.
Looking at the town on the screen, Lumina continued her introduction:
"This is Sumeru City, the capital of Apricot Grove. Many of the planet's festivals are celebrated here."
"Uh... Sumeru City..." Hearing this, March 7th spoke up again.
"Hey~ The Cosmos is vast! Isn't it normal for some places to share similar names?" Owlbert quickly interjected, trying to smooth things over.
Irminsul, Sumeru City—pure coincidence...
"Ah, what a coincidence!" Chibi March 7th instantly fell into a deep, speechless silence.
Silent though she was, this Sumeru City was indeed not that Sumeru City...
Lumina listened to Owlbert and March 7th's explanations with a faint smile, saying nothing.
Only when the demonstration of the new area on the big screen shifted to a garden scene did Lumina continue her introduction:
"This is where I live. That small wooden cabin is my home."
With that, Lumina fell silent again, seemingly unwilling to reveal more.
Once the new scene demonstration concluded, the final poster from the previous version's promotional video appeared on the screen.
"In short, the stories of Lumina, Irminsul, and Apricot Grove will all be answered in Version 1.7's Trailblaze Continuance, 'The Eternal Garden of Seventy-Three Quadrillion Suns and Moons.' Trailblazers, please look forward to it!"
With Lumina's final words, the demonstration of the new area and the introduction to the new Trailblaze Continuance concluded.
The special preview broadcast then transitioned to its next segment...