If we are but a single leaf... then what is the world?
A long time ago, a sage sat beneath a tree and pondered this philosophical question. And now, the truth of the world, following the advent of a certain game... has been truly glimpsed by the foolish.
Would one cling to a single leaf that holds only possibilities, or would one travel unobstructed along the branches of the tree? Everyone would choose the latter...
---o---
"Dr. Tesla, you haven't slept for a week. If you keep this up, your body won't be able to take it."
Welt Yang took off his greatcoat and draped it over Tesla's thin shoulders. Looking at her somewhat haggard face, he couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.
"Hah? That messy-haired genius is exhausted too. Why don't you go bother her?" Tesla shot Welt a glare, as if warning him not to interfere with her experiment.
"...Dr. Einstein is already asleep. You're the only one left now."
Welt pointed with a hint of helplessness toward Einstein, who was sleeping soundly nearby. Knowing her habit of "recharging," she would probably be out for several days...
"You damn messy-haired... you actually slacked off behind my back..."
Tesla, who was about to berate Einstein, lost her steam when she saw the exhausted look on her sleeping face. She just muttered to herself in a low voice.
"So, you should also get some rest," Welt reminded her again. Although he had served as a guinea pig for data calculations many times during this period, he was in much better shape than these two. At the very least, he was a Herrscher...
"Hmph, I'm not tired at all!"
Though she said that, Tesla still wrapped the coat draped over her shoulders a little tighter. She then turned sideways and lay back in her chair, placing her white-stockinged feet in Welt's lap without a second thought.
This whole time... she really had been overexerting herself... Perhaps a little rest was in order...
The game Honkai: Star Rail was like a tube of toothpaste that could never be squeezed clean. Every time she discovered something new, another new thing would pop out from some unknown corner, giving her a pleasant surprise...
But what was the use of knowing? They couldn't replicate most of the things in there. Whether it was Anti-Entropy or Schicksal, they were like people sitting on a massive mountain of gold, with only their bare hands to mine it...
While most people in the Honkai world treated Honkai: Star Rail as just a game, for those in the know, it had already become the channel connecting their world to the true "world."
The world of Star Rail was magnificent and vast, a place where danger and opportunity coexisted. In the context of such a worldview, the "Honkai" seemed almost "not worth mentioning," but it remained the greatest threat to their world for the time being.
The Queen had not yet descended, the Serpent still slumbered in the sea...
And the "world" welcomed a brand-new change.
---o---
"Your Excellency, the research department has been working around the clock to replicate some of the simpler items from Star Rail. But most of them are useless. Forgive me for being blunt, but is there really any point in replicating something like 'Sparkling Mung Bean Juice'?" Amber said bluntly, looking at Otto, who was still grinding the Forgotten Hall.
"A point? Of course, there is. We... are we not attracting their attention? Even if it's minuscule, even if it's shielded by some power..."
Otto shook his head and continued to focus on the Forgotten Hall before him. All around him were scattered various pieces of intelligence related to [Memory].
---o---
[Connection Value with the Honkai world has increased. Current Connection Value: 15%.]
Wende, who was a guest at Miss Meryl's estate, heard the system's notification. He expressionlessly took a sip of the special beverage Meryl had personally made. Then... Wende's face turned red, then yellow, and finally, a deathly pale.
"!"
The Yin and Yang power within his body seemed to sense a great threat and began to circulate on its own, ignoring Wende's will.
"Uh... it's... it's fine."
Feeling Meryl's expectant gaze, Wende nodded unconsciously, speaking against his conscience.
[Really? It's okay to tell me if you don't like it.]
Meryl smiled, lightly typing out a sentence on her tablet for Wende to see.
"Yes, really. It tastes fine."
Seeing Meryl's sincere expression, Wende gritted his teeth and decisively downed the drink that contained all of life's complex flavors in one gulp. The Yin-Yang in his sea of consciousness was already spinning like a cyclone!
[Wow! Mr. Wende, you're amazing!]
Meryl's eyes sparkled as she looked at Wende, who was still trying to hold it together.
"Benefactor? Are you really alright?" "Tingyun" asked, patting Wende on the back with concern after seeing the strained look on his face.
"I'm... fine," Wende shook his head, indicating he was okay.
"Hmm..."
Jingliu looked thoughtfully at the pained expression on Wende's face, then glanced at the drink in her own hand and drank it all in one go.
"It's fine. Tastes good."
Jingliu finished the drink that had caused Wende so much agony without a single change in her expression, not a ripple of emotion on her face.
Good heavens, this woman's taste buds must be completely shot!
Wende stared in horror at Jingliu, who acted as if nothing had happened. As expected of one of the only two people in the world who could drink Himeko's coffee and be fine!
Well, not exactly fine, but the side effects were minor in comparison.
"Wait... are you blushing?"
Wende's sharp eyes noticed the mellow red flush on Jingliu's cheeks...
"Oh? Am I?" Jingliu said, not seeming to care in the slightest. She even, to Miss Meryl's astonishment, ate a small, multi-colored cake. After finishing it, her face simply became a shade redder.
"Uh... excuse me, Miss Meryl, could we possibly stay here for the night? Of course, I'm asking for my two companions. I have other arrangements for tonight." Wende suddenly said to Miss Meryl in a serious tone.
[Of course.]
Meryl nodded and typed on her tablet screen.
"Phew..."
Wende let out a sigh of relief. He was just about to give "Tingyun" some instructions when he realized that the person beside him had been replaced by Jingliu at some point.
"You are not going anywhere tonight."
Jingliu's scorching breath washed over his face.