What if your Honkai Star Rail was like this?

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Bronya & Seele: Never Wanted to Hit Someone So Badly

Dan Heng began his usual exposition: ”The ’family law’ was first defined two months ago in the group chat ’One Big Happy Family’ by Himeko.”

”Himeko advocated the principle of ’reward for merit, punishment for fault.’ To ensure that those who make mistakes in the Express crew have a clear understanding, the family law was established.”

Stelle forced a weak smile. ”In that case, how about I take on a month of chores for everyone?”

Dan Heng glanced at his notebook. ”Sorry, that punishment has already been claimed by March for the whole season.”

Stelle: ?

”What do you mean ’claimed for the season’?” Stelle asked, utterly confused.

Dan Heng explained, ”Before you joined, March was always experimenting with different uses for Six-Phased Ice on the Express, which often upset Pom-Pom.”

Stelle: ”Like what?”

Dan Heng: ”For example, she once tried using Six-Phased Ice as drink ice. As a result, when Mr. Welt accidentally swallowed it, the ice didn’t melt easily, and his stomach was upset for a week.”

March 7th awkwardly turned her head away.

Stelle raised an eyebrow. ”That... that’s not enough to claim a whole season, right? A month at most.”

Dan Heng: ”Last time she went into the kitchen with Himeko, she got banned for two months by Pom-Pom. Want to know why?”

Stelle replied firmly: ”Absolutely not.”

Dan Heng pondered for a moment. ”Alright, since March has taken all the physical chores, after we return to the Express, you can help me organize the archives. I could use an assistant.”

”Organize the archives? No problem.” Stelle waved her hand confidently, patting her chest without a care. Organizing archives? How hard could that be?

When Dan Heng mentioned enforcing the family law, Stelle had been startled, thinking she’d be tied up and whipped. Now, she felt... relieved.

But with Belobog’s matters suddenly resolved, Stelle felt a bit unaccustomed to the abrupt conclusion.

She touched the two fragmented pieces of the Stellaron in her pocket and let out a small sigh of relief.

...

Gepard went home that day limping and clutching his waist. This scene was captured by a trailing paparazzo, who titled it: Great Guardian Exhausted All Day—You Won’t Believe Why!

However, this gossip only occupied a tiny, inconspicuous corner of the Belobog Daily the next day. The headline was dominated by: Overworld and Underworld Representatives Hold Formal Talks, Officially Ending Years of Cold War.

This meant that, from now on, there would be no more border controls between Belobog’s Overworld and Underworld, and people could move freely.

As for Gepard’s ”human adaptation to the Stellaron” plan, it was completely scrapped under Serval’s strict supervision. Her reasoning was:

Little brother, you can barely walk straight right now. Just drop it.

Gepard: ”Sis, do you mean I can experiment once I’m better?”

Serval: ”No, I mean if you even think about it again, I’ll make sure you can’t walk—maybe even can’t get out of bed.”

As Stelle had hoped, no tragedy befell this world. The position of ”Great Guardian” remained unshaken, and with the Vagrant gang led by Root eradicated in a counterattack, Belobog became even more stable and peaceful.

...

”Wait.”

Cocolia stood at her doorstep, leaning against the frame with a displeased expression, staring at Seele. ”What are you doing? Why haven’t you left? Go back to the Underworld!”

Seele smiled faintly. ”Auntie, I’m now the Underworld’s Wildfire representative. I’ll be staying in the Overworld for a while to communicate with the Great Guardian. Bronya invited me to stay here temporarily.”

Cocolia: ”No way. We only have two bedrooms.”

Seele tilted her head. ”That’s perfect... It’s fine, I can sleep on the couch.”

Cocolia: ”No, you’re the Underworld representative. If you sleep on the couch, it’ll look like I lack hospitality. How about this: I’ll book you a deluxe suite at the Goethe Hotel. Sound good?”

Seele laughed. ”That’d be much appreciated.”

Cocolia huffed. ”Don’t get any ideas. Bronya promised me she’d take some time to cool off and reassess your relationship. That’s the only reason I’m helping you.”

”Then, Auntie, does Bronya have anything for me?”

Cocolia dragged a suitcase out of the house. ”This. Her exact words were ’a gift for you.’ Take it. I’ve already contacted the hotel manager, and he’ll handle your check-in.”

”Alright, thank you, Auntie.”

Watching Seele’s figure gradually disappear, Cocolia felt a vague sense of unease but couldn’t pinpoint why.

Was Seele really giving up that easily? Hmph, could Bronya have actually misjudged her?

After much hesitation, Cocolia finally knocked on Bronya’s door. ”Are you there? I need to talk to you about something.”

”...”

”Bronya?”

...

Goethe Hotel.

Seele had just finished checking in when the suitcase Cocolia had given her began to shake. The zipper was pulled open from the inside, and a silver-haired figure crawled out, fanning herself vigorously. ”It’s so hot in there. Seele, you’re so slow.”

Bronya’s clothes were soaked with sweat, her forehead covered in beads of perspiration, her face slightly flushed, and her breathing rapid.

”No choice~ Your mom’s pretty vigilant,” Seele said.

Seele hugged Bronya from behind, resting her chin on Bronya’s shoulder and whispering near her ear, ”How about... you take a shower first?”

If Stelle had seen this, she’d probably just stand there blinking, realizing her assumptions were too simplistic. She’d thought this version of Bronya was the ”1” and the good-girl Seele was the ”0.”

Guess anything’s possible.

Bronya’s heart began to race. ”Now? Today? Isn’t that a bit too...”

”Too fast?”

Seele wrapped one arm around Bronya’s neck, her other hand already starting to unbutton Bronya’s clothes. ”I actually think it’s a bit slow. We should make some ’breakthrough’ progress.”

Bronya swallowed hard, feeling Seele’s small hand on her abdomen. The intimate contact made her thoughts freeze.

Their faces grew closer, close enough to feel each other’s breath.

Bang, bang, bang!

Just then, the room’s door was suddenly knocked on, and Stelle’s enthusiastic voice came from outside:

”Seele? You in there? Hahaha, I spotted you in the hotel lobby and followed you all the way here. You didn’t even notice me!”

Both their faces darkened, and they felt an urge to punch someone.

Neither responded, hoping the guy outside would take the hint and leave.

...

Bang, bang, bang!

”Huh? Was my knocking too soft? Did Seele not hear me?”

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

Stelle knocked even more frantically.