I'm playing Honkai Star Rail

Chapter 94: You are Sparkle, I am also Sparkle

The mask Aha bestowed upon Caelus didn't increase his combat power one bit, but its functionality and support for having fun were maxed out. Changing its style was just a basic, minor function for this mask.

"B-boss, so it really was you!?"

Seeing that extremely familiar mask, Sampo's face changed in an instant. In one second, it went through astonishment, surprise, and dejection, finally settling on the fawning expression one makes when facing a superior.

"Sister, what brings you to my humble abode?"

As a Masked Fool, Sampo had his own unique aesthetic of Elation. He was willing to pay a price for fun, even including becoming the fun on stage himself. But there was one exception to this—becoming the fun for another Masked Fool.

"What boss, what sister?"

Glancing askance at the obsequiously smiling Sampo, Caelus coughed twice, an expression of 'I have no idea what you're talking about' on his face, and said with a stern and proper demeanor, "I am a Trailblazer of the Astral Express, Caelus, male."

"Astral Express... Trailblazer..."

As if reminded of something by these two keywords, Sampo gave Caelus a deep look. He remembered that the God of Elation, in order to have fun with the Trailblaze Aeon, had once become a mortal and lurked on the Astral Express for over a year. Finally, he got his chance and blew up the train.

Is this boss trying to replicate the God of Elation's operation?

Sampo was a bit uncertain. As a Masked Fool, he could tell that the mask on Caelus's face was a genuine article. The style of a Fool's mask was fixed, but powerful Fools could also use transformation skills to modify it, so it could only be used as one of the criteria for judging identity.

Mainly, in the instant Caelus revealed the mask, the ripples of energy contained a joy, a beautiful mental state. It was dreamlike and fragrant, sober yet frenzied, like a cotton candy sprinkled with chili powder.

The paths of Elation of the Masked Fools were all different, and that joy, as if performing a monodrama on stage, belonged to Sparkle! This was the main factor Sampo used to judge Caelus's 'identity'.

"Ah, yes, yes, yes! You are Caelus. Aiyo! Look at my old eyes, I can't even tell men from women anymore!"

Sampo's face changed to a brilliant smile, and he began to speak auspicious words while rubbing his hands together like a fly.

The fox Fool's mask, plus the mental characteristics in the Path's energy, and Sampo's understanding of Sparkle, he was already eighty percent convinced. For a Masked Fool, this was already a very high probability. As for asking Sparkle through the tavern? No one would expect to hear the truth from that sister's mouth, right?

But conversely, explaining all of Caelus's abnormalities with Sparkle, everything made sense!

"Then I'll have to give my family a pair of glasses later. Not 998, not 9998, but 99998!"

Caelus rested his hand on Sampo's shoulder and deactivated the Sparkle personality simulated by the mask.

If Sparkle's mask could transform into myriad external appearances, Caelus's mask was a transformation on the level of spirit and personality. The degree of restoration depended on Caelus's understanding of the simulated personality. Caelus's current understanding of Sparkle was limited to the PV "Monodrama" he had seen before. He had just been replaying it in his mind, transmitting the mental characteristics of Sparkle from the video through the mask.

He had originally intended to use this method to test Sampo. From Sampo's reaction, he was undoubtedly a Masked Fool and knew Sparkle. And it seemed that Sparkle had a great reputation among the Masked Fools. Although not as useful as Aha, she could also be used as a scapegoat.

"Bro, what do you need me to do?"

Knowing Caelus's identity, the thought of running away in Sampo's mind completely dissipated. His old, cold legs were no match for this big shot's thigh. If 'Sparkle' intervened, the drama in Belobog would surely unfold according to her script. Sampo didn't mind being a supporting act.

"Lead me to the treasure chest!"

"Huh?" Sampo was completely bewildered.

"Caelus, how dare you sneak off!"

Discovering that her other half and the respected Master Sampo had disappeared from the room, Stelle immediately jumped up in a panic and rushed out.

"It was our dear family who wanted to sneak off. I was just carrying out justice."

Hearing this, Stelle's narrowed golden eyes flashed with a sharp light, piercing towards Sampo.

"..." Sampo's face was full of misery, an expression of utter lifelessness.

So, what on earth is the treasure chest?

The more he felt he was being played with, the more he felt it was highly likely that the gray-haired man was that sister. After all, Sampo had been tricked by that sister many times before.

Well~

Since he couldn't resist, he might as well play along with the boss.

Sampo recalled the things in his strongholds that could be called treasures, then led Stelle and Caelus to a hidden cave near Boulder Town.

In a corner that neither Sampo nor Stelle noticed, a graceful figure clad in a dark crow-feather leather coat appeared out of thin air, then disappeared like a raven flitting through a street corner at dusk.

...

Inside the clinic, on a sickbed, Bronya's consciousness gradually awoke.

Before the assassination incident, she had already been worried about her mother's suspicion of her friends and Seele and hadn't slept well. Added to that the many terrible things that had happened on the frontline recently, her condition was a bit poor.

This time, fainting had sent her into a deep sleep. The mental exhaustion and fatigue from long hours of work seemed to have improved after this long sleep.

"Mmm..."

Bronya slowly opened her eyes a sliver. Her vision was a blur.

"That's great, Sister Bronya, you're finally awake."

After a few short seconds, the scene in her vision gradually became clear. Bronya unconsciously lifted her head, and what came into view were two Seeles, one big and one small.

The older Seele's fine brows were tightly furrowed, her eyes filled with vigilance. Her arms were crossed, looking a bit cool, and her azure eyes held a faint hint of hostility.

The younger Seele's delicate face, however, was filled with a faint worry. The moment she saw her wake up, a look of relief appeared on her face.

"Seele... two Seeles..."

Bronya's eyes were dazed as she stared at the two Seeles, a little unsure if she was dreaming or in reality.

"Princess of the Overworld, you didn't sleep so long you fried your brain, did you? Do you need Natasha to treat you?"

The older Seele crossed her arms, her voice unconsciously carrying a hint of sarcasm and hostility. Half of it came from the ingrained hostility of the Underworld people towards the Overworld. After all, the Underworld miners toiled day and night in the mines, while the rich people in the Overworld lived in luxury.

The other half of the hostility came from White Seele's address to Bronya and the worry she showed. The older Seele, with her Black Seele traits, ultimately couldn't resist the charm of the gentle and obedient White Seele. In their interactions, she gradually came to see White Seele as a younger sister... a family member.

But White Seele was so close to the heir of the one who had caused countless sufferings in the Underworld, the Supreme Guardian. This made the older Seele a little disappointed. She couldn't vent her emotions on Seele, so she vented them on Bronya.

In fact, the older Seele was not the only one who was jealous. Black Seele in the mental space was also a little unhappy. She was White Seele's protector. The older Seele was stealing her role!

Seele clapped her hands in her heart, sighed, thinking it was wonderful, and enjoyed this twisted, circuit-diagram-like relationship. If Silver Wolf and the Little Duckling from the Honkai world were to join in the future, tsk tsk tsk, she couldn't even imagine what a tangled, inseparable mess that would be.

By that count, White Seele was practically becoming a succubus like Soyo. Perhaps the members of the Crychic band should be changed, consisting of White Seele, Black Seele, Big Seele, Silver Wolf, and Bronya.

"Seele, this..."

Faced with the older Seele's bad attitude, Bronya felt a little at a loss.

"This Seele is the me from a parallel world, Sister Bronya," Seele took back control of her body and explained with a smile.

"The Seele from a parallel world..."

Having had a long talk with White Seele before and learned about her story, Bronya had a clearer understanding of parallel worlds. Since there was a 'Bronya from a parallel world' in this world, it was normal for there to be a 'Seele from a parallel world'.

The confusion in her eyes gradually turned into realization. Bronya finally had the energy to look at her surroundings. This seemed to be a clinic. The space was not large, but it was exceptionally warm and cozy.

Where is this place? Why am I here?

Bronya frowned, recalling the events before she fainted. Suddenly, her eyes widened as if remembering something.

"Seele, what on earth happened between you and my mother? W-why would you?"

Bronya became agitated, her hands pressing on Seele's slender shoulders.

Compared to why she was here, this matter was more important.

"It's a long story. Calm down first, Bronya."

Seele soothed Bronya's emotions, then told her everything about Cocolia's connection with the Stellaron.

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