Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking

By the evening of the same day, Goblin Slayer had already rallied the elven archer's team and set out on the road.

Thanks to this, Nahida woke up in a moving carriage, her head cushioned by Mimiya's soft lap. Despite this comfortable makeshift pillow, the constant jostling of the carriage on uneven roads kept her from fully relaxing. Road maintenance in this era was scarce at best, with landslides and floods from heavy rains making things even worse.

Given the dangers posed by monsters, having any kind of passable road for carriages was already a luxury. Without it, traveling on foot would have been far worse.

Rubbing her eyes and yawning, Nahida asked, "Where are we now?"

"We've covered most of the distance. By tomorrow morning, we should reach the ancient ruins," replied the elven archer, her face reflecting a sense of satisfaction, as if recalling a pleasant memory.

Normally, she would have been outside discussing strategy with her teammates, but she had stayed in the carriage to watch over Nahida.

The rest of the Star Rail crew were in a separate carriage, as arranged by the forest dwellers.

Noticing Nahida's gaze shifting, Mimiya explained, "Once we pass this area, we'll officially leave human territory and enter the forest dwellers' borders. There's something I wanted to discuss with you privately before we do."

"There's no need to be so formal when we're alone," Nahida said, her tone light but firm. "You're such a bold and straightforward person, but now you're acting so stiff with me. It's a little hard to handle."

Mimiya looked sheepish. "Well... how should I put it? When it comes to monsters, sure, I'm bold. But with you? If my older sister or mother found out I wasn't being respectful, they'd scold me endlessly."

Her eyelids drooped, giving her a pitiful, almost puppy-like look. "Besides, it's not just us in here, is it?"

"Hey—what's with the obvious targeting?" the elven archer protested, puffing up her cheeks in mock indignation.

"That's true," Nahida said with a nod. "You're all part of the same race, after all."

"True, but the forest I come from is separate from hers. Our customs are different," Mimiya countered.

"Exactly! Where I'm from—the Forest of Kings—anyone younger by even a few centuries who acts all haughty would get a proper lecture," the archer said with a smirk.

"Only a few centuries older, huh? That's hardly something to get arrogant about," Mimiya shot back.

"Ah, but even a few centuries is a real difference, little sister," the archer replied, her smug grin widening.

After days of serving as Nahida's personal guard, Mimiya had deflated much of the archer's confidence. Now that the opportunity for a comeback had presented itself, the archer wasn't about to let it slip away. Age was never a taboo subject for forest dwellers, after all. Even at two thousand years old, the archer was considered a mere youth among her kind—especially compared to Mimiya, who was several centuries younger.

"Alright, alright. Enough bickering," Nahida interjected, stepping between the two to block their sparking gazes. "Mimiya, what was it you wanted to discuss earlier?"

"It's about forest customs!" Mimiya said, perking up. She had been meaning to explain aspects of their culture to Nahida, but circumstances kept getting in the way. Now was the perfect opportunity.

"I'll add details too!" the elven archer chimed in enthusiastically, raising her hand as though competing for attention.

"First of all, it's common knowledge that forest dwellers live in treehouses. The structures can vary in shape, from spheres to cubes, depending on the types of trees in the area," Mimiya began.

The forest dwellers were blessed by nature, allowing them to move gracefully atop tree branches as though walking on flat ground. This adaptability wasn't limited to forests; their physical prowess made them supremely suited to various terrains. This natural affinity for their surroundings made them exceptional rangers, their keen awareness of their environment a gift rather than a learned skill.

The conversation then shifted to more peculiar and entertaining anecdotes about their customs.

For example, many years ago, the forest dwellers had an extreme law: breaking a tree branch would result in the loss of a hand. This rule had been established by the most radical environmentalists among them, who viewed any harm to trees as utterly unforgivable. Even the dwarves, often mocked by forest dwellers for their perceived crudeness, had once quipped that such laws were the height of barbarism.

What was more amusing was that this rule hadn't been abolished and remained under ongoing debate.

When Nahida asked how long the debate had lasted, neither the archer nor the ranger captain serving as coachman could answer. It had gone on for so long that even these long-lived elves had no memory of its origin.

Still, from their stories, Nahida began forming a clearer picture of the forest dwellers' culture.

Unfortunately, much of this information couldn't be freely shared. It touched on aspects of their private lives and traditions, making it unsuitable for casual storytelling among her companions—at least not until they returned to the Star Rail.

---

Everyone gathered around the campfire, the flames crackling cheerfully as burning branches filled the quiet night with a comforting warmth.

Despite their intense hostility toward indiscriminate logging, forest dwellers didn't object to the responsible use of wood.

After eating a few soft flatbreads offered by the elves, Nahida excused herself and made her way toward the human group.

Though relations between the two races had significantly improved over the past few days—enough to avoid outright conflict—there was still an instinctive tendency for each group to stick with their own at night, rotating sentry duty within their respective circles.

Leaving the elves behind, who immediately began speculating on the deeper meaning behind her actions, Nahida arrived to find Goblin Slayer sharing an entire block of roasted cheese with his companions.

The cheese was golden and slightly charred on the outside, with a soft, gooey texture that stretched as it was pulled apart. It looked like the perfect accompaniment to a good drink.

Indeed, the dwarf sorcerer was alternating bites of cheese with gulps of alcohol, his face flushed with pleasure.

The lizardman priest, tail wagging and pounding the ground in delight, declared the cheese to be "nectar."

Even March 7th, used to more refined meals, looked thoroughly pleased as she enjoyed the simple yet delicious dish. Stelle, on the other hand, appeared more focused on playing with the stretchy cheese, pulling it apart and savoring each bite with childlike fascination.

Only Dan Heng and the young priestess seemed to maintain more composed eating habits.

"Looks like everyone's having a good time," Nahida remarked, her presence eliciting no awkwardness or formality from the group. Bathed in the flickering firelight, the elf-like child's delicate appearance seemed more endearing than intimidating.

The priestess, Fina, cheerfully invited Nahida to join them.

Surprisingly, Mimiya and her team had also wandered over to sit with the humans, much to Nahida's curiosity. Both Zaryus and Fina were the types of adventurers who would be welcomed in almost any party, especially among newer teams seeking guidance.

And yet, they had chosen to stick with Mimiya—a testament to the bonds of camaraderie within their group.

"Thank you."

Accepting a skewer of roasted cheese from Goblin Slayer, Nahida took a seat beside Stelle and began to eat in small, deliberate bites.

But then, something peculiar happened.

After finishing her skewer, Goblin Slayer handed her another. At first, Nahida didn't think much of it. But when she finished the second one and he silently offered yet another, she noticed the others staring at her with expressions akin to proud parents watching a child eat.

March 7th, in particular, looked as if she were watching her daughter enjoy a meal for the first time.

"Ahem. I'm full now, but thank you for the kind gesture," Nahida said, politely declining the next offering to preserve her dignity. She then shifted the conversation to more serious matters.

"Tomorrow, we'll officially enter the ancient ruins. Are you prepared?"

This question was directed at Goblin Slayer's group, as the Star Rail crew, along with Zaryus, Fina, and Mimiya, would not be venturing into the ruins themselves.

"No problem," Goblin Slayer replied, his tone as flat as ever as he tucked away the remaining cheese.

"Really? From what I've heard, there are quite a few goblins in there. You should know that with those numbers, it's unlikely they're being led by just a shaman or a few bodyguards," Nahida said, tilting her head slightly. Her white-to-green gradient ponytail shimmered warmly in the firelight.

Despite her youthful face and soft, flower-like gaze, her words carried an air of wisdom that instantly struck a chord with Goblin Slayer.

He wasn't embarrassed by the accuracy of her observation. If anything, it only reinforced the truth behind her earlier claim of unparalleled knowledge about the world.

"What's your take on the situation?" Goblin Slayer asked humbly.

In his years of fighting goblins, he had learned from many—a mix of elders, dwarves, and halflings. This accumulated knowledge, paired with his creativity, had kept him alive until now.

"They're likely under the command of a high-ranking monster. That's basic intel, isn't it? I assume you've prepared for that possibility?"

"Truly humbling…" the lizardman priest admitted, his earlier euphoria over the cheese fading into a sheepish smile.

"Yeah, I hadn't really considered it before," the dwarf sorcerer said, wiping his lips and shaking his head. "With so many goblins gathered, it's easy to overlook the bigger picture."

Reflecting on the situation, he added, "If they're under the command of something like a troll or a death mage, then we're in for a nasty fight."

Goblin Slayer remained silent, clearly unaccustomed to strategizing against anything beyond goblins.

"Do you have any strategies in place to deal with such a threat?" Nahida pressed further.

"Well…"

The lizardman priest and the dwarf sorcerer exchanged hesitant glances. Having just realized the magnitude of the situation, they didn't exactly have a foolproof plan.

"I have a few scrolls, but their effects are uncertain, and I'd rather not waste them in a demonstration," Goblin Slayer said, gesturing to the scrolls tucked in his belt pouch.

"I see. At least you're not blindly rushing in," Nahida said, her tone light but thoughtful. Though she knew Goblin Slayer was careful by nature, her current role as "Nahida" demanded a more measured approach than her more whimsical "Venti" persona might have allowed.

Then, standing up, she clasped her hands together as if in prayer.

A gentle breeze swirled around her, carrying emerald leaves that coalesced into a pitcher plant-like form. It quickly condensed, shrinking into a compact size that could fit inside a small pouch.

"What's this?" Goblin Slayer asked, voicing the group's collective curiosity.

The nearby forest dwellers, drawn by the swirling wind, watched in awe as Nahida created what they could only describe as a "spirit." The process was as stunning as someone in a technological age inventing a new element to solve an energy crisis.

"A special elemental creation," Nahida explained, handing the small plant to Goblin Slayer. "If you encounter danger, plant this in the ground. It should help with some of your troubles."

Then, as if to forestall any protest, she added with a small smile, "Think of it as payment for the cheese. It was delicious enough to be immortalized in the annals of gastronomy."

The juxtaposition of Nahida's youthful appearance with her mature, matter-of-fact tone made her all the more fascinating to her audience.

"I see…" Goblin Slayer replied, carefully storing the strange creation. From the reactions of the forest dwellers and the dwarf sorcerer, it was clear this was no ordinary gift.

"I'll bring more cheese for you next time," he said earnestly.

"If you insist, I wouldn't say no," Nahida replied with a mock air of haughtiness, her demeanor perfectly calibrated for the audience.

With her task complete, Nahida returned to her tent, leaving the others to marvel at her actions.

As the night deepened, the camp gradually fell silent, save for the occasional rustling of leaves—a reminder that vigilant eyes were keeping watch.

That night, Nahida dreamed of a tree.

---

Greetings, esteemed reader.

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