"Listen to me—"
"…"
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
Koji crossed his arms, staring at the wine-red–haired mature woman before him—Kafka, star-core hunter, skilled in using words as weapons.
[Blessing of Demon-Repelling: Curses and all forms of debuffs have no effect.]
Her word-spell abilities counted as curse manipulation, so they couldn't touch someone with a blessing.
Lumine stood beside him, unaffected as well—Koji had shared the blessing with her.
"Why are you interfering?" Kafka arched a brow.
A minute earlier, these two had appeared right as she finished adjusting a Stellaron vessel.
"I'm just a passing traveler."
"And you—aren't you star-core hunters, wanted criminals? Coming here to Herta's Space Station without fear she'll cause trouble?" Koji shrugged.
Having left Teyvat, Koji and Lumine had arrived at Herta's Space Station, in the universe of the Astral Express—home to the powerful Aeons.
Aeons could traverse the stars freely, wielding power to erase realities and create worlds.
If he wanted, Koji could be an Aeon himself.
He sensed he could open a Path, but didn't bother—his strength was already more than enough.
"Kafka, did Elio mention anything about this?"
Silver Wolf spoke gravely. She tried to use her Ether Editing to throw Koji and Lumine out, but it completely failed. The opponent didn't even show an energy reaction. Even an Emanator had to at least stir a ripple.
"Herta, how will you handle them?"
Koji looked toward a corner and smiled.
Kafka and Silver Wolf stiffened. A mirror appeared silently, and from it stepped a beautiful woman in a pointed wizard's hat.
Lumine: She's so pretty.
"Herta herself?" Kafka's face grew serious. This was an Emanator.
Elio, what kind of script did you write?!
Meanwhile, at the Star-Core Hunters' base—
"Damn it, who messed up my script, nya?!"
Riiiip!
The sound of torn pages and an angry voice filled the room.
Great Herta gazed at Koji with curiosity. "The station is lively today. Star-Core Hunters and travelers from unknown regions."
She normally turned a blind eye to the hunters—the Stellaron was a useful test subject.
But Koji and Lumine intrigued her enough to bring her true body.
"Girls, you wrecked my space station. Shouldn't there be a price?" Herta said coolly to Silver Wolf and Kafka.
She lacked empathy, but the station held her projects.
"Herta, I finally meet your true body. I challenge you!" Silver Wolf declared, full of fighting spirit.
Kafka twitched. Challenging an Emanator of Erudition? Silver Wolf, are you sane?
"Why would I accept? You're too young to play an adult's game." Herta said lightly.
"Herta, let me tell you something…"
Koji leaned close and whispered in her ear.
"Hehe, interesting. Consider it done."
Herta pulled out her phone, sent a message, and quickly received a reply.
Silver Wolf felt a surge of unease. "What did you do?"
"Nothing. Just an introduction. I'm Koji—and I like banning accounts." Koji grinned.
Accounts?
Silver Wolf's eyes widened. She hurriedly opened her games.
[Account has been banned!]
…
Gone.
Her body trembled. All gone. Over seventy accounts, every single one banned.
Too cruel. Those accounts held relics she had farmed for ages.
"Little girl, they're only banned. You can try to recover them." Herta said mildly.
At least she hadn't deleted the equipment. That was mercy.
The station had lost many lives. Only her accounts banned—she should be grateful.
"You…"
Silver Wolf nearly cried.
"Enough. Don't make a scene." Kafka soothed her. They weren't in charge anymore.
"I'm not making a scene." Silver Wolf sniffed. She refused to cry before Herta.
"Good day, Lady Herta. May I entrust this child, the Stellaron vessel, to the Nameless of the Astral Express? You may name the terms." Kafka bowed.
If Herta fixated on Star, she could never join the Express, ruining the script.
"A Stellaron vessel, hm. I'll study her. After that, whether she stays is up to her." Herta said.
Curiosity today didn't guarantee tomorrow. She rarely stayed interested for long.
"Leave, Hunters. Slaves of destiny may see visions, but don't overstep." Herta said evenly.
Kafka nodded, giving Star a gentle look before departing with Silver Wolf.
Later, she'd have to ask Elio—was this in the script, or had fate gone astray?
"Koji, what did you do to make that girl cry?" Lumine asked.
Given her own age, calling Silver Wolf a "girl" was fair.
"Nothing. Just had Herta ban all her accounts." Koji said casually.
Silver Wolf would have been banned by Herta and Screwllum eventually. He only sped it up.
"You're brutal." Lumine twitched. Still… it was funny.
"What's this little creature?"
"A flying sprite?"
Herta eyed Paimon with interest. She couldn't see through her. A protective power cloaked her. Curious.
"Paimon's not a sprite! Paimon is Paimon!" Paimon stomped in the air.
The nicknames kept piling up.
Herta ignored her. A powerless little thing.
"You… your aura feels familiar. I remember now. Come with me." Herta turned to Lumine, eyes thoughtful.
She ignored the Stellaron's vessel lying nearby. The Astral Express would arrive soon. Testing her in the Simulated Universe could wait.
…
Note: This chapter and the last belong to the Star Rail world. The story will return to Genshin after this brief crossover.
(End of Chapter)
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