Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking [147]

The chirping of birds, sunlight filtering through the gaps in the forest canopy, and the rich, green aroma unique to deep forests—all of it was enough to nudge Mimiya's consciousness from slumber. Yet, none of this was what fully woke her.

"Mmm... huh... haahhh…"

Stretching as she threw off her blanket, she let out a hearty yawn. The morning chill grazed her bare skin, a sensation unfamiliar after so many days spent on edge during their journey.

For the first time in a long while, she had enjoyed the rare luxury of sleeping soundly until the natural light woke her.

As a Forestfolk adventurer, it wasn't just the perils of the journey that one had to endure but also the latent malice lurking beneath the veneer of peace in the outside world.

What ultimately woke her was the soft, rhythmic tap-tap of footsteps outside her guest room door.

"Is everyone already up so early?"

Ruffling her messy green hair, she gathered her energy and slipped her slender figure into her adventure attire. She also donned the ill-fitting undergarments and buttoned up her shirt, despite them being another reminder of the Forest Princess's earlier remarks.

Then—

She hurried to the door, swung it open, and froze at the sight before her.

"—Oh, good morning, Mimiya!"

March 7th greeted her cheerfully, carrying one side of a vine-crafted saddle with branches as thick as arms.

"Uh... morning…" Mimiya replied reflexively, then asked, "What… what is this?"

She glanced toward Stelle, who was holding the other side of the saddle. Stelle replied matter-of-factly, "We're preparing for departure."

The one who spearheaded this decision, however, was Dan Heng.

"After our discussion last night, we concluded that the goblin nest is highly likely located upstream. Considering the goblins' awareness of the village, there's also the risk of them poisoning the water supply. To avoid that, we decided to prepare the saddle early and launch a preemptive strike."

"I... see..."

Shame and frustration mixed within Mimiya, leaving her standing awkwardly at the door.

She hesitated, unsure whether to ask why she hadn't been included in their discussions or if there was anything she could do to help now.

No—judging by everyone's actions, it was clear the Princess had deliberately chosen not to involve her.

A pang of abandonment washed over her, snuffing out any lingering joy she felt at the morning's beauty.

"Hmm? Why are you just standing there?"

Another voice broke through her brooding, startling her.

"Your Highness?!"

"Good morning. You look well-rested, which is excellent for the tasks ahead," Nahida said softly, her gaze carrying a gentle warmth that held a hint of authority.

"I need your help, along with the Forest Cavalry, to defend the village. Please don't rush to refuse," she said, soothing Mimiya, who looked on the verge of protest.

"We plan to ride Mokra Mbembe and strike directly at the goblin nest upstream. However, for the Forestfolk, such an act may be seen as a violation of the beast's sanctity, wouldn't you agree?"

"I don't care about that!" Mimiya's voice rose with conviction.

"I know. That's not my primary reason for leaving you here," Nahida said gently. "The truth is, the villagers need you more than I do. I don't want to return only to find the village overrun by fleeing beasts or monsters."

Mokra Mbembe's movements were bound to stir the forest. As a high-level creature, its mere presence would inevitably affect the ecosystem, likely driving lesser creatures toward the village.

With many of the rangers out on patrol, the village's remaining defenses were limited. Though a small guard force remained, it was insufficient to protect the entire settlement.

Thus, leaving Mimiya and the Forest Cavalry behind was a strategic choice to ensure the village's safety.

"But—"

"Trust me," Nahida said, her tone unwavering. "Not only you, but others will remain here as well. I promise to return quickly."

With that, Nahida firmly entrusted the task to Mimiya and descended with her companions.

The sight of the Trailblazers preparing Mokra Mbembe with their vine-crafted saddle soon drew the attention of many Forestfolk.

Gasps of astonishment rippled through the crowd as they realized the party's intentions.

Nahida took her position as the rider, while March 7th, Stelle, and Dan Heng assumed their respective roles as spotter, guard, and vanguard.

The decisiveness of their strategy left many Forestfolk elders uneasy. Even the Forest Chieftain, who had witnessed Nahida's power firsthand, now bore a sheen of sweat on his brow.

"Your Highness, are you certain you don't need to bring additional personnel? The village is protected by the forest's barrier and doesn't require much manpower…"

"There's no need," Nahida replied, her tone tinged with rare seriousness. "An imperfect, swift action is better than a delayed, flawless one. If we wait for others to prepare themselves, it will already be too late."

Her gaze swept toward the Forestfolk, who dared not approach Mokra Mbembe, and she sighed inwardly.

"Very well, everyone. Let us depart and return quickly—"

With those words, Nahida guided Mokra Mbembe toward the Forestfolk's modest port—a jetty of intertwined branches built by otter-like creatures.

The Trailblazers climbed onto the massive beast's back, completing their preparations. When Nahida placed a hand on the creature's scaled flank, urging it forward, a voice suddenly rang out behind them.

"Wait! Wait for me! I'm not on yet!"

It was the elf archer.

Moving with feline agility, she leaped onto Mokra Mbembe's tail and climbed aboard before the beast could fully take off.

Panting, she clapped her hands together in a pleading gesture.

"Your Highness, forgive my boldness! But waiting here for news of your victory—I just can't sit still!"

"However, if you come along…"

"I know I may not be as strong as your other guards," she interrupted, "but in scouting and tracking, you won't find a better hunter than me in this homeland I've known for two thousand years!"

Nahida sighed, glancing back at the shrinking dock. Even if she wanted to send the archer back, it was too late now.

"I just hope your brother doesn't hold this against me when we return," she muttered.

---

Meanwhile, Mimiya remained behind, her steps frozen.

She hadn't joined the chase, not because she couldn't, but because she had found a new excuse to stay.

As much as she regretted not accompanying Her Highness, there were still things she could do here.

Her gaze swept over the forest, now stirred to wakefulness by Mokra Mbembe's movements.

If Her Highness wanted her to guard the village, then clearing the surrounding threats would be her way of contributing. And perhaps, after that, she could still follow—without breaking any rules.

---

It had been half an hour since the team's departure.

Even with the massive beast as their mount, their progress was slower than anticipated.

Nahida had no intention of urging Mokra Mbembe into a gallop. Not only would such haste alarm the surrounding wildlife and monsters—potentially creating trouble for the village—but it could also alert the goblins prematurely.

Additionally, the thick fog hindered their speed.

Yet the fog was a double-edged blessing.

While it reduced their visibility, it also served as a natural camouflage. Riding atop Mokra Mbembe and avoiding sudden movements rendered them virtually undetectable.

Even goblins would only notice the enormous shadow looming through the mist too late to escape.

Beneath the muted sunlight that turned the world into a white shroud, the team crossed the river and reached a goblin outpost undisturbed.

A goblin sentry had been left to monitor the forest river. Its dereliction of duty was obvious—it had been dozing off until startled awake. At first, it screeched in frustration, but as it listened closely, it caught a faint sound mingled with the flow of the river: the heavy steps of a great beast.

The goblin's filthy eyes widened as it leaned toward the river, straining to peer through the fog and listen more intently.

—Perfect.

It assumed that the returning party of goblin riders and their mounts had arrived with spoils in tow.

The goblins never considered that the Forestfolk might tame Mokra Mbembe. Such an idea was unthinkable to them, as they tended to avoid contemplating scenarios that didn't favor them.

Instead, it licked its lips, convinced that the riders must have returned with their bounty.

As the first to greet them, the goblin anticipated a share of the spoils—perhaps even the first pick.

It had already decided:

If they throw me a male Forestfolk, I'll beat him to death before feasting.

If they toss me a female, I'll give her a good thrashing before using her as a broodmare.

After all, as the one to greet the returning heroes, it deserved the lion's share of the spoils.

Oblivious to the fate of its comrades, the goblin let out a shrill whistle, both as a signal and a celebratory call, and approached eagerly.

Other goblins, roused from their slumber by the whistle, grumbled in annoyance before preparing to go back to sleep—until a sweet aroma hit their noses.

It was the scent of Forestfolk cubs, an irresistible delicacy, mingled with the tantalizing smell of women.

Any trace of sleep vanished instantly as the goblins scrambled to their feet.

Forestfolk cubs! Adventurers! Prey! Food! Women!

Excited whispers filled the air as the goblins armed themselves and mounted their rides.

However, their "rides" were far from cherished companions. Unlike humans or Forestfolk, who treated their mounts as partners, goblins used cruel methods to control their grey wolves.

They captured lone wolves or stole pups from dens while the mother was away, forcing them into submission by carving wounds into their sides, driving them forward in pain.

Even when their wolves were foaming at the mouth from exhaustion, the goblins showed no mercy.

The goblin riders gathered along the riverbank, gripping their weapons with drooling anticipation.

The sentry cursed under its breath, dreading the inevitable squabbling for spoils, but returned its focus to the mist, ready to claim the first prize.

The sound of rushing water grew louder, and soon the goblins saw the massive silhouette of Mokra Mbembe emerge.

Their crude weapons posed no threat to the beast. Instead, they had planned to enrage it and direct its destructive force toward the Forestfolk village.

The sight of the beast returning unscathed confused them. Why would their comrade come back unharmed with the beast in tow? Perhaps it was some kind of ancestral miracle—a phenomenon not unheard of in goblin hordes.

Encouraged by this thought, they erupted into cheers.

A stronger comrade meant more food, more broodmares, more destruction!

But before their elation could reach a fever pitch, Mokra Mbembe abruptly reared onto its hind legs and slammed its massive forelimbs down with a thunderous impact.

A torrent of river water surged toward the shore, drenching the goblin riders and soaking their wolves. The wolves shook themselves vigorously, their drenched fur flinging water everywhere, while their goblin riders, disoriented and grumbling, were thrown off their backs.

The chaos left the goblins vulnerable, and they failed to notice the arrow that came streaking through the mist.

Thwack!

"Gah!"

The sentry let out a strangled cry, clutching the arrow embedded in its chest, before being kicked into the river by a figure leaping down from the beast. The goblin disappeared beneath the churning waters with a splash.

That splash marked the beginning of the ambush.

From the sky descended strange frost-crafted shapes, blanketing the riverside in a storm of ice and snow. Within moments, goblin riders and their wolves were encased in ice.

A swift spear-wielder dashed through the chaos like a green gale, his strikes precise and unyielding. His spear shattered frozen enemies with each sweep, fragments of ice scattering in his wake.

Beside him, Stelle, wielding her blade with controlled ferocity, abandoned her rear-guard role to press the attack alongside Dan Heng.

The two cut through the goblins with brutal efficiency, leaving only a few stragglers who, too slow to join the fray, were quickly picked off by arrows that pierced their shrieking forms.

Meanwhile, Nahida stood cradled in March 7th's arms. The two formed a synchronized pair, unleashing a devastating combination of wind and ice.

The goblins who had cheered moments ago now met their demise in a flurry of frost and steel.

---

T/N: released Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds

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