Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking [98]
The first night of this expedition had been a rare opportunity for such restful sleep—no sudden explosions, no waking up with the city in an uproar.
It was a truly restful experience, one they hadn't often had, not even in the cabins of the Astral Express, let alone on a foreign world.
Thanks to this, everyone felt as if a gentle breeze had swept away their fatigue. March 7, especially buoyant, hummed a tune from the harp music they'd heard the night before as she greeted Dan Heng and Welt.
"Good morning, Dan Heng, Uncle Yang! How'd you two sleep? I fell asleep the second my head hit the pillow. We should totally get them to make us some new plushies—this place is like the plushy paradise of sleep!"
"Good morning, March. I'd almost forgotten what it's like to wake up feeling refreshed," Welt replied with a rare, relaxed smile. "But maybe don't say that too loudly—some believers here might take it the wrong way."
For Welt, a night free from heavy dreams and burdens was a near-luxury, making the experience all the more cherished.
"It was fine," Dan Heng said, his words short but his slight smile revealing his good spirits.
With everyone gathered, they headed downstairs for breakfast. Pela had informed them the day before that the cathedral served meals and that they could try Belobog's famous red sausage toast and fresh barley ale, delicacies once reserved for the upper class.
Since the end of the Rift eradication campaigns, the freed-up workforce had generated a rise in consumer goods, marking a visible improvement in Belobog's standard of living.
Following the guidance of Father Goethe, the three entered the dining hall, where numerous devotees could be seen offering prayers before their meal, creating a devout atmosphere that left March 7 a bit surprised.
The intensity of this devotion seemed surprising for a figure like Barbatos, who'd been elevated to divine status only recently, despite never having ordered them to worship him.
People spoke fervently about him, wondering why he hadn't reappeared since his grand act of salvation, and whether, weakened, he was perhaps being held under Silvermane Guard's watch.
"...Seems like the people really admire Lord Barbatos," March murmured as they began their meal.
"Well, considering he saved their entire world, it's only natural they'd feel grateful," Dan Heng replied as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
"I think he did more than that," Welt said, adjusting his glasses as he placed a slice of buttery, savory red sausage toast on his plate. "He gave them something they'd never known before—a true taste of freedom."
"To us, saving a world may seem commonplace. But for every planet that's rescued, far more perish. Countless civilizations affected by Stellarons fall into decline, forgotten without help. So when a real savior appears and offers them a future full of hope, it's understandable they would honor him as a god."
"What about you, Uncle Yang? What do you think about… Lord Barbatos?" March 7 caught sight of a few nearby believers and quickly adjusted her tone.
Welt kept his voice low as he replied. "I think he and I would get along quite well. From what I gather, he's someone with a deep, romantic streak. I imagine it'd be easy to become friends with someone like that."
He looked toward March. "But here's not the best place to discuss it. We'll chat more when we're out with Miss Pela."
As the two conversed, Dan Heng had already started on his breakfast. It wasn't quite on par with the meals prepared by Pom-Pom on the Express, but for a city that had endured what Belobog had, it was quite a feast.
The crew weren't picky eaters, and after they'd finished, Pela entered, appearing right on time.
She seemed slightly more anxious than she had been the day before but visibly relaxed upon seeing them.
"Is something the matter, Miss Pela?" Welt asked politely, while March 7 pounded her chest in an eager pledge.
"If you need help with anything, just say the word! I'm your girl!"
Even Dan Heng, usually one to keep his distance, nodded in agreement.
"Thank you. I appreciate the offer." Pela seemed touched by their concern but shook her head. "It's a rather complex situation. I'll explain it in full once we're outside the city."
With a quick change of subject, she added, "You've already had breakfast, I assume? They serve a wonderful red tea here that's perfect for rounding off a meal."
"Indeed. The tea's rich and smooth, quite refreshing," Welt agreed. Even the tea and coffee were a significant step above Himeko's overly creative brews on the Express.
Pela smiled, clearly relieved to have successfully deflected the conversation as they walked out of the cathedral grounds. On leisurely days, she liked to sit here with a book, occasionally accompanied by a certain wandering bard who also enjoyed free tea.
But the reminder of that bard's current whereabouts left her feeling slightly irked.
Sensing an interesting story was afoot, the crew found themselves on familiar ground—the kind of ground where something was about to go terribly wrong. Resisting the urge to press for details, they instead followed Pela, discussing the events of the previous night as they headed to the planned beacon site outside the city.
"Truthfully," Pela began with a sigh, "seeing you here this morning put my mind at ease… but it also suggests the worst."
March 7 gulped, visibly tense. "Are we… involved in some major disaster again?"
"No, no," Pela assured her with a smile. "It's nothing of the sort. You are honored guests of Belobog; the very idea of implicating you without cause would be unthinkable."
She paused, then confessed, "Last night, Lord Barbatos's cocoon of slumber was found shattered… and he has vanished. At first, we suspected your arrival may have drawn him out, but that theory was ruled out this morning."
"Wait—let me get this straight. Cocoon? Attraction? Disappearance?" March blinked in confusion, still trying to piece together the shocking news.
"I guess that explains why everyone was whispering about not seeing Lord Barbatos," Welt exchanged a glance with Dan Heng, their expressions indicating they both suspected something more.
"Indeed. Given the circumstances, we've publicly stated that after his heroic deeds, Lord Barbatos fell into a slumber due to exhaustion and that he's being protected by the Silvermane Guards in Belobog's most secure place."
Pela looked pained as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Though technically accurate, we are now dealing with the reality that he vanished right under the Guards' watch. This will only worsen the people's waning trust in them. Recently, the theft of his sacred relic from the history museum caused a stir, and now that Lord Barbatos has awoken but hasn't reunited with the Supreme Guardian… well, this may incite opposition toward her."
"—In other words, we need to help the Silvermane Guards track down Lord Barbatos?" March 7 asked, accustomed to such search missions.
A wave of deja vu washed over her. Every planet she visited seemed to have a quest like this, but never before had she been asked to search for a god whose absence could shake a nation.
"That won't be necessary," Pela shook her head, much to their surprise. "You're guests of Belobog. Asking you to abandon your own work to shoulder our burdens would be poor hospitality."
Then, relaying Bronya's message, she said, "Earlier, Lady Bronya asked me to ensure Lord Barbatos hadn't appeared to you. She'll ensure you're able to complete your observation mission without interference."
The group fell into contemplative silence, not out of offense but out of a sense of guilt.
They knew what it was like to be in a place where any shred of suspicion was enough to make them fugitives. After all, they'd shown a keen interest in Barbatos—and now he was gone.
But instead of seeing them as possible culprits, the Belobog authorities had been more than fair. They'd allowed them to continue their mission unimpeded…
It was almost enough to throw them off balance.
By the time they reached the designated site, secured the beacon, and ensured it was operational, it was nearly noon. Pela adjusted her glasses and gave a satisfied nod.
"Good. That's all for this morning. Thank you for your cooperation. As we discussed, we'll assist with beacon monitoring and ensure it remains secure until retrieval in two days."
"Oh, it's nothing!" March 7 protested. Being on the receiving end of such kindness without being able to return it left her feeling unsettled.
But pleading with the Silvermane Guards to let her help would make her intentions appear suspect.
Even Welt and Dan Heng exchanged glances, wondering how best to express their gratitude.
Unaware of their conflicted thoughts, Pela gave them a kind smile. "Oh, and don't forget, Lady Bronya has invited you to a luncheon. It's said she even made a few desserts herself—"
"She can cook, too?! Wait… no—oh no, this is too much!" March 7 muttered, scratching her cheek as she tried to hide her embarrassment.
"Isn't there any way we can help the Silvermane Guards? It feels wrong to accept all this goodwill without repaying it somehow."
"Oh, not at all. Lady Bronya has made it clear that the knowledge you've shared has already expanded our understanding of the stars far beyond what we once knew."
"I get it now," March sighed, hands on her hips. "I think I'm finally starting to understand Lord Barbatos. When you're around such lovely people, it's only natural to want to help them."
And as she spoke—
The ground began to shake, and far off in the plains, a towering tree, nearly a hundred meters tall, burst from the earth, sending powerful gales across the land.
Mighty winds surged in waves, forming a radiant beam that stretched up toward the heavens.
In another part of the city, Bronya felt a sudden shift in the wind, as though an invisible hand had plucked a harp string.
Once more, the city's streets echoed with that gentle melody.
"To those who long for freedom, I am Barbatos. Awakened from slumber, I bring to you the Festival of Windblume—"
All eyes turned toward the streets, where blossoms filled the air, blanketing Belobog in a gentle fragrance.
The flowers floated through the city like paint on a canvas, transforming the city's once-stark visage into a fairytale of color and bloom.
The blooms also drifted beyond the city, covering the plains in a lush carpet of wildflowers as small spirits seemed to emerge from within.
"This is a celebration of love and freedom," Barbatos's voice resounded, "A grand festivity! Traverse the green fields, revel among the joyful crowds, savor poems, and witness the Festival of Windblume."
In the streets, some understood, while others looked on in wonder, excitement, or even disbelief.
"And lastly—seek the First Windblume. If you find it, you shall be this year's Windblume Star—and I will grant you a treasure close to my heart."
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