Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [353]

“Hahahahaha…!”

On the bed, a girl clutched a pillow, rolling back and forth as she laughed uncontrollably. She was so lost in her amusement that even tears had begun to form at the corners of her eyes.

Anyone who saw her now would instantly realize that the Silver Wolf from earlier was gone—replaced by someone dressed similarly but with a completely different face and figure.

Theoretically speaking, Sparkle was a dedicated actress. She would never act out of character while playing a role.

However…

There was no one else here.

Not even the palace maids—she had refused any attendants when Chen Lin offered to arrange them.

Now that she had retreated backstage, her time off the stage had begun. Professionalism? That didn’t apply here.

“That frustrated yet helpless expression was priceless! I wonder what they’ll try next?” Sparkle giggled, clutching her soft pillow like a treasured prize. “Expose me? Or use some other trick to force me into revealing myself? Hehe~”

But no matter what they did, it wouldn’t matter.

The play had just begun—and she had already donned the costume and stepped onto the stage first.

Sparkle and Silver Wolf had never met before.

The most she had known about Silver Wolf was her reputation and achievements—a legendary hacker, feared across the cosmos.

A radiant star, shining brighter than most.

By all accounts, a protagonist in her own right.

…But not in this story.

In this play, Silver Wolf was just another supporting character.

“Guess being too famous isn’t always a good thing~” Sparkle murmured, a smug smile tugging at her lips.

If Silver Wolf hadn’t been so well-known, or if she and Chen Lin had never crossed paths, Sparkle wouldn’t have set her sights on her.

But they had met.

And that made her the perfect target.

Under the guise of a mysterious Aether cartridge black market dealer, Sparkle had successfully toyed with one of the most feared hackers in the galaxy—pulling off a grand switcheroo right under her nose.

It had all been for fun.

From the moment she began this act, Sparkle knew it wouldn’t be a flawless performance.

Hell, she hadn’t even done proper research beforehand…

“But whatever~”

Tapping a finger against her lips, Sparkle chuckled to herself.

“Let’s see how long it takes for our dear Governor to spot the cracks~”

From the moment she arrived in Belobog, it was clear that Chen Lin maintained only a controlled level of trust in her.

Not an excessive amount, but still surprisingly high, considering how little he had actually interacted with the real Silver Wolf.

After all, their relationship had been mostly online.

And everyone knew—people online and people in real life were often very different.

Sparkle had done her best to preserve Silver Wolf’s pride and arrogance, carefully embodying the traits expected of a gamer-type hacker.

One minute on stage required ten years of practice.

Though in her case, it wasn’t quite ten years…

But she had spent a long, long time practicing video games just to perfect this act.

Honestly, if anyone saw how diligently she had trained, they’d never believe she was actually a Masked Fool who just wanted to have fun.

Her laughter slowly faded.

At first, she had expected this so-called "idol-like governor" to be entertaining.

But…

“Maybe I got my hopes up too high. He’s just like any other politician.”

Sparkle let out a sigh.

“Did Sampo oversell him when he introduced me? The guy acts so cautious—he even assigned someone he doesn’t trust to be his personal bodyguard.”

“…Should I turn things up a notch?”

She absentmindedly ran her fingers through the soft fur of her pillow, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

So far, her performance had been amusing.

But it wasn’t enough.

If things continued at this slow pace, who knew how long it would take before other civilizations started daring to challenge the Empire?

The Empire’s military power was too overwhelming.

The Ever-Flame Mansion had once considered making a move against them.

The clowns of the galaxy—hungry for fame—saw the Empire as the perfect stepping stone to elevate themselves.

And then…

Rilusia’s destruction had utterly shattered their ambitions.

The cowards had all gone silent, pretending to be ostriches, sticking their heads in the sand.

They were so good at it, too—playing dead like a bunch of seasoned professionals.

“Courage, huh… That’s hard to come by.”

What to do?

She was already on this stage.

Might as well make the performance grander.

Let the play become even more thrilling.

Sparkle’s gaze drifted toward the illuminated courtyard outside, where palace maids bustled about.

Her mind was already turning.

How could she direct those hostile gazes back toward the Empire?

The military, perhaps?

The military’s role in all this was, in truth, fairly limited.

They weren’t the key to solving this puzzle.

No fleet—no matter how powerful—could single-handedly hold back the endless tides of war sweeping across the cosmos.

So then…

What were they really afraid of?

Sparkle fell into deep thought.

Then, suddenly, her eyes lit up.

“Of course! He’s the key!”

Who was it that rescued Jarilo-VI from its frozen wasteland, restoring it to prosperity?

—That adorable little Governor!

Who was it that slapped the entire space community across the face with a secret Imperial superweapon during the war against Rilusia?

—That adorable little Governor!

She had been around Chen Lin for quite some time now, but not once had she ever seen him take the initiative to contact the "Empire."

More importantly—no one else had the authority or the means to do so, either.

So that meant…

What would happen if that adorable little Governor suddenly went "missing"?

Given his unrivaled influence in the Jarilo Sector, chaos would erupt.

If bad news from the front lines were to spread at the same time…

Would those little kittens finally grow the courage to start probing again?

After all, Sparkle had never personally seen the Empire.

Neither had anyone else.

Without the steady stream of resources, technology, and manpower pouring in, plenty of people would begin doubting its very existence—testing Jarilo’s limits over and over again.

And Jarilo wouldn’t sit idly by.

Once that happened…

A spectacular firework display would explode across the stars!

…And then?

Well, there wouldn’t be an "after" at all.

“Haaah… This kind of scripted drama is fine as an appetizer, but if it’s meant to be the main course, it’s far too dull.”

Sparkle pouted as she leaned against the window, twirling a loose strand of hair around her finger.

Then, without warning, she sprang to her feet, not even bothering to change her face before leaving the room.

She had just come up with an excellent idea—one that she had to set in motion immediately~

...

Strangely enough, as she skipped through the corridors, the passing maids all walked right past her as if she didn’t exist—completely unaware of her presence.

Psionic abilities were mysterious and powerful, but even mental energy had its limits.

Failing to notice something as commonplace as a passing breeze was perfectly normal.

Sparkle had worn this face long enough.

It was useful for fooling people during the day, but nighttime was her personal freedom.

As she neared the palace chambers, she deliberately veered off course, keeping her distance.

The adorable little Governor may have seemed like nothing more than an ordinary psionic, but considering the Empire's unknown technological capabilities, she wasn’t about to take any unnecessary risks.

She couldn’t afford to be exposed—not yet.

Not when she had just finished setting the stage for her grand performance.

A one-in-a-million chance was still a chance.

She still had props to prepare, things she had to craft herself.

After all, a play built solely on character performances would always be riddled with flaws and imperfections.

Standing in the shadows of a darkened corner, Sparkle gazed at the brilliantly illuminated palace in the distance.

She lingered there for a long time.

Then, she smiled.

Humming softly, she skipped out of the inner courtyard.

"My dear, I just know you're going to love the gift I’ve prepared for you.

"Of course, even if you don't—

"That’s fine, too~

"As long as I like it, that’s all that matters~"

---

In a spacious courtyard, a young woman with a high ponytail held a massive greatsword in her hands.

With each swing, the air trembled, the blade slicing through the darkness with a sharp whoosh.

Sweat trickled down Li Sushang’s forehead, sliding along her temples before dampening the tied ends of her ponytail.

Despite wielding a sword that was as heavy as she was, her footwork remained light and agile.

Her figure blurred like a phantom, weaving in and out of imaginary attacks—as if locked in combat with an unseen enemy.

“Haaah—YAAAH!”

She didn’t know how long she had been at it.

A strange sense of disconnection settled over Li Sushang, something that words alone couldn't quite describe.

It was an odd, creeping feeling, disrupting the rapid calculations running through her mind.

Before she could fully process it—

Thud!

She lost her balance and hit the ground again.

"…How the hell does Master manage to do all those mental calculations and swing a sword at the same time?!"

Her complaints didn’t slow her down, though. She scrambled back to her feet, immediately resuming practice.

This time, she slowed her swings, hoping to let the formulas in her head catch up with the movement of her hands.

Hand-eye coordination was a fundamental skill for any Xianzhou swordfighter.

Sure, the academy instructors often joked about calling her Big Pillow Li, and she herself used the nickname to casually break the ice with others—

But that didn’t mean she was completely hopeless.

Her neglect of academic studies had only been the result of being forced to focus on martial arts instead.

The swordsmanship and cultivation techniques her mother had passed down to her had always seemed far too simple.

So simple, in fact, that as a child, she refused to believe that the techniques her mother used in battle came from the same school of swordsmanship she had been taught.

But—

It’s all about accumulation… accumulation!

Everything boiled down to tempering oneself over time.

That was the path she had chosen.

Wherever she went, she continued practicing her mother’s unassuming, no-frills sword techniques.

Her footwork was straightforward, her movements direct.

A few days ago, she had asked her Master, Chen Lin, a question when he came to check on her training.

Why didn’t he teach her any actual sword techniques?

Why did he insist on having her start with mental cultivation instead?

Shouldn’t those two things complement each other?

Her answer had come in the form of a thorough beating.

Master had fought her barehanded—his movements vanishing and reappearing like a phantom, leaving her unable to track his steps.

Even in the moment when his hand gripped the back of her neck, there was no overwhelming pressure, no bloodthirsty aura—

Yet, in that instant, she had already lost.

Had that been a real battlefield, she would have been killed instantly.

‘Psyche is like a mirror—both misleading and illuminating.’

That was the cryptic line her Master had muttered before beating her down again.

And afterward, he had given her a proper explanation.

Psionics weren’t meant to "directly" enhance her swordsmanship.

Rather, they served as a means of awakening the mind and soul, allowing her to comprehend what had previously eluded her.

That was why "Theoretical Psionics" was the foundation—the core mental discipline she needed to master.

Even she had to admit—

Ever since she started studying psionic theory, her senses had sharpened immensely.

Her mind felt clearer, her five senses heightened.

Sometimes, when lying on her futon at night with her eyes closed, she could feel an unknown energy flowing within her mind—

Faint glimpses of mysterious fog, swirling in the darkness beyond her grasp.

Tonight, she had been unable to sleep.

Today was the day Master would be coming to evaluate her progress again.

The lack of visible improvement had weighed heavily on her, making it impossible to rest.

So—

She had simply grabbed her sword and started training in the courtyard.

By the time she snapped out of it, the first light of dawn was already peeking over the horizon.

Her body felt light, not the least bit fatigued.

And before she even realized it—

The blade of the Xuanyuan Sword in her hands had become coated in a thin layer of psionic energy.

With every swing, the misty aura trailed behind the blade—

Becoming more defined with each stroke, illuminated by the soft morning light.

Her focus deepened, movements growing smoother and more instinctive.

Her swordplay felt effortless, her technique more natural than ever before—

Then—

Thud!

"Ack—!"

The Xuanyuan Sword slipped from her hands, sent flying—

Only to be caught mid-air by an unseen force, redirected smoothly into its scabbard on a nearby stone table.

Li Sushang, sprawled on the ground, stared blankly at the foot that had just tripped her.

A very familiar foot.

Her mind instantly flashed to a certain figure.

She let out an awkward, forced laugh.

“H-Haha… M-Master…!”

She scrambled to her feet immediately, completely ignoring her sweat-soaked, dirt-streaked clothes.

Like a well-behaved student, she lowered her head, standing at attention.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted someone standing at the courtyard entrance—

Pela, calmly holding a book, observing in silence.

Oh no.

She had been so absorbed in training that she hadn’t noticed them arrive.

That was bad.

Master was definitely going to scold her for that…

Chen Lin's voice came calm and steady.

“…What were you doing?”

“Practicing my swordsmanship—c-combining it with the psionic techniques you taught me!”

“I’m not blind.”

His tone remained neutral.

“I asked—where were your eyes while you were practicing?”

“On my opponent—right in front of me!”

She answered instantly, her voice strong and unwavering.

At the very least, she had the presence of a Cloud Knight—sharp, decisive, and resolute.

Chen Lin: “……Pela.”

“Understood, sir.”

Pela walked over and handed Li Sushang a recording device.

The footage lasted just over a minute.

In the video—

Master openly walked into her field of vision.

He paused, thought for a moment, then deliberately stuck his foot out in a specific spot…

And waited.

Thirty seconds later, she tripped over it herself.

After returning the device to Chen Lin, Pela excused herself—she had other matters to attend to.

Besides, she already knew that Chen Lin had something to discuss with Li Sushang today.

There would be no psionic theory lessons for the next few days.

“Ah… uh…”

Li Sushang’s expression froze.

She had made a grave mistake—one that was inexcusable for a warrior.

Cold sweat dripped down her back.

Her face went pale, but she accepted her fate with remarkable composure.

“…I apologize, Master.”

She took a deep breath and stood firm.

“Please beat me up!”

If she made a mistake, she owned up to it.

If she was wrong, she corrected herself.

And if she deserved to be punished—

She would stand at attention and take the hit.

After all, she was sturdy enough to withstand a beating without dying…

Except—

The expected blows never came.

Master didn’t hit her.

Come to think of it—

Had he ever actually hit her before?

Most of the times she got beaten, it had been during sparring.

“…You know your mistake. That’s enough.”

Chen Lin’s voice remained calm.

“I came here today to take you on a trip. There’s something we need to take care of.”

“…A trip?”

Li Sushang, stunned by her unexpected survival, perked up excitedly—

Then, noticing something, she squinted.

“Wait a minute… Master, have you not been sleeping well lately? You’ve got dark circles under your eyes!”

Chen Lin: “……”

---

T/N: poor sparklerino

This is a fan translation of 在星穹铁道点群星科技树真的没问题吗? by 杏雨诗韵 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!