Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [98]

Night fell quietly, though the Underworld, shrouded beneath layers of dirt and stone, offered no view of the night sky.

For most residents, the only way to tell day from night was by checking the clocks in their homes.

Boulder Town, however, gleamed brighter than ever. Street food vendors began setting up their stalls, and the bustling sounds of hawking and banter filled the air. Workers who had toiled all day gathered in groups, enjoying alcohol brewed from the town’s abundant grain harvest.

The news of a bumper crop at the hydroponic farms had spread across the Underworld. In just a month, the harvest had exceeded the monthly grain supply the Underworld had previously exchanged with the Overworld—nearly a hundredfold!

And these weren’t just seasonal boons—such harvests could now happen every month. The Underworld’s existing granaries couldn’t store all the grain, so with Wildfire’s encouragement, a brewing industry had emerged. Cheap grain alcohol significantly eased the workers’ stress, transforming what was once a rare luxury into an affordable daily indulgence.

Of course, underage drinking was strictly prohibited. With Chen Lin’s help, Wildfire had implemented new regulations, enforcing penalties for violations. Most residents, enjoying their improved quality of life, had no desire to risk fines or lost wages by causing trouble. Even conflicts between families were quickly mediated by Wildfire unless they involved irreconcilable grievances.

Seele wandered absentmindedly through the lively crowd. Boulder Town had grown increasingly crowded recently. During a meeting earlier that afternoon, the group discussed merging the remaining nearby settlements into one large town, consolidating the population and making Boulder Town the Underworld’s largest hub. It was an ambitious vision, but everyone believed that as long as he was around, it would undoubtedly succeed.

Before long, Seele arrived at the clinic.

Since living conditions had improved, the number of patients seeking treatment had drastically declined.

As she reached the entrance, Natasha, who was mixing medicine behind the counter, spotted Seele standing alone outside. Surprised, she called out, “Seele? What brings you here?”

“I wanted to ask you something,” Seele replied, stepping inside.

Natasha shooed the children playing in the clinic outside, then grabbed a stool and gestured for Seele to sit. “Where’s Chen Lin? Didn’t he come with you?”

“He’s inspecting the factories. I asked for some time off, and he said it was fine.”

Natasha nodded. Seeing the two of them together daily for over a month, she almost forgot that she was the one who had originally assigned Seele to protect Chen Lin as part of her duties with Wildfire.

Smiling, Natasha asked, “Is it urgent? If not, I can make us something to eat. It’s not quite your dinnertime yet, is it? Want some?”

“Make me a portion too!”

Hearing this, Natasha figured it wasn’t anything pressing and headed to the kitchen upstairs.

While waiting, Seele sat idly in the clinic, watching the street outside. The enticing aroma of meat soup wafted through the air, and she turned to see Natasha returning with two bowls of noodles. Each bowl was topped with two golden fried eggs.

This was the kind of dish Seele could never make herself. She lacked any culinary talent, and her cooking barely managed to be edible. She didn’t care much, though—she usually ate dinner at the clinic unless she was too busy, in which case she’d cook something simple at her place to tide herself over.

The noodles shimmered with a light sheen of oil, and the milky white broth was so inviting that Seele immediately dug in, taking several big bites.

“Slow down, slow down! It’s fresh from the pot—you’ll burn your mouth,” Natasha warned.

Slurp! Seele inhaled another mouthful of noodles and sighed contentedly. “It’s been ages since I had your cooking, Natasha.”

“Well, I did ask you to keep an eye on Chen Lin. But don’t worry, once things settle down, you can come by anytime. With fewer patients these days, I’ve got a lot more free time,” Natasha said, affectionately patting Seele’s head.

Watching Seele happily devour her meal, Natasha felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Good food always feels worth it when someone appreciates it.

“Just grab some leftover bones from the market for broth, add your favorite seasonings, and adjust the heat carefully. After a few minutes, it’s ready. Honestly, Oleg’s cooking isn’t bad either—how did he raise you for years without teaching you any of it?”

“You can do that?” Seele was genuinely amazed.

Natasha chuckled. “I taught you when you were younger, didn’t I? You’ve probably forgotten. But you’re still young—you can always relearn.”

“I…” Seele hesitated before retorting, “Oleg taught me how to grill meat! He explained it in great detail.”

“And yet you burned it that one time.”

“It was still edible!”

“But how often have you grilled anything since?”

“Uh… Ugh, forget it! I’m eating!”

Seeing Seele pout, Natasha smiled and let the conversation drop.

Having spent over a decade with her, Natasha knew Seele’s personality inside and out. Recently, Natasha had been preoccupied with assisting the chemical plants and hadn’t had a proper conversation with Seele in over a week. Most of their interactions were limited to brief nods from a distance.

Seele stirred her noodles absentmindedly. For some reason, she found herself comparing Natasha’s cooking to the meals she’d had at food stalls or restaurants. Those meals, no matter how good, often felt greasy after a few bites. In contrast, even a simple bowl of Natasha’s noodles left her deeply satisfied.

Maybe I’m just naturally bad at appreciating food… Seele chuckled at the thought, sipping two large gulps of broth and feeling her entire body relax.

“Huh?” Seele glanced up. “Natasha, why haven’t you finished eating yet?”

Natasha’s bowl was still half-full, and even the fried egg, which she could usually devour in one bite, had only a small piece missing.

“Life’s better with a little color. Savor it, and you’ll find more joy in the little things,” Natasha said with a smile. “You should try it too, Seele. With patrols being much lighter now, eating slowly might give you a better experience—and a better impression on anyone watching.”

“Tch, who cares about that…” Seele began but stopped mid-sentence, suddenly remembering how she often finished her meals far too quickly when eating with Chen Lin. She’d sit idly afterward, waiting while he slowly savored his food.

“So, what did you want to talk about?” Natasha asked.

Seele’s expression darkened slightly. “Brother Lin said that once everything here is resolved, he’s leaving…”

Natasha didn’t respond immediately. She stared at Seele for a long moment, making the girl squirm under her gaze, before finally speaking. “Chen Lin isn’t from here. Leaving was always inevitable. Why does that surprise you?”

“But… But he’s done so much here! And now he’s saying he’ll leave behind all this new technology and data. If he’s not here, who’s going to understand any of it?!” Seele protested loudly.

“That doesn’t conflict with anything,” Natasha said gently. “Chen Lin has already done far more than we could have hoped for. He’s helped us overcome crisis after crisis, rescued so many residents with his companions, and is even willing to leave us new tools and knowledge. That’s not just fulfilling expectations—it’s a dream come true.”

She shook her head and continued, “Staying here to help isn’t his responsibility—it’s kindness. Knowing that, I sometimes feel uneasy at night, wondering what drives him to give so much. But I know he has no ulterior motives. His generosity and selflessness go beyond human limits. Even suspecting his intentions would feel shameful.”

Looking up, Natasha added, “Half a month ago, Chen Lin gave me a book called Fables to read to the children. I’ve finished it—it’s an excellent teaching tool for kids and even has valuable lessons for adults. One story in particular, about ‘a measure of gratitude turning into a bucket of resentment,’ stuck with me. It goes something like this…”

The gentle cadence of Natasha’s voice filled the clinic as she told the fable, while Seele sat on the stool, lost in thought.

After a while, Seele frowned. “I don’t understand. Why would they act like that? They owed their lives to the person who helped them—how could they do something so unreasonable?”

“You see, even you know it’s not right,” Natasha replied with a smile.

“But…” Seele opened her mouth several times, but she couldn’t argue against Natasha’s point.

Chen Lin’s repeated acts of selfless assistance to the Underworld were like the family in the story who gave their surplus grain to starving neighbors—a gesture of immense kindness met with resentment.

Seele’s straightforward sense of morality couldn’t comprehend such behavior. To her, wrongs should be apologized for, help should be met with gratitude, and mutual aid was the only way forward.

She couldn’t accept the idea of repaying kindness with hostility. If someone saved her life, she’d risk her own to save theirs in return—without a second thought.

“I had already expected Chen Lin to leave someday,” Natasha continued, “but I still don’t know how to repay everything he’s done. The Underworld owes him countless lives. Figuring out how to return that debt is far beyond my ability.”

“If he leaves… we won’t see him again,” Seele murmured.

“Then tie him up. He can’t beat you,” Natasha suggested with a mischievous grin.

“What’s the point of that?” Seele stared at her, puzzled. “His companions give off an incredibly dangerous vibe. If they all came at me, I wouldn’t stand a chance. And even if I could force him to stay, what good would that do?”

“See? You’ve already thought this through,” Natasha replied, amused. “That’s why you answered so quickly.”

“I was just imagining it… daydreaming isn’t illegal!”

“Alright, alright,” Natasha said, carrying their bowls upstairs. She returned a while later, her hands still damp, having washed the dishes.

“Natasha…”

“Seele,” Natasha interrupted, looking at her seriously. “Do you not want to never see Chen Lin again?”

“I don’t know.” Seele’s response was unusually direct. “It’s just… every time I think about not seeing him anymore, it makes me feel awful.”

Natasha seemed to understand, her expression thoughtful.

“Chen Lin is incredibly capable,” Natasha began. “As far as I know, no one in history has ever lifted the Underworld from such dire straits and brought it to life the way he has. His personality might be odd at times, but he’s overwhelmingly likable—spending time with him feels comforting and enjoyable. His interests are so unique they’re beyond my comprehension."

“But I have to tell you, Seele, someone this extraordinary will always be in high demand. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I get it. So what?” Seele asked, confused.

“What I mean is that you’re not the only one who doesn’t want to lose him. There are countless others who can offer him more help than you can, who can easily keep up with his pace. Out there, in the vast universe I’ve only read about in books, there are surely people who can provide him with wealth, influence, power, and even protection better than we ever could.” Natasha left it at that.

“…”

She’s right, Seele thought bitterly. What else do I know besides fighting?

When it came to protecting him, any one of his companions could do just as well—probably even better.

She wasn’t particularly smart. Her blunt words and rough demeanor often pushed people away. All she could do was fight, throwing everything she had into it.

“Seele, let me ask you something,” Natasha said softly. “How far are you willing to go for him?”

“I owe him my life several times over. As long as he asks, I’ll do anything—if I don’t know how, I’ll learn.”

“Then follow your heart. Whatever happens, I’ll support you.”

Later, as the night market bustled with activity, Seele left Natasha’s clinic and wandered the streets alone.

The vendors’ cries fell on deaf ears as she moved through the throngs of people, seemingly detached from the lively chaos around her.

---

Meanwhile, Chen Lin was in his hotel room, messaging Bronya to discuss the Overworld’s current situation.

Bronya: “In a few days, supplies and logistics will be ready. Mentor, I can no longer let Mother continue down this path. This is my decision, and I hope for your support!”

After hearing what had happened in the Overworld that day, Bronya was forthright with Chen Lin about her intentions.

Regarding the fleet hovering above Belobog, Chen Lin reassured her, promising to establish contact with them. He even mentioned leveraging a few “important favors” to ensure the fleet’s cooperation with military actions.

Bronya was so touched that her messages became incoherent, filled with expressions of gratitude. For a moment, Chen Lin wondered if he had gone too far with his fabrication. After all, the ships in orbit were already under his command. He could issue orders to their crews without question.

Well, it doesn’t matter. Letting Belobog owe him more favors would make it easier to influence politics later. He envisioned an eventual referendum to decide if Belobog would join his “empire,” demonstrating his respect for their democratic processes.

With the pieces falling into place, Chen Lin typed a reply:

Chen Lin: “I’ll come up in a couple of days. I remember there’s a passage near the border barracks leading to the Underworld. I’ll exit from there.”
Bronya: “We’ll secure the entrances and exits completely. Please don’t worry!”

A few seconds later, another message arrived.

Bronya: “Also, I want to apologize. Because of my weakness, you’ve had to suffer… I’m sorry, Mentor. I’ll find a way to repay you, as long as you’re willing to accept it.”

Chen Lin was about to reply when a knock at the door interrupted him. He put his phone away and went to open it, only to find Seele standing there, her expression stormy.

Before he could speak, Seele pointed at him, her voice sharp.

“Hey!”

Chen Lin froze, half expecting this to be about helping Clara with her medicine earlier. Raising his hands defensively, he prepared to talk his way out of it.

But Seele’s fierce demeanor quickly deflated. Her face twisted with hesitation, and after a few seconds of silence, her voice softened.

“I… I like you!”

“…Huh?”

---

T/N: AYOOOOOOOOOOOO WHAAAT THATS CRAZY THATS WILD WHATT

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!