Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [99]

Chen Lin wasn’t particularly surprised by the sudden confession. Sure, hearing Seele say those words out loud did make his heart race a little faster, but it was still within his control.

He’d always known he wasn’t bad-looking. Back in college, he and his roommates would often get approached for phone numbers or even followed by admirers. Now, after his body had been enhanced and refined, any imperfections were smoothed out, and his best features were accentuated. Add to that the quiet confidence of his demeanor, and he could easily see why people might find him appealing—if he weren’t so busy, he’d probably spend every morning admiring himself in the mirror.

Seele, still young and in the prime of her life, brimming with energy, taking an interest in someone like him? Not surprising at all.

Her straightforward approach was even more expected. Seele was the type to speak and act without reservation. Marching up to confess her feelings head-on fit her personality perfectly. If she’d come to him all shy and hesitant, Chen Lin might’ve worried she was planning something dangerous—like punching him into the dirt.

“Alright,” he said with a decisive nod. “I get it. I accept.”

“…”

Seele was stunned by his quick and casual response. It didn’t match the countless scenarios she’d imagined on her way over. After a few moments of silence, she managed a barely audible “Oh.”

“And then?” she asked hesitantly.

“What do you mean, ‘and then’?” Chen Lin raised an eyebrow, already guessing what she was thinking. “I said I accept, but I still have to leave.”

The vast universe loomed large in Chen Lin’s mind. His ultimate goal remained unchanged—finding a way back home. No matter how many places he traveled to, none of them would ever truly be his. He had people he cared about waiting for him on Earth.

As long as he was alive, he’d keep looking for a way back. His parents had raised him for over 20 years, and he’d barely started giving back. The bonuses from his work projects were still unspent, sitting in an account he hadn’t had the chance to send home. His father, strict and traditional, hadn’t even had the chance to praise him before fate whisked him away to the far reaches of space.

If he just disappeared forever, how devastated would his family be? His friends, too—how could they play DOTA without him? They’d be perpetually one short for ladder matches.

Without me, they’ll never get anywhere in-game.

“Ah…” Seele let out a long sigh, her expression turning sour. “So you’re just pitying me?”

“Not at all,” Chen Lin denied immediately. “If I said yes, then I meant it. There’s no pity involved.”

“But if you’re leaving, then what’s the point of agreeing to this?”

“Huh?” Chen Lin blinked. “Didn’t I mention that I’ll be coming back?”

“No, you didn’t.”

The train’s ability to traverse the stars, granted by the Aeon of Trailblazing, allowed its passengers to return to any place they’d previously visited. Though Chen Lin hadn’t tried it yet, March 7th had assured him that no matter the distance, reaching a familiar anchor point was as simple as a thought.

If Jarilo-VI hadn’t been disrupted by the Stellaron’s interference, he could’ve demonstrated interstellar travel by hopping to Herta Space Station and back in seconds.

“Oh, right…”

Chen Lin explained the situation to Seele as simply as possible, avoiding complex theories and technical jargon to make sure she understood.

Jarilo-VI was, after all, his planet. As its de facto leader, he couldn’t just abandon it. He had plans to funnel resources into the region, borrow scientists from Asta for technological development, and construct planetary infrastructure. Beyond that, he intended to address any planetary hazards and explore potential colonies.

His to-do list was endless. Eventually, he even hoped to expand outward, establishing new colonies and extracting resources from space.

Space mining might seem profitable, but the reality’s different. Income is calculated daily, while fleet upkeep costs pile up just as quickly. Without a well-managed planet, I might even run a deficit.

There was good news, though: the cost of building ships was comparable to the game’s mechanics. Adding weapons, armor, and energy systems would be the priciest part, but manageable with the right resources.

Once he stabilized his resource flow, mass-producing ships and assembling a fleet large enough to block out the stars wouldn’t just be a dream—it’d be a reality.

After his explanation, Seele finally asked, “So even if you leave, you can come back anytime?”

“Exactly.”

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “You’re not lying to me again, are you?”

“I swear, when have I ever lied to you?”

Seele didn’t answer immediately. She just kept staring at him, as if gauging his sincerity.

“Alright,” she said finally. “I believe you… for now.”

Chen Lin chuckled, relieved.

At least I dodged that punch.

“Oh, that’s true…” Seele nodded in realization, but then her expression shifted as she recalled, “Wait! Last time, you slapped my thigh and then tried to weasel out of it!”

Chen Lin quickly defended himself. “That was because there was a bug crawling on your leg! You didn’t notice it, so I got rid of it for you.”

Realizing this argument wasn’t going anywhere, Chen Lin decided to steer the conversation in another direction. Seele had been much easier to fool when they first met—naïve and straightforward. Now, though, she had grown sharper, and he could tell she wasn’t going to let things slide as easily.

Adopting a serious expression, he fixed his gaze on the girl in front of him.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Seele asked, feeling slightly uneasy as she took a half-step back.

“Let’s get something straight,” Chen Lin said solemnly. “I accepted your confession, yes—but only halfway.”

“What? What does that even mean?” Seele looked confused, her earlier confidence starting to waver.

Chen Lin raised a finger. “You’re on probation. Not fully approved yet.

“During this period, I’ll treat you the same as always, and you’ll treat me the same. In other words, this is a trial period for both of us. Once you pass, my acceptance will fully take effect. I take relationships seriously—this is as much for your sake as it is for mine. Do you understand?”

“So… what do I have to do?”

Seele frowned as she thought it over. What Chen Lin said seemed reasonable. Taking emotions seriously wasn’t a bad thing.

In her 20 years, Seele had seen many relationships come together and fall apart. A trial period like this felt like a chance for both parties to adjust and ensure they were compatible—avoiding conflicts that might arise from mismatched expectations later on.

In simpler terms, it made sure neither side wasted the other’s time.

“First,” Chen Lin began, “you need to start studying military theory. I plan to help develop a proper national defense force for Belobog and establish a new military academy here. It will recruit anyone with the talent to study and train. Your first task is to learn the theory and aim for top grades.”

“Studying…” Seele bit her lip. She hated books, but if Chen Lin said it was important, she’d do it. “Fine! I’ll do it!”

Chen Lin raised a second finger. “I intend to support Belobog’s return to space exploration. While its army is relatively well-structured, the lack of an air force is a glaring weakness. I’d like you to focus on that—although you can stick with the army if you prefer. Either way, you’ll need to rise through the ranks and become an officer. The higher your rank, the better.”

Studying? Fine. Becoming an officer? Seele reasoned. Well, if I’ve already agreed to the books, how hard could this be?

“No problem!”

“And the third, most important point…” Chen Lin raised a third finger.

Seele leaned in, holding her breath.

“From now on, you’ll have to listen to me—and in a few days, accompany me to the Overworld.”

“Alright, I—wait, what?!” Seele caught herself mid-sentence. “Why are we going there? Is it really necessary?”

“We’re going to help the military there stage a rebellion, lift the blockade on the Underworld, and restore communication between the two zones. Now, tell me—does that sound important or not?”

“…Yeah, that’s definitely important.”

If Belobog remained divided, Seele knew that no matter how hard she worked, she’d always be just another resident of the Underworld, unable to step foot in the Overworld freely. Belobog would remain fractured, preventing any united progress.

How could you have an air force when you can’t even see the sky? she thought wryly.

“Well, technically, fleets like that should probably be called a navy,” Chen Lin added, “since they traverse the stars like a sea.”

He sighed and shook his head. “I know my requests are a lot. But, Seele, you understand that I’m not from here. My home is far away, and I’ve told you plenty of stories about it.”

“Yeah… I want to see it someday.”

“Then I hope you’ll aim high, build a strong position for yourself, and ensure no one can question your standing. That way, you’ll be better prepared to face what lies there.”

Seele remained silent, but her heart swelled with emotion.

Of course! Brother Lin is so amazing, so capable. He’s achieved so much at such a young age—how could I ever let him down?

She recalled something about a research ship—yes, that was what he worked on. With his impressive companions following his every command without hesitation, it was clear he held significant authority.

Someone this accomplished is destined for greatness. As his lifelong partner, I can’t afford to drag him down. His friends, family, and colleagues wouldn’t accept a relationship that holds him back.

No, she realized. He’s not trying to make things difficult—he’s giving me a chance to grow, to broaden my horizons, so I can face anything that comes my way.

If she rose to prominence herself, wouldn’t that make them a perfect match?

“This will cost you time and effort,” Chen Lin warned. “You’ll have to do things you don’t enjoy, and there’s a chance you might not even see the results. It’s okay if you don’t want to do this—I can use my abilities to make us forget this conversation ever happened. That way, you won’t have to feel any regret.”

“No!” Seele’s voice was firm, her resolve unshakable. “I’ll do it. I can do it. I promise!”

Chen Lin’s smile widened.

“Good. A little trial like this is nothing, right? I’ll never back down!” Seele’s fighting spirit flared as she stood tall, her usual confident aura stronger than ever.

“Before I met you,” she began, “I felt so lost. Every day, I’d wake up, patrol the streets, fight Fragmentum monsters, break up fights in town by beating both sides senseless, and then collapse from exhaustion."

“I didn’t know what my future looked like—or how long the Underworld would stay like this. No hope, no path forward. Just the same dull, grueling days.”

Chen Lin stood quietly, listening with patience.

“Sometimes I’d lie in bed and wonder if I’d just get killed by a Fragmentum monster one day—or maybe starve if the Underworld faced another famine. Every now and then, I’d hear about someone from another squad who died. There was only the present—no future.”

Seele’s voice softened. “Then I met you. At first, I thought you were just more Overworld scum. But then I realized you’d been slandered and wronged by that tyrant too. And now… now the Underworld is thriving because of you."

“You’ve done so much, even if…” She faltered, her face heating up. “Even if you did kick me into the dirt that first day!”

Chen Lin winced at the memory, his expression awkward.

“Ahem, that was an emergency situation,” Chen Lin replied awkwardly.

“That was the first time you saved me!” Seele interrupted, her voice rising. “I saw the power of that beam—if it had hit me, there’d be nothing left. I’d have been blasted into thousands of pieces!”

She took a breath, her tone softening. “That’s when I decided I owed you my life. But then you went and saved me several more times… like in the mine. And then… I don’t know when it started, but even when I was asleep, I couldn’t feel at ease if you weren’t around. I’d always be hoping for the morning to come quickly so I could find you again. Even though you’re just some shameless jerk who keeps sneaking looks at my thighs!”

Chen Lin’s eyes widened in surprise. This girl had a sharp memory, recalling every detail with precision—down to the most embarrassing ones. For someone who’d never been trained to memorize poetry or essays, this kind of recall meant she’d truly etched those moments into her mind.

Including the part where he’d been caught sneaking glances.

“Anyway,” Seele declared, her voice firm, “I accept all your conditions! I’ve never been afraid of a challenge!”

Taking a deep breath, she pointed a finger straight at Chen Lin’s nose. “Just you wait! When I’ve done everything, I’ll come back and marry you!”

“…What?”

Bang!

Before Chen Lin could process her words, the door slammed shut. Outside, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway—Seele was already gone.

Marry me? Did she get her lines mixed up somewhere?

Scratching his head, Chen Lin returned to his bed and thought about what had just happened. As he replayed the scene in his mind, he couldn’t help but chuckle. Despite Seele’s parting words being a bit extreme, he felt surprisingly at ease.

His instincts told him that Seele had real potential in military leadership. With proper training, she could very well become a fleet admiral in the future—a role that would serve them both well.

Having spent so much time at his side, Seele had already earned his trust. He couldn’t forget the countless times in strategy games when planetary governors or key leaders had betrayed him, stirring up civil wars or resistance movements.

This wasn’t a game—reality was far more unforgiving. Key positions had to be filled by trustworthy individuals. There was no room for mistakes like putting random people in charge, only to face the absurd situation of fighting enemies on the front lines while dealing with uprisings at home.

Chen Lin had been worried about how to convince Seele to take her studies seriously. But now, it seemed he wouldn’t have to.

And to think, he mused, all I did was talk for a bit. I didn’t lose anything—not my money, not my resources—and she’s already willing to work for me.

The joy of getting things for free is truly unmatched!

As for what to do if Seele really accomplished everything she set out to…

Well, I’ll leave that decision to my future self.

For now, I’ve got nothing to lose.

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T/N: so cuteee! I hope they do end up together and while he is using her feelings to benefit him, who knows what will happen in the future since he is set on finding a way home so romance is DEF not something on his to do list maybe itll be a slowburn on his side ooooooh

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!