Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [79]

Seele sat on a makeshift platform, scratching her head in frustration. She’d been trying to articulate her thoughts for what felt like hours, but no matter how hard she tried, the words simply wouldn’t come. Regret crept into her heart—if only she’d spent more time reading and learning back then, she wouldn’t be so tongue-tied now.

It felt like starting a conversation, only to trip over your own words midway through.

Ugh, this is so frustrating!

“There’s nothing special about it,” Chen Lin said casually, breaking the silence. “The disparity in resources between the Upper and Lower Districts leads to completely different perceptions. Wasting food is shameful, sure, but it also shows just how much more prosperous the Upper District is compared to here.”

“Prosperous?” Seele’s tone grew venomous, but before she could unleash another tirade, Chen Lin stood up and interrupted her.

“I’ve only just arrived in the Underworld, and I plan to stay for a while. I figured I’d take a walk, get a feel for the local customs. Consider it part of my research.”

Seele tilted her head. “Aren’t you going to rest? It’s already so late.”

“Not tonight. Besides, after all the strange things that happened today, I doubt I’ll be able to sleep anyway.” She shrugged, then smiled. “If you don’t mind, I can show you around. Someone like you might get scammed if you wander off on your own. The Underworld isn’t like the Upper District—this place is full of people looking to take advantage of others. Plus… you’re not that annoying. Talking to you isn’t so bad.”

“Then I’ll take you up on that offer,” Chen Lin replied with a smile.

“Hey, no need to be so polite!” Seele shot back.

---

The settlement of Boulder Town wasn’t very large—equivalent to a single neighborhood in the Upper District. But if you considered the entirety of the Underworld’s developed zones, it far surpassed the size of the Upper District. Despite the constant encroachment of Fragmentum corruption, the efforts of the resistance group, Wildfire, had kept the spread under control, preventing the Fragmentum from expanding freely as it had aboveground.

Beyond Boulder Town, there were numerous smaller settlements, and even tinier ones that could barely be called villages. Communication between these places was well-maintained by designated messengers, so whenever one area faced danger, others would send help.

Life in the Underworld was harsh. If a family lost their home to an unfortunate disaster, starvation or freezing to death became a very real possibility. Over the past decade of isolation, countless families had been trapped in a vicious cycle of destruction and rebuilding. Those who had once been helped by others often returned the favor when the tables turned, sharing food, materials, or even labor to help rebuild homes.

“I noticed a lot of kids at Natasha’s clinic earlier. Are illnesses common among children down here?” Chen Lin asked as they walked.

Seele nodded. “Yeah, kids do tend to get sick a lot.” Her voice softened as she continued, “But most of the ones you saw in the clinic aren’t actually sick. They’re orphans. Natasha gives them a place to stay, so they don’t have to freeze out on the streets. Food’s a bit scarce, sure, but at least they won’t starve.”

“An orphanage, then?”

“Exactly. Natasha’s always taken in kids who have nowhere else to go.”

Hearing this, Chen Lin was reminded of something. Seele herself was an orphan, raised by Oleg, the current leader of Wildfire. He’d seen Oleg in action before—during a battle, the man’s agility and combat skills had stood out, hinting at some serious training in his past.

“Follow me,” Seele suddenly said, snapping Chen Lin out of his thoughts. “I just remembered something I need to take care of.”

“Alright.”

She led him to a secluded corner of town, where a stone platform held a battered metal barrel. Picking it up, she gestured for him to follow her into a simple dwelling.

“This is where I rest during patrols. Come on in.”

Behind the dwelling was a small, rudimentary well, which looked like it had been dug by hand. It was crude, to say the least.

“Don’t laugh, but I used to be just like those kids—wandering around with no home. I’d dig through trash for food, trade whatever scraps I found for supplies, and beg for water near the welfare station in Rivet Town…” Seele trailed off as she began to hoist the bucket.

Chen Lin stepped forward and grabbed the rope to help her draw water.

“What happened next?” he asked.

“One time, I went to the welfare station for water, but the bucket was nearly empty. I ended up fighting with someone else who wanted a drink. I won, of course, and drank the rest.” Seele’s voice grew quieter, tinged with guilt. “A few days later, I saw that person lying on a cot outside Natasha’s clinic. They looked like they were about to die.”

Chen Lin’s gaze shifted to the bucket in her hands, and the pieces began to fall into place.

“So you built a platform and started leaving clean water for others?”

“Sort of. Oleg helped me with the platform—it’s way too sturdy to be my handiwork. You’ve seen the well I dug. Do you think I’m capable of making something like that?” Seele smirked, gesturing to the crude well behind her.

Chen Lin raised an eyebrow. “Wait, that really is your handiwork? No wonder it looks so… uh, unique.”

“Hey! It works, doesn’t it?!” Seele shot back indignantly. “Water comes out of it, so who cares how it looks?”

“Fair enough, fair enough.”

“Tch. I shouldn’t have told you any of this,” Seele muttered, though her lips curled into a small smile. “Go ahead and laugh.”

“Not a chance,” Chen Lin said with a grin. “I like hearing these stories.”

“Yeah, yeah, keep talking. If I hadn’t gone so long without chatting with anyone, I wouldn’t even be wasting my time with you.”

Her tone was sharp, but the faint upward curve of her lips betrayed her words. If she hadn’t been smiling, Chen Lin might’ve believed she was genuinely annoyed.

Shaking his head, Chen Lin couldn’t help but marvel at this girl. Beneath her tough, prickly exterior lay a kind and selfless heart.

She reminded him of another person—Bronya. When they’d first met, Bronya had been all stern professionalism, carrying the weight of leadership like a badge of honor. But once they’d grown closer, Chen Lin had discovered a deeply empathetic and earnest girl beneath the surface, constantly addressing him as her “dear mentor.” Her unwavering respect often left Chen Lin scrambling to explain to others that he wasn’t some con artist tricking Belobog’s heir.

Bronya’s sharp mind and boundless potential had always impressed him. In another life, before he’d been flung into this strange new world, he might have hoped his own children would grow up to be as remarkable as her.

If only…

Chen Lin’s thoughts grew somber. He didn’t even know if he’d ever find a way back home.

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T/N: i hope he can find a new home :(

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!