WiseTL

HSR: Getting Chased! [18]

Added 2024-10-21 18:01:00 +0000 UTC

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Sampo's so-called "secret path" wasn’t exactly a "path" in the typical sense. On the contrary, it was more like a... "dog hole."

Standing in front of the conspicuously small hole under the massive wall, Cava shook his head with a mix of disbelief and resignation.

"Everyone, this right here is my secret passage! It took me a long time to carve it out, sneaking past both the Silvermane Guards and avoiding those Rift creatures."

Sampo proudly explained as he led the way by crawling into the "secret path."

"Uh... how about we just try using the main gate?" March 7th suggested, staring at the so-called "secret path" in silence for a moment before looking up at Cava.

This thing doesn't look even remotely trustworthy!

"..."

Cava rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Snap!

"Aaaaahhh!!!"

A loud scream came from the other side of the wall after a crisp snap of Cava’s fingers.

"Seems fine. Let’s just deal with it." Cava shrugged, speaking with a hint of helplessness, but there wasn’t much they could do.

Cava took the lead, crawling through the "secret path" with surprising agility. The others had no choice but to follow.

After dusting off the snow from his clothes, Cava looked around at the empty area behind the wall.

"..."

He picked up a lightning needle from the ground and casually let it dissipate into a crackle of electricity, glancing at the snow-covered tracks in silence.

Sampo had run off. Despite being shocked earlier, the guy had managed to escape in record time. It seemed that mischief-makers like him were truly the most resilient creatures in the universe.

"Huh? Where did that guy go? Did he run off?" March 7th asked in surprise as she crawled out of the "secret path," her clothes now even dirtier than before. She looked like a little beggar, covered in dust and snowflakes.

"Uh..."

Cava shook his head, a sudden image popping into his mind of another person who often said “I” like March 7th, and the association with a beggar...

Better stop thinking about it before I get influenced myself!

"Looks can be deceiving."

Stelle commented, brushing the snow off her clothes.

"So... where are we now?"

March 7th asked, confused, as she grabbed a towel from Cava’s backpack to wipe her dirty face. She glanced at the unfamiliar street they had emerged into.

Dan Heng walked over to a nearby building, peering through a window. It seemed abandoned, and the whole area had a familiar, ominous feeling to it.

"We’re probably in a part of the city that’s been corrupted by the Fragmentum. Look over there."

Dan Heng pointed to a building not far away. Signs of Fragmentum corrosion had overtaken it, with creatures visible moving inside the building.

"It makes sense. If it’s a 'secret path,' it wouldn’t lead to a conspicuous location."

Cava nodded in agreement.

"But... has the Fragmentum’s corruption spread this far in Belobog? Even this last human fortress is being overtaken..."

Dan Heng said somberly. It was becoming clear that this mission would be far from easy.

Cava carefully placed the towel March 7th had handed back into his backpack, his eyes scanning the nearby structures.

The buildings were tall and once luxurious—likely the homes of nobles. A shame, really.

"In any case, let’s focus on getting out of here first."

March 7th suggested, since there wasn’t much else they could do for now.

And so, the trailblazing crew began their adventure through Belobog.

In Reality

Kakaya, looking at the game’s scene of the frozen planet, felt a sense of sorrow. No matter how many times he saw it, this ice-covered world always left him with a deep feeling of regret.

"Hopefully, MiHoyo changed the story this time. The original one was kind of depressing."

Kakaya muttered to himself, clicking through the dialogue boxes as the screen shifted to a snowy landscape.

March 7th, Dan Heng, Cava, and the player’s character appeared on the screen.

[Wow, so the team is finally full!]

[I wonder how the story will change now that my husband is here.]

[Shh, no spoilers!]

[Aww, March 7th is still so adorable!]

[Wait, what? Isn't my character adorable too?]

[Hold on—don’t you think Cava and Dan Heng might be a good match too?]

[Get out of this livestream right now!]

[Exactly! That’s my waifu and my husbando!]

[You get out too!]

[Uh?]

[Man, this fandom is wild.]

Kakaya: "..."

Really? You guys are arguing over this?

Kakaya, watching the chaotic chat unfold in his livestream, couldn’t help but feel exasperated.

Leaving the mess to his moderators, he focused back on his icy adventure.

As expected, Cava’s addition to the team had altered the storyline for Jarilo-VI, but luckily the key moments remained unchanged.

Next up in the plot should be meeting Sampo, but...

Why does this feel different?

Kakaya stared at the screen, now showing Sampo’s head poking out of the snow, and fell deep into thought.

["Standing Out"]

[Wow, the soil on Jarilo-VI must be rich—anything can grow here.]

[Sampo: ‘Great, I’ve become the butt of the joke.’]

[Next time you’re in a tavern, don’t tell anyone you know me.]

[Good karma gets good rewards, bad karma gets bad payback. But with Cava’s black-heartedness, I get to hug him!]

[Huh? Why are you still here? Mods!]

"User: Cava’s Elementary School Builder has been muted."

[Nice!]

"So, you had this trick up your sleeve too, huh?"

Kakaya marveled as he watched Cava smiling menacingly at Sampo, threatening him playfully.

Though Sampo looked pitiful, Kakaya couldn’t help but feel satisfied.

Serves him right for being a prankster. Now he’s met his match—an even more devious person who could probably resurrect him just to knock him down again!

"I didn’t expect the usually gentle Cava to be such a black-hearted person. March 7th is still so cute though!"

Kakaya grinned like a fanboy as he watched the scene play out, with a dirt-covered March 7th pouting adorably.

On the screen, Cava slightly tilted his head and signaled the player’s character with a knowing glance.

It was time for a player choice:

Option 1: What just happened?

Option 2: Comfort March 7th.

Option 3: Cava, I’m hungry.

"What are these options?"

Kakaya was puzzled but instinctively knew that picking the funniest option would probably yield the best content.

So, the player’s character called out to Cava:

"Cava, I’m hungry!"

"..." x3