Honkai: Star Rail – Banner Character, Delivering Knives to the Player [50]

“On Dan Heng’s route, at this point you’d first see Clara talking with Svarog.”

“Then, naturally, the Express crew shows up with Seele.”

“And, naturally, a clash of ideals leads straight into a fight.”

“But now, on Lingzhou’s route, this cutscene feels like Clara hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Could it be because Lingzhou dealt with the vagrants blocking the road, saving the time detour would’ve cost?”

---

??? : “Ah—!”

Out of nowhere, a familiar voice cried out, faint with pain.

March 7th: “I think I just heard someone shout?”

Stelle: “I didn’t hear anything.”

March: “Maybe I misheard.”

“Noise from the left-hand upper tunnel. A girl’s voice. I’ll check—wait here a moment.”

Lingzhou confirmed.

---

And at last, Ah Xian saw the scene she loved most.

A short cutscene, showing Lingzhou spreading his wings, surging into the air.

It lasted less than three seconds, but it was more than enough to thrill her.

---

To be wrapped in Lingzhou’s hands and wings must be so warm~~

Who understands this better than family? Those glorious, holy wings step right on my XP spot, giving such a deep sense of safety.

[I don’t get it. Sure, Yifu is reliable, but how does just seeing his wings make you feel safe?]
[It’s Ah Xian’s XP. Filters are natural.]
[Question: normally we don’t see his wings. When he suddenly spreads them, wouldn’t his clothes tear?]
[Or maybe they’re energy wings—like “dou qi transforms into wings” stuff.]
[Impossible. He has an idle animation where he preens his feathers. If they weren’t real, why bother?]

While the stream argued, Ah Xian finally realized whose voice that had been.

The Clara she’d mentioned earlier.

Before she could say it aloud, the screen shifted into a half-static story CG.

---

Lingzhou descended with a small girl cradled in his arms, slowly folding his wings.

Red dress, barefoot, white hair, red eyes.

---

[She’s here, Clara! The pure white-hair red-eyed loli!]
[So she’s from the Underworld.]
[Barefoot… must taste great.]
[Why are there always footfetish bros?]
[Don’t slander, those guys prefer sweaty stocking feet. Barefoot’s too plain.]
[You’re all sounding a bit too degenerate now…]

---

March: “Who is she?”

Lingzhou: “Questions later—she’s hurt.”

---

[Huh?]
[??]

---

The story CG changed again.

Players froze when they saw the scene, for several reasons.

One: Clara’s bare feet were bloodied.

Two: …she was sitting in a chair.

A white plastic chair.

The kind that refreshes infinitely at roadside food stalls.

But for some, that chair was seared into memory like June 15th, 4:04 p.m.

More familiar than birthdays.

The kind of thing you can’t help laughing at.

[No way. The chair!!]
[This game integrates too much.]
[We were about to feel sorry for Clara’s injured feet—and then they throw this chair at us!]

---

Stelle: “Lingzhou, where’d you pull that chair from?”

March: “Obviously his inventory! Is now really the time to care about that?”

Lingzhou held Clara’s ankle, a soft wind rising in his palm.

“Don’t be afraid. The pain will be gone soon.”

The wind wrapped around her little foot, carrying a strange power.

Slowly, the wounds closed.

In a moment, it was as if nothing had happened.

“There. All better. What’s your name, little one? And why no shoes?”

He released her, studying her carefully.

Her expression was still timid, but not as terrified as before.

“Thank you, big brother. I’m Clara. As for shoes…”

Before she could finish, March’s sympathy burst forth.

Her mind instantly filling in what she believed must be the truth.

“There are people down here who don’t even have shoes to wear? How pitiful.”

Clara: “No, sister! Clara just doesn’t like shoes. Easier to trip in them…”

“Uh—” March’s mouth twisted.

She touched the freezing ground.

Wouldn’t bare feet in the cold cause illness?

Lingzhou blinked.

“But without shoes, you’re more likely to be cut by sharp debris like just now.”

“Clara is usually very careful. Today I was just rushing… so I got hurt,” she explained shyly.

Lingzhou: “Is your family in there? The mine is dangerous now, the fighting could reach you.”

Clara: “I…”

She stammered, unsure. Stelle bent forward a little, resting hands on her knees, speaking gently.

“If you don’t want to say, that’s fine. Just stay with us. Big brother and big sisters will protect you.”

“…Thank you, big sister.”

Stelle patted her head with a smile. “You’re welcome.”

Just as players were about to start spamming affection for Clara, the game cut to a sudden cinematic.

“Careful!”

Lingzhou unfurled his right wing, covering the three girls with speed faster than eyes could follow.

The impact of an unknown strike slammed into his feathers, knocking several loose.

The camera followed the drifting feathers upward, then revealed Lingzhou’s face beneath.

For the first time, players saw that expression.

Cold, chilling enough to make the weak shiver.

Clearly, Lingzhou was truly angry.

Following his gaze, several automatons came into view—

Hounds, Spiders, and the Beetle players nicknamed the “Preservation Aeon,” the red-green lightbug.

The hound charged again, clearly the one that had launched the earlier strike.

“…”

Lingzhou’s eyes narrowed.

The still-falling feathers suddenly hardened into blades, shooting into the automaton.

With a single blow, it was reduced to shattered scrap.

He folded his wing, looked back at the girls, and only when he confirmed they were unharmed did he exhale faintly and nod.

The whole time, he hadn’t spoken a word beyond “careful.”

But his actions—and the micro-expressions—were enough to almost overflow Ah Xian’s stainless steel bowl.

---

“Ahhhhhh, hubby, I’d go mad for you!!”

“So reliable, so reliable! Love, love, love!”

“I feel like I just turned into a cream puff!!”

This time, no one in chat mocked her fangirling.

Most agreed. Some even copied her.

[Apologies. I spoke too soon. Yifu’s wings really do radiate pure security.]
[The first thing Lingzhou did was check Stelle. It means he got angry because Stelle was ambushed, not because he lost a few feathers.]
[Question Lingzhou, understand Lingzhou, become Lingzhou. I too am willing to burn out and die for my Lingzhou-husband!]

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This is a fan translation of 崩铁：卡池角色，给玩家发刀 by 三十度幻. 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!