Star Rail: Embracing the Milky Way

Yarillo Six, Giant City of Beloborg, in the lower levels beneath the surface, the Orphanage of Rivet Town.

"Many years ago, our planet was not like this. There were no endless snows, no terrifying cracks in the world. People could walk freely on the earth, wander through the green forests, and bask in the warmth of the sunlight."

In the orphanage classroom, the young teacher read aloud the contents of a children's picture book with a full and bright tone.

The book, worn and slightly tattered, still held illustrations of the warm yellow sun, the green forests... No matter how many times she had seen them, they still filled her with deep longing.

"Back then, the air people breathed was warm and satisfying... It carried the scent of the earth, the fragrance of grass, a smell that came from the forest..."

At this point, she couldn't help but inhale deeply, trying to imagine the scent.

Unfortunately, in the lower levels, the air was filled with the unpleasant smell of rust.

The orphanage's heating system was aging, and the air they breathed was cold, causing her lungs to ache slightly.

Reports had been submitted long ago for repairs, but there were simply too many things in need of fixing in the lower levels. After all, for the powerful figures above, mining facilities were far more important than an orphanage.

The marrow extracted from the mining fields in the lower levels was a natural heat source. In this snow-covered world, it powered the entire city!

For Beloborg, this marrow was the lifeblood of the city.

Although children were the future of Beloborg, without the present, what could there be to talk about for the future?

The young teacher couldn't help but sigh as she thought about this.

"Teacher, do forests still exist?" asked a timid silver-haired girl.

"Forests... of course," the young teacher said, a hint of melancholy flashing in her eyes. "But now, the forests are trapped in winter."

As soon as she realized her tone, she quickly adjusted and smiled warmly, saying:

"However, winter will eventually pass. Every year during the Spring Festival, we celebrate the coming of spring. One day, we will surely welcome the true spring, and all the seeds will sprout in the warmth."

"Wow!" The children exclaimed in awe.

"Wow ya, wow ya, wow!" A child shouted, though it seemed a little abrupt and half-hearted.

"Chumu!" The young teacher immediately glared at the child.

This was a black-haired, black-eyed boy, around six or seven years old, looking quite different from the other children.

According to the orphanage's director, this child had been found two and a half years ago by the Silvermane Iron Guard outside the city. When they discovered him, he was inside a metallic egg, which is how he survived without freezing to death. However, according to researchers from the upper levels, that was not an egg, but an escape pod from a spaceship. The child was from another world, and no one knew what had happened to his parents, or why they sent him to Yarillo Six.

Yarillo Six was not a good choice for interstellar escape. More than seven hundred years ago, it had become a planet cursed by the cold waves, and most of its surface was a forbidden zone for life.

The only settlement, Beloborg, was both a refuge for humans and a prison for them.

With the resources of this city alone, it would never be possible to build a spaceship and leave the planet.

Human civilization here had been confined to a cradle for centuries!

For this child, a descendant of an advanced interstellar civilization, wasn't this a kind of cruelty?

Perhaps his parents were still alive, but he might never be reunited with them until the day he died on this planet.

The young teacher felt a deep sense of pity as she thought about this.

"Chumu, stay after class."

Upon hearing the teacher's instructions, Chumu's smile froze, then slowly faded away.

The other children all looked at him, their eyes filled with a mischievous gleam, eager to watch the drama unfold.

Only his silver-haired deskmate looked at him with concern.

"Brother Mu," the girl whispered softly.

"My life is over." Chumu's expression immediately turned serious. "Little Bu, the terrible orphanage demon king is finally going to strike! This may be the end for me!"

"Don't say that. The teacher is strict, but if you admit your mistake and show a good attitude, all she'll make you do is copy the orphanage rules," the girl named Little Bu comforted him.

"Copying? What a vicious, malicious attack!" Chumu clutched his heart in pain. "Little Bu, remember to sit at the children's table during the banquet. The adults drink wine, and you won't be able to handle it."

"Brother Mu, look at this." Little Bu handed him a piece of paper, which contained a written set of kindergarten rules.

Chumu glanced at it, puzzled. "I don't remember ever copying something like this."

Little Bu revealed a sweet smile. "Brother Mu, I copied it for you. I mimicked your handwriting, so it won't be exposed."

"Little Bu, do you know what this is? This is corruption of the will of the future builders of the city!" Chumu reprimanded with righteous indignation. "I'm deeply hurt. Really, I treat you like my little sister, and you test me like this! Corruption, pure corruption!"

"Brother Mu, I didn't—!" Little Bu panicked, looking unsure of what to do.

"Hmph, I'll keep this paper as evidence. It will be used for future criticism!" Chumu solemnly folded the paper and put it in his pocket. Little Bu was nearly in tears.

Just then, the teacher's sharp voice came from the front:

"Chumu, Little Bu, what are you two whispering about in the back? You like talking so much? Fine, I'll give you the podium. You both come up and give the lesson!"

Chumu and Little Bu immediately sat up straight.

The orphanage demon king was terrifying indeed!