Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking

The Divination Commission, one of the Six Commissions of the Xianzhou, was responsible for tasks such as divination, data management, navigation simulations, and strategic planning.

It utilized a crystalline computational system called Jade Signatures to analyze and predict the future. The division housed strategists specializing in civil and military calculations, Diviners who interpreted prophetic decrees, archivists who managed and categorized extensive information, and scribes who processed data and maintained the Commission's archives.

Qingque, one of the Commission's junior members, managed categorized records in the archives. She was neither exceptional nor incompetent, blending into the vast sea of ordinary bureaucrats—just another cog in the great machine.

"So, whatever you do, don't go wandering around inside," Qingque warned the group. Her earlier playfulness had been replaced with caution. "Even though you're esteemed guests of Lady Fu Xuan, she absolutely hates people who don't follow the rules or stick their noses where they don't belong.

"If you tick her off, you can just walk away, but I'll be stuck here, paying the price. I'd rather not be on the receiving end of her wrath!"

Her uncharacteristic meekness made the group wonder if Fu Xuan was a particularly harsh superior.

"Sounds scary," March 7th said, twirling the ends of her hair with relief written across her face. "Good thing we're not like that on the Express. At worst, Himeko has us run errands for the Space Station. Most of the time, she just leaves us to it."

"Even so, March," Welt said with a sigh, "don't forget our mission and values as Trailblazers."

March's earlier comment sounded far too flippant. If Himeko ever caught wind of it, she'd definitely have words for her.

"Ah, yeah, yeah. I know," March said with a sheepish laugh before shifting gears. "So, we're here to sit in on an interrogation, right? Do you think it'll get, you know, gruesome?"

"Not at all," Qingque said, waving her hand dismissively. "The Divination Commission isn't like the Ten-Lords Commission. We're peaceful. We don't deal in judgment or punishment. You can relax."

With that, Qingque reached out to push open the Divination Commission's heavy stone door.

But the door didn't budge.

"Huh? That's weird. Who's the wise guy who locked it? Even if the food in the canteen is bad, it's no reason to bar the door during the day."

She knocked loudly and called out, but there was no response. The heavy stone door exuded a chilling atmosphere, and an oppressive tension settled over the group.

"I'm starting to get creeped out," March 7th muttered, her shoulders hunching. "What if there are bodies everywhere inside?"

She was clearly spooked, though her curiosity shone through—it was the same thrill-seeking energy she likely had when watching horror movies she couldn't handle.

"Beyond this door… lies hell," Stelle said ominously, her expression grim.

"Hey, cut it out!" Qingque pleaded, scratching her head in a panic. "If something really did happen in there, we're all doomed. Every last one of us!"

"Relax." Venti tilted his head as if listening to a faint breeze. "I just heard the wind whisper: it's pretty bad in there."

"What? It really is bad?!" Qingque nearly dropped the key in her hand. "This is a trap! No, no, no—let's head to the emergency entrance! Maybe we can still save a few people!"

Despite her usual laziness, Qingque didn't hesitate to lead them to a side entrance, her quick response earning her some respect from Welt.

He cast a wary glance at Venti. While he trusted that the bard wasn't lying, his calm demeanor suggested the situation wasn't yet at its worst. After all, Venti's care for humanity was unmatched by most.

When they reached the emergency entrance, Qingque deftly unlocked it and sprinted inside—only to turn around and dart back out with a panicked yelp.

She dove behind Welt, the group's most reassuring presence, and babbled nervously.

"Crap, crap, crap! Even the Aberrations of Abundance are in there! What if something's happened to Lady Fu Xuan?!"

"Have a little more faith in your superior, will you?" March 7th shot back, pulling her bowstring taut.

March wasn't surprised to find monsters inside—it was almost a routine occurrence at this point.

"Focus on the fight," Welt instructed, tapping his cane against the ground. A field of black-and-red gravity surrounded the Aberrations, pinning them to the floor under twenty times normal gravity.

Before Stelle could even join the fray, Venti strummed his lyre, summoning a wind field that swept away the immobilized creatures.

The seamless teamwork bolstered Qingque's confidence. With newfound determination, she led the group further inside, this time without further distractions.

As they hurried toward the Great Array Hall, the signs of battle became evident: dismembered Aberrations littered the corridors, though no human blood or bodies were in sight. It seemed the staff had evacuated in time.

Qingque couldn't help but admire the Divination Commission's reputation for foresight. Their ability to avoid disaster was unmatched across the Xianzhou.

However, as they approached the hall, Qingque caught sight of the situation below.

Lady Fu Xuan stood at the forefront, commanding the defensive line with unshakable composure.

Opposing her was a towering, brass-masked violet simian-like creature, radiating an overwhelming presence as it roared, shaking the hall like a war drum.

Beside it, a swarm of Aberrations prowled, their malevolent gazes fixed on the Divination Commission's defenders. The situation was undeniably dire, the balance of power clearly against Fu Xuan's forces.

Qingque's heart leaped into her throat. She was already winded from the frantic sprint, but now she felt an even heavier weight in her chest.

Still, she couldn't just stand there. Even if all she could do was cheer them on, she had to show her face.

"L-Lady Fu Xuan! I—huff—I'm so sorry for being late!"

For a petite office worker like Qingque, physical exertion was not her strong suit. As she rushed down the stairs, she twisted her ankle and cried out, "Ow!" before face-planting on the ground.

Not only did she land flat, but her delicate face picked up a layer of dust. The Celestial Jade tiles she carried spilled everywhere, with the "Salted Fish" tile landing face-up, almost mocking her misfortune.

March 7th winced, unable to look directly at the scene. Qingque, already small in stature and lacking any notable "padding," had surely been flattened further by the fall.

The towering violet simian, Changyou, a beast of Abundance, turned its head toward Qingque. It seemed confused by her sudden entrance but radiated unrelenting malice, freezing her in terror.

Qingque raised her head shakily, her voice trembling as she managed a pleading smile and called out, "L-Lady Fu Xuan…"

Fu Xuan, who had been poised with her flawless, calculated demeanor, cast her an exasperated glance. For a brief moment, a crack appeared in the Diviner's air of authority—a visible ripple of irritation.

To disrupt morale before an enemy like this was a grave misstep. On the frontlines, such behavior could easily lead to being offered as a sacrificial pawn to restore order.

But Fu Xuan sighed. After all, Qingque was one of her own and couldn't simply be abandoned.

With a calm yet firm gesture, Fu Xuan raised her jade-like hand, activating the array.

"The numbers of heaven and earth are vast, boundless across the six directions."

In that moment, it was as though violet stars descended, their brilliance piercing the battlefield.

As Changyou sensed the impending threat, it roared and swung its massive fists, aiming to crush everything in its path.

"Though all things follow their destined form, we guide fortune and avoid disaster."

Fu Xuan's chant continued, freezing space itself around the simian's fists. A gravitational pull enveloped the creature, compressing and restraining its hulking form within the boundaries of the array.

The punch that could have turned Qingque into a pancake never landed, its force neutralized as Changyou and its swarm of Aberrations were locked firmly in the formation.

Yet this feat took its toll on Fu Xuan.

The backlash from her earlier divination had left her injured, and the sudden activation of the Qiongguan Array strained its computational capabilities. The array couldn't outright destroy the Aberrations, and sending in the Cloud Knights would only hasten its collapse.

Reluctantly, she turned to the Trailblazers for assistance, letting out a weary sigh.

"After we parted earlier, I calculated the Divination Commission's fortunes. The outcome was fluctuation between Qian and Zhen. Conduct brings calamity; none shall benefit."

"Uh… can you translate that into normal speech?" March 7th asked, utterly baffled.

"In simple terms—disaster is imminent."

Fu Xuan pinched the bridge of her nose, her gaze flickering toward the fatigued Cloud Knights behind her. Most of them were barely standing. They'd fought fiercely against the invading Aberrations, some escorting personnel to safety, leaving only a handful to face the current threat.

Those who remained struggled to lift their weapons, their exhaustion evident. It was clear that without outside help, they wouldn't be able to hold the line.

"With the array weakened, the core Starspawn corruption persists. The Cloud Knights are occupied safeguarding civilians. This remaining force is insufficient. I must request your aid."

"Lady Fu Xuan, it's our honor to assist," Welt said, stepping forward and bowing slightly.

The Trailblazers' arrival immediately tipped the scales.

With renewed vigor, the group split roles. As usual, Venti and March 7th stepped up as the main combatants.

"Venti, come over here!" March 7th called with excitement. "I've come up with a cool combo move—it's going to blow them away!"

Previously, on Snail III, March 7th and Venti had teamed up to create a massive ice storm that decimated a goblin cavalry. Ever since, March had been brainstorming how to improve their synergy.

While the ice storm had been effective, it leaned heavily on crowd control. But this time, the Aberrations were already trapped by Fu Xuan's array. She wanted something more dramatic, something that would truly steal the spotlight.

Her latest idea? A giant Pom-Pom mech.

Venti's ability to manipulate elemental forms had proven versatile before. Whether creating plant creatures or controlling wooden dragons, his techniques inspired her to dream bigger. If he could animate something massive, she could freeze it into a solid, towering construct.

"Sure thing! Let's give it a shot," Venti agreed cheerfully, entirely on board with her outlandish plan.

The two moved to the frontlines and placed their bows side by side. As their powers combined, a frosty chill spread across the battlefield, coating everything in ice.

The temperature plummeted rapidly, frost blooming across the stone floor. Even the Aberrations within the array sensed the shift and began thrashing more violently, attempting to break free.

Behind Fu Xuan, the remaining Cloud Knights tensed, their hands tightening around their weapons. To them, these outsiders were a wild card, and no one could guarantee success.

Yet Fu Xuan's sharp eyes caught something unusual. Amidst the chaos, she detected an extraordinary power.

"What is…"

Her words trailed off as March and Venti fired a joint arrow into the sky.

Moments later, a massive shadow descended. A colossal figure emerged, dwarfing even the hulking Changyou.

It was Pom-Pom—a giant snow-and-ice construct in the shape of the beloved Space Station mascot. Its body shimmered with crystalline frost, its round head crowned with a conductor's hat. Its floppy ears and mischievous face gave it an oddly endearing appearance, despite its immense size.

But the broom-like weapon it wielded left no doubt—it was here to sweep the battlefield clean.

"This is my masterpiece!" March 7th's voice echoed from within the mech. "Behold, the Pom-Pom Mark I, filled with cuteness, justice, and all the charm of a young girl's heart!"

Venti's voice followed, full of smug pride. "And powered by yours truly!"

The giant mech sprang into action, smashing Changyou with a single sweep of its broom. The impact sent a shockwave across the battlefield. With surprising agility for its size, it spun like a skater performing a windmill, obliterating the remaining Aberrations in a dazzling display of destruction.

The spectacle left everyone—friend and foe alike—utterly dumbfounded.

"Wait! Stop!" Fu Xuan shouted, her usually composed voice rising in alarm. "Yes, I asked you to deal with the monsters, but not to level the entire place in the process!"

Her protests were lost amidst the chaos as the Pom-Pom Mark I continued its rampage. Fu Xuan, flustered and red-faced, nearly jumped in frustration.

Stelle, meanwhile, watched with sparkling eyes.

"I want to pilot it next!" she declared, her enthusiasm brimming.

Though she couldn't help but wonder—was this legally distinct enough to avoid lawsuits from some cosmic mech corporations?

Welt, on the other hand, observed with an intense gaze, murmuring to himself.

"Perhaps… Arahat could work like this too…"

The battle ended in a lopsided victory, with the Aberrations thoroughly crushed. Fu Xuan, however, didn't escape unscathed—she slipped on the icy floor and landed hard on her backside, marking an unceremonious end to the spectacle.

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 is a fan translation of 星铁,开局一把琴,靠卖唱养活自己 by 灯子. 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!