Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking

Bonus chapters are like surprise blossoms—unexpected, yet full of joy! 🌱

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Considering that explaining her true identity to Goblin Slayer would be troublesome, Nahida decided to continue with her roleplaying.

"Don't let my appearance fool you. As an elf, I'm far older than I look. And I know more than most adults—at least when it comes to understanding this world. I'm confident very few can match my knowledge."

While it sounded like the boastful exaggeration of a child, any adventurer who started laughing was quickly silenced by warning glances from the accompanying forest rangers. Those more familiar with the elven race, however, looked intrigued.

Among them, a female mage—whose ample figure seemed capable of enveloping Nahida's small head entirely—fixed her gaze on the little one with a look that bordered on ravenous curiosity.

Goblin Slayer, for his part, didn't respond immediately. He glanced briefly at the surrounding elves. Their long lifespans were well-known, but encountering someone with such a youthful appearance left him uneasy.

Thankfully, the team's kind-hearted priestess stepped in, gently patting Nahida's head with the air of a doting elder sister.

"Now, now, sweetie~ This big brother is only worried about you. Please forgive him; he's not very good with words."

"…"

The room fell into an awkward silence.

The Star Rail crew, who knew the truth, exchanged uncertain glances. The forest rangers, who viewed their princess as sacred, were equally stunned by this unthinkable display.

Nahida, caught at the center of attention, opened her mouth but closed it again. A faint sense of "treated like a child" washed over her.

Still, starting an argument here wasn't wise. By this world's moral standards, there was no telling if the adorable priestess might meet a grisly end.

Gently removing the hand ruffling her hair, Nahida decided not to dwell on the priestess's actions, which might have been seen as disrespectful by the elves. Instead, she spoke with a calm tone.

"Anyway, discuss the commission details in the meeting room."

With those words, the elven archer—who had been watching the scene with an envious expression—snapped back to reality. She took the lead, guiding Goblin Slayer away. As she passed the priestess, she whispered, "Sorry, but we're borrowing him for a bit."

The priestess looked flustered, unsure how to respond to the playful jab.

Joining Goblin Slayer and the archer were the dwarf sorcerer and the lizardman priest.

With the mission discussion underway, the Star Rail crew stayed behind to rest at the guild.

March 7th suggested taking Stelle out for a walk, while Dan Heng, as usual, opted to spend time alone. This left Nahida with nothing to do.

Initially, Nahida had planned to join March 7th and Stelle on their outing. After all, back in Belobog, she had hardly spent time enjoying herself in the city. Aside from occasional patrols with Seele and a memorable visit to the lower districts with Bronya, she'd never gone out shopping with female friends.

Even with Pela, their outings consisted of finding quiet spots to read and discuss books—more like impromptu book club meetings than leisure trips.

But before she could voice her desire to join them, the captain of the forest rangers approached her.

The ranger captain was a strikingly handsome male elf with impressively long ears that measured nearly ten centimeters. His appearance suggested a purer bloodline than even Mimia or the elven archer.

He treated Nahida with the utmost respect, his demeanor reminiscent of the loyal, "dog-like" male companions often seen in otome games.

Since they had been helpful over the past two days, Nahida decided to hear him out.

"Lady Nahida, may I ask why you forgave that human priestess for her transgression earlier?"

The ranger captain's expression remained deferential, showing no signs of displeasure. His inquiry seemed to stem purely from curiosity.

Nahida immediately recognized that this question touched on a cultural divide between the forest dwellers—or the native people of this world—and her own perspective.

In any era, access to education varied significantly among social classes.

Take Belobog's underworld, for example. Decades of isolation had left children like Hook without formal schooling, while teenagers like Seele struggled with literacy.

Even in the relatively affluent upper district, institutions like the academy faced declining enrollment. Bronya herself had to recruit a retired veteran like Serval to fill key roles.

In a medieval society like this one, where the adventuring industry consumed much of the nation's resources, opportunities for learning were even scarcer. Institutions like the Sage Academy were reserved for the elite.

In short, knowledge in this era was a privilege held by a select few, used to maintain the ruling hierarchy.

This disparity wasn't unique to this world, nor was it likely to change anytime soon.

And yet—

In a world rife with unruly citizens and an average education level that barely qualifies as basic, Nahida's decision not to reprimand the young priestess for her perceived offense seemed entirely unreasonable to the forest dwellers.

After all, in a world where gods held undeniable sway, such leniency could easily be misconstrued. For instance, it might suggest that the Fairy Princess—believed to be Nahida's true identity—had an affinity for the Earth Mother's faith. Allowing a mere human priestess to touch her head could be interpreted as a gesture of religious submission.

If a nation's future ruler openly displayed such a stance, wouldn't her citizens be compelled to reconsider their beliefs?

Even if such a shift couldn't happen overnight, the Earth Mother's church would undoubtedly gain significant influence, potentially rivaling even the dominant faith of the Supreme Deity.

Though the gods of the human kingdoms weren't technically malevolent, aligning herself with any of them prematurely would only bring trouble. Especially since Nahida's understanding of this world's divine entities was still incomplete.

Perhaps her moment of reflection was misinterpreted by the ranger captain, who, in his own mind, constructed an elaborate narrative. Convinced that this was some kind of loyalty test, he dropped to one knee, intending to kiss Nahida's foot as an oath of eternal fealty.

But before he could carry out the gesture, Nahida subtly stepped back.

It wasn't out of disdain, but she had always felt uneasy about such overt displays of servitude.

"I must have been careless and failed to consider everyone's feelings earlier. I'll personally reprimand that young girl later. Will that suffice?"

The ranger captain, still kneeling, placed a hand over his chest and bowed deeply, signaling his agreement without pressing further.

After parting ways with him, Nahida gained a new level of understanding about these elves.

They were unquestionably sincere—not the scheming types who feigned loyalty while angling for personal gain. These forest dwellers truly regarded her as their center of existence. Every word she spoke was subject to beautification and exaggeration. It wouldn't be surprising if even scolding or striking them was interpreted as a sign of her favor and affection.

At this rate, Nahida thought wryly, she could declare herself the true moon and insist the one in the sky was fake, and the elves would enthusiastically agree, chanting, "Yes, Princess, you are the moon!"

This level of devotion posed a real challenge. She worried that once they reached the Golden Forest, any casual decree might lead these elves to abandon their ancestral home to establish a new kingdom in her name.

She could already envision the ancient Fairy Queen, who had ruled for millennia, pushing the throne into her arms—whether she wanted it or not.

I really walked into this one, she thought with a resigned sigh.

Still, a faint thrill accompanied her concern. While becoming the ruler of the elves wasn't part of her plan, the power she could wield through their loyalty might prove useful for certain endeavors.

Besides, could anyone truly expect the god of freedom to stay put on a throne?

Come on, even if I promised to behave, who would actually believe me?

Her lips curved into a mischievous smile as she ignored the ranger guards, many of whom had been utterly captivated by her cuteness, and made her way toward the now downcast priestess.

"Well, well. We meet again, little priestess," Nahida greeted lightly.

The priestess jolted upright, her expression shifting from gloom to panic. "Oh, it's the Fairy Pr—ah, no, the Princess!"

Judging by her trembling voice and tearful eyes, someone must have informed her of the gravity of her earlier actions. It was clear the poor girl had been thoroughly frightened.

Recognizing her own role in the misunderstanding, Nahida softened her tone but maintained a stern expression.

"It seems you've realized the mistake you made earlier."

"Y-yes! If you're angry, please punish me alone! I'll do anything, just don't hold it against Goblin Slayer!"

The priestess's voice was shaky, and her words bordered on desperation.

"Oh? Anything?"

The petite elf's voice took on a playfully sinister edge, like a mischievous sprite.

Faced with Nahida's sharp, inquisitive gaze, the priestess nodded frantically, her fear giving way to determination.

"In that case, solve these problems."

Nahida retrieved a piece of parchment inscribed with complex mathematical equations and handed it over with an angelic smile.

"If you can solve them, I'll forgive you."

The priestess took the parchment with trembling hands, only for her expression to crumble as she stared at the impossibly intricate figures. Though her monastery had taught basic arithmetic, these advanced equations, typically tackled by clerics of the God of Trade, were far beyond her capabilities.

This was clearly an ordeal designed to torment her—a priestess of the Earth Mother—with something utterly unrelated to her faith.

Her lips quivered as she hesitated.

"What's the matter? Having trouble?" Nahida's tone was lighthearted, almost teasing. "Don't worry. If you can't solve them, I'll just have him do it instead. You wouldn't mind that, would you?"

The priestess's mind reeled at the thought of Goblin Slayer struggling over these problems, unable to sleep at night. Steeling herself, she resolved to shoulder the burden alone.

But as she worked through the equations, her despair deepened. Her distress even dissuaded a few curious adventurers who had considered teasing Nahida, especially after a kindly mage stepped in to assist—only to end up equally baffled.

By now, the guild was abuzz with speculation. Adventurers who initially dismissed Nahida as a harmless child now regarded her with a mix of awe and apprehension. If a graduate of the Sage Academy struggled with her puzzles, her intellect must rival that of the greatest scholars.

Meanwhile, Nahida returned to her seat and casually ordered a glass of milk. Not because she wanted milk, but because her youthful appearance made the bartender too hesitant to serve her alcohol.

Even as she quietly sipped her milk, the forest elves saw this as an example of their Princess's refined taste, imagining her savoring her afternoon in graceful contemplation.

By her third glass, feeling slightly bloated, Nahida noticed the mage and priestess approaching.

Both admitted defeat, their expressions filled with a mix of embarrassment and respect.

Seeing their sincerity, Nahida offered to tutor them. The priestess, however, quickly grew drowsy, her head drooping as if she were moments away from dozing off. The mage, on the other hand, remained focused, her admiration for Nahida growing with each solved problem.

By the end of the session, the mage regarded Nahida with reverence, addressing her as "Mentor."

Nahida accepted the title without fanfare, leaving the priestess with a parting piece of advice.

"Often, it takes real pain to confront our laziness, ignorance, recklessness, or pride. But there's no need to dwell on it. We can't predict every possibility, so we learn in this clumsy, roundabout way. Consider it the cost of education—it's perfectly normal."

With a gentle pat on the priestess's head, Nahida stretched her arms and retired to her room.

After an afternoon spent explaining math problems, even she was starting to feel a little sleepy.

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Thank you so much for being here. This bonus chapter is like a little sprout—brought to life by all the warmth and encouragement you've given! WiseTL is so grateful to have such wonderful Readers who help these stories grow into something even more beautiful.

If you'd like to sprinkle even more sunshine and rain onto this garden of dreams, you can visit [patreon.com/WiseTL]. Every little bit helps the flowers bloom brighter!

This is my last message to you, but don't be sad—it's simply time for a new chapter to begin! Like the gentle winds that carry seeds to new places, I hope the stories we've shared together will continue to bloom in your heart.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your journey. May the path ahead be filled with light, laughter, and endless wonder. Until we meet again, take care!

-With love, always, Nahida 🌱"