Honkai Star Rail: Corruption System

"I… uh… we were just looking for a place for her to rest," Daziel stammered, weaving a clumsy lie. "Saw the fort door open, thought… well, we just came in. Didn't mean to intrude, honest."

"No, no, it's perfectly alright!" Bronya waved dismissively, her gaze shifting to March 7th with concern. "You're Belobog's saviors, a little thing like this is nothing… but March… are you sure you're alright? Should I call for a medic?"

"N-no need," Daziel quickly interjected, a flush of guilt warming his cheeks. "Just an old… issue she has. She'll be right as rain in a bit."

Bronya's brow furrowed, a new thought striking her. "If you two have been here this whole time… then you must have overheard my conversation with Miss Topaz?" Her voice hitched, and she nervously chewed on her lip, her face paling visibly.

"Every word," Daziel confirmed with a nod, eyes fixed on Bronya, though a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth unseen. He maintained a serious facade, adding, "Though, admittedly, some of it was a bit muffled. But yeah, I got the gist."

"So, Mr. Daziel…" Bronya's voice trembled, barely a whisper. "What… what do you make of it all?"

"What do I make of it?" Daziel echoed, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, drawing out the moment. He watched Bronya's anxiety tighten her features, a fleeting amusement sparking within him. Finally, with deliberate gravity, he declared, "I think… this situation is rather dire."

"Y-yes… it is." Bronya's head dipped, her voice dropping to almost nothing. "Belobog… it truly hangs by a thread."

"Uh…" March 7th, still cradled in Daziel's arm, blinked in utter confusion. She turned her bewildered gaze from Daziel to Bronya and back again. "What in the world are you two talking about? Dire situation? Hanging by a thread? I'm completely lost."

"March, you didn't hear?" Daziel feigned surprise, turning to her. "Didn't you catch Miss Topaz and Miss Bronya's conversation just now?"

"I… well…" March 7th's cheeks blossomed with color, and she stammered, words failing her.

"Sigh, figures," Daziel sighed dramatically, turning back to Bronya. "Guardian, why don't you fill her in?"

"Yes… of course," Bronya agreed, inhaling deeply and steeling herself. She began to unravel the tangled story for March 7th.

…

"And that's the crux of it – Belobog owes the Interastral Peace Corporation a staggering sum of money. An… astronomical debt," Bronya finished, her voice laced with bitter resignation. "It's been overdue for… well, an eternity. The interest alone has ballooned to a point we could never hope to repay. Honestly, I can't even fathom those numbers, let alone pronounce them."

"Wait, seriously? When I met Miss Topaz before, I actually thought the Corporation was here to help Belobog get back on its feet," March 7th exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief.

"Yes, it's that bad… utterly unpayable. Miss Topaz made it clear: if this debt remains overdue, she'll resort to… coercive measures. And I'm at a complete loss." Bronya's gaze flickered between the two of them, a deep well of helplessness and despair reflected in her eyes. "Unless…"

"Unless what?" March 7th prompted, brow furrowed in confusion.

"Miss Bronya, surely you're not thinking of…" Daziel interjected, feigning hesitant curiosity, already knowing the answer.

"I… I…" Bronya bit her lip, a visible internal struggle. Finally, with a resolute lift of her chin, she met Daziel and March 7th's gazes. "Mr. Daziel, Miss March 7th, I know this is a colossal ask, but… for Belobog, I have to.

"Could you… please, help me convince Miss Topaz to grant us an extension on the repayment. With the Astral Express's standing in the galaxy, maybe… maybe there's a chance." Her voice dropped to an almost pleading tone as she finished, "I… I'm willing to do anything!"

"Wait, what in the blazes?! Respected Guardian, Miss Bronya, what are you saying?!" Daziel practically choked on his own surprise. Is this seriously the original dialogue? Doubt gnawed at him – his system had to be messing with things. Fabricator of History system, more like Fabricator of… Weirdness.

Daziel mentally threw up a wall of protest at his system – System, listen up, whether you're listening or not, you better stick to the plan! Pure love champion here, remember? Utterly upright protagonist! No NTR nonsense! Bronya and Seele are off-limits, got it?! Don't go triggering any… 'corruption value farming' or whatever weirdness you've got planned!

Silence. The transparent system subtitles remained stubbornly absent. Daziel exhaled a shaky breath of relief. Good. No Bronya corruption flags today. Another day, another victory for maintaining the 12+ rating of Honkai: Star Rail. …

"What?!" March 7th's jaw dropped. Bronya's words had snapped her out of her earlier listlessness like a jolt of electricity. She practically leaped out of Daziel's grasp. "Miss Bronya, are you… are you out of your mind?! Do you even hear yourself? Do you understand what you're suggesting?!"

"Of course, I understand," Bronya replied, her voice thick with anguish and resolve. "But… for Belobog, this is what I must do. My personal pride means nothing if Belobog is saved."

"But… but…" March 7th's voice trembled, tears threatening to spill. "You can't… you can't… Daziel is a total pervert! If you say things like that, he'll definitely… he'll…" Her words trailed off, a sudden, chilling realization dawning on her, and her face drained of all color.

"March, what on earth are you babbling about?" Daziel asked, feigning innocent confusion. "Pervert? What are you even talking about?"

"You… you're still playing dumb!" March 7th stamped her foot in frustration. "You know exactly what I mean! You… you just now… what you did to me…"

"What did I do to you?" Daziel pressed, adopting a deliberately blank expression.

"You… you…" March 7th's cheeks burned crimson, as if ready to burst into flames. She sputtered, words failing her, unable to voice the embarrassing truth.

"Alright, alright, Miss March 7th, please, no more," Bronya interjected gently, laying a comforting hand on March 7th's arm. "I know you're concerned for me, but… my mind is made up."

(P.S. Bronya and Seele will be added to the romanceable content in Volume 3. This chapter belongs to the protagonist having a misconception about the information; in reality, the two are just friends.)

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