The Gamer who traveled to Honkai: Star Rail

March 7th, initially clueless about their sudden competitive spirits, moved closer and overheard the stall owner's next words. "Are you here to take part in our Competitive Eater Championship?"

That one sentence was all it took for March 7th to connect the dots. Her mind flashed back to their adventures in Belobog's Underworld, where she had witnessed Stelle eat herself into oblivion during a similar contest. She instantly understood why the two were acting this way.

"Wait a second," March 7th exclaimed. "Why are we encountering a Competitive Eater Championship even here in Xianzhou?"

"I remember Ah Guang said it before," Stelle replied. "He joked that the next area might have one. And guess what? It does! So, Ah Guang, are you ready for another round?"

"Oh? What's the plan this time?" Pei Guang asked. "A fair match or…"

Stelle hesitated, considering her options. That's when March 7th jumped in with a bright idea. "Why don't you two compete fair and square this time?"

Pei Guang grinned. "I don't mind. If we're going to play, let's make it fun. March, how about joining us?"

"Me?" March 7th hesitated. "I don't think my appetite is as big as yours."

"Come on," Pei Guang encouraged. "It's not about winning or losing; it's about having fun together. Let's see who the true Big Eater is."

March 7th mulled it over before nodding with a smile. "Alright, let's do it. The three of us will compete together!"

The vendor, delighted to see the three enthusiastic participants, quickly explained the rules. The challenge wasn't just about having fun; it was a clever marketing strategy to attract customers to her stall.

"This challenge is part of our 421st Anniversary Celebration Event!" the vendor announced. "You will be pitted against other Big Eaters around the Luofu and beyond to see who can eat the most buns within the time limit. And the winner wins a massive prize! 

Naturally, to compete you'll have to pay a deposit first. But don't worry—as long as you win, your deposit will be refunded to you in full!"

Pei Guang raised an eyebrow. "And if we lose?"

"Well," the vendor admitted, "if you lose, the entry fee won't be refunded. After all, it's just a small business here. But rest assured, the entry fee is very affordable, and the rewards for winning will far exceed its value!"

Although the vendor hoped to attract more attention, running a Competitive Eater Championship without charging an entry fee would put the stall in a tough spot. As the vendor had mentioned, the credits collected were just enough to cover costs, and every participant would also receive a few complimentary buns after the competition.

Pei Guang exchanged a knowing glance with Stelle and March 7th, his competitive spirit fully ignited. "Alright then, let's see who the real Big Eater is!"

Pei Guang handed over the deposit, and the vendor couldn't hide her delight. "Alright, you three, please wait for a moment. Once the other contestants arrive, the competition will begin!"

A few minutes later, Pei Guang noticed a male Vidyadhara and a young Foxian girl approaching the stall. Judging by their demeanor, they were here to compete in the challenge. 

The vendor, satisfied with the turnout, nodded in approval as her employees spread the word, drawing a crowd. The prospect of a Competitive Eater Championship in the recently reopened district piqued the curiosity of passersby, many of whom gathered to watch.

With a growing audience, the vendor began her introduction. "It looks like our contestants are all here! Welcome, everyone, to the 421st Competitive Eater Championship hosted by this humble stall! This competition will consist of two phases: Diplomacy and... Combat! Now, let's begin the diplomacy phase!"

The announcement left Stelle and March 7th utterly bewildered. "Diplomacy?" March 7th muttered. "Isn't this just about who can eat the most?"

Stelle tilted her head in confusion. "Why does a Competitive Eater Championship need diplomacy?"

Pei Guang, unfazed and brimming with confidence, explained, "It's no big deal. Diplomacy is just part of the game. I bet this challenge isn't just about eating—it's about navigating social skills, too! Leave this to me. If it's about handling people, I've got it covered."

As the other two contestants prepared themselves, Pei Guang approached the Vidyadhara man with a friendly smile. "Hey there, you're a Vidyadhara, right?"

The man turned to him with a frown. "Who are you? Do I know you?"

"Whether you know me is irrelevant," Pei Guang said with a grin. "What matters is that I know your ancestor, Long."

The man scoffed. "Yeah? Well, I know General Jing Yuan."

Pei Guang's grin widened. "Bailu and I are friends. If you don't want your High Elder to make your life difficult, you'd better let me win this competition."

The Vidyadhara man froze in stunned silence. Not far away, Stelle and March 7th also stood speechless.

For the first time, they witnessed someone using connections to intimidate others—for a Competitive Eater Championship no less. It was the kind of brazen behavior most people wouldn't even dare attempt.

Inspired by Pei Guang's bold move, Stelle decided to follow his lead. 

She walked up to the young Foxian girl, arms akimbo, and said confidently, "I'm going to drop some water on your head, you know? You don't want to ruin your chances of getting by in Luofu, do you? If you don't, you'd better go easy on me in this challenge!"

The Foxian girl blinked in confusion. "What?"

She stared at Stelle, utterly baffled. In her mind, this person had to be out of her mind.

At that moment, both Pei Guang and March 7th couldn't help but feel that the universe itself was tipping its hat to the two of them. After all, how many people could say they'd resorted to leveraging connections and intimidation for a dumpling-eating contest?

But the real surprise wasn't their tactics—it was that they actually had the connections to leverage!

Unfortunately for Pei Guang and Stelle, their threats had no effect. Instead, they seemed to ignite a competitive fire in their contenders.

"Long and Bailu? Sorry, I don't know them," the Vidyadhara man said dismissively, cracking his knuckles.

What? The Master Diviner? The Sky-Faring Commission's Helm Master? An Aeon?! Who cares! Today, no matter who comes, these two won't hold back in the Competitive Eater Championship.

Seeing the two contestants, brimming with determination after Pei Guang and Stelle's attempts at intimidation, March 7th could only hold her forehead in exasperation. Sometimes, Pei Guang was absurdly reliable—whatever he set his mind to, he achieved with impressive precision.

But other times, he had an uncanny talent for achieving the exact opposite of what he intended. Still, it wasn't a big deal. This was just an eating competition, after all.

If they could take down mara-struck soldiers and even deal with a Lord Ravager, how hard could a Competitive Eater Championship be? Sure, Pei Guang and Stelle decided to play fair this time, but in her eyes, there was no way they could lose.

What followed, however, completely shattered March 7th's confidence.