Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking

"—Cheers!"

Inside the adventurers' tavern, the group gathered to celebrate their mission's completion, raising their glasses in triumph.

While Stelle and March 7th opted for juice, disliking the taste of alcohol, even Dan Heng made an exception, sipping lightly from his cup.

"Who would've thought this mission would be so easy?"

Mimiya threw an arm around Venti's shoulder, her carefree demeanor more reminiscent of a boisterous traveler than a proper lady. Even her figure, in certain aspects, mirrored a certain violet-haired passerby…

Venti, ever polite, smiled faintly, though his thoughts drifted momentarily to her rather unrefined approach.

"Ha. This makes an old-timer like me feel rather useless," Zaryus muttered, wiping the spilled drink from the corner of his mouth. His tone carried a mix of self-deprecation and genuine concern, akin to an aging veteran questioning his worth.

He glanced ruefully at the glass in his hand—round, human-style cups weren't exactly designed for his pointed snout.

"Oh, don't say that, Zaryus! You were a huge help!"

March 7th immediately chimed in, her voice light and encouraging. Next to her, the young cleric Fina nodded earnestly.

"March is right. Without your calming incense pouches, the two of us would've been overwhelmed by that stench earlier." She gently patted his arm.

"Your insights proved invaluable," Dan Heng added with his characteristic stoicism. "They gave us a much clearer understanding of the situation. You shouldn't sell yourself short."

"And most importantly," Venti interjected, pouring himself another glass and raising it toward Zaryus, "this mission wouldn't have been the same without you. Criticizing our chosen allies would reflect poorly on our own judgment, wouldn't it? And I've often been praised for my keen eye in choosing companions."

He grinned. "So, dear friend, set aside your worries and toast with us! Now's the time to revel in joy, not dwell on trivialities."

"You all… are truly kindhearted people," Zaryus said after a moment of stunned silence, breaking into a wide, toothy grin.

"Traveling alongside you has been well worth it. Even if it meant braving life-and-death scenarios again, I wouldn't hesitate."

Truth be told, lizardfolk like Zaryus weren't particularly welcomed in human kingdoms. Unlike other races that bore some resemblance to humans, the reptilian features of lizardfolk—coupled with their origins in marshes and rainforests—often marked them as "barbaric."

Their differences in habitat, physiology, and religious beliefs perpetuated stereotypes: uncivilized, primitive, and unintelligent.

Although such assumptions weren't entirely baseless—some remote tribes still adhered to these ancient ways—most lizardfolk communities had long since developed their own unique civilizations and kingdoms.

In fact, certain lizardfolk nobles rivaled their human counterparts in sophistication. The royal houses even possessed mastery over the powerful Draconic Speech, a secret art of immense strength.

Contrary to popular belief, lizardfolk were far more complex and intelligent than outsiders gave them credit for. Their directness and disdain for political scheming were often mistaken for simplicity.

A race that thrived under harsh conditions was anything but weak.

Tribal leaders, in particular, were often those with the purest bloodlines, granting them extraordinary strength equivalent to the "Gold-tier" of adventurers.

Adventurers like Zaryus, though of average heritage, were still reliable allies, valued for their raw physical strength and draconic skills. In battles against monsters, they often outperformed peers of similar rank.

However, their value was frequently overshadowed by prejudice in human lands, leading to disputes over rewards. Lizardfolk believed in sharing spoils based on effort: the most deserving took the largest share. Any challenge to this rule was seen as provocation, often escalating into violence.

In human settlements, such incidents rarely ended well for lizardfolk. Some adventurers' guilds even turned a blind eye to these injustices, fostering hostility.

As a result, many lizardfolk either suppressed their frustrations, returned to their tribes, or formed teams with other non-human adventurers.

Meeting a team that treated him as an equal and shared rewards fairly was a rare stroke of luck for Zaryus.

"Still," Mimiya remarked, her tone playful, "for a team that hasn't been together long, we've already made quite a splash."

Though her words didn't explicitly praise Zaryus, they hinted at his contributions.

"Well, the current situation demands it," Fina said, her voice tinged with seriousness. "Adventurers like us—those in the middle ranks—are now the backbone of many guilds. They're relying on us to handle critical tasks."

With most Gold-tier adventurers stationed at the frontlines or guarding key territories, Silver-tier adventurers like their group represented the strongest force available in many regions.

"Not to mention having someone like Master Venti with us," Fina added. "Handling threats to towns and villages seems natural for a team like ours."

"True. Though we're advancing quickly, I've noticed the number of familiar faces hasn't grown much. Newcomers still seem... the same."

Fina's gaze drifted to a nearby table, where a rookie adventuring party sat. Their simple attire and basic gear marked them as beginners.

The group consisted of a human warrior and a Spriggan mage, both looking dejected and nursing minor injuries. Their table held only one portion of food, a clear sign of their financial struggles—likely from a failed mission.

"They probably couldn't complete their commission," Fina thought sympathetically, "and can't even afford a proper meal."

"Times are harsh for rookies," Mimiya said bluntly, though her tone lacked malice. She sipped her wine and rested her cheek in her hand, studying the two downcast figures.

"But that's the nature of this job. It's cruel and unforgiving. Without the necessary skills or talent, it's hard to survive. Realizing this early and finding another path is better than dying in vain."

"So, this is what they call the wisdom of experience?" Stelle asked with a slight smirk.

March 7th found Mimiya's mature tone unexpectedly amusing.

Typically, such didactic remarks came from people like Uncle Yang or Himeko—seasoned, composed adults. Mimiya, on the other hand, appeared every bit the youthful, beautiful maiden, untouched by the weight of years.

"Of course! I've been alive for over a thousand years," Mimiya declared, oblivious to March 7th's playful undertones. Her voice carried an unmistakable pride.

"Listening to the life lessons of someone with eternal youth? Only benefits, no drawbacks~!"

"W-Wait, you're over a thousand years old, Mimiya?!"

March 7th gasped in shock, having never given much thought to her companion's age.

"Hm? Why the surprised face? Isn't it normal for elves to live that long?"

"Well, I knew elves were long-lived, but seeing it up close… Should I feel amazed, or should I just accept it as reality?" March 7th twirled a strand of her hair, her expression conflicted.

"If we're talking age, March, aren't you a bit of a mystery yourself?" Stelle interjected with a sly grin.

March 7th flinched, clearly caught off guard. Stelle's words alluded to something March had mentioned before: how she was found encased in a six-phased ice crystal, drifting in the cosmos. No one, not even the Astral Express crew, knew how long she'd been floating through space before they discovered her.

It wasn't impossible that, in terms of sheer age, March could surpass everyone present.

"Ahhh! Don't bring up sensitive topics like age in front of a maiden!" March 7th waved her hands frantically, desperate to change the subject.

Unfortunately for her, this only piqued everyone's curiosity further.

As the others marveled at her enigmatic past, Zaryus turned his attention to Venti.

"Speaking of legends, Master Venti, you mentioned your archery stems from the divine era. You even know many forgotten poems. Have you heard any tales of dragons?"

Venti didn't answer immediately. Instead, he seemed entranced by a nearby group of adventurers singing a ballad about a certain Goblin Slayer.

"Master Venti?" Zaryus called again.

The bard blinked, realizing everyone was waiting for him. He scratched his head sheepishly and chuckled.

"Ah, sorry about that! Got lost listening to that song over there. What were you asking again?"

"No need to apologize. It was my interruption that was improper," Zaryus replied with a shake of his head. His attention briefly shifted to the song before a thoughtful expression crossed his face.

"That ballad seems to be about the Goblin Slayer."

"The Goblin Slayer? What kind of monster is that?"

March 7th tilted her head, her curiosity evident.

"It refers to goblins—those creatures we fought earlier," Dan Heng explained succinctly.

"Ohhh, those guys! I heard they were dangerous, but in practice, they weren't that tough to deal with."

"They're the lowest-tier monsters," Mimiya added with a dismissive wave. "In the Demon King's army, they're nothing more than cannon fodder."

"That may be true," Fina interjected, her eyes lighting up with excitement at the chance to share gossip, "but the Goblin Slayer is famous in the western frontier."

"Oh? Why's that?"

"Get this: he's the only adventurer to reach Silver-tier by exclusively killing goblins!"

"So that's how he got the name… Interesting." Stelle rested her chin on her hand, imagining what this peculiar adventurer might be like.

"His reputation is certainly unique. Adventurers seem to have split opinions about him," Zaryus said with a nod.

"Some see him as a glory-seeker, only capable of handling weak goblins and helpless against stronger foes."

"And the others?" March 7th prompted.

"Others believe that, even if his skills are limited to goblin hunting, he's doing what no one else wants to do. From that perspective, I respect him greatly."

Zaryus's tone grew somber as he spoke. His travels with merchant caravans had shown him the devastation goblins left in their wake: razed villages, abducted women and children, lives destroyed.

"If left unchecked, those little fiends become a significant threat. In my homeland, we periodically issue bounties to prevent their numbers from swelling. They destroy crops, slaughter livestock, and worse."

Fina's expression darkened as she added, "Back when I was in the seminary, I met a few girls who had been kidnapped by goblins. They were… taken to their nests and suffered terrible fates."

Her voice faltered, and she looked down. "Some of them recovered, but most… they were like empty shells. Our mentors said their souls were still trapped in those dark caves, never to return."

"Isn't there anything the kingdom can do? Can't they send soldiers to wipe them out?" March 7th asked, her question tinged with innocence.

Mimiya shook her head.

"With the main forces occupied fighting the Demon King's army, goblin extermination isn't a priority. Besides, even if they tried, it's not that simple. We don't even know where goblins originate. When a few show up in one place, there are usually dozens more hidden nearby."

"They reproduce rapidly," Zaryus continued, setting his cup down. "If they claim an abandoned ruin, they can go from a dozen to fifty in no time. With enough resources, they grow into vast colonies of hundreds. From there, they pillage and expand."

"And yet, from an economic or political standpoint, the kingdom won't bother dealing with them," Mimiya said with a bitter laugh. "To the nobles, goblin hunting is just menial work for adventurers."

"But adventurers avoid these quests because the pay is low and the risk of injury is high," Zaryus added. "Only desperate rookies take them, leading to heavy casualties."

March 7th pressed her hands to her head, groaning in frustration.

"This is a complete vicious cycle!"

"Indeed," Zaryus said with a sigh, forming a triangular gesture over his chest in a sign of prayer. "From a pragmatic perspective, there's no realistic way to stop the spread of goblins. Most adventurers, myself included, pursue profit. Few would dedicate themselves to this task like the Goblin Slayer."

The grim reality left March 7th feeling downhearted. She muttered under her breath, "The world shouldn't be like this…"

Venti, noticing her mood, reached into his bag and produced an old goblin extermination commission.

"Well then," he said with a sly grin, "how about we take on this quest? It might just be an essential step on our path of exploration."

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T/N: HOLY SHITTT WE ARE IN GOBLIN SLAYER???

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