All around the world, similar conversations were becoming commonplace.
Though for the most part, it was just talk.
But some people actually took action and went shopping.
Of course!
Truth be told, most were already prepared.
After all, they'd seen the Sky Screen so many times now. Shouldn't they have stocked up on food and drinks in advance? Many were even already gathered together drinking, with plenty of snacks to go around—nothing wrong with that, right?
So for the majority, it was all about having a bit of fun, joining in on the excitement!
--+--
[Let me tell you a little secret.]
[The people of the Stellar Alliance are a lot like the Xianzhou natives. Though unlike the Xianzhou folk or other Abundancy-blessed races, their long lives don't come from Yaoshi's grace.]
[But the Young Mistress is merciful. She extended her protection to the bloodlines of her homeland. Combined with technological advances and scientific progress, the people of the Stellar Alliance also live very long lives, just like those on the Xianzhou.]
--+--
"How wonderful!"
"So you see! As long as we can last until the future, we'll succeed in extending our lives! Isn't that great?! It's fantastic!"
"I heard Lady Vill-V has finished developing the hibernation pods. Compared to the MANTIS project, just lying down inside one seems much more comfortable, right?"
"I've decided! Once I have a child and raise her to adulthood, I'm getting in one. Saves her the trouble of supporting me in my old age too."
"You idiot!"
"Do you think maintaining those pods is free?"
"Even cemetery plots require management fees these days!"
Some people were optimistic.
But others were more realistic.
That was all perfectly normal.
And meanwhile, Miss Yuzu continued speaking.
Her voice was charming, with a hint of tsundere pride.
--+--
[So then~]
[Places calling themselves 'decades-old establishments' or 'centuries-old shops' are mostly pulling your leg. They're tricking you tourists.]
[Those in the know understand that when it comes to shops, if they haven't been around for millennia or even tens of thousands of years, their so-called 'inherited craftsmanship' might as well not exist.]
[However.]
[That isn't to say shops without such long legacies can't be delicious. See here~ Look what I'm eating? All of these are from new shops…]
[Well, the oldest one might have been open around seventy or eighty years.]
[I can taste the difference.]
--+--
"How, how am I even supposed to respond to that?"
"Seventy or eighty years is 'new'?!"
"I'm so jealous!"
"Dammit!"
--+--
[You know.]
[If you stick with something for seventy or eighty years, you're bound to get decent at it. Generally speaking, unless your standards are sky-high, food from these places is actually pretty good.]
[Even the most exquisite things don't matter much to most people anyway. It's not like you're a Borisin with a dog's nose, able to smell every nuance.]
[Right?]
--+--
Miss Yuzu held a small paper bowl in one hand and a disposable bamboo skewer in the other.
She was eating some kind of delicious street food.
It was a bit too hot, burning her mouth.
She even seemed to lisp a little as she spoke, which was rather amusing.
And as she walked, she kept up her commentary.
The Young Mistress's birthday celebration was an exceptionally grand one, the likes of which hadn't been seen in a long time.
The last one had been over a thousand years ago.
A thousand years is no small number, even for the universe—that's several Amber Eras.
Enough time for many planets to see generation after generation come and go.
Naturally, this meant the Young Mistress's deeds needed to be promoted all over again.
Everything about her!
As you walked along the street, you could see beautiful decorative lanterns, alongside all sorts of technology.
It gave off a feeling of cyberpunk cultivation, a fusion of classical and high-tech.
Was this the future Stellar Alliance?
Well, not entirely.
As Miss Yuzu explained, this part of Shenzhou had drawn inspiration from the Xianzhou style, blending technology with history.
But because the Stellar Alliance was originally formed from several major nations and numerous regions melded together, even after moving beyond the constraints of individual nations, their cultural inheritances remained distinct.
Therefore, only this Shenzhou area was like this.
Other places had completely different atmospheres.
Futuristic, sci-fi metropolises straight out of advanced sci-fi also existed within the Alliance. They just weren't located here.
And besides, sticking too rigidly to a single stereotype was rather boring.
But Miss Yuzu also clarified that the Xianzhou Alliance was the Xianzhou Alliance, and the Stellar Alliance was the Stellar Alliance.
Even within the Xianzhou itself, the six individual ships each had different cultures and customs.
The Stellar Alliance was even more so in that regard.
--+--
[As the central hub of the greater universe, the Stellar Alliance is inherently all-encompassing.]
[Even other worlds the Young Mistress has walked, or places reborn through her grace, if they aren't willing to join the Star Rail Universe, are often willing to establish links with the Stellar Alliance.]
[Thus, the Stellar Alliance is not only the core of the Star Rail Universe, but also a central nexus for the myriad worlds and the arboreal cosmos.]
[When a place connects with so many worlds, encounters so many cultures and customs, they inevitably accept and influence one another.]
[Over the long passage of time, they continuously merge and intertwine. Naturally, they become different from what they were in the past.]
[After all, nothing remains forever unchanged.]
--+--
Miss Yuzu's words filled the people of the real world with even greater pride and a sense of accomplishment.
Simultaneously, her commentary made many nod in agreement, while others seemed lost in thought.
It was true!
Remaining static and stuck in one's ways would inevitably lead to obsolescence.
If humanity hadn't possessed sufficient adaptability, it never would have survived until now.
And it had to be said!
After the Honkai in the main world ended, everyone felt a sense of relief, as if a giant boulder crushing their hearts had been utterly pulverized. There was nothing left to worry about. Even just watching the livestream, their smiles came more readily.
It was, without a doubt, a form of enjoyment.
--+--
[Similarly, every nation, every region, has its own unique culture, its own unique festivals.]
[Even hegemonic powers like the Interastral Peace Corporation or the Xianzhou Alliance cannot successfully export all aspects of their culture to the entire world.]
[The Stellar Alliance can't do it either.]
[But! The Young Mistress can!]
--+--
Miss Yuzu tossed the trash from her finished snack into a nearby bin.
She clearly possessed considerable power herself, yet she chose to enjoy the festivities like an ordinary person, just like everyone else.
In fact, many speculated that there were probably quite a few beings like her, who had 'descended from the heavens' to walk as mortals.
If the Stellar Alliance truly was the core of the greater universe, then in its capital, you could probably throw a stone and hit some major figure from another world.
Let alone Pathstriders, even Emanators were entirely possible!
Of course, don't think Pathstriders are a dime a dozen either.
You have to remember, their numbers only seem significant on the scale of the entire universe. But if you look at a single planet, a single minor world, how many could there possibly be?
Some might not have any at all.
Now that's what you call prestige!
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
20+ advanced chaps on my patreon.
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.