lol: After being blessed by the Happy Demon, I became the harem king

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"Why is there an extra girl?" Fain protested. "That's the great sacrifice made by the Starchild Soraka for the future of Runeterra!!"

“No, you’re mistaken.” Upon hearing Fain’s statement, Riven shook her head repeatedly, then said calmly, “Under normal circumstances, I might have the same doubts about both parties in such an improper relationship. But it’s different now. As my master, your character and reputation are simply too impeccable. In terms of reputation, I really can’t imagine many people who can compare to you, my master.”

After a pause, Riven added, "And regarding children's education, I have deep concerns about the future family environment and atmosphere for my children."

Upon hearing Riven's words, Fain's face revealed a deep sense of helplessness.

“The prejudice in people’s minds is a huge mountain.”

“That only makes people marvel at your shamelessness…” Riven also looked helpless: “Actually, I’m fine, but I’m a little worried about what the new Syndra will think after she finds out about this.”

Riven sighed and said, "As far as I know, that Syndra has been holding back for quite a while now, hasn't she? And she's been determined to be the first to get pregnant for a long time now. Now that there's another competitor, I can't say what Syndra will do next, given her current state of mind."

"It's alright, after all, what's done is done." Farn shrugged, then added, "There are other important things to take care of."

As he spoke, Fann bid farewell to Karan and the others. Upon hearing that Fann was about to leave, Karan showed a hint of surprise and said, "Sir, are you leaving so soon? Why don't you rest for a while? At least wait until tomorrow so I can entertain you?"

With a hint of reluctance and gratitude on his face, Kalan said, "What you have done may be unknown to ordinary people, but it is of profound significance to me, my Lingxi, and my child. You have saved us from darkness. Even if we cannot repay you, at least let us entertain you a little..."

Upon hearing this, Kalan's companion, Lingxi, nodded in agreement. Farn simply waved his hand and said, "I appreciate your gratitude, but it was nothing more than a small favor for me, and you also contributed significantly to my entry into the seal. If you truly wish to repay me, there's no need for hospitality; instead, go and assist Venerable Karma in easing the conflict between humans and Vastaya."

"As for the rest..." Fain turned his gaze to the other side of Ionia and said, "Before leaving Ionia, I need to go to Sunflower Forest to deal with some historical issues there."

348·Koribayashi Mishima

Upon hearing that Farn was going to Kui Lin to deal with historical issues, the flesh-toothed beast Karan was slightly taken aback at first, then his eyes revealed a look of sudden understanding. He nodded and said, "I understand. This matter certainly cannot be delayed. Although I don't think this can repay your kindness, I will do my best to cooperate with the Temple of Eternity and Peilor's work so that my people and humans can understand each other."

Ionia is not a continent, but an archipelago. The seven largest islands are named after provinces. Ionia itself does not have a clearly defined government like Noxus or Demacia; rather, the vast majority of its people are guided by the Temple of Eternity.

Of these seven provinces, Navori is the largest, with flat and fertile terrain and the best conditions, making it the capital of Ionia in the eyes of many. To the east of Navori are three island provinces: Larin, Urin, and Kelin. These three islands are the private lands of the Vastaya people of Ionia.

Before this, people lived in peace. However, with the expansion of civilization and the exchange of cultures, border issues between humans and Vastaya people became increasingly intense.

Just as the flesh-toothed beast settlements choose to remain in the jungle, and no one can enter unless someone leads the way, the reason is that the flesh-toothed beasts do not want their primal essence, on which they depend for survival, to be affected by the arrival of civilization. The reason why such a powerful primal flesh-toothed beast as Kalan can be born here is because of the abundant primal essence and natural wild magic.

The Primal Essence itself is an indispensable part of their communication with nature. Now, on the three islands including Sunflower Forest, with the impact of war on the spiritual realm, the Primal Essence has also begun to be affected. Karma doesn't have the extra energy, and similar conflicts happen to be the nourishment for Syndra, so the responsibility naturally falls on Fain's shoulders.

Of course, while the responsibility fell on Fane's shoulders, he actually took it all on himself. After all, at the core of Osiris, Fane's pursuit of happiness was pure and eternal. Having lost their wild magic, most Vastaya were lost and uncertain about the future. Helping them find a new path, enter a new civilization, and embrace a new era would bring Fane immense joy and hope, further enhancing his power.

As for Lilia, Ahri, Kasumi, Yuna, and others who live on the three islands of Kui Lin and in the surrounding area... Farn didn't think that much about it.

Of course, as someone who is firmly on the path of pure love, if he really happens to encounter something by chance, and then something happens by accident, such as Osiris's curse or something, as an honest and hardworking man, Fan will naturally take on the corresponding responsibility.

In short, all the problems were Osilesh's fault, and Farn was always cleaning up Osilesh's messes.

Osiris is bad, Farn is good.

As for why Kalan singled out Pelor and mentioned it again, it's simply because Pelor was no longer part of Ionia's territory a long time ago. Although geographically, Pelor is still the island that Ionia has used to connect with the outside world since ancient times, in the spiritual realm, it was righteously severed by the spirit of Ionia as the sealed place of the Dream Pool when Syndra's cultivation went out of control.

Having slumbered for millennia in the Dream Pool, Pelor himself was imbued with Syndra's colors upon Syndra's awakening. However, considering that the emerging fighting spirit needs time to integrate into Ionia's traditional culture, and that some with more rigid mindsets will require some time to accept it, Pelor's actions are also a factor.

More importantly, the coastal residents were the hardest hit by the Noxian invasion—their lands were invaded, their homes were burned, their forests were cut down, and the spirits of the land were reduced to ashes.

Like the Pelor Unsung, these people are natural followers of Syndra. And they need an ideology to guide them, otherwise they will become like the Navori Brotherhood in the original story, who, in their quest for revenge against Noxus, would even go so far as to launch a suicidal assassination attempt against Irelia.

To prevent any possible extreme situations, Pelor has essentially become Sindra's fiefdom.

Many who share the idea of ​​fighting spirit have spontaneously traveled to Pelor to participate in the new construction, working alongside the coastal residents of the Navori province to rapidly restore the coastal areas of Ionia. However, the current construction is vastly different from the past, filled with hostility that is completely different from the harmony of the past. In fact, some of the Noxian-specific fortifications such as bastions, barricades, and watchtowers have been erected...

The western part of Ionia is changing at an astonishing pace, and the east is where Fahn's next target lies.

After leaving the settlement of flesh-toothed beasts and taking a couple of steps, Fane clapped his hands and said, "Come out."

"..."

Upon hearing Farn's words, there was a moment of silence, after which a small figure emerged from the shadows under a nearby tree.

She wore a wild braid, her messy hair cascading down her back like a standing figure. Her trousers were slightly baggy, but were tied up at the ankles. A storage bag was attached to her lower back, containing scrolls, smoke bombs, and other props, as well as kunai, chain sickles, and other distinctive weapons.

Wearing a dark green tube top, her shapely waist and back were exposed to the sunlight, the subtle muscle contours exuding a healthy aura. However, unlike ordinary young girls, the spiritual power from the Shadow Fist school was imprinted on the girl's body in the form of patterns, making the girl's already exceptionally bright and sharp eyes even more rebellious and unruly, like a sharp sword in the shadows, a kunai.

Looking at Fain, who was not much older than her but had become her master, Akali silently snorted a few times in her heart—but she did not feel any dissatisfaction because of this status issue.

If we're really going to talk about it, Akali feels that having Fain as her mentor might be a good idea? After all, compared to her previous mentors, this guy named Fain is not only stronger, but more importantly, he's one of the few people in all of Ionia whose ideals Akali agrees with.

Akali's mission is to prune trees; in her eyes, all that talk of moral instruction is laughable. To deal with enemies, swords and kunai are the proper weapons!

349. Akali's Dilemma

Thinking to herself, Akali greeted Fain, then complained with a disgruntled expression, "I've wanted to go in and find you guys for a long time, but every time I go in, I end up coming back out... Is there something wrong with this forest? How can a ninja like me get lost?"

“That’s how primal magic works.” Upon hearing Akali’s words, Fane shrugged, indicating that it was normal.

"The Primal Essence protects this ancient forest. This energy, which is closely related to the original Vastaya, shelters and connects them with the spirit of primal nature. Without their permission, not only you, but even the masters of Ionia can only stand at the door, get lost, bewildered, confused, embarrassed, and then leave."

Upon hearing Fain's explanation, Akali said she didn't quite understand, but she could tell that even if other masters came, it would be a waste, so she didn't dwell on it. Although Akali, as an apprentice, had already surpassed many of her own Balance Order disciples in terms of strength, Akali knew that she still had a long way to go compared to those true masters.

Thinking to herself, Akali bowed respectfully to Fain and said, "Although I don't know why my mother and the others in the cult are asking me to become your apprentice, I have personally witnessed your fighting style and I strongly agree with your philosophy of combat. Therefore, please guide me."

"no problem."

Upon hearing Akali's words, Fain nodded and then said, "Shen and Jie are both my friends, and I've long been aware of your ideals. To the past Ionia, your ideas might have seemed a bit too rebellious, but in reality, they represent the future that Ionia should have. Of course, you don't need to be too nervous. While Ionia values ​​mentorship, what I advocate is never those complicated and lengthy rules."

After a pause, Farn added, "Or rather, rather than those complicated and lengthy rules, I would prefer that our ideas and beliefs be consistent, so that we can avoid arguing over differences in those ideas and wasting unnecessary time and energy when we live together. Of course, just as there are no two leaves in this world that are exactly the same, if disagreements arise, I also hope that we can express our thoughts to each other, rather than directly denying the other's choices and will."

Hearing Fane's words, Akali, who had been bowing deeply, fell silent for a moment. After a long while, she straightened up and looked at Fane before her. Her gaze, which had previously been sharp and rebellious, now held a hint of surprise and subtle agreement. After a moment of silence, Akali said with deep conviction:

"Of course, that's what I hope for too."

Although the words were brief, sometimes, some things don't need much embellishment. Or, for someone like Akali, who is considered an outcast in the Order of the Balance, simply saying "This is the person I want too" is already astonishing enough.

After staring at Akali for a while, Fain couldn't help but shake his head and sigh. Then, under Akali's questioning gaze, he said, "You know, my essence in the spiritual realm is much stronger than that of ordinary people—including those so-called masters. And right now, I can feel many complex emotions churning within you. But in the end, all you can say are these two short sentences. It seems that although you are the daughter of the Fist of Shadows, your life in the Order of the Shadow is not very free."

As he spoke, Farn shrugged his shoulders without any semblance of a teacher, his brows furrowed with helplessness.

After a moment of silence, a complex expression appeared on Akali's face.

Just as Fain said, although Akali is labeled as rebellious by many, as the daughter of the Fist of Shadow, Akali doesn't feel much freedom. Because in the traditional atmosphere of the Kinkou Order, Akali simply can't find any so-called confidants to confide in about her inner turmoil and the anxiety and unease that comes from feeling out of place.

Akali might see Fahn as a powerful figure worthy of emulation. However, Akali was never prepared to consider Fahn a friend. After all, having grown up in a misunderstood and oppressive environment, Akali was perhaps already accustomed to being alone, even viewing herself as an irrational, solitary figure.

but now……

Meeting Faen's slightly helpless gaze, Akali also felt a strange unease. Like a fledgling bird leaving its warm nest for the first time to try and spread its wings in the sky, perhaps this was something she was meant to have, something she was meant to learn, something she was meant to understand. But in the atmosphere of Ionia, even Akali herself had already given up.

I'm experiencing this understanding again now... a sense of trepidation upon returning home? That explanation seems a bit off. Perhaps it's more about fear?

I'm afraid I've misunderstood Fane's meaning, afraid my expectations are too optimistic, and that reality isn't what it seems. Or perhaps, I'm afraid it is indeed true, but I'm simply unable to understand or accept it...

Just as Akali was pursing her lips, unsure how to respond, suddenly—with a sharp crack—Fane's broad hand landed directly on Akali's shoulder.

Fain's sudden action startled Akali, who looked like a frightened rabbit—or perhaps a wildcat? Her fur stood on end, clearly indicating she was quite frightened.

Meeting Akali's gaze, Fain said, "You don't need to rush to understand, because we're about to head to the Isles of Sunflower. The journey may not be long, but it'll be enough for us to get to know each other. But in any case, rather than the master and apprentice dynamic in the traditional Ionian atmosphere, I hope we can become partners who are both teacher and friend."

"Hmm...uh..." Upon hearing Fain's words, Akali opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but when the words reached her lips, she didn't know how to express them. She could only close her mouth again, her expression changing in a series of ways, and finally took a deep breath and said, "I...I understand."

“Then there’s no problem.” Farn nodded, then said, “Let’s prepare to set off. Destination: Kui Forest.”

350 The Death of the Golden Demon

For Fane, Kui Lin wasn't exactly far, but it wasn't exactly close either. Considering that the primitive magic there was different from the overall spiritual realm of Ionia, Fane didn't open a portal directly, but instead rode his horse to get there.

Frankly, given Fane's abilities, riding a horse would be a complete waste of time. Even on foot, Fane's speed far surpasses that of any so-called steed or other flying beast. However, after witnessing the current state of the flesh-toothed beast settlement where Kalan resided, Fane took the opportunity to ascertain the current state of public sentiment in Ionia—humans were doing alright. Although they had been impacted by the war, it ended quickly, affecting only the coastal areas and parts of the interior. While some had experienced a change in mentality as a result, not everyone was affected.

But the Vastayan are different. As a biological group with a deeper connection to nature and Ionia itself, the Vastayan are more acutely affected by spiritual influences. Furthermore, the connections between Vastayan are much stronger than those between Vastayan and humans. Understanding their condition will allow Farn to gain insight into the thoughts of the Vastayan on the Isles of Sunburst.

Besides these, there was also a request from Karma—Jhin, the Golden Demon, who escaped from prison during the war between Ionia and Noxus. In the current turbulent situation where the spiritual realm is under attack, the minds of the Ionian people are already unstable. The damage caused by Jhin himself was relatively minor; at most, a region would only see a dozen or so casualties, and usually, there would only be a handful of victims.

While this may seem disregarding the value of life, compared to the war Ionia has just experienced, the number of victims caused by Jhin is indeed negligible.

The problem is that Jhin's morbid pursuit of art suggests his mind is somewhat unstable. Artistic death inherently possesses strong communicative qualities, and in the already unique context of Ionia's city-states, the spread and influence of these deaths were further amplified. Although merely a mortal, he stirred up the entire spiritual realm of the Zhiyun region through indiscriminate terrorist attacks and artistic killings.

This is one of the reasons why, even though he could have gone directly to the three islands of Kwai Lin, he chose to take a detour to the province of Chi Yun.

On the way, Fain also learned about the current situation of Ionia, or rather, the Order of the Balance, through Akali.

"Shen is alright, although I always feel that he's too conservative, but the Order of Balance is all about that." But Jie is not so good.

Akali's tone lacked respect when discussing Shen. This was mainly because, in Akali's eyes, Shen, and the others in the Kinkou Order, were somewhat inflexible. Even Shen, her former teacher, had, frankly, focused more on his philosophy to ensure the future Kinkou Trio—the Eye of Twilight and the Fist of Balance—could work together as effectively as before.

Unfortunately, Akali has now become a lone thorn in the side. With a new teacher, she no longer needs to hold back and has bluntly expressed her views on Shen, and even the entire Kindred Spirit, as being too conservative.

Akali continued, "As for Jie... I don't know much about him. Apparently, he had some kind of conflict with Master Kusho and has now defected. His name Jie has been removed, and the sect's scrolls have changed it to 'The Traitor Gouf.' Of course, this is only from our side. According to other disciples who have seen Jie, he seems to call himself 'Zed.' That sounds quite menacing."

Hearing Akali's words, Fain wasn't too surprised.

Because of Zed… well, it should be said that when they went to the Ionian coast to reclaim Pelor, Zed had repeatedly expressed his resentment, his disgust for Noxus, and his frustration with the inaction of some within the cult. This even led to numerous arguments with Shen, who was like a brother to him. Although each argument ended with both sides apologizing and explaining their feelings and beliefs, both Faen and Shen knew that Zed had never truly let go of his own thoughts.

Now that he's defected, it's not surprising. The only thing that makes Faen curious is whether Zed took the Tear of Shadows with him.

Shadow Tears, though sounding like a liquid, are actually a special kind of magic, the origin of Zed's shadow magic in the game. According to Fahn, they originated in the era of the Rune Wars, a byproduct of the world's rune corruption. This is why Shadow Tears possess such a powerful ability to corrupt the mind; those with weak wills are easily manipulated and rendered powerless. In the comics, Master Kusanagi ultimately lost control of Shadow Tears and was killed by Zed.

Zed himself had perfect mastery of the Tear of Shadows, but because his teacher lost control of the Tear of Shadows and killed him, he was branded a culprit for killing his master—just like Yasuo. That's why he defected.

Judging from Akali's side, Master Kusho is not dead, so this matter may not be so simple. After all, according to the original storyline, Master Kusho was also preparing to gradually complete the cultural transformation of the Kinkou Order through Zed—just as Karma wanted Ionia to accept the ideology of fighting spirit. It's just that Master Kusho overplayed his hand and failed to control the corruption of the Tear of Shadow.

Based on this, the so-called defection might just be a charade orchestrated by Master Kushu and Zed? After all, from a darker perspective, this would allow the Order of the Shadow to undergo a ideological shift while simultaneously keeping Zed away from the core circle and maintaining a close relationship with the Order itself. Then, when their son Shen becomes the new Eye of Twilight, the two could naturally reconcile and strengthen the Order's overall power...

Fane wasn't interested in this, but he still reminded Karma through the Twin Dragon Seals to prevent the Order of the Balance from causing any more inexplicable trouble.

Upon arriving in Zhiyun, Fain went directly to the area where Jhin had last appeared during this period.

Through the remnants of his spiritual realm, Fane quickly located Jhin's trail. However, when Fane and his group followed the trail to the area where Jhin was, the situation there was somewhat beyond Fane's expectations.

Jhin is dead.

The one who killed Jin was a mute girl who played the piano in an orphanage.

351. Sona's Dilemma

In fact, when Faen heard that Jhin was dead, he didn't take it too seriously. After all, Jhin was just a mortal with a special talent.

Jhin's mystique, in most cases, stems from people's deep-seated fears and the unknown. It is precisely because of this collective belief that Jhin was once called the "Golden Demon," viewed as a malevolent spirit or a type of demon. In reality, however, Jhin often establishes his advantage through intelligence.

Having lost the advantage of intelligence and covert operations, Jhin's own strength is such that once he is trapped in close combat, he has no chance of turning the tide. At most, he can only think about how to retreat.

But to Faen's surprise, Jhin died just like that.

They found a local elder, an elderly man in his seventies wearing a white robe. Upon seeing Fain, or rather, upon seeing the double dragon mark on the back of Fain's hand, he bowed respectfully and said in a slightly desolate voice, "Honored guest from the Temple of Eternity, it is a pleasure to meet you."

"A pleasure to meet you." Fain didn't correct the elder's mistake in addressing him. After all, in most cases, things like the Twin Dragon Seals were indeed only bestowed upon those within the Hall of Eternity. However, it was clear that the elder hadn't realized that the Twin Dragon Seals on Fain's hand weren't a temporary gift for a specific purpose... But that didn't matter; recognizing them already demonstrated the elder's extensive knowledge.

Thinking to himself, Faen asked, "Tell me about the Golden Demon."

"Oh, so it really is this matter."

Upon hearing Fan's words, the elder nodded in agreement, but then sighed inexplicably. After a moment of silence, the old man quietly said, "This happened three days ago..."

As he listened to the old man's story, Farn nodded thoughtfully.

According to the elder's description, Jhin arrived in this small town about a week ago. After two art-themed ceremonies, Jhin's true colors were revealed, and the town guards noticed some clues. However, judging from the final events, those so-called clues were clearly intentional on Jhin's part. His real purpose was to lure the town guards to the vicinity of the orphanage, and then, unknowingly, have them accidentally kill the children while trying to rescue them. This would allow Jhin to achieve his pursuit of art.

This isn't the first time Jhin has done this. Similar individuals often enjoy using art as a pretext to commit senseless killings and tragedies, and then enthusiastically expounding on the philosophical ideas behind them to those who come after. But for Jhin, whether it's the lives lost, the broken spirits, or the bleak existence, in the end, they will only be an embellishment in his own art history.

However, this time, it seems that Jhin misjudged the situation.

In the midst of despair, a little girl who had always remained silent in the orphanage suddenly raised her head. As the ancient lyre began to play, Ember's body, in its frenzied dance, broke its own limbs. The sudden scene stunned everyone present. Only when Ember had died from blood loss did they realize the crisis was over, and that the one who had killed the Golden Demon was a little girl who had suddenly awakened her magical talent.

Logically, in this situation, the little girl should be regarded as a hero, a rising star of magic. But unfortunately, this is Ionia.

Although Ionia's ideology has undergone significant changes, the core of these shifts remains the coastal regions of Pelor and Navoli province. Even in Presidium and Shanzan, also within Navoli province, many still believe this is a transgression against tradition, a mistake that could plunge Ionia into endless war. How much more so in Zhiyun, separated from Navoli by a strait, a region historically known for its conservative ideology and unaffected by the swift end of the war?

Within this simple philosophy, people genuinely believe that all life should be respected, even the cursed Ember. Sona's "counterattack," while saving many, also effectively took a life, contradicting their ideal of non-violence.

In fact, it wasn't just the residents of the town who developed some feelings of rejection; even some people in the orphanage began to distance themselves from Sona.

In truth, Faen could understand this. According to the elders, Jhin's death was truly gruesome—as Sona plucked the ancient strings, golden waves of sound, accompanied by a torrent of magic, enveloped the Golden Demon's body. His cloaked form seemed to have lost control; to the accompaniment of the melodious song, the Golden Demon's limbs and torso danced wildly uncontrollably. With each intense note, the increasingly clamorous sound waves assaulted everyone's thoughts.

The Golden Demon's dance grew faster, more flamboyant, and more distorted. In the end, it even broke its own limbs, yet still danced wildly with its bare, pale bones exposed.

What terrified them even more was Jhin's state. At first, Jhin would let out a few painful howls, but as the dance became faster, more frantic, and more cruel, Jhin started laughing instead.

Some say it's because Sona's music contained a terrifying magic, making Jhin unable to distinguish between reality and illusion. Others say they saw the surprise in Jhin's eyes not from the numbness of magical illusion, but from genuine joy. Still others say that before he died, Jhin whispered to the crowd and Sona that his art had finally been realized…

Whatever the truth may be, one thing is certain: Sona, who was born mute and unable to speak, was increasingly isolated and even feared by people because of this.

Based on my understanding of Jhin... Jhin probably died with a sense of satisfaction. After all, a self-proclaimed artist assassin, retaliated against by his own hostages and traps, died in a frenzy, and in the end, saw the savior who killed him and others tremble in fear at the hands of those she saved. For a madman like Jhin, nothing could excite him more.

"He got off too easy." Thinking this, Farn shook his head with considerable displeasure, then said, "Where is the orphanage? I'll go see that little girl."