Chapter 452: Explanation
After a brief back-and-forth between Mira and Isla, it was finally time for Tessa to ask a question that had been bothering her since the mention of Elion’s three bloodlines.
She looked at him with a slight frown on her face. "You said you got the Dragon Bloodline while you were in the trial," Tessa began. "However, you also mentioned an Incubus Bloodline."
Tessa crossed her arms. "Not to mention how that race is known to be extinct, where did you get that particular bloodline?"
Elion let out a breath. "I guess it is finally time to tell everyone huh..." He said it more to himself than anyone else.
Aria looked at him curiously.
Mira’s expression changed only a little, but Elion noticed it; Mira, at least, she knew more than most of them about his secrets: Zenith knew as well.
But Elion had never told Mira with his own mouth. He had shared memories of how he received it through the Harem Seal, and she had pieced things together from there, but he had never sat down and explained it properly.
For a moment, Elion leaned back in his seat and stared at the ceiling.
The Harem System.
The strange gift from a goddess, and the thing that had changed his life more flagrantly than anything else.
It was the reason he had survived, the reason he had grown so quickly, and the reason he had drawn all these women toward him, and perhaps, in some ways, the reason so many problems had followed him as well.
He lowered his gaze and looked around the room, looking at each of them one by one. They all watched him with differing expressions; his gaze stopped finally on Mira.
Elion rubbed his forehead. He would be lying if he said a part of him was not afraid of the possibility that they might start to see him differently once he was done explaining, but it had to be done.
"Right," he said. "Before I explain the Incubus Bloodline, I need to explain something else first."
Aria moved closer to his side. "What something?"
Elion glanced at her. "The reason my talent grew so quickly."
Zenith only smiled faintly, as though she already knew this would happen eventually.
Elion exhaled slowly. "The reason I went from being the so-called trash of the academy to what I am now - you could say that everything is linked to one event, or rather, one thing."
No one interrupted him, and he began to explain, "Some time ago, during our dungeon exploration class, I fell down to the lower floors after William’s attempt to get rid of me, and I almost died. However, before I met my miserable end, I received a few things from a goddess, and she also saved my life."
The mention of William’s attempt to get rid of him made Tessa and Aria frown, since he had never told them, but it was quickly overshadowed by the mention of a goddess.
Tessa blinked in surprise, "A goddess, like, an actual goddess?"
"Yes." Elion looked up again. "And she gave me a gift called a system, among other things."
"A system, what does that mean?" Isla repeated softly.
Elion nodded. "It is called the Harem System."
Tessa’s brows slowly drew together, "Harem... System?"
Mira placed a hand over her mouth, stifling a laugh, though whether she was hiding a smile or waiting for the chaos to begin, Elion could not tell.
Aria’s eyes narrowed.
Elion leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees.
"The system gives me random quests, rewards, points, skills, and other things. Most of what I have gained so far came from it in one way or another. My growth, my skills, some of my abilities, and even the Incubus Bloodline."
Tessa stared at him. "So you got the Incubus Bloodline from this system?"
"Not exactly, but you could say that. I received the Incubus physique as a gift as well, so it would be inappropriate to consider them the same thing."
Tessa looked as though she wanted to ask ten questions at once. Elion raised a hand before she could start, "I know how ridiculous it sounds."
"It is beyond ridiculous," Tessa replied.
"I agree," Elion nodded.
"Why would a goddess give you something called a Harem System?"
Elion went silent as several gazes turned toward him, and his expression became faintly awkward. "Well..."
Mira smiled sweetly, "Yes, Elion. Why would she?"
’This little vixen!’ Elion gave Mira a look. "Mira." She was obviously trying to stir up more trouble for him, and she was clearly enjoying it.
"What? I am also curious."
"But you already know."
"I know enough," she said, still smiling. "But hearing you say it yourself is different."
Elion sighed. He had the distinct feeling that he was being bullied. "The goddess who gave it to me is the Goddess of Lust."
Tessa’s mouth opened slightly, Aria’s gaze sharpened dangerously, and Isla’s cheeks turned red as her imagination ran wild.
Zenith only chuckled.
Mira nodded as though this explained many things.
"The Goddess of Lust," Tessa repeated slowly.
"Yes."
There were a lot of theories on gods and goddesses, but the only widely known deity was the goddess of light, who was worshipped fervently by a select few, and even had a whole kingdom in her name, ruled and administered by her devout followers.
While other deities were mentioned in history books, their existence was not acknowledged as much, and little to no one had heard of this goddess of lust.
However, if Esmeralda or Ophelia were present, they would immediately realise why. Even though the succubi did not worship the goddess of Lust, they believed that the goddess of light’s followers had gradually suppressed the knowledge of other gods amongst the common populace, declaring their own goddess as the one true deity.
Considering how the high-ranking clergy of the church seemed capable of performing divine miracles with her blessing, trying to speak against their religion was considered nothing more than a fool’s errand.
And now, Elion was saying there was a goddess of lust?
Tessa stared at him for a long moment. She slowly looked around the room at the number of women present. Finally, she looked back at him. "Elion."
"Yes?"
"I feel like I should be more surprised, but somehow, this makes far too much sense." Tessa leaned back slightly, her arms still crossed beneath her strained chest. "So," she began slowly, "does this system... make women like you?"
She dropped the question like a bombshell.
The moment of truth had arrived. Aria’s gaze narrowed at Tessa; Isla looked up quietly, and Mira’s smile faded just a little.
It was obvious that the question irked them; they were curious, and perhaps none of them wanted to be the one to ask the question.
Zenith watched Elion with a calm expression; she didn’t care much for the answer, but even she seemed curious about how he would answer.
Elion did not respond immediately, because that was not a question he could answer carelessly. "No," he said at last.
Tessa’s eyes narrowed slightly. "You are sure?"
"I am sure." Elion looked at each of them in turn.
"The system can reward me for forming relationships, among other things. It can show certain things, measure affection, give me skills, items, bloodlines, points, and all sorts of ridiculous rewards; it can make you feel boundless lust and stimulate you through incubus-related skills, make you yearn to be touched, but it does not force anyone to love me; neither does it force me to love anyone."