Chapter 299: God of Joy

"Uh, Li En, are you planning to get hooked on Mage Chess?"

When Li En walked in holding a rulebook and a simple chessboard, Hela said in surprise.

"No, no, I was just looking up information on the next Heroic Soul when my Mage teacher persuaded me; he was too enthusiastic, I couldn't refuse."

"You are planning to get hooked on Mage Chess, right?" The words were the same, but the tone was heavier.

"No, I'm too busy; this thing looks very complex, I simply don't have the time for it."

Li En never thought of himself as someone who could resist the temptation of entertainment; those trap-laden schemes designed by high-priced elite talents specifically attack human weaknesses, and once stepped into, it is hard to easily escape; the most rational choice is not to touch it at the start.

"You, are planning to get hooked on Mage Chess, right?" The girl's echo, as if right by the ear, grew heavier and heavier.

Li En finally looked seriously, and Hela's face was calm, seeming completely unconcerned.

But at some unknown time, the bag of chess pieces and the chessboard taken out from the spatial bag were placed on the table, as if narrating something.

"Uh, I do plan to play a bit, but it's a bit too complex; if an experienced player would be willing to guide me, that would be great." Li En was always very rational.

"Is that so? Ahem, I actually played for a while, Li En, want to try?"

The girl coughed lightly, displaying an enthusiasm and joy fitting for her youth.

Sighing, Li En took the chess pieces and sat by the table; then, within five minutes, he was completely annihilated; an old hand who hadn't played in a long time happily enjoyed the pleasure of crushing a novice.

Li En silently listened to the girl happily reviewing the game, saying, "Li En, you made a mistake here," "You wasted your resources," "Your chess group has no core, I can give you two pieces."

What "played for a while," it was clearly "still addicted right now."

But Li En smiled watching the girl talk endlessly, yet didn't feel anything was wrong; he had always thought fate made this girl mature too early, and for her at sixteen or seventeen, playing a little was nothing bad.

In certain situations, she would turn back into that young girl; coldness and indifference might be innate, or perhaps a protective coloration to reject unfamiliar contact.

This was nothing bad, only that her father might be a bit sad.

"... Wait, I am not her dad! Not!"

Taking a deep breath, Li En tried hard to keep his mindset stable.

It seemed that the ones needing psychological treatment and consciousness correction were not just the two daughters.

"Since there is nothing to do for now, let's rest for a while; at least, be myself for a while."

This was probably rare leisure time for Li En; without a Heroic Soul possessing him, he could "be himself" completely without interference or influence; with a cute girl asking him to play cards and chess, Li En, with no current arrangements, had no reason to refuse.

"So it's like that, is the design concept the same as the Myriad Heroes Cards?"

"Different; Myriad Heroes Cards are actually a lower-tier substitute for people who can't play Mage Chess; due to the lack of restrictions from supernatural powers, even with the Association's jurisdiction, it is super unbalanced, fighting is no fun, there are too many fake cards and counterfeit cards, strategy is very low, and Mage Chess, in a sense, can be called a holy artifact, the balance is quite good."

While speaking, Hela lightly tapped the chess pieces, infusing them with magic from her Dragonborn heritage, activating two of the griffins within.

"Roar, roar!"

The little griffin's joints cracked, and it even raised a pair of small wings.

Driven by an unknown power, the chess piece floated slowly for a moment, then directly lunged at the only hero piece on Li En's front line.

"Woo-hoo, Hero Laxus died again." The piece was knocked down, clicked "dead," its head even fell off, a truly miserable death.

Watching her "father" die again, the girl happily raised her hand to celebrate victory early.

Watching the cheering Hela, Li En also felt increasingly happy.

Who got hurt? Li En really didn't know!

Li En noticed that Hela actually seemed to like this game; at least, when she showed off her "Diamond Mask Version Laxus," she was very happy.