A Record of Ash & Ruin: The Grieving Lands - Chapter 14Book 3: : Excuses

When the enigmatic and overpowered Kieran Drayke awakens in a foreign magical world after a sudden transmigration, he brings along a system unlike any this realm has ever known. The “Sovereign Architect System” doesn’t just make him invincible—it gives him the tools to build something far greater.But Kieran isn’t interested in world domination. At least, not in the usual way.Disillusioned by the world's surface-level glimmer and the rot beneath it, Kieran sets his sights on the forsaken—those discarded by society, lost in the shadows of nobility and corruption. From slums, war zones, and forgotten ruins, he gathers orphan girls of various races—elves, beastkin, humans, and more—each with untapped potential and pain behind their eyes.He trains them in secret. Guides them. Empowers them. Not as soldiers, but as a family. A hidden organization that operates behind the curtains, shaping the world while appearing as ordinary students at the prestigious Aetherion Magic Academy.Kieran himself? Just a carefree, slightly lazy transfer student with a penchant for sweets, sarcasm, and sneaking naps between classes—on the surface, at least.With a slow-burning plot that weaves magical worldbuilding, deep friendships, training arcs, casual comedy, and a cast of unforgettable girls who grow into queens of the unseen, Chronicles of the Hidden Crown explores what happens when an OP MC doesn’t conquer the world with brute force…But builds a legacy from its forgotten pieces.No betrayal. No forced drama. Just the steady rise of a secret kingdom in the shadows of a crumbling empire.

In her previous life, Wen Ning was imprisoned beside Pei You and became his caged bird, bird in his palm,

Every day is not planning to escape or is on the way to escape,

In the end, he broke off his wings and died in depression.

After living a new life, Wen Ning decided to hide her identity and her temperament.

Acrimonious, short-sighted, stupid and ignorant…

The key is to love him so much.

All in all, he could do as much as he hated her.

Sure enough, Pei You in this life hated her so much that she shunned her.

Seeing her makes me want to wash my eyes.

Wen Ning is physically and mentally at ease, and can finally choose a husband with peace of mind.

On the day when the news of Wen Ning’s engagement spread throughout the city, she ran into Pei You unexpectedly.

Wen Ning decided to stand on the last post and perform the last play, hugging Pei You’s thigh and crying:

“Wow, my lord, my little girl doesn’t want to marry. Oh, my lord, the sky can learn from the sky and the moon and the sun and the moon can show my sincerity, my lord, my lord, if I don’t change my infatuation in this life, I will not marry you!”

In Wen Ning’s script, at this moment, Pei You should be ruthless and leave without giving her a single look.

But he didn’t want him to stand still, and when she was about to stop acting, he bent down slowly, and wiped away the tears in the corners of her eyes with his warm fingertips. From his eyes to his voice, there was a change from the cold charm of the past: “If that’s the case, how about marrying me?”

Wen Ning: “…………………???”

- Description from novelbuddy

Rhian Locke only wanted strength.To face the monster that slaughtered his parents while he watched, helpless.“I never asked to be your savior. So why should I care?”All he hoped for was to reach a decent rank, hunt that beast down, maybe become a monster hunter, and retire in peace.“I’m not a slave to the gods. I don’t exist to do their bidding.”But the world had made its decision long before he was born.“Patterns are meant to be broken.”------“Boy, I’ve bathed in the blood of your kind. I’ve crushed those stronger than you.”Lightning cracked across the sky. A hammer flew to the hand of a god.“I won’t let a deceiver’s spawn and a whore’s bastard son, stand before me and declare my end.”Rhian stepped forward, blood trailing from his mouth, eyes locked.“I’m not here to declare your end,” he said coldly. “I’m here to fulfill it.”....

When Shen Yu woke up, he had accidentally gone into a ridiculous dog-blood novel.

In the novel, he is a poor cannon fodder character:

– dead father and mother

– his fiancée had run away

– he is disabled (in a wheelchair)

– he lives a lonely life in a 20,000-square foot mansion.

Later, in order to compete for the female lead, he died under the opposition.

In order to save his life, Shen Yu had to stay as far away as possible from the leading and supporting roles and concentrate on enjoying the luxury life.

As a result, one day, the servant brought a 10-year-old villain with bruised eyes: “Sir, this is the orphan of Tang’s family.”

Shen Yu: “…”

Shen Yu decided to adopt the small villains and change his fate.

Ten Years Later.

The villain pushed Shen Yu to the corner: “Who is that woman?”

Shen Yu: “… Who do you say?”

The villain: “The woman who seduced you at last night’s banquet!”

Shen Yu: “…”

The villain: “Hehe, I’m going to kill her.”

Shen Yu: “My son… That’s the female lead you forgot by the lake…”