Akashic Records of the Bastard Child Engaged to a Goddess

I woke up feeling refreshed after a long day of resting. Serena lay next to me, already up and chatting away with Fasit about something. I sat up and rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the last bit of sleep.

"Good morning," I croaked.

They both turned to me and bowed. "Good morning, my lord," Serena said, her voice soft and sweet.

Before I could say anything else, Serena rushed towards me and embraced me in a tight hug. Her chest pressed against mine, and I couldn't help but feel a little flustered. I cleared my throat and gently pushed her away.

"Uh, good morning to you, too, Serena," I said with a nervous chuckle.

I glanced over at Fasit and did a double-take. Something about her had changed. Her once-black hair was now pure white, and her ears had grown longer.

"Whoa, Fasit, what happened to you?" I asked in shock.

Fasit let out a laugh. "I've evolved from a high grygan to a great grygan. It's thanks to the family name you gave us yesterday."

I was amazed. Just the simple act of giving them a family name had caused such a drastic change? I couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive as to what else could happen.

「So basically, there's Great Grygan > High Grygan > Grygan... And apparently, whereas the lowest two sub-races have characteristic black hair, Great Grygans have white hair and longer ears...」

Fasit noticed the look on my face and grinned. "Don't worry, Lord Lumiere. You should check your status window and see your stats."

I gulped. I wasn't sure I was ready for this. But with a deep breath, I opened my status window and watch as my stats popped up.

As I scanned through them, my eyes widened in disbelief. "I have... more powers?"

Fasit and Serena exchanged a look before bursting into laughter. I couldn't help but join in, relieved that my fear was unfounded.

It was then that I noticed something else. Fasit's chest had somehow grown even larger. She had to be at least a GG-cup now, while Serena remained an F-cup.

"Uh, Fasit? Your chest...it's bigger than yesterday, right?" I asked, trying not to stare.

Fasit blushed but nodded. "Yes...I guess that evolved, too."

The three of us laughed before more of my status update or rather status nightmare came in.

--- Status ---

Name: Lumiere Venrite Del Silva

Race: Human

Age: 18 Y/O

Titles: The fifteenth child, The eleventh son, Naturally dead, Bastard child, Integrator, All-Father?s courtier, Business man, Meld Master, Prodigy, Savior of the Grygans, Lord of the Grygans, King of Curses.

Class: High Mage

Physical Strength: 28/28

MP: 15,000/15,000

Magic Arts:「Unlocked Elemental Series — [Fire Magic] (Rank B), [Wind Magic] (Rank B), [Earth Magic] (Rank B), [Water Magic] (Rank A)」, [Plant Magic] (Rank B), [Summoning Magic] (Rank S+), [Purification Magic] (Rank SSS+), 「Unlocked Curse Series — [Curse Fire Magic] (Rank E), [Curse Wind Magic] (Rank E), [Curse Water Magic] (Rank D), [Curse Earth Magic] (Rank E), [Curse Plant Magic] (Rank E)」, [Lightning Magic] (Rank D).

Magic Skills: Integral Skill [Appraisal] (Rank C) | Additional Skills: [Lung Master] (Rank B), [Status Modification] (Rank SSS+), [Enhanced Stamina] (Rank D), [Poison Resistance] (Rank C), [Magic Detect] (Rank A), [Element Merger] (Rank B), [Mana Pressure] (Rank A), [Night Vision] (Rank C), [Skill Benefaction], [Skill Store] | Unique Skills: [Beginner's Luck] | Curse Skill: [Fire Demon's Curse].

Sacred Benefaction: All-Father?s Crest of Guidance.

I gained - [Lightning Magic], [Night Vision], [Skill Benefaction], [Skill Store].

I couldn't believe it. I had lost a mana capacity worth 10,000 points and had no idea why. "What happened?" I asked Fasit.

She smiled at me, her long white hair floating behind her. "It's the effect of [Skill Benefaction]. Whenever you use it, your mana points get traded for skills or affinities of your subordinates."

I raised an eyebrow. "I have that skill?"

Fasit nodded. "Yes, I noticed it yesterday when you gave us the family name. That's when you lost those mana points."

I scratched my head, trying to wrap my head around it all. "So it's like I'm trading my mana points for their skills? How does that work exactly?"

Fasit explained in detail how the trade of magic skills worked, and I listened intently. It was fascinating.

But then, she dropped a bombshell. "Oh, and Lord Lumiere... I know Serena is a summon."

I froze, shocked that she had figured it out. "How did you know?" I asked, feeling a bead of sweat trickle down my forehead.

Fasit smiled knowingly. "Well, after putting two and two together, it wasn't hard to figure out. Plus, I noticed Serena passed out like you did after you gave us the family name. That would only happen if you're bonded to her."

Also, there was the fact that she knew Serena wasn't human.

I looked over at Serena, who nodded in confirmation. "It's true, my lord. I told Fasit everything, even about your meeting with All-Father."

I sighed, relieved that the secret was finally out in the open. If the entire village knew, it would make things easier in the long run.

"As long as you're okay with telling Fasit, then I am too," I said.

Fasit bowed her head respectfully. "This information doesn't make me see you in a different way, Lord Lumiere. On the contrary, my respect for you has grown tremendously. For you to be chosen by an Apostle of the gods means you are indeed special. I'm glad to have you as our lord and savior."

I chuckled a little, feeling a bit embarrassed by her praise. "Well, I'm just glad to have you and Serena by my side," I said, grinning.

Speaking of Serena, I couldn't help but glance over at her, admiring her beauty. Fasit was beautiful in her own right, but there was something about Serena that made my heart skip a beat. Even Fasit seemed to understand.

As I sat in my hut, I felt the weight of the impending war with the minotaurs.

Only a day remained until the fateful battle, and I knew that the stakes couldn't be higher.

"One day left huh.." (Lumiere)

I mulled over my strategy once more, hoping that it would be enough to ensure the safety of my village and my trusted companions.

But as I was lost in thought, Serena, my fiancée, let out a gasp.

I turned to her curiously, observing as she checked her status. "My mana points have dropped from 50,000 to 40,000!" she exclaimed, worry etched across her face.

My frown deepened. "The same thing happened to me. What's going on?" I muttered to myself.

It wasn't long before Fasit, the great grygan who was well-versed in number of things involving this field of magic, chimed in with an explanation. "It's the summon contract. You're both bonded by the conditions of your contract, so whatever happens to your master, happens to you."

I figured that would be the case.

"How are the others doing?" I inquired, worried for their wellbeing.

Just then, my other grygan allies walked in, looking more impressive than ever before.

Sangria, Mojito, Old man Martini, and even Mimosa had evolved into great grygans, each with unique and powerful abilities.

I was amazed at their transformations, impressed by their strength and new-found courage.

"Wow, Magenta, you've really grown up," I said with a grin, as I noticed Magenta's transformation into an even "more" stunning young woman.

But then I noticed that Sangria was still flat.

I pointed it out without thinking, and Serena and Fasit immediately scolded me.

"Sangria is more than her looks, Lord Lumiere," Serena said sternly. 𝒃𝙚𝙙𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡．𝙘𝙤𝙢

I felt a pang of guilt and embarrassment. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. It's just that everyone else looks so different now."

Sangria didn't say anything, but I could tell she was hurt. I sighed and hung my head.

Despite my blunder, I knew his companions still respected me as the village head.

I would do anything to protect them, even if it meant sacrificing my own mana points in battle.

With a heavy heart, I had to prepare for the impending war with the minotaurs.

"Isn't it time to show our great lord, Lumiere, the new skills and affinities we acquired?!" (Mojito)

"Do we necessarily have to do it... now?" (Sangria)

"Why not?!" (Mojito)

"Uh, what are you guys tal—" (Lumiere)

"You're always so impatient Mojito.." (Mimosa)

"I'm sorry, my lo— I mean, (~scratches head) Mimosa... it won't happen again." (Mojito)

"Hehe... you don't need to apologize, silly." (Mimosa)

What was simply two friends getting along, Mojito mistook it for Mimosa slowly developing feelings for him.

Poor guy.

"Anyway, Lord Lumiere should know soon enough.." (Martini)

"I'm sure he's dying to see it.." (Fasit)

"See what...?" (Lumiere)

I was confused, but every other person in the room wasn't.

Serena included.