I summoned an S+ rank being, and now we were engaged.
In record time even.
It only took two minutes of meeting her for us to be affianced.
Could I even say no?
"Would you really want your beautiful daughter to marry a bastard child like me hah! I have nothing to offer sir, so I don't see how I'd be of use to gods and goddesses. Don't you agree?" (Lumiere)
"I don't, flirt." (All-Father)
I was trying to turn down the offer, but this guy just wouldn't budge.
He was determined to have me as his son-in-law, and I had nothing to offer. My rock collections maybe...
Even Serendipity hadn't said a word all this time. She was quiet while All-Father and I talked, he made the demands and all I could do was listen. It led me to believe she wasn't against the idea of our engagement.
That was kind of a relief, I didn't know how I'd feel if a girl rejected me. Phew.
"You're an Integrator, that alone makes you a most valuable asset. Yes, the gods of the God Continent rarely interfere in the goings of the normal world, but I can... As the father of the Trifects." (All-Father)
I still didn't understand the word— "Trifect." He'd said it so many times it almost felt too special for me not to know.
"Can I ask a question, uh... Mr. All-Father?" (Lumiere)
"Yes, by all means. Oh and call me dad... (~chortles) you're my future son after all." (All-Father)
He jumped straight for son-in-law already? These gods had no patience, honestly.
"Well, you say you're Trifects, but I don't really know what that means. Would you mind telling me?" (Lumiere)
"Very well then, (~clears throat) We are an ancient race of energy beings that were created by the gods themselves. We possess magical powers that are unmatched by any other race, and our knowledge of magic and arcane lore is highly sought after by other civilizations. (~smiles) Does that answer your question?" (All-Father)
I got the gist of things.
Conversely, this also meant Trifects were known for their reclusive nature, and few outsiders were ever allowed to enter their domains.
There was no other way to explain why barely anyone had heard of such a race.
"So, it's not that I don't appreciate the ge—" (Lumiere)
"Listen to me." (All-Father)
The manner with which he interjected almost made my body grow cold.
It was a tad terrifying although the man didn't do anything that would classify as such. This was simply my thoughts catastrophizing the situation I was in. As usual.
"The reason why you should be engaged to Serendipity is to forge an alliance between our races and strengthen your political and economic position. The Trifects are one of the most powerful and influential races in the world yet very few know that. Our support will be invaluable to you." (All-Father)
"I understand that much, but why me? I'm nothing special." (Lumiere)
"As an integrator, it is within your capabilities to utilize the knowledge of your past incarnation and the modern world to create a superior civilization. It is important you know that as you age, more memories will resurface, further expanding your wealth of knowledge. Your partner, Serendipity, was chosen for her status as a goddess and her proficiency in wielding powerful magic, ensuring your safety. You are the only one who can accomplish this task, and it is imperative that you do so." (All-Father)
Actually, there was nothing wrong with what he said. He was simply a man who wanted the best for this world.
Her engagement to me wasn't just any normal arranged marriage.
To me, it was a sign of the Trifects' trust in me and their willingness to work together towards a common goal.
That wasn't wrong one bit.
As an Apostle of the gods, it was clear that he held immense power and knowledge beyond my own. Therefore, I refrained from asking him why he couldn't simply snap his fingers and improve the world's civilization.
Instead, I listened intently as he asked me to improve the world in a fundamental way - to change the social system that perpetuated inequality and the subjugation of the weak by the strong.
As a bastard child myself, I was eager to take on this task and make a difference.
It was clear that this wasn't a task to be taken lightly, as it required a complete overhaul of the existing social structures. But I was determined to make this change and improve the world as All-Father had requested.
I didn't realize it earlier, but this was the first time in a while someone had faith in me. Faith in the fact that I could do something.
"I'll do it, I'll change this world for the better!" (Lumiere)
"You are ready are you? A number of forces will stand in your way... demon kings and emperors, beings that possess power you've never seen before and tyrants who want the world to serve them... You may yet need all the power this world can offer, in order to change it. It will not be an easy journey." (All-Father)
"Don't worry, I'll be with him." (Serendipity)
"Of course, I trust your judgment, my Serendipity." (All-Father)
She finally spoke, and elegantly so too. Her support, I'd need it more than anything.
It was invaluable.
"It won't be a wise idea for you to let anyone know you're affiliated with us, not for now at least. First earn the trust of the people, rise through the ranks and become the best version of you possible." (All-Father)
"Heeeeeh?! How exactly am I going to do that?!" (Lumiere)
"Fufufu! That's entirely up to you my future son..." (All-Father)
Again with the in-law thing.
I was back in my bedroom, with Serendipity next to me unconscious, looking more human and less demonic.
She was naked, and I couldn't help but notice her body. But let's not forget, I wasn't one to fall for such tricks. All-Father was a wise man indeed, he definitely did this on purpose.
I still had questions on how to change the world, but I didn't get the chance to ask him.
"(So where do I start? How do I proceed?)"
These were the questions that were on my mind.
But one thing was for sure...
"(I won't let All-Father's seductive tactics distract me from my goal!)"
As I contemplated my next steps in changing the world, I remained resolute in my determination to resist any further attempts at distraction.
Yeah right.
I took a long stare at her F-Cups but it didn't necessarily stir up anything within me. Even with her blinkers on full display.
Perhaps the reason she was unconscious was because her body was adjusting to the normal world inhabited by humans and several other races.
Abruptly, my status display board appeared before me.
It had a notification update of sorts. One I was much obliged to check.
--- Status ---
Name: Lumiere Venrite
Race: Human
Titles: The eleventh son, fifteenth child, Naturally dead, Bastard child, Integrator, All-Fatherʼs courtier.
Class: Mage
Physical Strength: 5/5
MP: 10,000/15,000
Magic Arts: 「Unlocked Elemental Series — [Fire Magic] (Rank F), [Wind Magic] (Rank F), [Earth Magic] (Rank F), [Water Magic] (Rank C)」, [Plant Magic] (Rank E), [Summoning Magic] (Rank S+)
Magic Skills: Integral Skill: [Appraisal] (Rank F), Additional Skills: [Lung Master] (Rank E), [Status Modification] (Rank SSS+), Unique Skill [Beginner's Luck].
Sacred Benefaction: All-Fatherʼs Crest of Guidance.
- - - - - - -
So, I was just minding my own business, going through my status, when suddenly I collapsed.
Yeah, not the best way to react. But that wasn't even the crazy part.
When I checked my status display, I saw that I'd unlocked the—「Elemental Series」.
"(Like, what?! I can cast spells with all the elements? Talk about a major advantage.)"
And get this, I also got an extra 5,000 mana points, bringing my total to 15,000. That was more than the average court mage, people! Who could believe that?
I even gained a Sacred Benefaction, barely anyone acquired such an advantage, and I was given one by the god of the Trifects!
"(Figures... my physical strength hasn't improved.)"
Then I started to wonder, shouldn't the highest rank be S+? Why was I seeing an Additional Skill with an SSS+ rating?
"This guy wants to kill me! If someone uses [Appraisal] on me they'll be able to see all these things... and besides, what in the world is a title like: All-Father's courtier doing there?! I'm so done for..." (Lumiere)
I was out of touch with my head in my hands.
"Well, you can always use [Status Modification] to edit your status. Only someone with an [Appraisal] of Rank SSS+ would be able to see it." (Serendipity)
When the hell did she wake up?
"I guess I can do that later." (Lumiere)
After all, no one would care to use [Appraisal] on an insignificant child like me.
It wasn't until some seconds later I remembered she was naked.
"Oh my goodness! I-I-I didn't mean to!" (Lumiere)
I immediately closed my eyes. So as to be decent.
I crawled on my butt to the edge of my otherwise large bed.
"I see, so it's mandatory to wear clothing in this world, I'll keep that in mind." (Serendipity)
In my opinion, this translated to: "We, the Trifects love to walk around buck naked."
Awkward.