Akashic Records of the Bastard Child Engaged to a Goddess

Chapter 85 I'm in the Capital City, Zarbon?

Holy Sword Tournament Arc

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(POV: Akashic Records)

In a few days, the airship arrived at the Duchy of Drakoria, which controlled the southern territory of the Kingdom.

The Duchy was well-known for its striking landscapes, including towering mountains and deep, ancient forests. Its reputation was anchored in the skills of its hunters, trappers, and woodworkers, who extracted and supplied the kingdom with the finest furs, timber, and game.

However, the Capital City of Zarbon was the most famous destination in the Duchy, as it served as the venue for the highly anticipated Holy Sword Festival that attracts people from far and wide.

The Duchy of Drakoria was made up of 4 Earldoms, 12 Viscounties, and 40 Baronies. The Capital City of Zarbon was located in the Earldom of Greenhaven, and naturally, the Duke of Drakoria had multiple residences, but the iconic one was situated in Zarbon.

Originally, Lumiere planned to join Genevieve and Garret in the Holy Sword Festival and maybe inform them accordingly.

However, after being equipped with a Silva Citadel sword and attire courtesy of Thrain and Fasit, he re-evaluated his decision.

Being an illegitimate child of the king, displaying too much power before the monarchy and nobility could be problematic, both politically and socially.

Hence, he decided to take Isadora's suggestion of wearing a mask and entering the tournament disguised as an anonymous dark horse, a fun idea.

He would make his final decision on whether or not to reveal himself after the tournament, provided he won.

『Lumiere's objectives』

(1) Keeping an eye on Bluestella and Arthur.

(2) Participating in the tournament and winning.

(3) Taking first-placed prize so as to make a holy sword as a gift for Serena.

(4) Scouting business opportunities in Drakoria.

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(POV: Lumiere)

As we, Genny, Garret, and I, walked through the cobblestone street of Zarbon city, our eyes were transfixed to its beauty; the colorful buildings, the lush greenery, and the flowing rivers were a sight to behold.

We were followed by the clanking sound of Garret's armor as he stretched his arms, expressing his excitement for the upcoming tournament.

"I can't wait to start swinging <<Darkfire Edge>> around and cutting down some tough opponents," he said, his enthusiasm palpable.

Genny was kitted in light armor, which mostly guarded her shoulders, forearms, and shins, along with a breastplate.

"Whatever," she replied nonchalantly when Garret expressed his excitement.

She remained attached to me, her breastplate pressing against my face.

Now, I actually missed the soft touch of her breasts on my face rather than this.

The city was bustling with adventurers and knights who were also partaking in the tournament.

We saw some with spears, others with dual short swords, and some wielding long swords.

It was indeed a unique sight that heightened the anticipation of the event.

The air was filled with chatter, as people described and talked about how they would be victorious.

We paused to admire the surroundings.

"So where are we going to next?" I asked. Genny, still attached to me.

Garret turned to us: "We have to go sign up for the tournament as the preliminaries are starting later today."

"Preliminaries later today? Isn't that a bit too early?"

However, Garret reassured me: "No, we just arrived late."

Genny couldn't resist occasionally sniffing my hair, which amused me.

"Big brother smells so good," she mumbled.

I chuckled at Garret's response, admitting that it was partly my fault for suggesting we take the airship.

"But I enjoyed the airship ride," Garret interjected excitedly.

He turned to his knights and asked, "Isn't that right, men?"

The knights enthusiastically screamed "yes sir!" confirming their love for the airship journey.

Then, I stopped abruptly, stunning Genny.

Garret's eyebrow raised as he asked what the problem was.

"Guys, let's think about this. Wouldn't it be better if I get us some accommodation for tonight?" I suggested with a sly grin.

Garret rubbed his chin thoughtfully and agreed, "Yes, a good inn would be nice."

But I knew what they didn't- I was planning to bail on them, change into my alter ego, and register for the tournament.

"Then I'll come with!" said Genny.

"You know what, Genny? You should head to sign up now. I'll go and look for a good place for us to sleep tonight," I said, knowing that I could make my switch in peace if they left.

Genny pouted and asked "Why can't I come with you...?!"

"Well, so you won't miss your registration," I shrugged.

Garret then suggested: "Okay, how about some of the our knights who aren't participating follow you?"

"Yeah, no." I quickly shut it down.

Garret looked skeptical, so I explained, "I want to do some sightseeing alone too, while I hunt for accommodation."

He sounded a bit confused but eventually agreed, saying, "Alright."

I waved them goodbye, feeling relieved that my plan was working.

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Making my way down the dimly lit alley, I was greeted by the arrival of Isadora and Umbra, two of my loyal companions.

"Greetings, Master. Time is of the essence. What can we do for you?" said Umbra, his voice soft yet commanding.

"I need to change quickly," I replied, feeling a sense of urgency.

Umbra materialized a crisp new outfit, holding it up for me to see.

It was made by Fasit with mana threads from the Feral Dominion. Its original colour was white but channeling his mana through it altered its hue.

"This should suit you well, Master. It's ravishing in my color," Umbra commented confidently, his white gloves shining in the dim light.

Umbra always gave off that butler vibes.

I examined the ensemble- black baggy pants, snug black boots, a white sleeveless shirt, a long black overcoat that cascaded to my knees, and a scarf wrapped snugly around my neck.

It was perfect.

"You look striking, master... I'm almost aroused," commented Isadora, bowing her head in respect as I changed into my new attire.

Next came my sword, the <<Demon Blade, Benimaru>>, a 60cm long tsurugi.

It was forged from a mix of mithril, white iron, and dragon iron from the elusive Beast Kingdom.

Isadora held my mask while Umbra scratched his chin and noted the sword's unusual design.

"What a unique blade. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it," Umbra said with a hint of awe in his voice.

I smiled modestly and attempted to explain the sword's origins, but Isadora interjected.

"Such uniqueness is to be expected from someone like our master," she stated firmly, her eyes meeting mine with a sense of admiration.

My mask- a white, featureless full-face design, was carefully handed over to me by Isadora. Engraved with their signature eye openings in the form of "—," it was perfect.

However, before I could put it on, Isadora brought up an interesting point.

"Master Lumiere, shouldn't you have an alias for this event?" she inquired.

Her questioning was valid, and it prompted me to tell them that I had already given it some thought.

"I already came up with a name," I replied confidently. "I shall call myself Zero."

Umbra seemed a tad skeptical, and he scratched his jaw in thought before voicing his thoughts.

"I don't know, Master. Zero doesn't quite have the same ring to it as some other names," he said, a hint of mild disappointment in his voice.

His reaction was not surprising, given his flamboyant personality.

I explained to him that it was not a flashy name I wanted but rather a mysterious one.

Isadora then suggested, "What about the name Black?" with a twinkle in her eye.

Umbra clapped his hands in excitement, exclaiming, "That's an excellent name!"

With that, I nodded my approval, and they fused into black energy orbs and returned to their master.

As I put on my mask, I knew that I was ready. "It's time to go," I declared.