In Mushoku Tensei with an A.I. Chip

Lunch was served, a luxurious and sumptuous seven course meal. No expense was spared for Luke's birthday. 

Half way through the luncheon, after getting approval from his grandfather, the minstrels and bards were interrupted when Luke announced he was going to gift Princess Ariel a present to thank her for attending his birthday party. 

He recited nearly a hundred words of incantation while holding a staff Anthony had given him for his birthday present. The staff was Anthony's personal magic staff that he had been using since he was the Royal Court Wizard. Personally crafted and enchanted by Anthony himself, the act of gifting Luke this staff was akin to the passing of a torch. 

The staff itself was mostly made out of a black wood from a rare fire-proof tree that only grew near volcanoes on the Demon Continents, hardened and dark as coal yet warm to the touch. The black handle is also lined with thin rivulets of orange-red amber sap, like magma underneath the surface. 

The staff tapers upward in a twisting, spiraling pattern, with ornate brass rings engraved with magical circles encircling the shaft. At its crown are five blood red mana crystals - four smaller ones orbiting a larger main crystal. The main crystal is embedded on the tip, held in place by brass claws. 

It was engineered to specialize in fire-element magic, reducing consumption of mana for fire-element spells by up to 50%, as well as increasing the potency of fire-element spells. But it also had a general beneficial effect on other types of magic albeit at a much lower scale. 

Luke was casting a spell while reciting an incantation precisely to hide his ability to cast magic chantlessly. Not because he was afraid of the limelight, but to avoid troublesome matters like having assassins sent after him because he represented too much of a threat by opposing noble houses. 

A 10 year old Fire Saint was one thing, demonstrating his ability to silently and instantaneously cast Saint-rank spells was another. 

While high-ranking magicians were well respected and esteemed in noble circles, they were oftentimes underestimated due to their fatal flaw of needing time to chant their spells. Perhaps in war, their ability to reap lives enmasse with powerful spells would be valuable, but assassinating a magician was rather simple. 

A knife in the dark, drops of poison in wine, an arrow from afar, there were plenty of methods to deal with a magician without sufficient protection. 

However, a silent caster like Luke altered the paradigm. He might be deemed to dangerous to allow his existence to continue.

Of course, Luke was confident he could win against any opponent below King-rank. King-rank and above might be a different story, though even if he couldn't win, Luke was also confident in his ability to escape. 

It would just be troublesome to deal with idiots who felt threatened and subsequently sending assassins after him. 

Luke didn't much care about how the world viewed him. He only really cared about gaining strength to stand unopposed in this world. Because only by becoming unparalleled did it mean he could never be threatened by anyone. 

In a way, Luke was a coward who could not bear living under the yoke of powerlessness. It took a certain kind of bravery to be perfectly fine and willing to live under another's foot. 

"Water, become my stalwart guardian, eternal and unmoving…

The starting line of his chant created the base of a massive sculpture of ice in an area of the courtyard that had been emptied beforehand. 

Every word after grew the sculpture, foot by foot.

After 30 seconds, fatally long in a battle but appropriate for a performance, the massive ice sculpture was created. It was a three dimensional representation of the Asura Royal Family's crest. 

Two unicorns rearing in opposite directions, in between them a sword wrapped in vines and a crown atop. Luke demonstrated his superb control in manipulating magic by using air bubbles in the ice to shade normally transparent matter. (What gives ice the frosted look is air bubbles trapped inside when it freezes. Without air bubbles the ice is transparent)

Luke had chosen to, in lieu of revealing his ability to cast spells silently, instead show off his talent in mana manipulation. The spell, which would have created a thick wall of ice to act as a defensive barrier, had been altered to sculpt this art piece. 

The ice sculpture ended up being 40 feet tall, glimmering in the sun. 

The gathered audience naturally applauded thunderously at his creation, not just in marvel of Luke's skill but also to demonstrate their loyalty to the crown by displaying their fervent approval at the subject matter. 

Luke extended a hand and bowed towards Ariel, "I dedicate this gift to the Asura Royal Family. I thank you for attending my humble birthday party."

Princess Ariel, long used to seeing grandiose display of wealth and power, still couldn't help but gape at the massive sculpture that had been created in less than a minute. She had never before seen such a creative and impressive use of magic. 

"T-thank you for your gift, Luke. It is most impressive indeed…" She breathed out with her cheeks flushed. 

Of course, none expected the statue to actually be brought back home by the Princess. The logistics alone would be mind numbing to think of. The actual gift was the performance and act of creating the Asuran crest. 

The performance also confirmed Luke's status as a Saint-ranked magician, causing a rush of whispers and feverish looks directed towards the 10 year old. Luke had, all of a sudden, become a lot more of a threat and desirable at the same time. Families either wanted to marry their daughters to him or pray he got in an accident. 

After lunch was over, it was time for leisure and mingling. Although the main reason for attendance was to celebrate Luke's birthday and to build relations with the Notos family, there was also an allocated time for guests to interact and network amongst themselves. It was rare, after all, for most of the nobles in the Kingdom to be gathered in one location outside of the Silver Palace. 

While the guests mingled, clandestine conversations were taking place in private rooms. 

While Princess Ariel had been stealthily invited to Amarant's solar for a private meeting with the Notos Patriarch and Pilemon, a servant had been sent to inform the Boreas family that Luke would be awaiting for them in a private room as promised earlier in the day. 

"Finally, we'll find out why that boy invited us here today." Sauros remarked while his family and Ghislaine were led to the private room Luke was waiting in. 

"Hmph, calling for us like this, isn't this guy full of himself?" Eris brashly commented before her parents had a chance to shut her up. 

Hilda and Philip looked at the servant leading them to see how she would react but the servant revealed no sign of indignation for the disrespect. 

The servant stopped in front of a door deeper in Notos Keep and knocked, announcing herself and the guests that had been invited. 

The door opened by itself, and through the opening Sauros could see Luke seated on a couch in what was clearly a lounge for guests. 

"Thank you Kiara. You may return to your other duties." Luke said, dismissing her.

"Please come in." He then invited them in. "Have a seat."

Like the rest of Notos Keep, the lounge was lavishly decorated, a testament to the wealth of the Notos family and the Milbots region known for its production of alcohol. 

Luke was seated on a plush couch, while a guard stood in vigil behind him. 

The Boreas family sat across from him, prompting Sauros to begin the conversation. 

"It has been half a day of pleasantries and niceties. Shall we get to the point now?" 

It was a blunt manner of speech from the equally blunt Lord of Fittoa. Luke's status wasn't high enough for Sauros to speak politely outside of the formal birthday wish in the morning. 

Luke wasn't offended. He just smiled while gesturing to the guard behind him. 

"Very well, we will dispense with the formalities. Grant, you may proceed." 

Grant, the guard behind Luke, nodded. "I am the Whispering Steel Sword Saint Grant." 

He then directed his steely gaze at the Beast Race bodyguard standing behind the Boreas family, "Black Wolf Sword King Ghislaine Dedoldia, I challenge you to a duel!"

"Eh?"

"Huh?"

"Wha-!"

The Boreas family all had pretty similar reactions between them, only Eris looked excited at the prospect. 

"Hoh?" Ghislaine's eyes narrowed in amusement. "You're a Sword Saint? You seem familiar…"

In truth, she had sensed it the moment she walked in the room. Her finely tuned and naturally well developed senses clocked him as a threat at first glance. The way Grant carried himself and even how he stood, had signs of a Sword God practitioner. 

"Yes, we studied under our Master at the Sword Sanctum at the same time." Grant replied. 

"I see. When shall our duel be held?" Ghislaine had already accepted the challenge in her mind. 

"W-wait! This is moving too fast! Luke, what's the meaning of this??" Philip hurriedly stood up in protest. 

"Is it not clear? Grant here believes he has reached the realm of Kings. He wants to challenge your bodyguard to ascertain this." Luke then added, "Ah, there's no deeper meaning behind his challenge. You can rest assured."

Duels between the retainers of noble families were usually grudge matches or resolution of conflicts through honor duels. Luke thought it would be good to make this clear beforehand that this was not an honor duel. 

"Could-could this be the reason why you invited us to your birthday party?" Philip's eyes widened in disbelief. 

"Well, you could say that. Lord Sauros would have received an invitation regardless. But he might have left Ghislaine behind to protect your family. So it would be more convenient to just invite your whole family." Luke answered with a shrug.

Sauros narrowed his eyes, "Even at the expense of offending my eldest?" 

Luke chuckled lightly, "Grandfather did warn me that it might cause a misunderstanding. Though he was willing to indulge in my selfish request. Regardless, my family need not feel threatened by House Boreas, should we?"

It was a double entendre. Simultaneously implying that the Notos did not need to fear the Boreas, and also that there is no cause for conflict over, as he said, a child's selfish request.

"Hmph." 

Sauros huffed in reluctant agreement. The Notos family was of equal status as Boreas. There was truly no need to step on eggshells regarding such inconsequential matters. But any consequence would not be borne by Luke, it would instead fall to Philip and his family to bear. 

Luke could see the dissatisfaction on Sauros' and Philip's face. It was understandable. James winning the succession battle was such big news among the circle of nobility in the Asura Kingdom that even Luke had heard about it despite not really caring about noble politics. 

And in truth Luke couldn't be bothered with restraining himself to avoid hurt feelings or offending sensibilities. His true ambition lay not on climbing the social ladder, but in true power instead. 

Besides, Sauros was only a figurehead of the Boreas Greyrats, and Philip's status had been lowered so much that even middle-class nobles could afford to be disrespectful as long as they did not go too far.

But he was a gracious enough man that he was willing to compensate for their inconvenience.