In Mushoku Tensei with an A.I. Chip

"I understand that Ghislaine will need your approval to proceed with the duel. As a token of my appreciation, I am willing to owe your family three favours. Three boons, three requests that I will fulfil to the best of my ability within reason within 5 years." 

"Three favours from a whelp? And with a timeframe attached. Hmph!" Sauros snorted haughtily.

Three favours from a mere heir of an heir was of little value, at least until Luke inherited the Notos lordship. And with the inclusion of a time limit of 5 years, it was worth even less. On the surface that is. 

"Why 5 years?" Hilda asked. It seemed like a very specific time period. 

"Because in 5 years the worth of any favour that I owe would have a vastly different value." Luke answered plainly, as though stating a fact, not an opinion. 

"You're not lacking in confidence, I'll give you that." Sauros half-praised. 

Was it inaccurate? To the adults of the Boreas family, it was hard to say. It was extremely unlikely Luke would inherit the seat of House Notos within 5 years. He was only second in line and his father was still very young. 

But in 5 years, when Luke was 15, he would have reached the age of majority. And his status, authority and influence as a legal adult would indeed not be the same as now when he was still a child. 

Most importantly, Luke was a Saint-rank magician, and had a chance to become a Fire King within that time frame. A Fire King was naturally also of a much higher status than a Saint. 

Even then, from their perspective, it was only a slight chance, and not guaranteed. 

Though that was the case, could they say no? Even Hilda, arguably the least politically savvy among them, could recognise that Luke absolutely did not need to offer anything as recompense. 

Rejecting Luke's request now was akin to slapping his face. It would dig an even deeper hole for the defeated Philip to spit on Luke's goodwill now. 

"In light of your generosity…" Philip stiffly started with a forced smile but was cut off by his father. 

"Then if our first request is for your mentor to come to Roa to teach my granddaughter magic?" Sauros interjected, keen to probe the limits of Luke's favour. 

The boy could only helplessly shake his head, "Master Anthony is not a servant of House Notos. I can only put in a request on your behalf, but I cannot guarantee that he would accept. Frankly, Master is advanced in years and has become stubborn on what he spends his remaining time on. Though if you still wish to I can ask him on your behalf." 

"Forget it." Sauros waved it off, "Then shall we discuss matrimony between our two houses? My granddaughter Eris is but a year younger than you. And look at her, isn't she cute!?" 

"F-father…" Philip muttered in disbelief and awe at the same time. What a brilliant move! 

"WHAT!?" 

Eris who had only been listening absentmindedly, exclaimed suddenly upon realising what her grandfather had just said. Though her vocabulary was limited, for a girl who nonetheless was raised a noble, certain words like 'matrimony', or 'betrothal', were terms that rang alarms in her mind. 

"What are you saying grandpa!? I don't wanna marry anyone!" Eris protested furiously only to see her indifferent grandfather stoically staring at the boy. 

Without missing a beat, Luke followed up, "She is my cousin, is she not?" 

"Distant cousin." Sauros immediately shot back.

Luke hummed in amusement, "I wouldn't call second cousins particularly distant, but regardless you should also know that matters of marriage are not up to me to decide. Even if I were to elope and marry Eris in secret the very next day, would my grandfather even acknowledge it? With my family history, I might even get disowned like my uncle you know?" 

Unfazed, Sauros countered without hesitation, "Then just put a baby in her. Within 5 years, right? Once our Eris is with child, let's see if your grandfather can still say no!" 

"Oh my…" Hilda gasped in surprise, scandalized by Sauros' words. Especially considering it was her 9 year old daughter that was the subject of the exchange. 

"B-b-b-baby!?" Eris stammered with a flush creeping in. 

"Such a thing would dishonor my family. I would sooner dishonor myself by going back on my word than to tarnish my family name. I could never betray the faith my grandfather and father has entrusted to me in this way." Equally unperturbed, Luke refuted with a composed smile. 

Their conversation unfolded like a game of chess—each statement a calculated move, each reply a strategic counter aimed at gaining the upper hand or neutralizing the opponent. Sauros was taken aback; the boy was only ten, yet he wielded words with the finesse of a seasoned diplomat.

Unable to gain the upper hand through words, Sauros shifted tactics, opting for a more aggressive approach, "You can't do this, nor can you fulfill that. Your so-called favor is pretty much meaningless, is it not?"

"Marriage is out of the question. Or more accurately, it would not be up to me." Luke emphasized, ignoring Sauros' sarcastic jab, "But taking a concubine would be a personal decision, and not subject to my patriarch's approval…" 

"A concubine!?" Sauros roared, feigning anger. Smacking the table in indignation was a valid legitimate negotiation tactic, after all. "How little do you think of our cute Eris!?" 

"Cute though she may be, you must understand my hands are tied in this matter." Luke shut him down coolly, sipping from a cup of tea with his eyes closed. 

Lord Boreas narrowed his eyes, simmering in faux anger, not knowing his facade had already been seen through by the A.I. Chip that was analysing every microexpression on his face. 

And finally, the last straw that broke the camel's back dropped and she snapped. 

"You two have been talking about me like I'm not even here, huh!?" Eris' little fist slammed the table between them, though in her case her anger was not a negotiation strategy. 

She glared at Luke who returned his gaze with an unbothered indifference, though with a hint of apology, "Yes, I suppose it is quite rude to not consider the lady's opinion in this discussion. You have my apology, lady Eris. What do you think of my proposal?"

"W-what do I think…?" Though she had demanded to be heard, now that the ball was in her court, Eris didn't really know what to say. Much of their conversation had flown over her head. There was one thing she did know for sure, however.

"I won't marry anyone who is weak!" She declared resolutely. "If you can beat… Ghislaine! If you can beat Ghislaine then," She paused, "then… I don't mind…" 

It was impossible for anyone to defeat Ghislaine, Eris thought. Ghislaine was the strongest in the world. There was no way this guy could beat her. Since he wouldn't be able to do it anyway, then she wouldn't have to marry anyone.

Luke considered her request for a moment before turning back to Sauros, the real decision maker in her family, "Is this what you wish to use your first favour on?" 

"Are you serious?" Sauros muttered in disbelief. He had half-expected Luke to scoff at the unreasonable request. Letting Eris become Luke's concubine was not a bad deal. With her mannerisms and social deficiencies, it was unlikely she would ever become a graceful lady of a noble house. And though she bore the Boreas name, it wouldn't be worth as much as James' children. 

If the proponent of this proposal had been a perverse old man with sick fetishes, Sauros would have sooner gone to war than let someone like that, even if it was an upper-class noble lord, ever go near his treasured granddaughter. But Luke was different. He was a handsome young man, clearly competent and capable, with a bright future both as a magician and as an aristocrat. 

Eris would not be mistreated nor humiliated, even as a concubine to this young man who Sauros was quickly gaining respect for. That the lad agreed with him that Eris was cute was also a bonus in his mind. 

But to think that he had not objected to the unreasonable demand Eris had made? Ah, so that's how he is playing it, Sauros had a sudden realization. 

"Even if you lose, this does not count as a favour." Sauros quickly added. He realized the way Luke phrased it, he wanted them to use up a favour to make him duel Ghislaine, knowing that even if he lost, he would have lost nothing but would benefit instead. 

If someone had told Sauros he would be nitpicking and quibbling with a child over the exact terms and conditions of a favour said child owed him, the seasoned nobleman would have laughed in their face before punching them for the slight. But Sauros, who now recognized and acknowledged that Luke's star was in the ascendent, felt it only wise to do so.

Yet, Luke surprised him once more by easily conceding this condition. 

"Naturally. And if I do win, do keep in mind that both Eris and I are still too young for marriage. It will be a rather long betrothal, if you do not mind it."

"Your father married young, did he not? In fact, he was your age when you were conceived." Sauros pointed out. 

"Yes, though as you may know, it was more out of necessity rather than frivolity. And my mother was fifteen then." Luke rebutted. 

"...I suppose you're right." Sauros yielded. "In five years, then?" 

Luke chuckled, "We can discuss the specifics after I win." 

"IF you win." Eris stressed with a sullen scowl. 

"Yes, if I win." He amusedly agreed. 

Ghislaine's smile widened, "To think a birthday party would be so exciting."

Sauros glanced between Ghislaine and Luke, and for the first time ever wanted his bodyguard to lose a duel. Well, it didn't matter even if Luke lost. He could still use the duel to press the advantage and request for something of higher value; Eris could also be made to change her mind regarding her unreasonable condition…

"Young master…" Grant murmured, feeling a little aggrieved. His duel challenge had somehow been forgotten, the primary reason why the Boreas family had been invited in the first place.

Luke looked at the Sword Saint and gave an apologetic smile, "Oh right, sorry Grant." 

He turned back to the Beast Race bodyguard, "Miss Ghislaine, since you are the challenged party, you can decide who you wish to face first."

Ghislaine looked between the two seriously. One was a 10 year old boy, the other a grown man. Yet, despite the visual discrepancy, she could not shake the feeling that Luke was the stronger of the two. 

"Sword Saint Grant, I mean no offence when I say this… but I think the weaker challenger can go first." Her implication need not be spelled out. 

Grant shrugged helplessly, "I understand. After all, the young master is stronger than me. And if you can't beat me, then there is no point fighting the young master."

"Seriously…?" Sauros, Philip and Hilda shared the same reaction. The bodyguard was admitting that his ward was stronger than him. A Sword Saint at that. What were they supposed to make of such a claim? 

The rational part of their minds would have scoffed in disdain. Of course a guard would claim his young master was stronger. He might have probably 'lost' every duel against the grandson of his liege lord, not daring to hurt him. But a Saint would not have such qualms, for they knew they would be welcomed with open arms at any noble's territory if chased out. 

Ghislaine simply nodded in agreement, not doubting Grant's claim. "Very well. Where and when shall we duel?"

"Are you ready, Grant? Or do you need time to prepare?" Luke asked the Notos guard.

Grant inhaled deeply and closed his eyes momentarily to assess his condition. When he opened his eyes, it was steely determination that was reflected from his pupils. 

"I am ready."

Luke smiled faintly in approval, "Excellent. Then we can hold the duel immediately. Let me bring us to a more appropriate arena."