In Mushoku Tensei with an A.I. Chip

Finally, they were back. Pilemon thought with a hint of relief as he spotted the towers of Notos Keep in the horizon from the carriage he sat in. 

It had been four and a half months since he began touring the Asura Kingdom and having sit downs with the various Asuran nobles. 

The tour had been long, tedious and filled with both frustrations and yet satisfaction as well. 

But it had cemented Pilemon's position as heir apparent in the eyes of all Asuran nobles. Now they all knew that he would be one they would need to deal with after Amarant. Next in line for one of the four prestigious and powerful Greyrat houses. 

His father and his wife had been by his side every step of the way. Amarant made the introductions, while at the same time taking a more hands off approach to let Pilemon truly take the reins in what might be construed as a trial run for his eventual lordship of house Notos Greyrat. 

Selena played the part of the dutiful, picture perfect lady wife to the best of her ability. While the men talked business, his wife had her own battles to fight in the arena that was, at times, more vicious and brutal than the battlefield - the gossip circle and rumour mill of the ladies at court. 

The meetings where he merely had to reaffirm existing alliances were the simplest. The friendly noble houses they visited mostly already knew Pilemon. And they were happy to maintain the existing terms of their relationship. 

Being the lord of a region meant inextricable and necessary ties to the industries of their territory. And as lord, he was expected to take the lead on structuring trade deals, economic planning and diplomatic relations with their neighbours. 

Friendly nobles that sought to maintain or even deepen their relationship were the easiest to deal with. It was the neutral and opposing factions that made the national tour a true headache. 

They poked and prodded the heir apparent of house Notos Greyrat with verbal barbs and subtle slights. Demanded more in exchange for less. Sought to intimidate or provoke him just to get a measure of the next Lord Notos Greyrat. 

Pilemon was thankful his father had been by his side during the most antagonistic moments. The still healthy lord of the Milbots Region bared his fangs in these times, showing that there was only so many buttons the current Lord Notos would allow them to push before he pushed back. 

Pilemon also regretted the times he needed his father's help to deal with these people when he caught the occasional subtle but damning sighs of disappointment and disapproval. 

There was no doubt his father still thought about the other man who could potentially succeed the Notos lordship after him, in place of Pilemon himself. 

Paul… even so many years after he had run away from his duties and responsibilities, Amarant still kept his wayward son in his thoughts and within his sight.

Pilemon knew of course that Amarant had kept constant tabs on the activities of his eldest son. His father did not deign to share the intelligence reports with him, but Pilemon knew what they were about. 

It was infuriating that his father still never gave up on the bastard that gave up on them years ago. It felt like a betrayal. Like nothing Pilemon did would ever be enough to meet his father's expectations simply because he was not Paul. 

Even after he did his duty and married Selena, who was already an adult and practically a stranger at the age of 9 and sired Luke just a year after that, their relationship didn't change much. 

He had thought that the love and affection Amarant had for his grandson would somehow transfer over to Pilemon. That having Luke would somehow earn the acknowledgement, if not respect, from his father. 

He was wrong. 

Luke was more a product of duty than love. And having failed to earn Amarant's respect through him, Pilemon couldn't help but think 'what's the use of you then?'.

And after Selena's miscarriage and subsequent loss of fertility, Pilemon had felt trapped. In a political, loveless marriage. Trapped with an heir and only child he sired not out of love but duty. 

Already, his eyes wandered and the Greyrat blood in him yearned to breed. 

But Pilemon was the heir to an upper noble house. His loins were not his to use freely. His noble blood and seed was too precious to be granted to peasants. 

A second wife of blue blood? Perhaps, but not now. Selena's father the patriarch of house Redbat and Amarant were old friends, and marrying a second wife, while common and permissible, would offend the Redbat lord. 

Amarant would never allow him to tarnish their alliance and friendship by insulting Selena and her family in this way. 

Once Pilemon succeeded his father and took his seat as Lord Notos Greyrat, then he could begin to… explore certain possibilities. 

Pilemon was shaken from his thoughts by three sharp raps on the window of his carriage, and a panicked cry from one of his father's Saint-rank bodyguards. 

"My lord, the Keep!" 

Pilemon widened his eyes and pulled down the wooden divider that functioned as a window. 

"What's wrong!?" 

The bodyguard merely pointed in the distance towards the Notos Keep and Pilemon followed his line of sight and at a glance understood the panic in their voice. 

A large plume of blue flame was pouring out from one of the towers of Notos Keep. 

What was that!? An attack? Had one of their political opponents decided to cut off the Notos' future by… 

Pilemon couldn't even complete the thought before his father was already barking orders. 

"Grant! Ward! Get your asses to the keep and find out what's going on! Secure Valentina and Luke at any cost!" 

"My lord, we should not divide our forces carelessly, this might just be a diversion for an enemy's true target." 

Pilemon could understand the knight's thoughts. Grant and Ward were Saint-rank swordsmen. Two of the three Saints employed by the Notos Greyrats for protection. 

The third was stationed at the family keep, protecting Pilemon's mother and his child while at the same time tutoring Luke in swordplay. 

If Amarant sent both Grant and Ward away, that would leave only a squad of regular warriors, the strongest only at the Advanced level, to protect the head and future head of the Notos family. 

Amarant was furious at the rebuttal but bit back an incendiary retort. However emotional he was at the moment, the cold calculus of a seasoned nobleman took over. 

"Very well. Ward, you will stay back. Grant, get moving already!" 

A dual chorus of "Yes my lord!" rang out before the unarmored Sword Saint Grant jumped off his horse and sped off in a blur faster than a horse could run. 

"Sh-should we wait here, father?" Pilemon cursed the fear in his heart that made him stammer. This was exactly the type of moment where his father would expect strength and resolve rather than trepidation. 

Amarant whipped towards him with a furious roar, "Did a mouse eat your guts, boy!? You speak of waiting while our family could be dead or dying!? Thank Saint Milis I have no time to deal with you now or I would have whipped you red and bloody you craven!" 

Pilemon bit his lip until it bled. It wasn't cowardice to suggest securing the head of house Notos and its heir apparent while the danger was assessed. It was a rational suggestion! 

But he knew Amarant was not in a mood to exchange rhetorics. Even if Pilemon felt maligned, he only looked down submissively and apologise. 

Amarant huffed seeing Pilemon's countenance, and compromised with a softer tone. 

"We will proceed cautiously. To arms, knights of Notos! Cut down any that dares block our path!" 

"Yes my lord!" The knights and guards chorused, drawing their weapons and assembled into a protective formation around the carriages while scanning their surroundings with a hard and sharp gaze. 

Fifteen minutes later, when the Notos escorts were still a distance away from the Keep, the Sword Saint Ward returned with a much more relaxed expression that calmed the nervous and vigilant Notos men. 

"My lord, there is no danger. Lady Valentina and Luke are both safe and secure." He reported with a half smile. 

"No danger?" Amarant's brow furrowed, "Then what was that blue flame? Has Valentina been hosting a magician at the keep?" 

"Yes, well… I think it best you see it for yourself, my lord. I assure you, Lady Valentina and Luke are in absolutely no danger at the moment." 

Amarant and Pilemon let out the breath they had been unknowingly holding. The tension relaxed from their shoulders. 

"You speak in riddles, Grant. But I will play along for now." The head of house Notos Greyrat turned and nodded towards his son and heir. An unspoken apology for his previous words. Amarant wasn't too proud of a man to not admit when he had made a mistake, but actual apologies were a step too much to expect from the prideful nobleman.