In Mushoku Tensei with an A.I. Chip

Chapter 8: Laplace II



"Master Anthony!" Amarant's courteous greeting failed to hide the surprise from his voice at seeing the ex-Royal Court Wizard. Their return to the Notos Keep was a fair deal more relaxed than their previous cautious approach. 

Grant had briefed them on their way over. Of how the Sword Saint had charged over the Keep's walls and into the window of the tower where they had seen the gout of blue flame streaming out from. 

While Anthony had tried to good naturedly explain what had happened in Amarant's absence, it took Bernard's (the North Saint bodyguard left behind in Notos Keep) quick arrival to calm down the tense Sword Saint, though Grant still had to meet Valentina for himself in order to confirm their claims. 

The nobleman, upon entering his ancestral home proper, recognized the Fire King on sight of course, having seen him more than just a few times when the King held court at the Silver Palace. Heck, they had even spoken on more than one occasion at the parties and feasts held by various noble families in Ars, the capital of the kingdom. 

While Anthony had already retired from the position, he had still once been a member of the King's inner circle. So the address of 'Master Anthony' had come naturally to Amarant. 

They were now in the reception room of the Notos Keep, with the entire Notos Greyrat family seated around a table with their guest. 

"I do hope my knight did not startle you too much. I hope you understand the context behind our panic, but still I sincerely apologise for any offence my knight may have inadvertently caused." Amarant continued, performing a flawless noble salute and bow for a formal apology. 

Behind him, the Sword Saint Grant also gave a deep, apologetic bow. "Please forgive my recklessness." He was thankful he had not been thoughtless enough to slay the aged magician on the spot when he burst into the tower. Within the confines of a room, a Sword Saint could easily cut down even a King-ranked magician in less than a second if he wanted to. 

Anthony laughed like a genial old man and waved his hand placatingly towards Amarant, "Oh there is absolutely nothing to forgive, my friend. A knight's duty is to his charge. How could I lay blame on a devoted knight merely performing his duty? And please, just call me Anthony. It has been some time since I have retired, after all." 

Seeing the casual demeanor of the King-ranked magician, Amarant relaxed and returned a smile. "Then I thank you for your grace, Anthony. But is what I have heard true? You have taken my grandson as your apprentice?"

Anthony's smile brightened considerably, "Indeed! Your wife Valentina had gone to great efforts to invite me to tutor little Luke. At first I only intended to just show my respect for your family by tutoring him for a day or two, but little did I know I would find a diamond in the rough, hoh hoh hoh!"

The Fire King extended his hand and ruffled the hair of his young apprentice seated next to him affectionately. Luke had on a faint smile, though inwardly he wondered if the return of his parents and his grandfather would in any way affect his training. 

Pilemon and Selena both turned quizzically to Luke and then to Valentina. As his parents, they naturally knew their son the best. They could hardly believe it when Grant had returned and explained a King-rank magician had been so impressed with their son's talent that he had taken Luke as an apprentice. And even after hearing it from the man himself, they still found themselves in disbelief. 

Valentina just nodded in confirmation upon seeing their questioning look.

Amarant had a much more practiced calmness in response to Anthony's words, "So it is true. I confess, I never knew my dear grandson was so clever. It is fortunate you happened to be in the vicinity right when Luke was looking for a magic tutor." 

The Notos lord reminded himself to have a private talk with Valentina on just how much of his political capital she had expended to have invited the notoriously difficult Anthony just to tutor their 5 year old grandson. 

The King-rank Magician narrowed his eyes in a faint admonishment, "Clever? Little Luke is not just clever, my friend. He is, without a doubt, a genius! In just two months, he has mastered every type of Elementary-rank magic. I am confident he can reach Advanced-rank in a year or two. And after that? Perhaps becoming an Emperor is not an impossibility for him."

While the rest of the Notos Greyrats widened their eyes and slackened their jaw at those claims, Amarant couldn't help but wonder if Anthony had an ulterior motive to his unrestrained praise. He had watched his grandson long enough to know that Luke wasn't exactly a child most would point at and label as a prodigy. 

For god's sake he had once witnessed the poor boy stick a finger up his nose and eat the booger he had dug out. And that was just a week or so before they left for Pilemon's national tour. He loved the boy, but the kid was no genius that was for certain. 

And now, all of a sudden, Luke was a once-in-a-generation magic prodigy? It was beyond skeptical for the seasoned nobleman so used to looking for deceit and perfidy in flowery words. 

Anthony, a veteran of the King's court, was no stranger to politics as well, though as a King-rank magician he had never really needed to play politics like the nobility. He could see the skepticism in Amarant's eyes, and suddenly felt a need to defend his pupil's talent.

"I know it sounds strange. Lady Valentina had also confessed that…" Anthony glanced towards Luke's innocent face and decided to mince his words, "well, it was definitely unexpected to learn of Luke's talent. But I can promise you that it is true, and he can certainly prove it as well."

He turned to his apprentice and asked, "What do you think, my boy? Up for a little demonstration for your family?" 

Luke nodded excitedly, "Which spell would you like me to demonstrate, master?"

"Dealer's choice." Anthony grinned. 

The child looked deep in thought before snapping his fingers as though coming to a decision, "Okay, got it!"

Luke snapped his fingers once more and ice suddenly materialized in mid air before him. It was a thin shard that slowly grew and extended in different directions. The tips of the ice grew and bloomed into petals and leaves. It was becoming clear what he was trying to make. 

When he was done, Luke took ahold of the crystalline ice sculpture he had formed out of thin air and handed it to his mother, "Here you go, mama! It's for you!"

Selena took the small bouquet of flowers made of ice and flinched at the cold sensation that immediately permeated her hand, blown away by her son's spontaneous creation. 

"See? Even I can't do that!" Anthony declared while gesturing to Luke's creation. 

"Was that… magic?" Pilemon asked rather foolishly, though it was a reasonable response to what he had just witnessed. 

"That's right! Chantless magic, to be precise!" Anthony explained with a quasi-smug look on his face. 

"Chantless, Anthony? But how?" Amarant followed up with another question. 

The Fire King gestured towards Luke with a helpless look, "Well, apprentice?" 

Luke smiled, and then shrugged. "I don't know. I can just do it." 

"...Eh?" The trio of Notos Greyrats who had been out of their family Keep for months were all speechless at the child's admission. 

Valentina shook her head in amusement while Anthony couldn't help but laugh at their expressions

"Hoh, hoh, hoh! Geniuses usually can't explain why they can do things others can't. That's what makes them geniuses! But if you think that's all, you will be disappointed. Luke can silently cast not just one spell, but all of them!" 

If Amarant thought he couldn't get any more shocked, he was wrong. 

"All of them!?" 

"Indeed! Attack magic, Healing magic, Detoxification magic, Barrier magic… Granted, he has only ever tried it with Elementary-rank magic because he has yet to learn Intermediate spells, but I doubt it would be any different!" Anthony declared. 

"This is why I have said Luke is a once-in-a-generation magic prodigy! No one else in history can do as he has, and that in itself is enough to earn a place in the history books! But with his talent and potential, he can possibly one day surpass me and become an Emperor! Imagine! An Emperor-ranked spell cast wordlessly and instantly! Luke would be the second-coming of Laplace!"

Anthony spied the pale expressions from the comparison he made and immediately rectified himself, "Well, that was a poor comparison to make, but the spirit of the statement was not! The Demon God Laplace was one of only two God-ranked magicians known in history, the other being the Demon King Necross Lacross. But not even he could chant spells silently as Luke can. Or at least it had not been recorded that he could."

The Fire King's enthusiasm failed to incite the rest of the Notos Greyrats into a fervour like he thought it would. That was because they didn't understand what Luke's potential meant. As a King-ranked Magician, Anthony knew, more than most, the fatal shortcomings of a magician. The need to chant incantations meant that spellcasting, as a general rule of thumb, was inflexible and uncompromising. 

Even now, despite being the only 'King' in the room, Anthony stood no chance against the three Saints that were technically of a lower rank than him should they decide to act against him. 

Sure he had magic items aplenty on his person that could protect him from their attacks, but they would not last long enough for him to chant any spell effective enough to take them out while preserving his own life. Anthony would have no choice but to rely on his magic items to flee, humiliatingly enough, from even just one of the three Saint-rank Swordsmen. 

Luke, on the other hand, would not have that weakness. In an instant, he could cast a spell powerful enough to destroy this entire castle and its inhabitants, fly up and then cast one more to finish the job. On the condition that he had risen to a Emperor-rank magician, of course. 

While the other Notos Greyrats were still speechless, Amarant forced out a smile and chuckle, "I can see your enthusiasm to teach my grandson, Anthony. How could I say no to that? With regards to your salary, how much has Valentina promised you?"

The Notos household was wealthy. One of the richest in the Asura Kingdom, but one that had its finances strained from already having three saints in their employ, a regiment of household guards with multiple Advanced-rank warriors amongst their ranks, and enough men-at-arms on retainer to fight a war if necessary. 

They were not exactly poor. Far from it. Their noble house reigned over the Milbots Region, which was famous as a land of alcohol. Most of the wine consumed in the nation and neighbouring territories were produced right here in their lands. But Notos was old money. Their fortune was in assets, not entirely liquid wealth. 

Furthermore, Anthony was no ordinary King-rank magician. As the previous Royal Court Wizard, Amarant would also have to ensure his salary would be appropriate for a man of such experience and distinction. 

While Amarant could still afford the remuneration suitable to hire Anthony, he would have to look at the books and move some money around for the sudden and heavy expenditure. 

Anthony scoffed, though not rudely enough to cause offense. 

"I have no use for money. I already have more gold than I know what to do with after so many years working for His Majesty. I rejected a noble rank from the King because I didn't want to be tied down during my retirement. In all candor, there's nothing you could offer me that I would need or want." He explained. 

"I had intended to travel the continents as a sort of a last hurrah before I got too old to leave my bed. But I never expected to find the purpose of the last years of my life right here in the Asura Kingdom that I intended to leave."

"All I need, in return for being able to pass down my legacy to someone I know will be truly great, is a room and board until my duty is done." Anthony finished with a kind but somber smile. 

Amarant felt stunned by his words. All this time, he had been searching for an ulterior motive from the ex-Royal Court Wizard. Now that the man was essentially offering his services for free… he couldn't believe the stroke of good fortune the Notos household had found out of nowhere. 

No, it wasn't luck. It was Luke that brought the service of a King-ranked Magician to their household. This child… just what the hell happened after they left for Pilemon's national tour??

Nevertheless, despite his bewilderment, Amarant was not one to turn down a gift of this magnitude that had seemingly no strings attached. 

"It would be the greatest honour of House Notos to welcome you into our halls, Anthony." Amarant nodded his head and saluted the wizened old magician. 

"Hoh, hoh, hoh! Nay, the honour is all mine, Amarant." Anthony laughed good naturedly in response. 

Pilemon and Selena gazed at their son who they suddenly felt was somewhat unrecognizable with a mix of emotions. 

Luke, the subject of their scrutiny, merely smiled quietly to himself. Satisfied that his magic training would not be interrupted by a pesky family. 


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