Ryu turned eight this year.
Tauro is twelve, Jiro is ten, and little Hanna is six.
Starting this term, the eldest, Tauro, is heading off to the academy in Margrave Sugoera's capital. It's the most prestigious school in the southeastern kingdom. Since it's a stone's throw from the Landmark Domain, he needs him to really make a name for himself as the heir. Not that he's worried; Tauro is the total package-sharp in the classroom, deadly with a blade, and his Wind Magic is already top-tier. Even Jiro, the second son, is no slouch. His grades are average, but he's a natural-born brawler with a gift for healing magic ¹. He's quick on his feet, too. He'll make the perfect lieutenant for his older brother one day.
Then there's him.
Being the third son of the Landmark House means he can't just hang around the estate forever. Once he's of age, he'll be expected to kick rocks and find his own way. His father, Faza Landmark, suggested the academy in the Royal Capital-get a fancy degree, pad the resume, and find a cozy government gig. That's the safest play, but the Capital isn't cheap. He needs to get the Landmark Family's books in the black now and start stashing away some serious coin for his own "retirement" fund. Up until now, every patent he's secured has been in Faza's name. It's all for the good of the family "firm," but he hasn't seen a single copper for his trouble.
That's when a new hustle hit him.
He was watching Hanna play when he thought of it: a "Kendama ²." A simple wooden ball-and-cup toy.
He hauled it over to the Merchant Guild immediately. Once the patent was filed and the ink was dry, the usual merchant rolled through a few days later to sign the distribution contract. He's hoping this one is a slow burn. You can't expect every venture to be a blockbuster, so he'll just keep testing the market.
The day finally came for Tauro to move into the academy dorms. We're not going to see him for a while. Hanna actually broke down in tears-a rare sight-but Tauro cheered her up, promising he'd be back by summer break.
"Help Dad out while I'm gone," Tauro said, giving Jiro a firm look of encouragement. Then he turned to me. "Ryu, keep looking after everyone for me, okay?"
"I'll hold down the fort, Big Bro," he replied.
It was a standard, safe answer. Tauro gave a sharp nod, said his goodbyes, and climbed into the carriage.
"It's going to be awfully quiet now," his mother, Cecil Landmark, murmured.
In two years, Jiro will be gone. In four years, it'll be his turn. He suppose for a parent, the pride of watching your kids spread their wings is always shadowed by the sting of an empty nest.
Six weeks later, a letter arrived from Tauro.
He's absolutely crushing it. He ranked first in his entire year for academics, martial arts, and magic in the mid-terms. That's no easy feat. Sure, "Skills" play a part, but that kind of sweep only comes from a relentless grind. Faza and Cecil were beaming. He knew Tauro would do well, but the top spot? If that's the bar he's setting, Jiro better start working. He's already looking forward to seeing how he measures up in two years.
For now, the Landmark Family's future looks solid.
Tauro's school attracts students from outside the Margrave's lands, he's already building a network across social classes. He wrote about a kid from the south-the son of Viscount Bunaan-who's become a fierce rival and a close friend. Listening to the report, he can tell Tauro is really coming into his own. And that's exactly why he feels a pang of regret.
If he'd pushed a little harder on the business side, he could've sent Tauro to the Royal Academy instead. If he's #1 here, he would have dominated at the top school in the country.
At the end of the day, cash is the only thing that buys options.
'Sorry, Big Bro. It's my own damn incompetence that held you back.'
Jiro and Ryu both took Tauro's letter as a wake-up call. We both started grinding twice as hard to level up our own Skills.
Recently, Jiro even managed to trigger "Area Recovery," a mid-rank healing spell. Mastering that at his age is straight-up prodigy behavior. Faza and Cecil were floored.
The Landmark House is looking more secure by the second.
In the shadows, he finally managed to unlock a piece of his own Gokudo ³ ability: Accelerated Growth ⁴. He's not sure what the multiplier is yet, but for someone like him-who can mimic almost any skill with 'Jack of All Trades' and has no ceiling thanks to Limit Break ⁵-this is the ultimate game-changer.
Back to the grind.
Trivia:
- Ryu's patents are currently not in his own name, meaning he has no personal wealth yet.
- Tauro is the heir, making Ryu's departure from the family home inevitable upon adulthood.
- The 'Kendama' is an Earth invention used here as a business venture.
- Ryu's 'Limit Break' means his stats/skills have no natural cap
Character Insight:
Ryu shows a mix of family loyalty and yakuza-bred pragmatism. He feels guilty for not being rich enough to send his brother to a better school, showing a protective side that views financial power as the ultimate solution to all problems.
Behind the Scenes:
The use of toys like Kendama is a common trope in isekai 'territory development' novels to show the protagonist's influence on the local economy and culture.
TL Notes:
1 ↩ Area Recovery (領域回復): A mid-tier healing spell that affects a specific zone or multiple targets.
2 ↩ Kendama (けん玉): A traditional Japanese skill toy consisting of a handle, cups, and a ball connected by a string.
3 ↩ Gokudo (極道): A term for Yakuza or the organized crime path in Japan.
4 ↩ Accelerated Growth (経験値増大): A passive ability that increases the rate of experience point gain.
5 ↩ Limit Break (限界突破): An ability that removes standard level or stat caps for the user.
Notes:
• Ryu - Formerly Yokohama Ryusei, a yakuza. Reincarnated as the third son of the Landmark family. Has red hair and blue eyes. Possesses memories of his previous life and the ability to see names of objects.
• Hanna - Ryu's younger sister. Has blonde hair and blue eyes. Described as a budding beauty.
• Tauro - Ryu's older brother. The eldest son of the Landmark family. He has the 'Knight' skill and is proficient in various melee weapons. Described as kind and supportive of his younger brother.
• Jiro - Ryu's second older brother. He has the 'Priest-Warrior' skill, combining martial arts with healing magic.
• Sugo - Captain of the territorial guards. Responsible for teaching martial arts. Large, grim-faced, and protective of Ryu.
• Faza - The Lord of the Landmark Domain. A slender but sturdily built man with red hair and brown eyes.
• Cecil - Wife of the Landmark Lord. A blonde woman with deep blue eyes.