A few days had passed since Saiten's visit to the Landmark Knight estate.
During that time, a change occurred within Landmark Ryu's 'Appraisal' ability. Previously, his skill only displayed the names of objects, but now, detailed descriptions had begun to appear.
It was an incredibly convenient upgrade.
Before, he had to take every new name he discovered to his father's study, poring over heavy tomes to understand what he was looking at. Now, that tedious research was a thing of the past.
He decided to test it in the forest. When he simply "viewed" the flora-which didn't count as an "object" while rooted-the ability remained dormant. However, Ryu found a simple workaround.
He just had to pick the plant. The moment it became a harvested item, the name and description flickered into his mind.
This little "cheat" allowed him to instantly distinguish between edible greens and poisonous weeds, or identify rare medicinal herbs. While it was a bit of a hassle to pluck everything individually, he memorized their appearances as he went. He was killing two birds with one stone.
Before long, Ryu was making even greater contributions to the Landmark Knight Family's dinner table.
Ryu's daily routine was strictly organized: studies in the morning, swordsmanship practice at noon, and a trip to the forest to check traps and forage for supplies. Afterward, he was usually free until dinner. Lately, however, a new task had found its way into his free time.
Sugo, the captain of the territorial guards, usually found himself idle during these hours, so Ryu had him tag along as muscle.
The two arrived in the town located at the foot of the hill where the Landmark Knight manor stood. Even calling it a "territorial capital" was a stretch; for a family of Knight rank, the town was little more than a large village. Still, it boasted small branches of the Merchant Guild and the Adventurer's Guild, which kept the place lively. Several shops and a bustling tavern lined the main thoroughfare to cater to the local trade.
"He's been hanging out at this tavern, right?" Ryu asked, looking up at Sugo.
"Yes, that's the word, Young Master Ryu," Sugo replied. He looked down at the boy, his expression hesitant. "Are you sure about this? I can handle the heavy lifting if you want to stay outside."
The captain was clearly worried about the optics of bringing the Lord's son into a dive bar, not to mention the potential headache if things turned south.
"No," Ryu said firmly. "We stick to the plan."
"Understood," Sugo muttered.
The pair stepped into the dim interior of the tavern. Despite it being early evening, a handful of patrons were already nursing drinks. A few local farmers were scattered among the rougher-looking adventurers.
"That's our man," Sugo whispered, nodding toward a farmer sitting alone.
Ryu nodded and approached the man's table.
"Good evening. You're Mr. Misoke, aren't you?" Ryu asked with a polite smile. "I'm here for the shakedown."
"Huh?" The man squinted. "What are you yapping about, kid? What's a 'shakedown'?"
"Ah, my apologies," Ryu corrected himself smoothly. "Yakuza habits die hard... I mean, I'm here for the debt collection."
"G-Gokudo? Yakuza? Collection?" Misoke stammered, the alcohol in his system suddenly losing its charm.
"That's right," Ryu said. "We're here regarding the funds you borrowed from my father several years ago."
"Your father?"
"Yes. Landmark Faza, the Lord of this land."
"T-The Lord's son!?"
Misoke scrambled to sit upright, nearly knocking over his ale. He finally noticed the massive, grim-faced soldier looming behind the six-year-old. Even through a drunken haze, he realized he was in deep trouble.
"W-What can I do for you, milord?"
"Like I said, you have an outstanding loan, don't you?"
"I... well, I'm not quite sure I recall..."
"The promissory note is right here," Ryu interrupted. He took a slip of paper from Sugo and held it up for Misoke to see.
Once the man had gotten a good look, Ryu handed the paper back to the captain.
"The harvests have been plentiful these last few years," Ryu continued, his voice calm but cold. "You've been doing well for yourself, yet you haven't paid back a single copper coin of interest. Why is that? From where I'm standing, you don't look like a man who's short on cash."
"If you borrow something, you'd better be prepared to give it back!" Sugo growled, leaning over the table.
Misoke let out a small yelp and recoiled into his chair.
"Sugo, settle down," Ryu said, waving a hand dismissively. "You're frightening Mr. Misoke. My apologies, sir; the captain is a bit short-tempered. Now, about that repayment... are we going to have a problem?"
"N-No! No problem! I'll pay!" Misoke blurted out. He was far more terrified of the giant soldier than the child, but the child's eerie composure wasn't helping his nerves.
Ryu flashed a bright, innocent smile. "Excellent. Then let's sit down and discuss a repayment plan that won't be too much of a burden on your family."
From that point on, Ryu took total control of the conversation. He knew Misoke had a family to feed, so he proposed a reasonable schedule. Misoke sat in stunned silence as the Lord's young son laid out the terms with the precision of a seasoned accountant. Relief washed over the farmer; unlike the terrifying Sugo, the boy was actually willing to listen to reason. He quickly signed the new contract Ryu presented, agreeing to monthly installments.
"Make sure you keep up with your payments from now on, Mr. Misoke," Ryu said with a final, friendly nod.
Misoke nodded vigorously, his face pale but determined.
And just like that, the finances of the Landmark Knight Family took their first step toward recovery.
Summary:
Ryu's 'Appraisal' ability evolves to provide full descriptions, allowing him to identify forest resources efficiently. He then utilizes his free time to begin collecting old debts owed to his father, the Lord. Using his former yakuza negotiation skills and the guard captain Sugo as intimidation, he successfully secures a repayment plan from a delinquent farmer.
Trivia:
- The 'Appraisal' skill only works on objects, not rooted plants.
- The Landmark Knight Family is financially struggling despite the territory's recent rich harvests.
- Ryu is only six years old physically.
- Saiten's visit happened just a few days prior.
- Ryu deliberately uses 'Good Cop/Bad Cop' tactics
Character Insight:
Ryu demonstrates a pragmatic ruthlessness tempered by fairness; he doesn't want to ruin the farmer's family, just ensure the Lord's house gets its due. Sugo shows deep loyalty but also discomfort with involving a child in the darker side of territorial management.
Behind the Scenes:
The term 'Kiritori' used by Ryu is a classic underworld term for debt collection, highlighting his inability to fully shed his past-life persona.
TL Notes:
1 ↩ Appraisal (鑑定 - Kantei): A common isekai skill, here evolved to provide detailed context rather than just names.
2 ↩ Knight (騎士 - Kishi): The lowest rank of landed nobility in this world's hierarchy.
3 ↩ Kiritori (切り取り): Literal Yakuza slang meaning to 'cut out' a share or collect a debt aggressively.
4 ↩ Gokudo (極道): A formal and self-referential term for the Yakuza or the path of the underworld.
Notes:
• Saiten - A professor and scholar known for his A-Rank 'Appraisal' skill. Tall and slender with black hair, black eyes, and rare glasses.
• 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.
• Sugo - Captain of the territorial guards. Responsible for teaching martial arts. Large, grim-faced, and protective of Ryu.
• Misoke - A local farmer who lives in the Landmark territory. Indebted to Lord Faza.
• Faza - The Lord of the Landmark Domain. A slender but sturdily built man with red hair and brown eyes.