Sara's car pulled up to a towering yet lavish gate, part of the vast wall that surrounded and separated the estate from the outside world. It had been months since I'd last been home, but the white-stone walls remained as pristine and pure as I remembered—almost as if dirt and grime dared not approach them.
Staring forward past the car seats, I looked through the windshield beyond the barred metal gate. A modern brick road wound through neatly trimmed grass, stretching all the way up to the manor.
As the gate swung open, Sara drove forward along the brick path, unveiling more of the estate's luxuries. Each curve of the road revealed manicured gardens, marble fountains, and statues that gleamed under the sunlight—an opulent procession leading up to the grand manor.
The building itself was exactly as I remembered, steeped in luxury and standing as a silent monument to my family's wealth and enduring pride. Every detail—from the polished stonework to the carved wooden accents—seemed to hold its own quiet story, preserved through generations. The air around the manor felt still, almost reverent, as if even time was reluctant to disturb this place.
Despite the grandeur and presence of the estate, I couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment at being back so soon. I'd enjoyed my time living as a regular civilian and wasn't quite ready for it to end. Still, I was grateful Grandfather had honoured my wishes and let me live out that fantasy, even if only for a little while.
To be honest, if it was truly time for me to inherit my role and take Grandfather's place, maybe I could find a way to breathe some life into this place. Then it wouldn't feel so bad, even if I was no longer a regular civilian.
"Young Master?" Sara's voice broke my train of thought. I turned to see her standing by the car door, holding it open for me.
"Ah, sorry, I was just a bit lost in my own world there," I said, stepping out.
Guided by Sara, I ascended the stairs to the manor. A maid appeared, gently pushing the door open before slipping back to her duties. I thanked her quietly, and Sara resumed leading me toward Grandfather's office.
Upon entering Grandfather's office, the first thing I noticed was that Sara had stayed behind by the door instead of following me inside. The second was Grandfather himself, seated behind an imposing wooden desk that gleamed with age and polish, his eyes fixed on me as I stepped forward.
His desk was made of dark polished wood and kept impeccably tidy. A few papers lay neatly stacked beside a set of elegant fountain pens resting in a lacquered pen holder. A small, ornate inkstone sat nearby, alongside a delicate brush for calligraphy. A classic desk lamp cast a warm glow over the surface, where every item seemed carefully placed, untouched and orderly.
The maids weren't allowed in Grandfather's office, and though he was incredibly serious and traditional, I couldn't imagine he had the time to keep his desk this spotless. It must've been Sara.
I hope he doesn't work her too hard...
His stern expression softened, and with a proud smile, he slapped his hands on the desk. His deep, steady voice carried a rare warmth as he said, "Ryuji, it's good to see you, my boy. I've been waiting for this day."
"Jeez, Gramps, no need to be so fired up," I replied, a small smile tugging at my lips.
He smirked, a glint of mischief flickering in his eyes. "Fired up, am I? Maybe I just like making sure you don't get too comfortable, boy." He paused, a spark of challenge lighting his gaze. "Speaking of comfort—how's your training coming along, hm?"
That old man—didn't even have time to sit down before he was on my case about training. Classic.
"Ahem. Well, honestly, real-world training? I've done none, hehe..." Gramps fixed me with a sharp look, a glint in his eyes that clearly said he knew I wasn't finished explaining.
"That game you recommended I try, though..." I paused, searching for the right words. "It's incredible, Gramps! I've been using a katana the whole time, and even though it's just virtual, it actually feels like real training."
"The reactions, the weight, the movement—everything just feels so real! It's way less boring than training with a wooden sword."
"I had a feeling you'd prefer playing Shangri-La Frontier over real-life training," he said thoughtfully, folding his hands neatly on the desk. "So when I heard your request to live as a civilian for a while, I thought it might be the perfect way for you to keep up with your training.
He leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing slightly as his expression grew more serious. "Also, Sara mentioned you've made some friends in the game. Tell me—how close are they, really?"
Is Sara some kind of secret agent? How does Gramps already know? When was she even supposed to tell him—I mean, she was driving the entire time! This doesn't make any sense.
"Yeah…" I replied, still puzzled about how he'd found out. "I wouldn't say we're super close yet since I just met them all, but they're definitely cool people. There's Sunraku, Oikatzo, and Pencilgon."
"We're going to take on a boss raid together at some point."
Gramps raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the mention of a boss raid. "Oh? And what boss do you lot plan on taking down?" he asked, leaning forward on his hands, waiting patiently for my answer.
"It's one of the Seven Colossi," I explained. "They're these super buffed-up bosses that no one's managed to beat yet."
Surprisingly, he leaned in a bit more, gently drumming his fingers against the polished wood of his desk as his curiosity grew.
"Do you know which one specifically?" he asked. The way his curiosity deepened made me suspect he knew more about the game than he was letting on.
"I believe it's Wethermon the Tombguard. Or something like that," I said slowly, narrowing my eyes a little. "You're surprisingly interested in the details of a video game, Gramps… what's up with that?"
He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as he regarded me. "Oh, it's nothing," he said with a casual shrug. "I'm just curious about what my grandson's up to, that's all." A brief pause, then his lips curved into a playful smirk. "As your guardian, it's my responsibility to take an interest in your activities every now and then, isn't it?"
---
After our little conversation about Shangri-La Frontier, Gramps had Sara fetch us some drinks. Then, without missing a beat, he shifted the topic to something far more serious: the idea of me becoming his successor. His wealth was substantial—he owned a significant share of companies all across Japan, an empire built on decades of careful investment and shrewd deals.
He was a prominent figure in countless companies, so stepping into his shoes would be an incredibly demanding—yet potentially rewarding—responsibility. With my mother, his only daughter, gone, and my father… well, out of the picture, I was the only one left to inherit his legacy.
Despite all this, he never pressured me too much and always made sure I had everything I needed to be properly prepared. So when the time came for him to pass down his responsibilities, I'd be ready to take them on—no matter how heavy the weight each role carried.
Grandfather was also pretty clear that I had plenty of time to learn and grow before I'd inherit his wealth and responsibilities—after all, he joked, he didn't plan on kicking the bucket for at least another ten years. "Minimum," he added with a wink.
(A/N) This chapter is solely focused on developing Ryuji's story and I'm planning to put a two week time skip In next chapter which should bring us straight up to the wethermon fight. This doesn't mean it will be happening next chapter, but it does mean we're extremely close so I'm going to try and improve the quality of writing from here out.
See you all next chapter.