Kaito paused, letting the weight of his words settle before speaking again.
"And it's not just that. After becoming a martial artist, I noticed something else—the in-game body grows alongside the real one. My perception, reflexes, reaction time… every instinct sharpened in reality is reflected in Glory exactly the same way. The avatar isn't static. If I advance to Rank 1 outside, I'll have Rank 1 capabilities inside as well. That means I can train for my next breakthrough in both worlds at once."
A quiet ripple of murmurs passed through the table. Kaito gestured toward his parents and grandparents.
"That's why they're also playing Glory. If you don't believe me, ask them yourselves."
His second grandfather turned to Kaito's father, curiosity written across his face.
"Is this really true?"
His father nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"I've fought more than twenty matches in the game. The improvement is undeniable."
Kaito's third uncle leaned forward.
"Same for me. It's not a replacement for real-world training, but the benefits… they're real."
To drive the point home, Kaito's father released his martial aura—Rank 2, high grade—filling the hall with a heavy pressure that pressed on every chest. His uncles followed suit, each revealing their Rank 2, mid grade auras. Even his usually quiet aunt added her own Rank 2, mid grade presence, the flicker of pride in her eyes impossible to miss.
A low chuckle rumbled from Kaito's grandfather.
"Not bad… but watch closely."
He closed his eyes briefly, and when they opened again, his Rank 3, lower grade aura surged out like a slow, unstoppable tide. The air seemed to thicken, conversations cut off mid-sentence, and several of the younger cousins stared at him with wide-eyed awe.
The granduncles exchanged sharp glances—this was news to them.
"So… you've broken through," one finally said, his voice tinged with surprise.
Kaito's Grandfather smiled faintly.
"Even after me reaching Rank 3, I can still feel some improvement and If I can feel it, so can all of you."
Whatever disagreements they've had, strength is what keeps the family standing.
There was a long pause before the eldest grandfather finally inclined his head.
"If this Glory truly offers such benefits, then it's worth our time."
Kaito then seized the moment.
"I'm glad you think so. I've already planned ahead—for uncles, grandfathers, grandmothers, aunts… everyone. I ordered a hundred bronze cabins. Eighty-five are for the cousins, and the rest are for you."
The table went silent for a heartbeat before breaking into a swell of murmurs. Down the table, the cousins had overheard enough to piece things together—excitement spread like wildfire. Laughter and chatter rose as the reality of Kaito's words sank in.
Kaito allowed himself a small, satisfied smile.
The seed had been planted, and it was already taking root.
….
After dinner, when the plates were cleared and the chatter in the dining hall began to fade, Kaito was called aside by one of the servants."The elders request your presence in the family hall."
It wasn't just him. Word spread quickly, and within minutes, most of the uncles, and key cousins were making their way through the long, dimly lit corridors toward the ancestral estate's central meeting place.
The Ren family's ancestral family hall was a large, rectangular chamber with high ceilings, its walls adorned with martial banners from past generations. Despite the family's preference for a low-key lifestyle, the hall itself carried a quiet dignity. Heavy wooden beams supported the structure, and a large carved emblem of the Ren family crest hung on the far wall above the dais where the two grandfathers now sat.
Second Grandfather Ren, who managed the estate's day-to-day affairs, sat to the right. Eldest Grandfather Ren, broader in build and wearing the dark hunting leathers he favored, sat to the left. Both had the air of men who carried the family's burdens on their shoulders.
The lanterns in the family hall burned low and steady, throwing long bands of amber across old wood and older faces. When everyone had settled into their seats, Second Grandfather stood, cleared his throat,
"We've called you here to give an update on the estate's current resources and operations."
"Two items," he said, voice even. "Fields and hunt."
He didn't embellish.
"There are nearly 60 million credits in the treasury of the estate" he said. " And In a week, when the next spiritual rice shipment goes out. After sale and settlements, we expect at least forty million more into the vault."
A ripple passed through the benches—low murmurs, quick glances.
His second grandfather let the figure settle,
The ancestral estate owns one hundred acres of Rank 1 farmland. These fields are not something you can simply buy with money. To acquire them, one must have the martial strength to meet the Federation's qualification standards. Without that strength, you aren't even permitted to bid for the land
Because in the wilderness, land like that comes with a test—first of coin, then of fist. If you can't defend the seed, you have no right to the harvest.
Kaito knew this was true. Rank 1 spiritual rice was highly sought after—grains infused with faint spiritual energy that, when eaten regularly, nourished the body and aided cultivation. But their value was also what made them targets.
And because of it being a spiritual thing, buyers lined up to buy it.
Corporations pay extra for anything with even a trace of spiritual energy. Even rank-one spiritual rice sells quickly—hospitals use it in recovery meals, academies give it to students before breakthroughs, and rich families store it for children starting martial arts training. To outsiders, the estate sells it above market price but still affordable. To family—Kaito's branch included—it's sold at the normal price.
Second Grandfather continued. "The buyers remain stable. Contracts are staggered. We've had no default in two years. The next shipment is the one-week delivery I mentioned. As always, we'll send the family allotment first."
Second Grandfather then shifted to the second pillar.
"Now for the hunting team."
Eldest Grandfather finally looked up, the faintest smile tapping his mouth like a knuckle to a door. He didn't speak; he didn't need to. The mountain in his eyes spoke for him.
"The quarterly cycle stands," Second Grandfather said. "We hunt one month, we stand down two. Last quater's expedition returned with a Rank 2 beast, ten Rank 1s, and roughly thirty unranked."
That, too, sent a ripple through the room. A Rank 2 kill changes the ledger: meat, hide, bone—each part a different market; each piece a different kind of strength when kept.
"Most of the unranked meat will be sold as always" he added. "The Rank 2 and Rank 1 meat is already separated and stored. We'll decide distribution by morning."
Kaito could picture the storeroom. But to understand why any of it mattered, you had to step five kilometers east of the ancestral estate and see what rose there.
The Endless Mountains.
From far away, they looked like a dark line on the horizon. But once you got close, one ridge led to another, and another, until all you could see was rock, mist, and nothing else. The mountain range stretched so far that it passed through the lands of more than twenty Silver-grade families. For the Ren ancestral estate, it marked the border with the Soelerin family's territory. On the other side of those peaks was another Silver-grade power.
Hunting here wasn't just about fighting monsters. The mountains were shared by many families, and disputes were common. The trails had been used for years, but every family claimed certain areas as their own. Hunters had to be careful of both beasts and people. Some families would negotiate and let others pass. Others would steal your prey, and if they were ruthless enough, even kill you.
That was why Eldest Grandfather always went with the hunting team himself. He was the strongest in the ancestral estate, a Rank 4 lower-grade martial artist, and he had taken it as his responsibility to protect the team.
As some say a Rank 6 beast lives deep in the mountains, appearing without warning. No one we trust has seen it and lived to tell the tale, and the elders say it's better that way.Second Grandfather manages supplies and trade, while Eldest Grandfather leads the hunts. One handles the quiet work, the other the dangerous work—and that balance is why the estate has survived.
After, his Second Grandfather finished speaking about the hunting, Kaito finally understood why his uncle had scolded him. Because for him Kaito had spent an amount almost equal to the entire sum in the estate's treasury