The discovery of his mother's hidden gift made Arin restless with hope. If Mira had such potential without knowing it, what about his father?
One evening, when Raghav returned from work, looking exhausted yet smiling as always, Arin activated Observation on him.
Talent Detected: Finance (Basic) - A grounded understanding of money, savings, and practical resource management. While not extraordinary, with consistent effort this person can keep finances stable, avoid major risks, and help others manage simple economic matters.
Potential: Rare
Arin froze. At first, he was disappointed—only a Basic Talent. But then he noticed the Potential. Rare. The system's words echoed in his mind:
Basic → Max Level: 3
Rare → Max Level: 5
Epic → Max Level: 7
Legendary → Max Level: 10
Which meant, if nurtured, even a Basic Talent could climb higher when potential was rare. His father wasn't destined to remain average—he just never had the chance to realize it.
Arin studied him carefully. Raghav worked in a modest office job, handling clerical work and simple accounts. He wasn't rich, but he was disciplined with money. He managed to keep their family afloat even when things got tight. And always—always—he carried that big smile, as if shielding Mira and Arin from the weight of reality.
Dad has the mind for numbers, but he doesn't see it as talent. If I can guide him, maybe…
The next day, as Raghav sat at the table with bills and salary slips, Arin climbed onto the chair beside him.
"Dad, what are you doing?" he asked innocently.
"Just checking the monthly expenses, buddy," Raghav said warmly, ruffling his son's hair. "It's boring stuff, not for kids."
Arin leaned closer. "Can you teach me? I want to learn."
Raghav chuckled. "Teach you? At your age?" But when he saw Arin's serious little face, he softened. "…Alright, but only a little."
As he explained basic numbers and balancing expenses, Arin noticed something incredible. His father's eyes lit up. Though tired, he explained with clarity and passion. Every calculation seemed natural to him, like second nature.
The glow of his Finance Talent flickered faintly, responding to use.
That's it, Arin thought. If I encourage him, if I nudge him toward realizing this, he might awaken more of his talent.
That evening, Arin turned to his father suddenly. "Dad, you're really good at this. You make it sound so easy."
Raghav laughed, embarrassed. "Good at it? No, no. I just do what I can."
But for the first time, Arin saw a hint of pride in his father's eyes.
Over the next few weeks, Arin kept pushing gently. He'd ask his father about saving, about investments, about numbers in general. Each time, Raghav grew more engaged, explaining more eagerly. Slowly, without realizing, he was training his own talent.
Arin could see the change. The glow of his father's Finance Talent was growing stronger.
And deep inside, Arin knew—if his father pursued this path, he could rise higher than anyone expected.
That night, lying in bed, Arin felt warmth spread in his chest.
If Mom realizes her talent in baking, and Dad nurtures his potential in finance… then maybe, just maybe, we won't just survive. We'll thrive.
For the first time since his restart, Arin wasn't thinking just about himself.
He was thinking about his family.
And with that thought, he drifted into sleep—his mind already planning the next steps.