Dragon Raja: I started out as Erii's older brother

"It seems you're awake."

The man finally spoke, his voice as flat, cold, and devoid of any emotion as he was.

"who I am..."

Su Mo used all his strength to squeeze out a few words from his throat, his voice hoarse like a broken gong.

The man pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, the lenses reflecting a cold light.

"It seems that the 'accident' caused considerable damage to your brain."

He wasn't speaking in a question, but in a statement.

"But it doesn't matter. Who you are isn't important; what matters is who you will be from today onward."

Su Mo was completely confused.

What do you mean by "Who I am doesn't matter"?

Isn't this just as pointless as "Money isn't important, it's how you spend it"?

The man ignored Su Mo's bewildered expression and announced to himself:

"This is Tokyo, Japan, the main residence of the Snake-Headed Eight Families."

"You are a distant relative of our family who has been separated from us, a 'descendant of the White King' whose bloodline is recorded."

"A week ago, you were seriously injured in an accident. We found you and brought you back to our home for 'protection'."

The amount of information was so much that Su Mo's CPU overheated.

[Japan? The Snake-Headed Eight Family? Descendants of the White King?]

Help! What is all this nonsense?!

[Doesn't this sound exactly like the premise of some overly dramatic, chuunibyou anime? Did I not just black out from drinking, but instead time-travel?]

Or am I actually mentally ill, and everything I'm experiencing right now is just my imagination?

Su Mo's mind was racing with a barrage of thoughts, but his face remained blank.

The man seemed pleased with his reaction and continued in a tone that sounded like announcing a royal decree:

"From today onwards, your name is Uesugi Mo."

He pointed at Su Mo, and then at Erii, who was sitting quietly beside him.

"And she is Erii Uesugi. In name only, from today onwards, you are her older brother."

Uesugi Mo...

Su Mo, Shangshan Mo.

Okay, the name sounds alright, much better than "Yamamoto" or "Watanabe".

The problem is...

""Protect"?"

Su Mo seized upon this word, which sounded highly suspicious, and repeated it with difficulty.

"That's right, protection."

Ken Uesugi, the patriarch of the family, curled his lips into an almost imperceptible smile that was more like a grimace.

"As a rare descendant of the White King, your existence is both a huge threat and a huge temptation to certain forces in the outside world."

"Only under the protection of the main family, the Snake Clan, can your safety be guaranteed."

These words were spoken in a very grand and righteous manner.

But Su Mo didn't believe a single punctuation mark.

【Protect?】

I don't believe you for a second!

You old rascal!

Although he has amnesia, he still has basic emotional intelligence and IQ.

Look at those burly men in black at the entrance, each with bulging waists, clearly carrying weapons.

Look at this room again; besides the ventilation openings, there's not even a crack in the window. Is this what you call protection? This is fucking prison!

They even said I have a rare bloodline and am a threat from the outside world...

He knows that line of reasoning all too well!

Isn't this a typical robber's logic of "You possess a great treasure, but you are too weak, so for your own good, I will keep your treasure safe"?

So, I'm not family, and I'm the "treasure"?

A rare asset awaiting valuation.

Su Mo felt a chill run from head to toe.

He now finally understood just how dangerous his situation was.

He was not the young master of this family, nor was he a respected "older brother".

He is an object.

An item with a special purpose, controlled by an organization called the "Snake-Headed Eight Families".

The man, Ken Uesugi, watched the changing expressions on Su Mo's face, his contempt growing even stronger.

He seemed to enjoy the feeling of being in control.

"Looks like you're not too stupid after all."

He strolled to Su Mo's bedside, looking down at him as if he were looking at a hamster in a cage.

"That's right, your existence has special value to the family."

He pointed a finger at Erii, who was looking at him nervously.

"Your value lies in comforting her."

Ken Uesugi's voice was low and carried a hint of warning.

"Eri's power is too great, and the thin lineage of the same origin in your body is the only known 'tranquilizer' that can keep her emotions stable."

"sedative"...

Su Mo's heart sank to the bottom.

【I see.】

I am merely a human-shaped ornament, a living catalyst for medicine.

My role is simply to stay by the side of this girl who is also imprisoned, and to keep her from going insane.

What an irony!

To assign one prisoner to guard another, more important prisoner.

Just then, Ken Uesugi gently tapped the floor with the black cane in his hand.

"Thump."

The dull thud seemed to strike Su Mo's heart directly.

"Your value lies in comforting her."

Ken Uesugi's gaze suddenly became incredibly sharp, as if it could pierce through a person's soul.

"Apart from that, it's useless."

"Remember your duty."

After saying that, he didn't look at Su Mo again, turned around, and walked out of the room with steady steps.

The burly men in black at the door quietly retreated as he left.

The heavy paper door was closed, once again isolating the room from the outside world, creating two separate worlds.

The room was deathly silent.

Su Mo lay on the bed, staring blankly at the wooden ceiling.

Uesugi Ken's last few words echoed in his mind like a curse.

"Utterly useless..."

"Remember your duty..."

Humiliation, anger, resentment... all sorts of emotions were like a spilled spice jar, churning into a bitter and astringent mess in his heart.

Just when he was about to be overwhelmed by this negative emotion.

A soft, cool little hand gently and tentatively grasped the hem of his clothes.

The hand was small and a little cold, but the strength with which it gripped his clothes carried an undeniable firmness.

Su Mo slowly turned her head and met Erii's pure, ruby-like eyes, which held a hint of worry.

His heart felt as if it had been gently rubbed by that small hand, and all the anger and humiliation he felt inexplicably dissipated.

What else could he say?

Why take your anger out on a girl who is also imprisoned, and even worse off than you?

Su Mo couldn't do it.

He forced a smile that looked worse than a grimace, reached out, gently patted Erii's head, and said in a hoarse voice.

"Don't worry, I'm fine..."