Dragon Raja: Reboot

Chapter 79 is all about you (Two chapters combined, please read on)

The man gave her a deep look and sighed, "But this isn't a good thing. If you need, I can bring him to the organization."

Sakurai Kogure slowly stepped back and knelt on the ground: "Thank you for your grace, but it's too late for him. Let him choose for himself whether he wants freedom or to continue staying in that safe cage."

The man was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Alright, alright, I promise you. After Koyama Ryuzo's experiment is successful, I will bring him the first batch of test subjects so that he can make his own choice."

"Thank you for your kindness."

"Mercy?" the man said with a self-deprecating laugh. "This hardly qualifies as mercy."

He suddenly felt a little disheartened.

"Is there anything else you need to report?"

"Yes, there's a video circulating in our circle recently from overseas. Are you interested?"

"Oh? What video?" The man suddenly became interested.

"A video..." Sakurai Kogure hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "like a video of a king in person. Everyone is saying in private that if this person had been born into the family, he would definitely be the new Amaterasu."

The man narrowed his long, narrow eyes, and a smile bloomed like a flower.

"Let me see it, let me see what kind of person deserves such praise."

"Yes!" Sakurai Kogure stood up and walked gracefully to the next room, retrieved a tablet, and respectfully handed it to the young man.

As the video progress bar slowly moved forward, the tablet was suddenly crushed by the man.

Sakurai Kogure immediately knelt down, waiting for the man to vent his inexplicable anger.

"…Sorry, I misbehaved a bit." After a brief silence, the man's somewhat enigmatic voice came through, tinged with apology and…oddity, "Could you get me another tablet?"

"Of course!" Sakurai Kogure got up and hurriedly left the suite.

The man's expression was quite interesting; he wasn't sure if he had just made a mistake...

When the video played again, the man who seemed oblivious to everyone else yet became the center of attention the moment he stepped into the auction hall couldn't help but resemble the man who had visited on that rainy night not long ago.

It's...him?!

"Have you investigated his identity?" Kazama Ruri asked softly.

Kogure Sakurai keenly noticed the fluctuation in his emotions.

"He is Lu Mingfei, a sophomore at Kassel College, and the school's first S-class student in forty years," Sakurai Kogure said respectfully.

Kazama Ruri grew even more serious, her eyes gleaming in the moonlight: "Is he from the academy?"

If the Snake-Headed Eight Families are the dominant force in the mixed-race world of Japan, then the Academy is their leader.

"Yes, according to our investigation, he should be the new leader of the younger generation promoted by the academy."

"Lu Mingfei?" Kazama Ruri paused the video, her slender white fingers gently tracing the majestic and fierce golden eyes on the screen, and said with a smile, "I look forward to the day we meet again. Maybe... I really will bet on you to win."

……

……

Mount Kobe.

It's already night.

Akira Sakurai sat alone at his desk, writing furiously.

This afternoon, while he was working, he suddenly thought of a good plot, but unfortunately Nami was right next to him, so he couldn't drop his hoe and sneak back to record it.

Fortunately, the memory of mixed-race people is far superior to that of ordinary people. He was recalling the plot he had conceived in the afternoon and writing it down in his notebook.

This storyline follows the male and female protagonists as they defeat the martial god Fainmin. On their journey, they encounter a boy who was abandoned as a child. A self-proclaimed righteous enforcer is hunting the boy, but the male protagonist, Sakurai Akira, decisively intervenes and saves him. Together with the female protagonist, Nami, they embark on a path to seek justice for the boy...

"Sigh, I really can't accept that you write a novel and make yourself the protagonist, especially since the female protagonist is Nami-sensei."

A faint sigh suddenly came from the cramped room. The voice was somewhat childish, yet it carried an air of old age.

Sakurai Akira slammed his notebook shut, clenched his fists, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Ryoma Ichimae! I warned you not to sneak into my dorm room using the Netherworld Light!"

A young man of about seventeen or eighteen years old appeared out of nowhere behind him and said calmly, "I'm truly worried about your lack of vigilance. How can someone like you become a warrior for adults?"

Words of Power: Illumination of the Underworld.

The releaser creates a small field centered on itself, within which light refracts in strange ways, creating an effect similar to invisibility.

This is a word of magic that manipulates light and shadow.

Sakurai Akira scoffed, "With your strength, which can't even catch a chicken, you think you can cut my neck?"

The young man's composed expression suddenly wavered, and he retorted defiantly, "What if I had a gun? I could blow your head off!"

Sakurai Akira stood up and faced Ryoma Ichigo. He was a head taller than Ryoma, who was only 17 years old and still had room to grow. He looked down at Ryoma, the youngest of the six, and calmly said:

"It was precisely because you weren't carrying a gun or a knife that you were able to get close to me from behind while I was concentrating on writing."

Ryoma pouted, puffed out his chest defiantly, and was about to say something when Sakurai Akira interrupted him, saying:

"Speak up, what do you want so late? We've already agreed on a time for the gathering. If you sneak out in the middle of the night and get caught, how are you going to explain it? We're not going to expose ourselves for your sake!"

Faced with Sakurai Akira's stern, brotherly gaze, Ryoma's imposing aura faltered, and after a long silence, he whispered:

It's raining outside.

Akira Sakurai was taken aback.

It was only then that he realized that a torrential downpour had started outside the window.

The sound of rain splashing on the ground masked everything, no wonder he didn't notice Ryoma's arrival.

The light and shadow play tricks on the mind, but it cannot block out sound.

Akira Sakurai walked to the window with iron bars and silently gazed at the rainy night outside.

The rain is so heavy tonight, just like those countless cold, damp nights in his dreams. The rain is pouring down, the noisy sound of the rain drowning out everything, and evil spirits are crawling out of his body...

Sakurai Akira subconsciously raised his hand and pressed it to his chest, where his heart was beating strongly.

He turned to look at Ryoma and suddenly realized that this kid was just like him in the past, afraid of every cold, rainy night.

He used to huddle alone in a corner every rainy night when he was woken up, with no one to lean on. He could only hug the blanket and shiver.

These are some terrible memories, but Akira Sakurai has let go of the past. However, the youngest of them, Ichimae, is still standing in that cold, rainy night, unable to move on.

Sakurai Akira silently walked to Ryoma's side, pulled him to sit on the bed, and the two sat against the wall.

The rain was pouring down outside, while the house was unusually quiet.

"What, scared?" Sakurai Akira whispered.

"...Hmm." Ryoma hugged his knees tightly with both hands and gently rested his head on his knees, revealing the fragility of a young boy.

Sakurai Akira put his hand on Ryoma's shoulder, squeezed it, and laughed, "Now you don't have to be afraid."

Because I am by your side.

He said those words silently to himself.

A true samurai would never utter such sentimental words; a samurai would only hint at them and let them be expressed through his actions.

And he is no longer the brat he used to be.

He was a samurai.

A samurai chosen by the adults.

He found the meaning of being human, was ready to die at any time, and honed himself in the darkness every day.

How could a samurai who is not afraid of death be afraid of this cold, rainy night?

Ryoma stepped forward and said in a low voice, "...If I am captured, you don't need to worry about being exposed. I will commit suicide immediately. I have read ninja biographies. The books say that real ninjas always hide a kind of poison in their teeth. If they are captured after a failed mission, they will commit suicide by taking poison. I don't have any poison, but I still have the courage to commit suicide."

Sakurai Akira was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice:

"You are not a ninja, so you don't need to commit suicide. You are a warrior chosen by the adults."

"I apologize for my angry words earlier. In fact, if you were exposed and captured, we wouldn't abandon you. A true warrior never abandons his comrades. If an adult were present, he would also help you, because we are still comrades, like-minded partners."

Sakurai Akira turned and stared into Ryoma's previously dim eyes, saying each word slowly and deliberately:

"We are all ghosts, but ghosts also have friends. When self-proclaimed righteous law enforcers are about to kill you, we will appear by your side and shield you from their swords."

"It's not just me, but also Takeshi, Shingo, Taro, and Mako. We will all make the same choice."

"I also believe that if we were exposed and caught, you would make the same choice. That's what partners are for!"

"You'd better give up on the idea of ​​suicide. We don't want to go through all the trouble to get to you only to be met with a cowardly suicide victim."

Longma stared at him blankly for a long time before lowering his head to hide his reddened eyes.

"Thank you," the boy said, his voice trembling slightly.

"You're welcome," Sakurai Akira said softly, scratching a strand of hair in front of him. "Friends shouldn't easily say thank you; it's bad luck. Gratitude towards friends should just be kept in your heart."

Silence returned to the room, with only the sound of rain outside the window.

"Listen carefully," Sakurai Akira suddenly said. "Actually, the sound of rain isn't that scary. You know, many musicians use rainy nights as inspiration to create beautiful piano pieces."

After hesitating for a while, Ryoma finally asked, "When did you start listening to piano music?"

"Uh, this..." Sakurai Akira awkwardly touched his nose.

"Could it be because of Nami-sensei?" Ryoma glanced sideways at the upperclassman next to him.

"You found out!" Sakurai Akira said, beaming. "Nami gave me an MP3 player with a lot of piano pieces on it."

Faced with Sakurai Akira's undisguised crush on Nami, Ryoma Ichima reverted to his mature demeanor, sighing, "If you really like her, then go after her."

Akira Sakurai laughed and said, "If we manage to come back alive from the battlefield, I'll go after Nami."

When the conversation turned to that "master," Ryoma stepped forward and asked softly, "What did the master promise you?"

Instead of answering, Sakurai Akira asked, "And you? I'm quite curious why the master chose you."

Longma glared at him and said, "What do you mean, 'Why did you choose me?'"

"Because you're still a minor." Sakurai Akira shrugged, his face saying, "Isn't this obvious?"

Ryoma retorted, "So what if I'm a minor? In all manga, it's high school students who save the world! I'm a high school student right now! And my seat in class is the second to last row by the window."

Sakurai Akira chuckled and said, "So, Mr. Savior Ryoma Ichima, are you ready to begin saving the world?"

"Always ready!" Ryoma thumped his chest proudly. "As long as you summon me, I'm ready for the battlefield!"

Sakurai Akira shook his head and said, "The master will not issue a summons to you in your current state."

Why?

"Because you're still too weak. Did you do your 'homework' today?"

Faced with Sakurai Akira's straightforward words, Ryoma Ichizen, who should have been furious, fidgeted nervously.

The so-called "homework" refers to the training that hones one's skills.

Sakurai Akira sighed and said, "Training isn't for us, it's for yourself. What the adults need are qualified warriors. We don't have the conditions to be battle-hardened, but necessary training is the foundation. Dragon blood has given us strong physiques, but that doesn't mean we'll stop here."

Ryoma, his face flushed, said, "I'll make it as soon as I get back!"

Sakurai Akira said calmly, "Your fighting spirit is quite good. I hope you can keep your word. A true warrior never lies."

After a moment of silence, Ryoma stepped forward and whispered, "The promise you made to me is that after everything is over, you will let me become the principal of this school."

Akira Sakurai was stunned and couldn't help but ask, "Principal? You want to become the principal of this school? Why?"

Ryoma leaned back against the wall, looking at the ceiling, and said with a pure smile:

"Because I want everyone to live a good life!"

"Once I become the principal, I will take the students on a school trip to Hokkaido. I will also buy the entire Kobe mountain and use it as the school's back garden. The students can move around freely on the mountain without being confined to the high walls. If they are bold enough, they can even sneak down the mountain to play. As long as they come back on time, I will turn a blind eye..."

Akira Sakurai suddenly asked, "Why Hokkaido? Isn't Tokyo good enough?"

"Um..." Ryoma seemed surprised by the question, scratching his head shyly, "I've heard that Hokkaido has a lot of delicious food and a beer festival. I'd like to take everyone to try it. The school food is terrible. Tokyo is too bustling; you'll probably feel too constrained if you go, right?"

Sakurai Akira laughed and said, "I think you just want to eat it yourself, don't you?"

Longma rolled his eyes. "Of course I want to eat it, don't you?"

"Alright, please make sure to take me with you, Principal Ryoma!" Sakurai Akira said seriously.

Ryoma cleared his throat and coughed, saying, "Don't worry, once I take over as principal, I'll betroth Nami-sensei to you!"

Sakurai Akira, both amused and exasperated, said, "Are you the principal or the Emperor?"

"No conflict. Being the principal of this school is like being the emperor, isn't it?" Ryoma shrugged.

Compared to the Emperor, whom he had only seen on television, he still found the principal more terrifying.

Ryoma suddenly looked at him with utmost seriousness and said sincerely, "I really want to transform this school, but my efforts alone might not be enough. Will you help me?"

"Of course," Sakurai Akira chuckled. "That's the meaning of companionship."

Longma grinned, revealing a bright, boyish smile.

"Alright, I'm leaving. I won't disturb you while you're writing your novel." Ryoma rolled out of bed and walked towards the door.

As he reached the door, he suddenly turned back and asked, "By the way, I've already told you my secret, but you haven't told me about the promise the adults made to you!"

Sakurai Akira smiled and said, "My lord has already delivered what I wanted to my side."

"What is that?" Ryoma's eyes widened as he scanned the room, trying to find it.

Unfortunately, there was really nothing to see in this room; it was simple and extremely monotonous.

"It's you guys." Sakurai Akira smiled.

Longma froze, then after a long while, spat out a disgusted look, turned his back, and said, "You're disgusting! I'm leaving!"

After saying that, he turned and left quickly without looking back.

Akira Sakurai sat alone outside the window, pressed against the corner of the wall, listening to the lonely sound of the rain outside.

A silent laugh.

1+2=3, it's past midnight today, cough cough cough.

Dragon Raja is actually an ensemble piece. Lu Mingfei's rebirth doesn't just change him; from Sakurai Akira to Genjiro, everyone should undergo growth and transformation, no longer the bratty kids they once were.

(End of this chapter)