ESTRANGED BROTHER

<A few hours before Graham Wolfenstein was "summoned…">

***

"JUST how useless could you really be, Graham Wolfenstein?"

Graham could only lower his head as his older brother, Nathaniel Ystraughffe, berated him for something that he didn't do. But knowing that his brother wouldn't believe him anyway, he just stood quietly in front of him with his hands on his back. [But it's not really me, Brother…]

"You're already in your first year of internship and yet, you still don't know the basics?" Nathaniel berated him. "Isn't it basic to activate a Room Isolation Device when an S-class Cage is open?"

A 'Room Isolation Device' was the type of device that, as its name suggested, isolated the Cages from the real world temporarily. It was a precautionary measure used to ensure that the area would be safe in case the monsters inside the Cages managed to break out.

As such, it was a basic procedure for a Team to set up a Room Isolation Device before entering the Cage.

[But I wasn't the person in charge of setting up the Room Isolation Device…]

Unfortunately, his Team Members didn't speak up for him. And thus, his brother summoned him to the Student Council Room for a good scolding.

"You must be punished for your irresponsibility, Graham Wolfenstein."

"Yes, Brother–"

"Am I speaking as your brother right now?"

"I apologize, President," he said, correcting himself. "I will accept any punishment."

If they were at the academy, he was supposed to address Nathaniel as the Student Council President. If they were at the palace, then he was supposed to address him as the Crown Prince.

But even if they were at home, it wasn't like Nathaniel liked being called 'brother' by him…

[I know that Nathaniel is practically saying that I should stop calling him "brother." But I can't do that. If I do, I feel like I'm really going to lose my connection to him as his family.]

"Graham, it's time for you to enter an S-class Cage on your own."

He immediately raised his head to meet his brother's gaze. Much to his horror, Nathaniel looked dead serious. "President, how can an individual enter an S-class Cage alone? Especially a student intern like me who hasn't fully awakened yet?"

"I am yet to report the S-class Cage that I discovered last night," his brother explained. "As of the moment, my Team is hiding the Cage. But since it's an S-class Cage, I'm sure that the other S-level Fangs will soon discover it so we must make haste. I'm sending you to raid that Cage tonight."

He clenched his fists tight. "President…"

Although it was embarrassing to admit, he was truly afraid to enter an S-class Cage alone. It was fine if he was with a Team. But he didn't have the confidence to go on a raid on his own.

[I don't want to die yet…]

Nathaniel let out a sigh while pinching the bridge of his nose. "I already raided that Cage with my team, so don't worry too much," he said in a frustrated voice. "I left some small fry monsters for you to take care of."

Although he was relieved to hear that, he was still afraid. He knew that he was being a coward but he couldn't help that he was scared. After all, he knew that he was too weak despite the blood of a Silver Wolf flowing through his veins.

"Stop acting like a spoiled brat," Nathaniel scolded him again. "If you don't show up later, I'll give you a severe punishment."

He flinched because in his brother's vocabulary, "severe punishment" was equal to confinement. And he was scared of being alone. He hugged himself tightly when his body began to tremble because of his brother's threat. "I u-understand, Brother…"

"Now get out of my sight," Nathaniel dismissed him coldly. "Don't tell anyone about what we've talked about.

Graham just nodded politely before he left the room.

***

NOTE: Hi! Please consider ADDING 'MOONSTRUCK WOLF KING' to your LIBRARY. Thank you! <3