By all rights, Ogi Zenin should have refused the proposal outright.
But on second thought, he still needed Reggie's help. He couldn't turn down his request so bluntly.
While Ogi Zenin was thinking it over, Reggie asked him directly:
"What's wrong, big brother? Don't you want to be brothers with me?"
"Of course I do!" Ogi Zenin protested. "I'm just so happy I can hardly get the words out!"
With that, Ogi Zenin put on a moved expression and clasped Reggie's hand.
"Little brother!"
"Big brother!" Reggie gave Ogi Zenin's hand a firm squeeze.
"Little brother!"
They looked each other in the eye, both gazes brimming with enthusiasm.
But just as Ogi Zenin finished calling out, Iori Hazenoki, standing nearby, seemed to remember something.
"Wait, wait. There's something wrong with this."
"What is it, Iori Hazenoki?" Reggie looked puzzled.
"Reggie, you're an Ancient Sorcerer. You were obviously born first, weren't you?"
Reggie froze for a moment, then laughed.
"Come on, Iori Hazenoki. I may be from ancient times, but I was only in my thirties when I died. Of course he's the big brother."
"No, no." Ogi Zenin hesitated too. "In terms of actual age, you're nearly several hundred years older than me. You should be the big brother."
"Now you're treating me like a stranger, big brother." Reggie put an arm around Ogi Zenin's shoulders.
"Who cares about actual age? What matters to me is the bond between us.
I call you big brother because I respect you.
If you make me the big brother, you'll be cutting my life short!"
With Reggie's arm around his shoulders, Ogi Zenin gradually let go of his misgivings.
After thinking it over, he had to admit Reggie had a point.
Reggie might be from ancient times, but since his revival, he did