Chapter 3: A Deceiving Smile

"Okay... Class is dismissed." The teacher said at the same time as our bell rang, he fixed all of his papers and grabbed a single sheet. "But before leaving, I have some announcements that I want to announce."

On that sheet of paper are the names of students that have high grades in this classroom. "Okay, first of all, I congratulate all of you for graduating, not a lot of students get to graduate from this school, so I want to say that all of your efforts were not in vain, and be sure to keep on moving forward to have a better future, got that?"

"Of course, teacher!" All of us replied with pride.

"Now, as all of you know, your graduation is in 2 weeks and I'm proud to all of you that 6 of you managed to be invited to Kingsman Science and Military College."

I let out a smug smile when I heard what our teacher said, and Himiko and Arisu did the same thing knowing already what was to unfold.

Kingsman Science and Military College is the most prestigious school in Japan, the only way to get into the school is for the school to invite students who are worthy to study in their school.

Even if the majority of students attending there are college students due to it being made solely for college students, last year the school announce that they'll make it so that high school students can now attend the school, and I heard that they'll make it so that elementary students can attend next year.

Not only that but that school has a connection to Japan's government, the school solely focuses on anything related to science- whether it'll be military science or medicine, everything science-related is learned there.

Not only that but top students can be hired by the four science families that rule Japan if they are worthy to rule beside them, yes, rule... The school will pick the top four students to serve the four families; they're called the Four Heavenly Kings.

The name Four Heavenly Kings isn't something people can joke about, through history it has been used by people throughout Asia for their Gods or heroes to be placed. Some mythologies such as Buddhist, Chinese, Japanese, Mongolian, and many more had their version of the Four Heavenly Kings back in the past.

Right now the concept of the four greatest Gods or heroes is now used again by the Japanese government. Each of the four families can choose one student and in some families, they'll even adopt that said student.

Not only that but those students who are crowned as Kings will remain a member until someone dethroned them, as of right now two of the Kings are teachers at the Kingsman Science and Military College, while the other one is now the highest-ranking officer who leads the Japanese military, and the last member is currently the greatest doctor and pharmaceutical researcher there is.

Of course, I've met all of the Four Heavenly Kings physically and have held a conversation with them, after all, one of the members of the Kings is my older sister.

That's why going to Kingsman College and dethroning her has been one of my life-long goals.

"Okay, now I'll announce the six students who were chosen by the school." The teacher took the list of the said students and looked at us with a smile. "Of course, it's already common sense that our top students Andromeda Argus and Arona Marine are chosen, not only that but these two will be directly thought of by the two Kings teaching at the school."

Everyone wowed when they heard our teacher's announcement, seeing that both Marine and I are chosen by the Kings is something to be proud of.

Because the students that the two Kings are teaching are students they've handpicked themselves to be worthy to take their title one day, everyone seeing that the two of us are chosen has their eyes sparkling with jealousy and appreciation at the same time.

"Congrats Argus, I knew that you will make it!" Arisu proudly said.

"Thanks, Arisu." I looked at Himiko to see what her reaction was and I saw her having a jealous look on her face. "Ohh... You jealous?" I asked with a smug grin.

"Shut up." She replied, clearly annoyed at what I just said. "The announcement still hasn't finished, so just wait until my name is mentioned."

"Okay, okay."

"Not only that but also Takeuchi Himiko is also chosen by the Kings too."

"Heh." A smug smile appeared on Himiko's face. "What did I just hear, Argus?"

"That's just pure luck.." I replied, hiding my feeling of appreciation for her getting invited by the Kings too.

"The last three would be Ueno Arisu, Takahashi Kanata, and Fujimaru Satoshi. I congratulate the six of you for being chosen by the Kingsman Science and Military College, remember that even if all of you are chosen by the school, you still have the choice to decline their offer. That's all for my announcement, and once again congratulation to all of you chosen by the Kingsman Science and Military College." Our teacher bowed, showing how proud he was to see six of his students being chosen by the top school in Japan.

And everyone who wasn't chosen clapped to congratulate us.

"Hey, Argus! Let's go to my home and have a party!" Arisu excitedly said as she pull my arm. "Come on Himiko! Let's go!"

"Okay, okay." Himiko stood up from his desk, still happy that she got chosen. "Let's check on Gareth first-" Himiko stopped when she looked at me, she saw me looking at Marine who was fixing her stuff on her bag. "Is something wrong Argus?"

"Hmm... Nothing really, it's just that I can't believe a peasant like her got to be chosen by the Kings." I was frustrated, really frustrated. Seeing that my enemy got to achieve a sit with me is truly frustrating to see.

I wanted to hurt her but...

"Want to do something to her before leaving?" Himiko asked, already preparing to take something from her bag.

"Nah, let's leave her be for today. We still have a party to attend."

***

[Marine Arona POV]

I was happily jumping around in joy as I go back home, being chosen to Kingsman College was one of my life-long dreams, and seeing that I was handpicked by the Kings themselves makes it much better.

"I'm home!" I took off my shoes and went to the kitchen, in there was my little sister watching videos on her phone.

Her name is Mana Arona, she's 6 years of age, she's a very energetic and nice child who cares for others' safety more than herself, which is why I'm proud to have a younger sister like her.

Not only that, but she's the only family I have left, our mother died 3 years ago from an accident and we both never got to meet our father, so as her only family I'm doing my best to be her ideal hero.

As a child, I cannot really work to put food in our mouths, but due to the Kings creating a law 2 years ago that a child without any parents and who doesn't want to get adopted will be given financial support, but as long as they can take care of themselves then they'll give support to the children instead of putting them to an orphanage.

"You're finally back, big sister!" She got out of the chair and happily ran up to me to hug me. "So what's for dinner?"

I smiled at her and patted her on the head. "Today we'll have your favorite hamburger steak"

"Really?! Yay! I love you, big sister." Mana hugged me again tightly and went back to her seat with a massive smile.

I walked toward the kitchen to prepare our food, as I was walking I felt a sting on my knee, I took a look to see what it was and saw that it was bleeding. "It's probably from before when Argus and his friends bullied me again."

"Hmm? Is there something wrong big sister?" Mana worriedly asked me.

"Nothing, my knee got cut when I tripped to school." I answered her with a forced smile.

"*Sigh* You're always so clumsy big sister, be careful next time."

"Of course, don't worry I'll be careful from now on." I forgot how many times I lied to Mana already, every day I always have a new injury in some of its body, and every day when I come home she always notices it.

My sister is a clever child, I have a feeling that she's hiding that she doesn't believe what I keep saying to her, and I can see that myself if I keep on using my clumsiness as the cause then it would appear that I'm just getting injured on purpose.

I don't want to keep on lying too, just seeing that I'm lying to my one and only family is hurting my pride as her older sister and current guardian, but in the end, I don't want her to worry about me when she found out that I've been constantly bullied by Argus for 2 years already.

It's not something I want her to do, she's still young to worry about something, and at the same time, I don't want something to happen to her if she confronts Argus and the other three.

This is why I can't cry right now, this is why I cannot show any weaknesses in front of everyone, this is why I got to keep moving forward, if I continue smiling every time Argus and his friends bully me then I can prove that I'm worthy to take care of Mana myself.

"Anyway, I have an announcement, Mana." Right now, I have to think of a topic to change the atmosphere of our house, and good thing I already thought of one. "The Kings handpicked me in Kingsman College."

"Really!" Mana jumped out of her chair in excitement at what she heard. "Congratulation big sis! This is exciting news! Now, I have more reason to brag you to my classmates!"

"Hehe, please don't do that..." I said embarrassed of what she was going to do. "But, what about you Mana? How's school going?"

"Hmm..." Her excitement faded as soon as I asked her that question. "Our teacher is on leave because she's about to give birth, so we got this creepy and mysterious substitute teacher."

"Really? Don't you think you're just being rude and exaggerating things too much? You might not know why he's like that, maybe something happened to him."

"Really? It feels like he's just crazy. Every time he writes something on the board, he always chants something, I don't know what he's saying but I know for sure that he's speaking something in Latin."

Latin? I stopped as soon as she heard what Mana said, she was confused on why someone was speaking Latin in this age.

Latin is a classical language that belongs to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages, it rose up during the 7th century BC but the language soon declined in the 18th century AD, so it is very rare to see someone know Latin.

During the start of the modern era no one even knows how to speak Latin except for a few people who studied it, not only that but Latin was also the official language of Vatican City, but even if it is no one actually speaks Latin there.

And 500 years ago when a new second Scientific Revolution happened and every country started focusing on science, religion died quickly until every country has been recorded to now been an Athiest country in the year 2135, which is why the language soon became extinct.

Of course, even in the year 2600, some historians studied Latin, but only historians knows how to, so hearing that a normal substitute teacher can speak Latin was suspicious.

From what I know, even someone like Argus and Himiko didn't bother studying Latin due to it being useless in this era.

"Maybe he's just interested in old language or something." I replied.

"Maybe... But what's weird is that he seems to be praying too, on his shirt was a weird star-like a sign that has thorns encircling it. And he keeps repeating the name Xiana, and what's odd is he's calling whoever Xiana is as Goddess."

Goddess? I was baffled at what Mana said, at this day and age where science rules the world, worshipping a deity is looked down upon.

Mostly because of Project Primordial on why religion started dying at a fast-paced, so why is someone still worshipping a God?

Not only that but who is Xiana? That name is not mentioned in some old religions and mythologies, so where did she come from. "Looks like things are getting weirder..."