Chapter 4

Suddenly, I have an older brother who is three years older than me.

And again, suddenly, I think my brother is a genius. He can basically do anything and is very smart. But his intelligence isn't just about academics; it's more about social intelligence, the kind of thinking that makes him seem like an adult.

In fact, when our father and mother—whom we used to call "Dad" and "Mom"—died last year, my brother didn't trust the researchers who claimed to be our relatives. Although he used some forceful methods, he successfully kept his distance from them.

By the way, it's unclear whether my brother knows this, but I'm also pretty smart. I'm particularly good with information systems. And I know that the two people we called "Dad" and "Mom" were not our biological parents.

Actually, my brother doesn't know this, but it turns out that even my brother and I are not blood-related. I confirmed this by looking at the research data of the people we called "parents," so it's a fact.

Both my brother and I were born from the woman we called "Mom." That's a fact. However, our genes were not from those two people but from completely different individuals.

We were created as part of the Third Messiah Plan, and as part of the cultivation plan, we were observed by those two as a successful case of growing up in a normal family.

Last year, those two died because they tried to sell our data, which was from the Third Messiah Plan and a rare success, to another country. Officially, they were killed by monsters while on a business trip, but in reality, they were executed by a military agency.

The people who claimed to be our relatives and appeared around the time of the funeral were actually trying to continue the research of those two. They sold our house without permission to deprive us of a place to live, trying to leave us with no choice. But such a petty move wouldn't work on my genius brother.

My brother approached the military officials at the funeral, claiming it was to apologize, and asked for protection.

I don't know if the person my brother spoke to was involved in the Messiah Plan, but for the military, it was unexpected that someone raised as a civilian would voluntarily contact them.

They would have refused, as we, who were still in the research phase and not yet deployed, were under the jurisdiction of the researchers.

However, the military agreed to the deal with my brother not only because they could secure a successful example of the Third Messiah Plan but also because they considered the motivation and willingness of the test subject.

It's obvious that it's less troublesome and more efficient to have a test subject who voluntarily participates in the experiment rather than one who is forced to do so.

For the military, if they could improve their image by showing favor early on, even if it meant upsetting the researchers, it was worth it. That's why they readily agreed to the deal with my brother.

I don't know the specifics of the deal my brother made with the military. But from the fact that our living environment didn't change much except for moving to a nearby apartment, I think he probably asked for some money and a promise that the researchers wouldn't interfere with me until I reached a certain age.

In fact, when I investigated how other test subjects were treated by the researchers, it wasn't something to be praised. My brother must have made sure I wouldn't be treated that way.

The condition my brother presented to the military was, of course, that he would join the military. Due to external issues, he promised to join the division voluntarily.

Normally, a single child joining the military wouldn't make much of a difference. But this child was a test subject of the Third Messiah Plan, and a rare success, highly rated as a genius.

The military was already short of mech pilots, and the news of the Third Division's destruction only made it worse.

When they were at a loss, my brother appeared. As a test subject of the Third Messiah Plan, he had a high compatibility rate with magic crystals. Moreover, by keeping him close, they could obtain practical data early on and prevent the researchers from monopolizing the knowledge.

By educating and deploying my brother before other test subjects, they could confirm the usefulness of the Third Messiah Plan and use him as a benchmark for educating others who joined the military later.

In other words, they could advance their plans by several years.

People say, "Time is money," but in these times, when we are being invaded by demons and other races, everyone knows the value of a few years.

My brother is a valuable asset. And now, for once, he could be obtained with just a little assistance. The military had no reason to refuse.

"I'm home."

...That's my brother, a genius and a test subject of the Third Messiah Plan, who went to take the military enlistment exam.

He has the ability to easily manipulate researchers if he wanted to, but because I held him back, he had to make a deal with the military.

"Welcome back. ...How did it go?"

I'm against my brother joining the military. Especially now, when they are trying to compensate for the damage caused by the Third Division's rampage, it's absolutely not the right time. If he could at least wait until he graduates from high school, there would be more data from other test subjects, and the difference in treatment between a junior high school graduate and a high school graduate would be significant.

So I hoped he would fail the exam due to his age.

But the answer, as expected, was...

"I passed the exam. I'll be joining the military next year."

Ah, the military didn't let my brother go, as expected.

"...Is that so?"

I feel heavy thinking about my brother's future. It's even worse knowing it's my fault.

"Hey, but!"

"But?"

My brother, trying to comfort me, spoke in an unusually bright voice. I wanted to tell him he didn't have to force himself, but I couldn't find the words.

"I'm going to a military academy first, not directly as a soldier!"

...What?

"Military... school?"

Did I hear it wrong? I thought he said "school" after "military." He went to take the enlistment exam, so why is he going to school?

"In short, it's a school to train military officers. Graduates are treated as officers, not regular soldiers, and they get a high school diploma. Not only that, but the mech pilot training counts as military service, so I'll get a salary while I'm there!"

My brother explained with a smile, as if it made perfect sense.

The important part for him seems to be the salary, but for me, that's not a big deal.

I know we need money to live, but my brother and I can earn as much as we want if we put our minds to it, so that's not important.

What's important is that my brother will be going to school, and it's a school to train officers, not regular soldiers.

"...Officer candidate? So, you won't be used up on the front lines?"

"Yeah."

I asked to confirm, and despite his hesitation, he firmly nodded.

"Huh?"

As I dug deeper, I discovered something surprising.

It turns out my brother knew he could sync with magic crystals, but he didn't know his compatibility rate was much higher than others. In fact, he still doesn't know.

(He should have had the same health check, which was actually a test...)

Then it hit me. My brother hadn't been given detailed information by the people we called "parents." I only knew because I had stolen the information. Without that, I wouldn't have known about my own uniqueness.

In other words, my brother successfully made a deal with the military without fully understanding his own abilities. Truly, he is a genius.

"Mech pilots are even more valuable than the mechs themselves. To prevent them from dying in vain, it's standard practice to send children with potential to military academies to learn the necessary knowledge and survival skills."

"Wow..."

From what he said, it seems he won't be a regular soldier but an officer candidate, though not a high-ranking one like a colonel or general.

(That's good. My brother won't be used up on the battlefield.)

Just as I was relieved, my brother added more information.

"So, I'll have to live in a dorm managed by the military. We'll be moving from this apartment to there next year. Of course, Yuna will come with us."

"Huh? We're moving?"

But this apartment was arranged by the military through my brother's negotiations.

"Yeah. There are various reasons, including confidentiality. Also, you'll be going to a different middle school than originally planned."

Confidentiality is a new concern, but maybe it's because they're wary of the researchers. And middle school? The school I'll be attending?

"So, you'll be going to a school near the new place?"

Of course, the school district will change, so it's natural to go to a different middle school. Is there some complicated rule about the school?

But the concern my kind and genius brother had was completely different from what I thought.

"Yeah. I feel bad about you having to leave your friends. But..."

Friends?

"No, that's fine."

I answered immediately. But when he said "friends," I didn't really feel anything.

There were only boys who tried to bother me and girls who picked fights, saying I was getting too cocky. Recently, there were more boys who pretended to be sympathetic because my parents died and girls who tried to assert their superiority. Honestly, I'm glad to be away from them.

"Really?"

I couldn't tell my brother that, though.

"Yeah, because..."

"Because?"

"Because, I was already prepared to move when our parents died."

"...Ah, right. That makes sense."

When I said that, my brother made a bitter face. I don't know what he was thinking, but it made me uncomfortable.

I tried to comfort him, but the desire to see his troubled face, which is rare, rose up, and I couldn't resist enjoying it for a while.

"Alright! Then I'll leave the moving preparations to you. I want to move as soon as possible after Yuna graduates from elementary school, so please prepare accordingly."

"Okay. Your middle school graduation is earlier, so I understand. I'll get ready."

My brother, who seemed to have made a decision, told me the specific schedule. I managed to respond without revealing that I had been enjoying his face.

"Thanks!"

(Good! He didn't notice!)

If he had seen me smiling while he was troubled, he would have been put off. I'm glad I managed to hide it in time.

--- After that, we went out to eat together. My brother, who rarely eats dessert, looked so happy that I felt warm, but I still think we spent too much money.

I know that if my brother and I work together, we can earn money, but that's for the future, not now.

Moreover, if he's going to a military academy, he won't be able to earn money, so we need to save the money we have.

When I pointed this out, he visibly deflated.

(Yes, a happy face is good, but a sad face is also nice.)

Seeing my brother's sad face, I thought that, and it's my little secret.

Thank you for reading.