BFBG 05

Chapter 05

Following Lionel, the captain of the Mad Tiger Knights, for about ten minutes, we arrived at a building near the grand hall where the entrance ceremony would be held.

“Princess. I have brought the guest.”

“Let him enter.”

With Princess Aris’s permission, the door opened and I stepped inside.

“Hm. Are you certain it was this man?”

She looked at me with strange eyes.

Eyes filled with a balanced mix of suspicion and expectation.

“I do not wish to doubt your judgment, but to my eyes, this man does not seem to be the same swordsman.”

Since she couldn’t sense any unusual power from me, she was naturally suspicious.

“Princess, truly valuable treasures are only visible to those with the eyes to recognize them.”

Lionel answered with a confident smile.

Unlike the doubtful princess, Lionel seemed utterly convinced that I was the mysterious swordsman who had saved her.

“Oh? So in your eyes, this man is a treasure?”

“Yes.”

Lionel’s gaze toward me burned intensely.

Many emotions filled his eyes, but if there was one dominant feeling, it was competitive spirit.

“As captain of the Mad Tiger Knights, I have seen countless warriors. Yet never have I seen someone with bones this refined for battle. This young man is undoubtedly the swordsman you have been searching for.”

Aris looked shocked by Lionel’s high praise.

“This is the first time I’ve heard such an evaluation from you. Indeed… if you think so highly of him, then there is enough reason to be certain.”

The suspicion vanished from Aris’s eyes.

In its place appeared greed.

“I apologize for bringing you here so suddenly and speaking as though I doubted you. I tend to be suspicious by nature. I’d appreciate your understanding.”

Aris slowly approached me and reached into her clothes.

Then she took out a button and handed it to me.

“First, take this. It would be troublesome for you to be without it.”

I stared at the button thoughtfully.

This was a crossroads.

Depending on how I acted here, the future would change drastically.

So… what should I do?

The answer came immediately.

“…Could I first ask what exactly is happening?”

Honestly, there wasn’t much to think about.

There was only one choice available to me right now.

Pretend I had no idea what they were talking about.

“Why are you giving me this button? Why was I summoned separately like this? And what did Her Highness mean by ‘that swordsman’…?”

Would a man who concealed his identity after saving the princess and fleeing easily say, ‘Yes. That was me’?

Playing ignorant was the correct answer.

“Oh?”

“Hahaha.”

The princess smiled as though she found this amusing.

Lionel laughed heartily.

“Even after coming this far, you still intend to hide your identity?”

“Princess, it seems this young man has special reasons for keeping himself concealed.”

Just as I expected.

My ignorance act only strengthened their certainty.

“I truly don’t know what you mea—”

At that moment, Lionel’s aura suddenly exploded.

Mad Tiger.

An overwhelming pressure befitting the title.

That force took the shape of killing intent and pressed down upon my body.

[Resisting ‘Mad Tiger’s Aura’.]

But status effect skills don’t work on me.

My mind easily brushed away Lionel’s killing intent.

“KUHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

Lionel burst into thunderous laughter.

His expression looked genuinely delighted.

“Lionel?”

The princess appeared confused by his sudden laughter.

The killing intent directed at me had been perfectly controlled, so she likely hadn’t sensed even a trace of it.

Her confusion was natural.

“Ah, forgive me. I was simply too surprised. To think he wouldn’t merely ignore my killing intent… but repel it…”

“…What?”

Aris’s expression stiffened.

“You mean this man possesses enough skill to stand against you?”

“Yes. Judging solely by realm of mastery… he is likely my equal, or perhaps above me.”

“What in the world…”

Lionel chuckled repeatedly, clearly entertained.

“Princess. This one… he’s no ordinary treasure. No matter what happens, you must secure him.”

I inwardly laughed while receiving their focused gazes.

So this is how things turned out…

“Well then, young man. After repelling my killing intent, you won’t continue pretending ignorance, will you?”

Lionel grinned.

Okay.

Lionel had personally proven my identity.

In this situation, they wouldn’t ask me to demonstrate my strength as proof.

No reason to keep resisting now.

“…Phew. I suppose I can’t play dumb anymore. Yes. You’re right.”

I answered confidently.

“The swordsman who saved the princess from the wyvern attack earlier… was me.”

* * *

“Then I’ll see you again at the entrance ceremony.”

“Yes. Until next time.”

“Ah, and think seriously about my scouting offer.”

“…Yes. I’ll consider it.”

Aris waved goodbye to the man who bowed and introduced himself as Jian.

“Phew…”

The door closed.

Suddenly Aris lowered her head and trembled.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Then she stomped her feet excitedly and looked at Lionel with a bright smile.

“Lionel! Lionel! A blessing has fallen straight from the heavens!”

Lionel looked at her fondly.

Like a father watching his daughter.

“My entire life… and fortune like this comes to me? I can’t believe it. Truly!”

Aris was unlucky.

So unlucky that during all seventeen years of her life, she had never once felt lucky.

That was how unfortunate she was.

“Haha. It seems the great star that fortune teller said would bring you good luck… was that young man.”

“Mm. Surely so.”

Her smile bloomed like spring flowers.

A smile bright enough to lift others’ moods.

“If that prophecy is true… then perhaps my unfortunate life ends today.”

Aris walked out cheerfully.

“I should confirm it immediately. Whether this terrible bad luck has truly disappeared— ah!”

As she walked outside, her body brushed a shelf.

A book fell.

It dropped corner-first—

Straight toward her little toe.

Bzzzzzt!

Fortunately, the book never struck.

Just before impact, a mana barrier appeared over her toe.

Naturally, Lionel hadn’t cast it.

“Ugh…”

Nor had Aris consciously activated magic.

The barrier triggered automatically.

A Little Toe Protection Artifact, specially created by royal mages for Aris—who constantly injured her toes through bizarre accidents.

“…It seems your bad luck hasn’t completely disappeared yet.”

“…Apparently not.”

Aris’s expression instantly fell.

She had thought even bird droppings wouldn’t hit her anymore.

“This dreadful misfortune… how long will it continue following me…”

Her shoulders drooped.

Then—

“KYAAAAAAAH!”

A scream rang out from outside.

“Princess.”

“Mm. Let’s go.”

Aris and Lionel hurried toward the source.

Around ten people had gathered.

Two stood at the center while others surrounded them.

Jian?

One of them was Jian.

The other resembled him strangely.

“You dare…! Do you know where you are?!”

The man who looked like Jian pointed a sword at Jian’s throat.

“I warned you! Never appear before me again! Live your entire life hidden where our family’s eyes cannot reach!”

Behind the furious man, a maid lay collapsed.

Judging by her position, she had likely been struck and thrown.

So she was the one who screamed.

“You have nothing to say? Did you never expect to meet me here? Were you certain someone like me could never pass Garam Academy’s entrance exam?!”

His bloodshot eyes burned with rage.

Jian met those murderous eyes calmly and sighed.

“…That’s impossible, Brother.”

Brother.

At that word, Aris understood everything.

I see. So this is why Jian hid his strength and lived quietly.

He concealed himself to avoid his family’s attention.

“If not, then what? If you knew I’d be here… did you ignore my warning? Did you decide my warning meant nothing?!”

Aris frowned.

Everything the man said reeked of inferiority complex.

Pathetic enough to disgust listeners.

“That’s not true. I merely—”

“Silence! You ignored my warning. You rejected my final mercy. Therefore…”

Jian’s brother took a stance.

Dense mana gathered around his sword.

“Die!”

His blade shot toward Jian’s throat.

“KYAAAAAH!”

The crowd screamed again.

Foolish.

Aris scoffed inwardly.

That sloppy sword couldn’t possibly harm Jian.

No need for me to interfere.

She decided to watch.

Then—

Suddenly, Jian’s eyes met hers.

Even with the sword only 20 centimeters away, there was no fear.

No agitation.

Nothing.

Only indifference.

And something resembling expectation.

Those eyes…

To Aris, they seemed to say:

I’ll give you a chance to repay my favor.

I see. His relationship with his family must be even worse than I imagined.

Apparently Jian couldn’t raise a finger against his brother.

Then helping was only natural.

Aris signaled Lionel.

KANGGG!

Instantly, Lionel appeared before Jian and blocked the attack.

“That’s enough.”

“Move! Don’t interfere— ngh!”

Jian’s brother froze.

“C-Captain of the Mad Tiger Knights…? Why are you…”

“Siblings fight while growing up. But this seems beyond childish quarrels.”

“Ghk…”

The brother bit his lip.

Then glared at Jian standing behind Lionel.

“Again… only you…!”

He muttered incomprehensible words.

Then withdrew his sword.

“When Father hears of today… I wonder how he’ll react. I’m very curious.”

With that, he left.

The storm passed.

After brief silence—

The crowd erupted.

“What was that?”

“Aren’t they brothers? Why were they trying to kill each other?”

“Can someone do this here? Won’t that guy get expelled?”

Everyone gossiped excitedly.

Jian ignored them all and walked toward the ceremony hall.

Before leaving—

He bowed to Lionel and Aris.

Showing gratitude.

“Princess.”

“Mm.”

Lionel returned to Aris’s side, eyes shining.

Aris immediately understood his thoughts and nodded.

“Investigate that man called Jian’s brother. His family as well. And Jian himself.”

“Yes. I’ll dispatch investigators immediately.”

Watching Jian’s retreating figure, Aris smiled.

Acquiring Jian might not be difficult after all.

* * *

As soon as I entered a restroom near the ceremony hall—

The self-proclaimed “brother” who had tried to kill me appeared.

Considering he’d attempted murder in front of so many people, being alone with him now was dangerous.

But—

“I offer greetings to the great Master.”

It was fine.

Because earlier…

That was all acting.

[Barahan]
[Doppelganger]
[LV.72]

“…Your performance was excellent.”

“Thank you! Master’s acting was flawless too! Especially the expression you used to make Lionel move—it was absolutely masterful! Kghh! I was sincerely impressed!”

The doppelganger’s eyes burned passionately.

“I shall devote my utmost effort to the next scenario as well!”

Looking at the motivated doppelganger Barahan, I thought inwardly:

…What next scenario?

I only know the rough outline of the story…