BFBG | CH 05

Episode 5

I followed Lionel, the commander of the Wild Tiger Knights, for about 10 minutes to a building near the auditorium where the entrance ceremony was to be held.

“My lady, I’ve brought the guest.”
“Let him in.”

With Princess Aris’s permission, the door opened, and I walked in.

She stared at me with a curious gaze—part suspicion, part expectation.

“You’re sure it’s this guy?” she asked.

She didn’t seem fully convinced. Maybe because I didn’t give off any powerful aura.

“True treasures,” Lionel replied confidently, “can only be recognized by those with the eyes to see their value.”

He clearly believed I was the mysterious swordsman who saved her.

“So, you’re saying this man is a treasure?”
“Exactly.”

Lionel’s eyes were blazing with something strong—likely a sense of rivalry.

“As the commander of the Wild Tiger Knights, I’ve met countless warriors. But none like this one. He is the swordsman who saved you.”

Princess Aris looked surprised.

“Hearing such high praise from you is rare. That alone is enough to trust your judgment.”

Her suspicious gaze turned to one of desire. The kind of desire you feel when you find something you must have.

“Sorry for doubting you earlier,” she said. “I can be quite suspicious. I hope you don’t mind.”

She approached me slowly, took out a button, and handed it to me.

“Here, take this. You’ll need it, won’t you?”

I stared at the button. This was a key moment.

‘This is a turning point,’ I thought. ‘How I respond now could change everything.’

But the answer was obvious.

“Um… can I ask what this is all about first?”

Of course, I already knew—but pretending not to know was the best option.

“Why are you giving me this button? Why was I brought here? Who is this ‘swordsman’ you’re talking about?”

No one would openly admit to being a mysterious rescuer right away. Staying vague was the right move.

“Hoho,” Aris smiled.

“Haha,” Lionel chuckled.

“Even now, you still pretend not to know?”
“He must have a reason for hiding his identity,” Lionel added.

Perfect. My act convinced them even more.

“I really don’t know wha—”

Suddenly, Lionel’s aura exploded. Like a wild tiger about to strike. A chilling pressure hit me.

[You resist the aura of the Wild Tiger.]

But I’m immune to status effects. I easily brushed it off.

“Pfft—HAHAHAHA!”

Lionel burst out laughing. He looked like he was having the time of his life.

“Lionel?” Aris looked confused.

She hadn’t noticed the aura attack at all.

“Ah, sorry. I was just so surprised. I didn’t expect someone to deflect my killing intent.”
“Wait, what?” Aris frowned.

“So, he’s your equal?”
“Maybe even stronger,” Lionel nodded.

“This is crazy…”

Lionel kept smiling like a kid on Christmas.

“He’s not just a treasure. He’s a once-in-a-lifetime miracle. You must keep him, no matter what.”

I chuckled inwardly. Things were turning out better than expected.

“So, you won’t pretend anymore, will you?” Lionel smirked.
“Alright,” I said confidently.
“Yes. I was the swordsman who saved you from the wyverns.”

“Then I’ll see you at the entrance ceremony.”
“Yes, I’ll see you then.”
“And think seriously about my offer to join us.”
“I’ll… consider it.”

As I left the room, Aris waved goodbye.

Once the door closed, she suddenly bent over and trembled—

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

—then stomped her feet and turned to Lionel with a bright grin.

“Lionel! A blessing has just fallen from the sky!!”

Lionel looked at her fondly, like a proud father.

“I’ve never been lucky in my life… until now!”

Aris was famously unlucky—so unlucky that for 17 years, she never once felt things went her way.

“Haha. Maybe that fortune teller was right. Maybe that boy really is the ‘lucky star’ you were destined to meet.”
“Yes, yes! He must be!”

She smiled like a blooming spring flower. It could light up a room.

“If that’s true, then my bad luck ends today.”

But just then, as she was walking out, she bumped a shelf. A book fell—

—corner-first—

—straight toward her pinky toe.

Tiiiiiing!

Thankfully, a magical shield appeared just before the book hit.

Not from Lionel, not cast by Aris herself—this was automatic.

It was a pinky toe protection artifact, custom-made by royal magicians just for her.

“Guess my bad luck isn’t fully gone yet…”

Her mood dropped instantly.

“I thought I’d finally be free of bird poop and stubbed toes…”

Just then—
“Aaaahhhhh!!”
—a scream from outside.

“Let’s go,” Aris said.
“Yes, my lady.”

They rushed over. A crowd had gathered.

At the center were two boys—one of them was me, Jian. The other looked just like me.

“How dare you show your face here!” the other guy screamed, pointing his sword at me.

“I told you to disappear. You were supposed to live your life in hiding!”

A maid lay on the ground nearby—probably knocked down by that guy.

“You didn’t think I’d make it here, did you?! Thought I wasn’t good enough to pass the entrance test, huh?!”

His eyes burned with anger.

I sighed quietly.

“…Of course not, brother.”

“Brother?!” Aris finally understood.

‘So that’s why Jian was hiding his strength—he was avoiding his own family.’

“Don’t talk like we’re close! You ignored my warning. You rejected my kindness. So now…”

He charged, his sword glowing with mana.

“DIE!”

His sword raced toward my neck.

“Aaaahhh!” the crowd gasped.

Aris frowned.

‘Such a sloppy attack won’t even touch Jian. No need to intervene.’

But just as she decided to watch—

—I made eye contact with her.

The sword was inches from my neck. Yet, I didn’t flinch. No fear, no emotion—just calm expectation.

‘That look…’

To Aris, it felt like I was saying:

“I’m giving you the chance to repay me.”

‘Wow. His family problems must be worse than I thought…’

She gave Lionel a signal.

CLAAAAANG!

Lionel blocked the sword in an instant.

“That’s enough.”
“Get out of the way!”
“…L-Lionel? The knight commander?!”

“This isn’t just sibling rivalry anymore. You’ve crossed the line.”

The brother growled and glared at me from behind Lionel.

“Always you…!”

Then he sheathed his sword, turned around, and stormed off.

“Let’s see what Father thinks when he hears about this.”

And he disappeared.

The crowd erupted.

“Did he just try to kill his own brother?”
“He’s gonna get expelled for sure.”

I didn’t care about their gossip.

I bowed once to Lionel and Aris, then walked toward the auditorium.

“My lady.”
“Yes.”

Lionel returned to Aris’s side, eyes gleaming. She understood what he was thinking.

“Look into that guy. His brother, his family, and everything about Jian.”
“I’ll send an investigator immediately.”

Aris smiled as she watched me walk away.

‘This might be easier than I thought.’

Later, in a bathroom near the auditorium…

The “older brother” appeared again.

Even though he’d just tried to kill me in front of a crowd, I wasn’t worried.

“Greetings to the great Master.”

Because that guy wasn’t really my brother. It was all an act.

[Barahan – Dopplegänger – LV.72]

“…You acted well.”
“Thank you! But your performance was even better, Master! Especially that look you gave to trigger Lionel—pure genius!”

His eyes were full of passion.

“I’ll give it my all in the next scenario too!”

I blinked.

‘Wait. What is the next scenario?’

I barely even know the main plot…