Guardian, Support Unit, Magician, Secret Society.
In a game of Bang with 6 players, unlike with 4 players, all four roles exist, and that was the core of it.
The key was to gain the trust of the Guardian, the only role whose job was public.
Whether it was the Support Unit, the Magician, or the Secret Society, their first move was the same.
‘Pretend to be the Support Unit.’
That was the early gameplay realized through two days of preliminaries. If it went like that, even the Guardian would find it hard to attack anyone recklessly. If the real Support Unit got eliminated, the Guardian would be bombarded by three Magicians.
From the Support Unit’s perspective, it was infuriating. So, the Support Unit had to show through actions.
That they were on the Guardian’s side. That they were the Support Unit.
That was the self-promotion earlier… but.
Now, things were a bit different.
“Andrei, didn’t you say you were glad to meet me earlier? Trust me. Shouldn’t you trust the Knight Commander of the Royal Order?”
“Don’t be fooled. That Knight Commander deceived the Guardian in the semifinals with those same words.”
“………Even with the mask on, you saw that much?”
“Hoho, when you get old, you just get nosier. Unlike some retired knights.”
“My ears are itching.”
“You heard right.”
The masked person and another masked person were arguing, even daring to speak rudely to Sir Embryo, the Knight Commander of the Royal Order.
“Just trust me, okay? This is frustrating.”
“Uh, you’re getting a bit too close………”
“What’s wrong with that? Anyway, shoot that old hag first.”
“Huh?”
“You bitch, come here.”
“The old hag is killing people~”
Even the two masked women who appeared to be female started arguing among themselves.
“………….”
Meanwhile, Andrei, the actual Guardian, was left alone again.
Of course, Andrei was pleased with the current situation where he wasn’t the center of attention.
‘They’re definitely all high-ranking people.’
He had been uneasy since they treated the Archmage’s magic as trivial, but seeing them speak rudely to Sir Embryo confirmed it.
Andrei, who was just a mere porter from the upper ranks, had to be careful not to upset them before the board game even started.
‘Anyway, the game is played three times………’
Bang, by its nature, is more like a team battle. The Guardian, the Support Unit, several Magicians, and the Secret Society. If one side wins, it’s not just one person who wins, but the entire role, so it was natural.
Thus, a single match couldn’t determine a single winner. That’s why this tournament operated on a point system.
Winning as the Guardian, Support Unit, or Magician gives 1 point. And considering the difficulty, winning as the Secret Society gives 2 points.
The person with the highest points after three games wins. If the points are tied, another game is played.
‘So.’
If I can just get through this first game where I’m the Guardian and everyone’s attention is on me.
I can quietly fade away and get eliminated in the remaining two games. Without incurring the wrath of the high-ranking people………
“………….”
……It’s fine.
“Old hag? You bitch, try living to my age. See if you get mad being called that.”
“Maybe in another 100 years? I’m still in my 20s.”
“Magician, you’re asking for a punch, aren’t you?”
“Hoho. I don’t understand what the proud knight is saying. Sir Embryo, could you repeat what I just heard?”
“Embryo.”
“……I didn’t hear anything.”
Watching them continue their argument, leaving the most important Guardian in the game alone.
Andrei, clenching his fist under the table.
“………I’ll pass my turn.”
He did nothing, bowed his head, and ended his turn.
For a moment, I felt a sense of doubt. Why did I even come here?
The prize was tempting. The Merchant Lord’s offer was good too. But more than that.
Wasn’t it because I enjoyed the board game, Bang, that I came to this tournament?
Simply because I genuinely liked the board game Bang. Even if I had to face high-ranking people, I wanted to keep playing.
That’s why I came to this tournament, right?
“Then it’s my turn. Guardian, I’ll show you what a Support Unit can do.”
“……Yes.”
“Old hag, I’m seriously gonna throw up…”
“Shut your mouth.”
When Andrei passed his turn, the argument stopped, and everyone focused on the board game. The woman called “old hag,” who claimed to show what a Support Unit could do, attacked another woman and ended her turn.
Andrei was the Guardian, and it wasn’t like he was completely ignored by the other players. He just couldn’t actively participate in the game.
And the reason for that was something external, unrelated to the game itself.
As the turns progressed, Andrei ended each turn passively, doing nothing. The game just went on without him.
Even though the game was supposed to revolve around the Guardian, the fact that the Guardian did nothing ironically made his presence feel alienated.
And just like that, at some point, the game ended.
“I’ll use Magic Missile on the Guardian.”
“……There’s nothing.”
“Great, this brings me one step closer to the only Special Card…!!”
“Sorry, but that’s mine. You can’t have it, old knight in the back room.”
“Sky bastard…”
The first game ended with the Magician’s victory.
Guardian Andrei was helplessly eliminated, and the Support Unit turned out to be some masked figure.
‘……So even Knight Commander Embryo lied.’
But what does it matter if it was a lie or not? At this point, being involved with such high-ranking people, Andrei should be worrying about the aftermath, not the board game.
In fact, he had to be cautious of the masked figure who was the Support Unit. He must’ve been someone important too, and he’d probably look down on Andrei, who got eliminated without doing anything.
“…………Hmm.”
Indeed, the masked figure was standing with his arms crossed, staring at Andrei.
‘Should I apologize? I definitely should apologize…!!’
Just as Andrei clenched his eyes shut, sweating cold sweat, and tried to get up from his seat.
The masked figure turned his gaze to the high VIP seats and gave a single nod.
<Then we’ll take a short break until the next game!>
“They’re giving us a break even in the finals?”
“More importantly, that last game… was kind of lame.”
“Why is Andrei like that? Tsk, just a commoner after all.”
“But the masked ones were pretty skilled. Even when they were fighting earlier…”
“If they’re gonna play like that, why even make it to the finals!”
“………….”
Amid the audience’s jeers, his dwindling confidence, and growing anxiety.
Andrei felt his vision swaying. The excessive stress was messing with his head.
‘But if I collapse here…….’
The finals would be interrupted, and that might upset those high-ranking people even more.
While he was lost in such thoughts.
“Sir Andrei? I’d like to have a word with you.”
“………Huh? Oh, uh. A-Archmage…!?”
“I think taking a short walk would be better for you than sitting here.”
“Y-yes. I-I’ll follow you!”
“……Come along.”
Before he knew it, the squint-eyed young man, Archmage Bantain, was behind Andrei, leading him out of the tournament hall.
Even then, the jeers kept ringing in Andrei’s ears, and his mind was filled with worries about whether the high-ranking people were angry or not.
After walking for a while, they arrived in front of a room, and Bantain stood aside.
“Go in.”
“Long.”
“…Huh?”
“The person who wishes to speak with Andrei is inside here.”
“Y-you don’t have to use honorifics with someone like me…!!”
“It’s just my habit. Anyway, you’ll understand once you go in.”
“…Okay.”
Who on earth could be waiting for him? Could it be that high-ranking masked person from the support unit?
If they’re planning to deal with him out of resentment for losing because of Andrei…
‘Damn it…!!’
He couldn’t die, not when he had family back home.
Absolutely not.
*Creak.*
So, the moment he opened the door and stepped inside…
“I was wrong! I’m sorry! Please, just spare my life…!!”
“Hmm, Andrei?”
“Please! I have family back home!”
“…You won’t be harmed. Calm down and stand up, please.”
“…Huh?”
A voice that was both unfamiliar and familiar, one he was sure he’d heard before.
At the unexpectedly gentle words, he lifted his head slightly to see a young man reaching out to him.
In the corner of the room was a beautiful maid, and on the sofa sat a small, cute water spirit.
And that young man was…
“Kyle Byron…!?”
“Wh-what business does someone of your stature have with me…?”
The creator of *Bang* and a close friend of the Archmage, a legendary figure of great renown.
Andrei, sitting nervously on the sofa, glanced at Kyle Byron.
After all, he was a noble, someone Andrei could never dare to face.
Kyle Byron, who had been quietly observing Andrei, spoke.
“Do you like *Bang*?”
“…Huh?”
“How do you feel about *Bang*, the board game?”
“Well…”
Right.
It’s probably okay to be honest here.
“…I firmly believe it’s the best board game. It’s really, really fun! I’m sorry. I have a lot of thoughts, but it’s hard to put them into words…”
“That’s enough. Do you have fun playing *Bang*?”
“Of course!”
After all, it was the joy of playing that brought him to the tournament.
More than the prizes, more than anything else, it was because he loved *Bang* that he decided to participate.
But.
“You didn’t seem to be enjoying it earlier.”
“…………”
“In the first round of the finals, you didn’t even look at your cards properly and kept your head down the whole time.”
“Th-that’s…”
“…We don’t have much time, so I’ll get straight to the point.”
*Thud.*
Kyle Byron stood up from his seat.
He walked over to Andrei, placed a hand on his shoulder, and said,
“Whether it’s *Bang* or any other board game, all players are equal.”
“…………”
I know that.
I know that already.
“…Mr. Kyle. Do you know how people like us are treated by nobles, by those of high status?”
“…………”
“We’re not even considered people. Back home, the man next door was dragged off to the coal mines for not clapping loudly enough during the lord’s procession. The village chief was whipped to death because the harvest was less than expected.”
“…………”
“Playing board games with people like that… equality or whatever you call it, it’s impossible from the start.”
Could a noble like you ever understand our struggles?
Unless you’re someone like Sir Embryo, the Knight Commander of the Royal Guard, who’s widely known as a person of integrity, we don’t even dare to make eye contact when we hear a noble is passing by.
That’s why Sir Embryo was admired. Despite his high status, he treated commoners like Andrei as equals.
In board games…
The idealistic notion that everyone is equal.
It was nothing more than a fantasy.
‘…I must be crazy.’
And to spout such nonsense in front of Kyle Byron, a board game creator and a high-ranking individual at that.
Andrei let out a resigned sigh and hung his head.
In the end, he wished the nobles would consider the commoners’ perspective. He wanted them to understand our reality.
To that, Kyle Byron responded.
“Don’t worry.”
“…Huh?”
With the most serious and passionate eyes.
For Andrei, who had bowed his head, Kyle knelt on one knee before him, looking straight at him.
“Not just empty words of equality, I will make it happen.”
“……”
“Just trust me and enjoy the board game. That’s all.”
“……”
When Andrei came to his senses, he was back in the tournament hall, playing the second game.
This time, his role was the Secret Society.
But Andrei did nothing, just like in the first game.
It wasn’t because he was trying to avoid stepping on anyone’s toes.
It was because Kyle Byron’s words kept echoing in his head.
‘I’ll make it happen. I’ll make it happen.’
Why?
Why did those words, which could have been dismissed as lies or irresponsibility, stick with him?
The most serious eyes he had ever seen, the knee that had knelt to meet his gaze.
They kept coming back to him.
<Then, let's start the final game now!>
“……”
He lost the second game too. It was inevitable since the Secret Society did nothing.
Andrei’s score was 0 points. Any chance of winning was already gone.
The coveted prize, the Merchant Lord’s proposal—all had turned to dust.
But precisely because of that.
‘…Guardian.’
Just like in the first game, he picked up the Guardian role card and revealed it to everyone.
Looking up at the VIP seat, at Kyle Byron standing there.
“…Hmm.”
The masked man who had been the Support Unit in the first game smiled slightly at him.
Taking a deep breath, Andrei spoke.
“Since the Guardian will just stay still, why don’t we decide among ourselves?”
“Sounds like something the Magician would say. Aren’t you embarrassed being both a Knight and a Magician?”
“Well, my character is a Knight, so it’s fine. Embryo? Let’s deal with this sky guy first.”
“Wait, why are you targeting me? You know what my role is.”
“Still, I agree with taking out the old hag first.”
Just like in the first game, the masked men started arguing among themselves, and towards Knight Commander Embryo.
“Everyone, quiet.”
“…What?”
“Huh?”
“Eh?”
“Wait, are you talking to me?”
“…Yeah, sure.”
Andrei declared.
“As the Guardian, I command all of you.”
“From now on, kill each other.”
Only now.
Did the board game truly begin.
