I Became the Second-in-Command in a Romance Fantasy Novel

I used to read web novels as a hobby.
I started with game fantasy, then modern fantasy, followed by traditional fantasy, and then martial arts novels. As ten years passed in the blink of an eye, I ran out of things to read. I began sampling new releases, trying to find something that matched my taste. Eventually, I turned my attention to romance fantasy, a genre commonly known as "ropan."

"Not bad, actually."
Contrary to what I used to think about romance fantasy—like how a man would think, "What’s the point of this?"—it turned out to be more enjoyable than I expected. No, it was not just enjoyable; it was genuinely fun.
I had expected it to be filled with just romantic drama, but surprisingly, there were many stories that weren't like that. Of course, not every work was like this, and there were plenty I didn’t enjoy, but wasn’t that the case in fantasy and martial arts genres too? So, having run out of things to read in fantasy and martial arts, I found myself captivated by this new genre—ropan.

The problem was...
"Adam."
"Yes, Your Highness."

"How can I make her notice me?"
"..."
After experiencing it firsthand, I realized that the romance fantasy genre wasn’t exactly the best place to be.

One day, I woke up in a fantasy world.
I was dumbfounded.
There were so many people around me who used to beg for a chance to be transported to another world. Why, then, was I, who had been living a perfectly fine life in the real world, sent to this one?

...But to my surprise, I adapted to the new world quicker than expected.
Of course, I had my origins to thank for that. Just yesterday, I had been struggling as a job-seeking individual, but here, I was the child of a noble family?
At least, I didn’t have to worry about finding a job. Furthermore, the family was wealthy enough to support me without having to work. Even if I chose to live as a layabout for the rest of my life, I could comfortably survive.

"Adam, you have a talent for the sword."
But wasn’t it a waste to be born a man and do nothing but live in comfort? Moreover, unlike my previous life, in this life, my family was offering substantial support, so I thought it wouldn’t be so bad to enjoy a fantasy life like the ones people dream about. So, I received the family's exceptional education, and I discovered my aptitude for becoming a swordsman.
The former knights who came to teach me praised my talents, and I, too, found a sense of fulfillment in wielding a sword. It seemed that the profession of a knight was my calling.

According to what I heard, the eldest son would lead the family, and the younger siblings would assist him either through diplomacy or military power. So, as the third son of the Smith family, my role was to assist my older brothers as a knight!
In novels, brothers often fight fiercely to take over the family, but here, the brotherly love was beautiful!
"This child is a genius of the ages!"
However, the emotional scene where my eldest brother shed tears and my second brother embraced me was shattered by an unexpected guest.

It turned out that one of my instructors was a former member of the royal guard, and having recognized my talent, he reported it to his former workplace.
"Me?"
"Yes."

So, the royal knight, who had come from the royal family, treated me like a treasure and kidnapped me to the royal palace where the king resides.
An earl? The moment you oppose the royal family, you’re gone.
As a result, not only my parents but also my siblings waved me off without a single hint of regret. Though it felt a bit strange, what could I do?

"Is this child...?"
"Yes, this one... well, you see..."
The knights who had brought me to the royal palace began speaking among themselves, and suddenly, they handed me a sword and challenged me to a duel.

"Even if you search the entire continent, you will not find someone with such a suitable talent."
It seemed like I was just being beaten up, but the knight who evaluated me called me a genius. Not just any genius—a genius unlike any other in the entire continent. Was this the so-called "blessing of the previous life"? Did that mean I was going to live like a fantasy protagonist from now on?
As if to confirm my thoughts, the following words were like sweet music to my ears.

"We just so happen to need someone to join the 5th Prince."
What did this mean? I was going to be trained together with the prince. This meant I would be receiving royal education, a level higher than anything I had been learning before.
There could be no better conditions for improving my personal abilities. But more importantly, it meant I would be receiving training alongside the prince.

I would learn with him from childhood, naturally enter the academy with him, and if I graduated safely, I would live my life as a trusted confidant of the prince.
Of course, if I made a mistake along the way, both my life and my family would be in danger. But wasn’t it the family that abandoned me first?
Born a man, and sent to another world, could I not aim for success by becoming the prince’s confidant?

So, I actively appealed and was able to become a royal knight.
Royal Knight Education Division.
These knights were responsible for training alongside the royal family, sometimes teaching them, and protecting them in times of danger. This was to be my first and final position. And the first step in this great journey was this:

"This is the defeat sword you must learn."
"...?"
It was the art of losing.

Just one match.
This was something people often said when playing games in my previous life. Personally, I believed this expression came from games like the space warfare strategy game "Universal War" or the AOS game "Legend of Legends," which dominated Korea’s gaming scene.
Just one match. Both games were perfect for such a statement.

However, at the same time, both games were terrible for accomplishing "just one match."
"Are you using a noob strategy?!"
Just when I said "just one match," the game ended when six alien monsters attacked without any workers being produced, or when a cheese rush was initiated with robots leading the infantry.

Sometimes, the defensive laser beams placed by petty alien species would destroy my base.
"Ah, surrender. I can't win this."
"What, another surrender?"

In contrast to 1v1 strategy simulations, 5v5 games like "Legend of Legends" were much worse. In 1v1, I could blame myself for losing, but in 5v5, there were four other players I could blame, so excuses were easy to make.
That's right. Just one match.
It was a match played with perfect balance, neither side having an advantage. Through my own carrying, I would lead the team to victory, and the dopamine would peak. But if the match ended before that, it wouldn’t count as a proper "one match."

If I lost even after reaching that point, it still didn’t count as one. And after the endless struggle, the real "one match" would finish long after the game time was supposed to end. However, people willingly sacrificed their time for that real match.
With my memories from my previous life, I was able to answer confidently to the head of the education division in front of me.
"So, I should duel with the 5th Prince, exchanging appropriate attacks, and when we both aim for a final blow, I should make sure the Prince doesn’t realize he’s losing, and just barely lose, correct?"

"Excellent!"
Indeed, I was a genius of the ages.
The head of the royal education division clapped, praising my talent, and I despaired at their praise of my talent.

I thought my talent was something to be expected, but it turned out to be just decent skill with a bit of potential, and an extraordinary sense of timing!
"The princes are all of royal blood. Therefore, they must receive royal training."
In my past life, I remembered hearing something similar, which had led to a scandal, but here, it wasn’t controversial. After all, they were truly of royal blood and were truly being trained to become royalty.

Even though it was a bit oppressive, they were indeed the ones with the power!
"People often say we learn from our defeats, and that is true. But our defeat, and the defeat of the royal bloodline, are completely different."
That was true. No one would dare try to defeat royalty in their own country, so if royalty were to lose, it meant they were defeated by a foreign nation.

At worst, it would be a national disgrace if they were defeated at an academy abroad, and at worst, it would be the precursor to the country's ruin.
"That is why we exist."
Those walking the path of kings must never be defeated.

However, if they were overly protected, they would never understand their limits or the world. Therefore, while pushing the royal family to challenge their limits, there had to be someone who, in the end, would lose.
"We are that person!"
A sandbag disguised as education. Not just any sandbag, but the optimal one, made to create the most satisfying situation for the one who strikes it.

It sounded impressive, though.
"Headmaster."
"Do you have any questions?"

I felt sorry for the headmaster who was touched by my genius, but honestly, I wasn’t confident.
"To achieve that, don’t I need to be at least equal in skill to the 5th Prince?"
That was right. To accomplish all of this, I had to be at least equal in skill to the 5th Prince. In fact, being equal wasn’t enough. Humans weren’t machines. On my best days, I could beat someone a level higher than me, but on my worst, I could lose to someone far weaker. Considering the Prince’s status, he might have ways to maintain his best condition, but even in a fantasy world with magic and divine power, no one could maintain their best state forever.

So, to ensure a fair fight in case of an emergency, I had to be stronger than my opponent. Not just strong, but overwhelming!
"Haha. Don’t worry too much."
The headmaster laughed and reassured me.

"We are the ones laying the foundation for the kingdom. Do you think there would be no support for us?"
A legendary swordsman had laid the foundation for the swordsmanship that would later be used by the kingdom’s greatest knights. Additionally, every year, we, the instructors, would receive immense support, such as royal meals made by the palace chefs using the finest ingredients, potions that boosted magical power, professional trainers for body care, and teachings from past masters.
Only to be the royal family’s sandbag! And to barely win after reaching the limits, to create a perfect match for my soul!

"That is what you must do."
It was truly absurd. But if I succeeded, I would be rewarded with wealth, fame, and even a title. And I was said to have royal knight-level talent!
"I will do it!"

There was no reason to refuse. Though it might be overwhelming to face royalty, with the buffs of a second life, how could I not handle it?
"Good. From today, you are a proud royal knight."
I had earned the title of the youngest royal knight in the kingdom's history. As someone in their second life, this was quite an achievement.

"To live up to the honor of a knight, I will strive to be the perfect loser!"
"Excellent!"
The conversation might have sounded strange, but this was my duty as a knight. To fulfill my responsibilities for my lord.

So, until I met my future lord, the 5th Prince, I practiced the perfect "losing sword" as a royal knight.
Two years later, under the guise of an accident, I finally met the 5th «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» Prince.
"Hello."

"I am Adam Smith."
But at that time, I didn’t know.
I didn’t know that the 5th Prince I was assigned to was one of the sub-male leads in a romance fantasy novel.

Not just any royal, but someone who would later become the greatest swordsman on the continent.
Unknowingly, I had become the royal family’s sandbag, destined to be the perfect match for the strongest swordsman in the story.