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

Let's go back a bit to when I entered the academy.
Until I entered, I was the prince's punching bag and worked hard to keep the kingdom's reputation from falling.

Every day, I was given to the kingdom's famous swordsmanship instructors so that 24 hours were not enough, and I also squeezed out as much doping as my body could handle.
Thanks to that, I was able to achieve the miracle of beating the prince once out of 30 times.
In other words, despite all that hard work, I only won once out of 30 times.
That was also because I was lucky.
What should I say?
I felt the same wall I felt when I accidentally met a pro-gamer in the famous RTS game Space War in my past life.
I clearly overwhelmed the build by 9 to 1 in the beginning, but when I came to my senses, I felt the same feeling every time I got beat up.
I clearly won the psychological warfare, so why was I getting beat up?
We're not even in the same weight class. No, I'm stronger with my doping power! But when we fought swords, I was the one who was ultimately losing.
It was a difference in technique and sense.
Even if I had an advantage in the beginning, I was disadvantaged in the middle and late stages.
Even if I had a good time in the middle and late stages, I would always lose in the battle of attrition with Prince Ellen.

What should I say?
I have more absolute magical power, but should I say that our fuel efficiency is different?
It was difficult to express magical power as an exact number, but it felt like if I used 100 magical power, Prince Ellen would block with 30~40 magical power.
It was crazy.
It was easy to say, but that action was one that would be immediately defeated if the corresponding magical power was even a little lacking.
An extreme tightrope walk for victory.
Prince Ellen tried that extreme tightrope walk every time and succeeded.
The probability of failure was 1/30.
The scary thing was that the more I practiced, the lower the probability of failure became.
Geniuses are truly a scary bunch.

The more I learned about swords, the more I realized that there was a difference in talent.
And that realization reached its peak during the academy entrance ceremony.
“I am Aren, the head instructor of the swordsmanship department.”

At those words, cheers echoed throughout the previously quiet auditorium.
A moment ago, only the obligatory applause rang out, but now there were even a few people sobbing.
Aren.
He was a person more famous for his title of Sword Master than his name.
Although he was born a commoner, he rose to the top with just his sword.

He was able to rise to the top, but he was still respected because he only held onto his sword.
To the young swordsmen who still held onto the chivalry that only comes from stories, he was a swordsman who was more revered than a goddess.
There were probably few people indifferent like me in this auditorium.
But that was why I could understand something. The one who is called the strongest swordsman, not a hero with admirable achievements and character.

Because as the only swordsman, I could coolly evaluate the sword master.
“……”
He was a monster.

Even the strongest swordsman I know is no match for the sword master.
I wondered if there could be such a difference, even though they are both sword masters.
When I thought about the difference between me and Prince Allen, who seemed to be on a similar level on the outside, I understood.
Is this why the sword master is the beginning of the sword?
Our captain, you still have a long way to go.
While I was thinking that, was it a coincidence? The sword master’s gaze and mine met.
“Adam. The sword master looked this way.”
It was Prince Ellen’s words, blushing like a pubescent girl next to me.
Normally, it would be normal to feel disgusted when a boy does that.
It’s scary how even that looks like a picture because of his appearance.

“I guess they give him a glance every once in a while.” “Can I really learn from the sword master?”
“Because he’s the head professor.”
If you’re the head professor, you’re assigned two mandatory classes.
It’s not like anyone else, and there’s no way the prince of the Leon Kingdom wouldn’t be able to take the sword master’s class.
No, with Prince Ellen’s talent and skills, he could take the class even without the title of prince of Leon.

“That’s it!”
After the one-week trial period following the entrance ceremony, Prince Allen and I naturally succeeded in taking the sword master’s class.
5 credits for Basic Combat.
5 credits for Basic Practical Swordsmanship.

Two 5-credit classes.
The title, Basic Combat and Swordsmanship.
For the Imperial Academy, which gathered the continent’s talents, to offer a basic-level class was like telling people not to come, but since the person in question was the sword master, the students were excited, saying that it was a meaningful lecture by the sword master that told them to learn from the basics again.
“The basics have to be solid after all!”
Prince Ellen was the same.
Honestly, I didn't understand what else I was going to learn there, but what could I do if he said he liked it?

So, half excited and half worried, the first day of the basics of real-life swordsmanship class arrived.
"First of all, it's important to know your current position."
As soon as the sword master entered the classroom, he immediately casted "Let's kill each other now."

"We will randomly draw lots to conduct the duel."
The rules were quite detailed, but in a word, it was to do it appropriately according to the level of the opponent.
The method was a 1:1 unlimited duel.

If you lose, you are immediately eliminated, and the winner will face the person with the same number of wins.
That's why the first opponent was over in one blow, and the second opponent was the same.
By the third time, we were able to exchange a few moves, but the fourth opponent was weaker than the third and ended faster than expected.

That's why I was watching other people grumbling about the right to win quickly.
"Are you Adam Smith?"
A familiar face approached me and asked.

Sogeumje, Asran.
A royal official, Prince Ellen's rival candidate.
He looked at me with a kind, but speculative gaze.

“That's right.”
“My next opponent is Asran.”
“Already?”
“It seems like it'll take longer than expected, so the winners are said to start quickly.”

Well, the idiots have all fallen. The people left now are somewhat skilled.
Since they're facing off, I thought it would take longer than expected.
“That's good.”
I was lucky.

I was able to directly see Sogeumje's skills faster than I expected.
At the same time, I was able to avoid a showdown with Prince Ellen, whose defeat was certain.
No matter how much I lose, my confidence decreases when I keep losing.
Even my inner Gigachad would tell Prince Ellen to give up if he were my opponent.
“Hahaha, that's right.”
Sogeumje seemed happy to hear that he could fight, so he smiled cheerfully and nodded.
Just looking at his appearance, he looked more like a mad dog that wanted to bite anyone than a Sogeomje.
Since he was the grandson of the Sword Emperor who was famous for his character, he just seemed like a person with a strong competitive spirit.

This is the power of the background.
Just as Prince Ellen made everything mediocre look good with the power of his face, Asran also made everything mediocre look good with the Sword Emperor’s halo.
Then what should I show without a face or halo?
It was skill.
“Asran vs. Adam Smith. The 5th match begins.”
The eyes of the surrounding gathered as the assistant referee spoke.
They were the eyes of the students who had already been eliminated.
The eyes were directed at Asran, not at me, but the fact that I was included in them did not change.

I had to imprint it on their eyes.
The name of the swordsman who would not easily lose to the Sword Emperor Asran.
Lightly drawing up his magic power, he exuded sword energy.
The mediocre ones might not know, but this much was essential to dealing with the Sword Emperor.
“Ha.”
A satisfied smile formed on Asran’s lips.
It was the moment when the beast, bound by the rules and unable to exert its full power, bared its teeth.
And in that split second, swords met swords.
And.

“S, winner Adam Smith.”
“……”
This was the result.
A total of thirty-four matches were played, and I was the winner.
At the beginning, I tried to figure out my opponent.
That was the end of it.
“As expected, it’s Adam!”

Except for the familiar voice from behind, no one opened their mouths.
That’s understandable.
Because Asran, a divine being renowned on the continent and praised as the Little Swordsman, was defeated.
If I were a third party, I would have felt the same way.
What the hell, what the hell is this?
I would have watched with that thought.

“Wow, shit.”
What the hell is this?
Being a party to the incident made me more embarrassed than a third party.
However, since it was true that I won, I thought about the reason for my victory.
First, the first hypothesis.
The vassals of the continent were inflating the rumors again.
It was a common occurrence.
Among the vassals, there were some who received money and inflated their achievements.
The problem was that the party in question was Asran.

His nickname, Sogeomje, came from the nickname of his grandfather, Geomje.
It seemed unlikely that Asran, who had abandoned the noble surname given to him by his father, following his grandfather, would inflate his own abilities.
If other people called him Sogeomje, even if he was, if his skills didn't match that reputation, he would have refused.
According to the information of the Leon Kingdom, Asran was that kind of person.
Then the second hypothesis.

Asran's condition wasn't very good.
That could be true.
I was confident that I could win if Prince Eren had the flu and was limping.
The problem is that when I looked at Asran's appearance right before the fight, it didn't seem like that.

Did he suddenly need to go to the bathroom?
It didn't seem like that either.
-Well, I thought I was weak before I entered the academy.
At that time, what came to mind was what Senior Lucia had said a few months ago.
I thought I was weak because I was always beaten by Princess Hestia, but it turned out that Senior Lucia was the king of the academy.

The third hypothesis was that I was actually really strong.
Well, I had also stepped up a lot before entering the academy.
In fact, it wouldn't have been strange if I had become close to the strongest in the academy.
That was why I had a question.
I lightly beat the best divine spirit of the continent, the small sword master Asran.

“Winner, Ellen Leon!”
What on earth is our prince doing who always beats me?
I thought the world was wide and there were many masters.
It seemed like the strongest one was right next to me.

“That’s how it happened.”
- That’s how it happened.
I briefly reported what happened today to the captain.
Beyond the crystal ball, the captain’s expression seemed to have lost about 70% of its amazement.

- The small sword master can’t do it.
Although it was short, he was the captain who learned the sword directly from the sword master.
That’s why I believed that the small sword master who inherited the sword master’s name would have a big influence on the prince.
Prince Ellen’s strongest rival.
The captain was the one who evaluated Asran like that.
- But, he’s still a student. You won’t know until he grows up.

He says that, but it seems like the captain knows. As Asran grows, Prince Ellen will grow even more.
Because he was the one who watched Prince Ellen grow up next to me.
“I hope so.”

-…I look forward to regular contact next week.
With a sigh, the captain hung up the phone with an expression that showed no expectation at all.
At that, I looked out the window at the sunset sky.

“I should eat.”
It’s something we all have to eat to live.
So I left the dormitory and headed toward the cafeteria in the academy.

Naturally, everyone’s attention turned to me.
The murmurs grew louder.
I became a celebrity in the academy in one day, but ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) it was complicated.
That little bastard, Sogeomje… He betrayed our trust.
I wonder if it was because of the wounds of betrayal, but I wanted to eat something spicy.
But will it sell?
The fantasy world is great, but it’s hard to find spicy food.
Just as I was about to enter the cafeteria.

“Adam!”
Someone grabbed my hand and pulled me.
With a strangely evil force that I couldn't even resist, I was dragged to a dark place behind the restaurant.

"What's going on, Prince?"
"I told you not to call me that. No, that's not important right now!"
When I turned my head, I saw the culprit who had dragged me here.
Prince Allen was strangely blushing and looking at me.
No, why is his expression like that.
If I beat him here with BL Drift, I'll beat him up, even if he's a prince.
"I have a crush on someone."

Shit. Say it's me. I'll really beat him up, even if he's a prince.
"We just met today!"
Fortunately, it wasn't BL Drift.
No, but shit.

"Tell me more."
That prince bastard had been thinking about causing trouble since day one.