I frequently read web novels as a hobby.
I started with game fantasy, then moved to modern fantasy, traditional fantasy, and eventually martial arts novels. After more than 10 years had passed, I found myself running out of things to read. I would sample new releases here and there, looking for ones that matched my taste, when I casually turned my attention to romance fantasy—commonly called "rofan."
'This is actually pretty good?'
Contrary to my initial thought that romance fantasy wasn't for men, it was surprisingly enjoyable. No, it went beyond just enjoyable—it was genuinely fun.
I had assumed that with "romance" in the genre name, it would be all about love affairs, but surprisingly, many weren't like that at all. Of course, not every work was to my taste, but isn't that the same with fantasy and martial arts novels? So, having exhausted my options in fantasy and martial arts genres, I found myself drawn into this new genre of romance fantasy.
The problem was...
"Adam."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"How can I make her interested in me?"
"..."
Living in a romance fantasy world wasn't exactly as pleasant as I'd imagined.
* * *
One day I opened my eyes to find myself in a fantasy world.
I was dumbfounded.
There were so many people around me in the real world who had been desperately begging to be sent to another world. Why send me, someone who was living a proper life in reality, to another world?
...Despite these thoughts, I adapted to this new world more easily than expected.
Of course, that was thanks to my circumstances. Until yesterday, I had been a job seeker being pushed around, but here I was the son of a count's family?
At least I didn't have to worry about employment anymore. Furthermore, I could live comfortably knowing that my family had enough wealth to support me even if I remained unemployed for life.
"Adam has talent with the sword."
However, as a man, wouldn't it be a waste to just live idly? Unlike my previous life, in this one I had strong support from my family, so I thought it wouldn't be bad to enjoy the isekai lifestyle that others dreamed of. So while receiving the family's gifted education, I discovered my aptitude for swordsmanship.
The former knight instructors who came to teach me praised my considerable talent, and I also found fulfillment in wielding a sword, so I thought being a knight was my true calling. Yes, from what I heard, the eldest son would lead the family while the younger siblings would support their brother through internal affairs or military strength. As the third son of the Smith family, I, Adam, would support my first and second brothers as a knight! In novels, siblings often cause all sorts of trouble to claim the family, but how beautiful was our brotherly love!
"This child is a once-in-a-millennium genius!"
But the touching scenario of my eldest brother shedding tears of emotion and my second brother embracing me was shattered by an unexpected visitor. As it turned out, one of my instructors was formerly from the royal guard. He had hidden his identity and taught as a hobby, but upon discovering my talent, he reported back to his former workplace.
"M-me?"
"That's right."
And so, a knight from the current royal knights who had been dispatched from the palace looked at me like a treasure and essentially kidnapped me to the king's residence. A high noble like a count? They'd be swept away if they defied the royal family. So my parents and siblings waved goodbye without showing the slightest regret. It was a bit disappointing, but what could I do?
"This child?"
"Yes. This boy..."
After being dragged to the palace, the knight who had brought me began discussing with another knight who seemed to be of higher rank. Then, out of nowhere, they handed me a sword and told me to spar with them. And then...
"Even if we searched the entire continent, we wouldn't find someone with such appropriate talent."
Though I felt like I had just been beaten up, the knight evaluating me called me a genius. Not just any genius, but one unparalleled across the continent. Was this the transmigrator's advantage I'd only heard about? Would I now live like a fantasy protagonist? As if confirming my thoughts, the words that followed were very promising.
"We needed someone to accompany the Fifth Prince."
Attending classes together. What did this mean? It meant receiving royal education several levels higher than what I had been learning before. There couldn't be a better condition for improving one's skills. But more importantly, it meant learning alongside a prince.
Learning together from childhood, naturally entering the academy together, and if we graduated safely, I could live my life as the prince's confidant. Of course, if I made a mistake, not only my head but my entire family could be at risk, but hadn't my family abandoned me first? Born as a man and transported to another world! Wouldn't it be fine to aim for success as a prince's confidant? So I actively appealed to them and was able to become a royal knight.
Royal Education Knight Order, Education Officer.
Those who learn alongside royalty, sometimes teach them, and protect them in times of danger. That was my first position and was expected to be my last. And the first step of this great achievement was...
"This is the Defeat Sword that you will need to master from now on."
"...?"
Learning how to lose.
* * *
Just one more game.
That was a phrase people often used when gaming in my previous life. Personally, I think it was made possible by the dominance of games like Space War, a strategy simulation, and Legend of Legends, an AOS genre that held Korea's gaming hegemony.
Just one more game.
Both games were perfect for making that statement. But at the same time, both games were terrible for actually limiting yourself to just one more game.
"This bastard is using a rush strategy?!"
You might declare "just one more game," but when six space monsters charge at you before you've even built a single worker, or when you face a "cheese rush" of infantry backed by space robots, that one game doesn't count. The same goes for when someone builds photon lasers—meant for defense by inferior alien races—in your base. And that's not all.
"Ah, surrender. We can't win this."
"What, another surrender?"
Unlike 1:1 strategy simulations, Legend of Legends was a 5:5 game, which made things even worse. In 1:1, I could only blame myself for getting crushed, but in 5:5, there were four other teammates to blame, making all kinds of excuses possible.
That's right.
Just one more game.
It refers to that one game where both sides are evenly balanced, and through my carrying, we achieve victory, reaching peak dopamine levels.
If the game ends before reaching that point, it doesn't count as "one game." If you reach that point but lose, it still doesn't count. After endless "final games," when a true final game finally ends, it usually far exceeds the originally planned gaming time, but people willingly sacrifice their time for that true final game. So, with my memories from my previous life, I could confidently answer the Education Director before me.
"So, I should engage in appropriately tense exchanges with the Fifth Prince during training, and when we're both about to deliver the final blow, I should lose by a hair's breadth in a way that His Highness doesn't notice?"
"Excellent!"
Truly a once-in-a-millennium genius.
The Royal Education Knight Director clapped his hands in admiration of my talent, while I despaired at what they considered my "talent." I had high expectations when they said I had talent! But that talent turned out to be moderate skill, moderate potential, and extremely good perception!
"All princes carry the king's bloodline. There is appropriate education for princes."
In my previous life, saying something like that would have caused a legendary abuse of power scandal in the news, but unfortunately, it wasn't controversial here. They really were of royal blood, and they really were educating princes. Moreover, it was indeed an abuse of power, but they truly were in the position of power!
"People often say you learn from defeat, and that's true. But our defeat and the defeat of royal blood are completely different things."
That's true.
There wouldn't be tactless people trying to defeat royalty in their own country, so a royal's defeat would mean defeat to a foreign country. On a small scale, it could mean losing while studying abroad at a foreign academy; on a large scale, it could mean losing to an enemy in war. The former would be a national embarrassment, and the latter could be a sign of the country's downfall. That's why royalty rarely studied abroad, and even when they did, the foreign country would appropriately adjust things considering diplomatic relations.
"That's why we exist."
Those who walk the path of kings must not be defeated. However, if overprotected, they won't know their limits or understand the world. There needed to be a pacemaker who would push royalty to constantly challenge their limits while ultimately always ensuring their defeat.
"That's us!"
Sandbags disguised as education. And not just any sandbags, but optimal ones that create the most satisfying situations for the person doing the hitting. It sounded quite plausible in words.
"Director."
"Do you have a question?"
I felt bad for the director who was moved by finding a once-in-a-millennium genius, but honestly, I wasn't confident.
"To achieve this, wouldn't my skills need to be at least similar to those of the Fifth Prince?"
That's right. To accomplish all this, I needed to have skills at least equal to my opponent's. No, honestly, being equal wouldn't be enough. People aren't machines. On your best day, you might beat someone slightly better than you, and on your worst day, you might lose to someone far below your level. Considering the prince's position, he might have means to maintain optimal condition, but even in a fantasy world with magic and divine power, no one could maintain peak condition forever. So to ensure an equal match even in unforeseen circumstances, I needed to be stronger than my opponent. Not just stronger, but significantly stronger! Enough to overwhelm them!
"Haha. Don't worry too much."
The director reassured me with a laugh.
"We are the ones who establish the foundation of the kingdom. Do you think there would be no support for such people?"
The Defeat Sword was a swordsmanship style created by a historically renowned swordsman and refined by generations of the kingdom's top swordsmen. Not only that, but education officers like me would receive massive support each year to perfectly master the Defeat Sword. Meals prepared by royal chefs using all kinds of nutritious ingredients that were presented to the royal family, potions to enhance magical power, professional personnel for body management, and expert guidance from former education officers whenever needed.
All to become a sandbag for the royal family!
And not just any sandbag, but a soul mate who would push them to their limits yet allow them to barely win!
"That is your duty."
It was truly absurd. But if I accomplished it, I would receive wealth, honor, and even a title. Plus, I had officially recognized talent as a royal knight.
"I'll do it!"
There was no reason to refuse. Dealing with royalty might be a bit burdensome, but with the buff of a second life, was there any reason I couldn't handle children?
"Good. From today, you are a proud royal knight."
I even earned the title of the youngest royal knight in the kingdom's history, making a name for myself as a person. For the beginning of a second life, this wasn't bad at all.
"I will strive to lose perfectly, befitting the honor of a knight!"
"Excellent!"
The content of our conversation might be a bit strange, but this too was a knight's duty. It is a knight's way to fulfill their responsibilities for their lord.
So, before meeting the Fifth Prince who would become my lord, I practiced the perfect Defeat Sword as a royal knight. Two years later, I was arranged to "coincidentally" meet the Fifth Prince who would become my lord.
"Hello."
"I'm Adam Smith."
But at that time, I didn't know. I didn't know that the Fifth Prince I would be in charge of was one of the male supporting characters in a romance fantasy novel. And not just any royalty, but someone who would later become known as the continent's greatest swordsman. Without knowing that I would have to become a soul mate to the strongest swordsman in the story setting, I lightheartedly became the sandbag for the Fifth Prince who would later be known as the continent's greatest swordsman.