I often 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'd run out of things to read.
While sampling new releases and looking for ones that matched my taste, I turned my attention to romance fantasy, commonly called "romantasy," and thought:
'This is better than I expected?'
Contrary to my thought that romance fantasy wasn't for men, it was actually better than I'd imagined.
No, beyond just being decent, it was genuinely fun.
I thought that since "romance" was part of the genre name, it would be all about love affairs, but surprisingly many weren't like that.
Of course, not all works were like this. There were plenty that didn't match my taste, but isn't that the same with fantasy and martial arts novels?
So having nothing left to read in fantasy and martial arts genres, I immersed myself in this new genre of romance fantasy.
The problem was...
"Adam."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"How can I make her interested in me?"
"..."
Living in it firsthand, I discovered that the romance fantasy genre wasn't exactly a comfortable neighborhood to live in.
***
One day I opened my eyes and found myself in a fantasy world.
It was absurd.
There were so many people around me in real life begging to be sent to another world.
Why send me, who was living properly in reality, to another world!
...contrary to what I thought, I adapted to this other world rather easily.
Of course, that was thanks to my birth circumstances.
Until yesterday, I was a job seeker being pushed around here and there, but here I'm the son of a count's family?
It means I don't have to worry about employment anymore.
Furthermore, I was born into a family wealthy enough that I could comfortably live as a lifelong unemployed person if I wanted to.
"Adam has talent with the sword."
However, being born a man, isn't it a waste to just eat and play?
Unlike my previous life, this time my family provides strong support, so I thought it wouldn't be bad to enjoy the isekai life that others dream of.
So while receiving my family's gifted education, I discovered my aptitude as a swordsman.
Not only did former knight instructors who came to teach me praise my considerable talent, but 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 leads the family while younger siblings support their older brother through domestic 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 take over the family, but what beautiful brotherly love this is!
"This child is a once-in-a-millennium talent!"
But the touching scenario of my oldest brother shedding tears of gratitude and my second brother embracing me was shattered by an unexpected visitor.
It turned out one of my instructors was formerly of the Royal Guard. Having hidden his identity while teaching as a hobby, he recognized my talent and reported it to his former workplace.
"M-me?"
"That's right."
And so, a current royal knight dispatched from the palace looked at me like a treasure and essentially kidnapped me straight to where the king lives.
High nobility like a count? That just flies away if you defy the royal family.
So my parents and siblings waved goodbye without showing any regret. It's a bit disappointing that they showed no reluctance, but what can you do?
"This child?"
"Yes. This fellow..."
So after being dragged to the palace, the knight who brought me started talking with another knight who seemed more senior.
Then they suddenly 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 just got beaten up, the knight evaluating me called me a genius.
A once-in-a-continent genius, no less.
Is this what they call the "reincarnator's advantage"? Will I get to live like a fantasy protagonist from now on?
As if confirming my thoughts, the words that followed were very good news for me.
"We've been needing someone to accompany the Fifth Prince."
Studying together. What does this mean? It means receiving royal education several levels higher than what I was learning before.
There couldn't be better conditions for improving one's skills.
But what's even more important is studying together with a prince.
Learning together from childhood, naturally entering the academy together, and if we graduate safely, I could live my life as the prince's trusted confidant.
Of course, if I make a mistake in the process, not only my head but my entire family could be eliminated, but wasn't it the family who abandoned me first!
Born as a man and arriving in another world! Wouldn't it be fine to aim for success as a prince's confidant?
So I actively promoted myself and was able to become a royal knight.