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

This morning was peaceful.

At the sound of Bell’s alarm — that annoying bitch dog — I hurriedly poured human food into her bowl.
Because of the festival, training was skipped, but instead I squatted in a corner of the clubroom watching the poor family head sleep, while interrogating the dark mage we caught the previous day.
Officially, there were classes, but naturally the professors called them off, so I let myself be carried by the wave of students praising those professors and casually strolled through the street stalls.

Unlike in my previous life, my pocket felt full enough to enjoy the festival atmosphere, and I even bought a tornado potato, though I wondered why the /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Academy, mostly nobles, would sell something so common.
In the distance, a crowd gathered as if for a parade. Curious, I looked over and saw Daisy at the front. At that moment, as I fled at full speed, I was somewhat enjoying the festival.
“Shall we watch the swordsmanship competition this afternoon?”

Having fulfilled the dark mage quota yesterday, I decided to rest peacefully today, preparing for tomorrow’s hellish date.
“Oh.”
I saw people gathered at a café a good distance away.

Though it was a gathering, it wasn’t a parade-level crowd like Daisy’s, so even from afar I could tell who they were.
“Senior Lorelia and the Flame User.”
Around those two familiar figures, followers who seemed to be Lorelia’s supporters surrounded them.
I stealthily squeezed into the group to listen to what they were talking about.

“I think you should give it a try too. There’s still a chance.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes. You have to challenge now in this kind of atmosphere. When else would you?”

It was unexpected.
I thought that since the two were gathered, it would be about romance issues, but I hadn’t expected them to openly discuss it with so many people watching.
“You all think the same, right?”

Seeing Lorelia ask the gathered crowd like that made me realize that this romance fantasy world was more open-minded than I’d thought.
“That’s right. The Founding Festival has been a long-standing period for fostering Academy couples. If you don’t challenge now, when will you?”
“I think so too. Especially since magic-related events, including the Magic Tournament, start today. How about watching those together?”

Lorelia’s followers around her were pouring out encouraging words to the Flame User.
Gaining confidence from that, the Flame User’s eyes sparkled.
“Oh?”

Our eyes met, and she opened them wide, staring at me.
“Oh my.”
Lorelia also glanced at me briefly.

“I was just about to come find you.”
She smiled with a pretty eye smile.
...I should have run away then.
“No, why would even you do that, Senior?”

After shooing away her followers, the senior who said she had something to discuss seemed to entrust me and demanded a date.
“Between us, can’t I ask for a favor like this?”
Lately, the women around me seemed to have gotten a bit more shameless.

“…I don’t think so.”
Lorelia glanced away from me and muttered softly.
“I thought so too.”

Though she shamelessly stepped forward, fortunately, she still had some conscience left.
“Senior asked!”
The Flame User, who seemed half-turned into a follower, growled while raising her eyebrows in that typical romance fantasy villainess follower way.

“Shut up. You should prepare for your own date. Or will you get dumped again?”
“Ugh!”
Who the hell hasn’t had a date themselves but tries to meddle in others’ dating matters?

“And Senior, could you please explain why we have to go on this date?”
“Hmm. Well…”
Lorelia scratched her cheek in thought and began to briefly explain why she had to go on the date.

“First, the family’s direction has been decided. Following the mainstream opinion, we’ve agreed to maintain the broken engagement with Prince Acid. However…”
What had changed was that the royal family had also come to know about it.
“Since the fault lies with Prince Acid, the royal family seems to understand the breakup.”
But there were those who didn’t understand the breakup despite the royal family and dukes agreeing.

“Those opposing the breakup are causing troublesome issues for various reasons.”
It was ridiculous that the royal family and dukes had agreed but there were opponents.
But what was even more ridiculous was…

“Senior, what does that have to do with the date?”
No matter how much I thought about it, there was no reason in that story why we had to go on a date.
“Well, the reason is…”

Lorelia pouted, trying to figure out how to explain it.
“So, some of the opposition claim… the problem is that I’m not attractive enough.”
“...What?”

What nonsense was that?
“Although they beat around the bush, in short, they say I’m so unattractive that Prince Acid fell for another woman instead.”
Maybe it was just my imagination, but Lorelia looked angry despite smiling as she said this.

“Are you angry?”
Not an illusion.
At the Flame User’s words, who opened her eyes wide as if thinking the same, Lorelia tilted her head for a while then nodded.

“A little?”
No matter how I looked at it, it was more than just a little.
“Anyway. So I thought, what’s the best way to shut those people up?”

The answer was already obvious.
“Then why do I have to go on a date with you...?”
“First, it would prove that whenever I want, I can charm at least one man.”

This senior was shameless beyond expectation.
“And second, that man officially is the Saint’s man who made Prince Acid fall for her.”
She even openly declared that she’d pull an NTR (netorare) publicly. It looked like she was going full-on with her original villainess role.

“Lastly, you’re an expert, right?”
Since I already had a fake girlfriend, couldn’t I handle a fake date?
Looking at Lorelia, it seemed like she was hinting at that.

“You really make people into garbage.”
“...So it’s really no good?”
“Will it work?”

“Of course not.”
Lorelia sighed, drooping her shoulders like she’d lost all energy.
“There’s no one but you to ask for this kind of favor.”

“There were a lot of people earlier.”
Most were women, but there were a few men mixed in.
If she asked them, they probably wouldn’t refuse, but—

“They’re loose-lipped. And surprisingly, sitting next to me requires more courage than I thought.”
Because she was still the fiancé of a royal family member.
Muttering that, Lorelia looked resigned as she spoke to me.

“Sorry for bothering you with nonsense.”
She told me not to worry too much since it was just something she said.
And so that little incident ended.

But why—
“The person I’ve been seeing lately.”
Wait, hadn’t we just sorted that out?

Looking at her like that, Lorelia sent me a shameless smile full of apology but also asking me to go along with it.
“……”
Seeing Lorelia suddenly link her arm with mine, I realized.

I thought she wasn’t like that, but this senior really hated losing.
After parting with Lorelia and the Flame User, I continued with my original plan.
That is to say—

“I hereby prove the fame of the Little Swordmaster known across the continent, right here!”
“Aslan, the player! 18 consecutive wins! Amazing! Despite the continuous matches, he’s showing why he’s called the Little Swordmaster with overwhelming skill!”
I was watching Aslan’s match.

“He’s doing pretty well.”
I munched popcorn and watched Aslan’s streak of 18 wins.
After all, when Violet mentioned the original story, I said I’d raise him.

At the Academy, he was the one I had sparred with more than even Prince Ellen.
Recently I’d been busy and used the magic sword for auto-hunting, so I felt a bit guilty.
But seeing him fly around compared to when we first met made me feel proud.

“Is this how seniors feel?”
Other senior instructors probably felt this way when training.
I was stuck with leveling up Prince Ellen alone, and even as he grew, I naturally thought, “When will I catch up to him...”

Thanks to Aslan, I was feeling a little vicarious satisfaction.
So—
“A trial here?”

Originally I hadn’t planned to, but suddenly I felt a little urge to enter the competition.
The team leader said the highest falls make people want to get stronger.
“Well, I’ll just let him enjoy it now.”

But even that thought was fleeting.
Here, as the romance fantasy male lead, it was only right to claim some titles.
“Popcorn’s all gone.”

I’d bought the biggest size, but it was already all gone.
What should I eat next?
As I got up and headed toward the street stalls—

“So, you’re going to challenge the Little Swordmaster?”
“Yes. At that level, I should be able to give it a try, no?”
Familiar and unfamiliar voices reached me.

Turning my head slightly, I saw Lorelia with a look of disbelief, and next to her, an obnoxious-looking guy.
“Yes, young master.”
“He’s the opponent I’ll face starting next year. Getting some experience now would be good.”

From the words of the guy who looked like a bodyguard, he seemed to be a student entering the Academy next year.
“Is that guy the villain?”
Judging by his face, he looked exactly like a villain.

...Of course, judging by faces was meaningless since the flower-arranging club president, who should be the true mastermind, looked like a villain too!
Still, from Violet’s spoiler about next year’s story and Lorelia’s branch family story, that guy was the villain for sure!
“Seems likely.”

He’d probably challenge the Little Swordmaster here, get completely crushed, then enroll in the Academy next year.
He’d grow hostile toward Aslan, pick fights with the romance fantasy group, and get taught a lesson.
Lorelia said his branch family was influential and troublesome.

Compared to the flower-arranging club members, though, he was just a rookie.
“Sounds fun.”
So, to prepare for that guy getting crushed by Aslan, extra popcorn supply was a must.

I abandoned Lorelia holding her head in frustration and headed straight to the street stalls.
“By the way, sis.”
“I’m not your sister.”

“When can I meet that girlfriend you mentioned last time?”
“……”
My near-superhuman physical abilities felt like a curse at that moment.

I turned my head slightly in response to that question.
“Ah.”
Our eyes met as Lorelia bit her lip slightly.

“So you’re here.”
Because of Lorelia’s shamelessness, I was caught and held tight.