“Welcome, recruits, to the Border Defense Corps of the Adolf Empire.”
I stared up at the man standing on the podium, my face frozen in disbelief.
I wasn’t the only one. Around me, everyone had the same confused, blank expressions.
“The Border Defense Corps is entrusted with the grave responsibility of protecting the borders of the Adolf Empire. The fate of this empire and the safety of its citizens rest in your hands.”
Why... why am I even here?
“Judging by your faces... it seems you’re all far from being capable soldiers. But don’t worry. With the proper training, you’ll gain the strength necessary to defend this empire.”
Training? I have a really bad feeling about this.
“Enough talk! You have a lot to do today! Move out to your assigned units immediately!”
Everything around me felt utterly unfamiliar. The training grounds were a dusty expanse that kicked up clouds of dirt with every step. On the podium stood a man in military uniform. The field was packed with people around my age, all looking just as lost and out of place as I was.
While I was aimlessly trying to figure out where to go, my gaze accidentally locked with a boy standing directly in front of me.
He had jet-black hair and fiery, orange-red eyes. His sharp, upturned eyes gave him a fierce yet aloof appearance, and his firmly pressed lips only added to the impression.
...Wait.
This is the military. Why on earth is there a guy here with black hair and orange eyes? And a face like a cat’s, at that?
This description... feels oddly familiar.
“Ah.”
In that moment, it hit me like a bolt of lightning.
Of course. I’ve been hearing oddly familiar words for days now.
This is... without a doubt...
The world of a romance fantasy novel with a military backdrop: Four Madmen Obsessed with Me.
So, Four Madmen Obsessed with Me—shortened to FourMad—was your average romance fantasy novel.
The female lead, living in the Adolf Empire, belonged to a different race known as the Other Race.
The Other Race was defined by their striking appearance and incredible physical abilities, traits that set them apart from ordinary citizens of the empire.
But most importantly, the Other Race had been forcibly integrated into the empire using magic contracts after their lands were annexed. These contracts bound them to serve in the empire’s defense forces—a fate from which there was no escape.
The female lead, working as a maid, was no exception. When the magic contract activated, she was conscripted into the Border Defense Corps.
The Border Defense Corps was tasked with guarding the northern borders of the empire, where monsters frequently appeared. Thanks to their superior physical abilities, members of the Other Race were drafted into the corps to fight these creatures.
And, of course, it was there that the female lead met the four male leads. As expected in a romance fantasy, all four of them became obsessed with her.
‘The male leads’ personalities are nothing new, honestly.’
The author had crafted the male leads in the most stereotypical way possible:
Male Lead #1: The silent, brooding type with a fierce demeanor. A classic fire attribute bad boy—cold to everyone else, but sweet to his woman.
Male Lead #2: The ice-cold perfectionist. Distant and cool, with minimal speech, making him seem rigid. Ice attribute.
Male Lead #3: Gentle and warm on the surface but a secret mastermind in the shadows. Another lunatic, but in a trendy way. Dark schemer.
Male Lead #4: The cute younger puppy type. Adorable, but turns into a psycho if you touch the female lead. Loyal yet possessive.
In short, a classic F4 lineup with an added “obsessive lunatic” twist.
Even the way they developed feelings for the female lead was a cliché.
“You... you look just like her.”
The female lead bore an uncanny resemblance to someone the male leads had once lost—a fellow soldier in the Border Defense Corps who died during a battle.
That someone was their first love. And now, seeing her, the male leads became hopelessly obsessed.
‘My life is officially ruined.’
Had I reincarnated as the female lead of this romance fantasy?
No.
“You... you look just like her.”
I had reincarnated as her.
Their dead first love.
“Haa...”
Sitting in the back of a rattling cart, I couldn’t help but sigh.
I was currently on my way to the unit where I’d serve, along with my “fellow recruits.”
There were seven of them, excluding me, and every single one of them looked clueless and wide-eyed.
Some sighed endlessly like me. One boy even started crying.
“Go ahead and cry your hearts out now.”
A man riding in the cart with us sneered at us like we were pathetic. Judging by his uniform and the way he was observing us, he was probably one of our seniors.
“Because once you get to the unit, you won’t have the time to cry.”
While he spoke, I was mentally mapping out my future.
I’d reincarnated into a romance fantasy novel, so naturally, I had to follow the rules of romance fantasy.
Step one: Avoid dying as the “tragic first love.” To do that, I’d have to escape the unit.
Step two: When the male leads inevitably find me, I’d say, “What’s this sudden obsession? Wait, is the plot changing?” and turn the tables.
‘Although, I’d prefer to avoid the obsession entirely.’
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Obsessive male leads might be popular for a reason, but they weren’t my type.
At that moment, the cart jolted violently before coming to a stop.
“Get off, newbies!”
We climbed off, looking completely out of our depth.
The senior waiting for us outside took one look at us and scowled.
“Pathetic. You brats have no discipline.”
Wait... something feels really off.
“This batch of recruits is useless. What a waste!”
It wasn’t just my imagination. This is seriously weird.
“Ugh. I have to babysit these idiots? Move it already!”
No, no. This isn’t how dialogue goes in romance fantasy novels. This is supposed to be a military romance fantasy.
“What, should I shove your faces in the mud on your first day?”
...I take back everything I said earlier.
Obsessive male leads? Sure, whatever. Bring them on.
Avoiding the original plot? Who cares about that anymore? Just give me the obsessive male leads.
Because this... this is just the military.
What the hell? Someone give me my romance fantasy back.