Reincarnated into a Game As the Hero’s Friend

This is heavier than I initially anticipated, ha! Initially, I thought it'd be a lighter read, but the intricate political maneuverings and explanations are quite substantial. The author delves deep into details, which is understandable given the high stakes of politics – even minor actions can have significant consequences. The story focuses on the behind-the-scenes aspects, exploring how recruiting key figures like a princess or a priest from a prominent church affects their respective domains when they join the hero's party.

The main character serves as the hero's trusted confidant, assisting with politics and ensuring the hero can concentrate on their mission without worries. If you enjoy this kind of depth and strategic intrigue, I highly recommend giving it a shot. The MC's dedication to strengthening those around them while staying low-key is entertaining, although they often find themselves in unexpected situations due to others' expectations.

One aspect I adore is the MC's self-perception as an ordinary noble. They genuinely care for the kingdom, its people, and contribute significantly without seeking recognition. Their friendship with the hero becomes a friendly rivalry, with the hero striving to live up to the MC's seemingly effortless competence.

The hero has unwavering trust in the MC, to the point where the MC jokes about reckless statements like "jumping off a cliff for strength," expecting a prompt follow-up. The reviewer's comment that the MC embodies "suffering from success" rings true!

As for romance, it's present but arrives much later, so the primary focus remains on the MC's challenges. A mild spoiler alert: the love interest turns out to be the hero's younger sister. So, if you're intrigued by the MC's journey and the dynamics between characters, this might be the book for you.

I appreciate the underlying idea of the narrative, although it isn't groundbreaking. However, the execution feels more like a précis rather than a fully immersive experience.

I strongly suggest this book. The political and world-building aspects are exceptionally well-developed. Although the initial 50-70 chapters might contain a substantial information dump, which isn't directly crucial to the plot, it serves as an informative introduction, providing a clear picture. Once you overlook that part, the story becomes highly entertaining.

As an aspiring author, there are aspects of this novel that I find unforgivable. The storytelling feels akin to wandering through a terrible museum with a dull and misinformed guide. The world-building stands out as a glaring example of what should never happen in a narrative. Constantly dumping information about the world's mechanics and comparing it to ours becomes monotonous and detracts from creating an engaging plot. Moreover, important elements like well-developed characters suffer; it takes an astonishing 15 chapters to introduce a secondary character aside from the protagonist and the hero, which is unsatisfactory when their personalities and motivations remain underdeveloped.

The main character lacks depth, while the hero, though intriguing, doesn't have much impact, resulting in平淡 dialogue. The author's inaccuracies, such as discussing the inadequacy of spears in warfare or misconceptions about medieval Europeans, further contribute to a sense of stupidity within the world. Characters revolve around the MC, but there's a dearth of vivid descriptions – even a simple "this girl is beautiful" is all we get.

This connects to my initial comparison: the story feels like a museum exhibit narrated by the MC, rather than an immersive experience. I don't engage with the events; I merely observe. To make up for the lack of character development, I'd want to know more about the MC, but he remains a blank slate, making him uninteresting.

Additionally, the author's logic is inconsistent. In one chapter, the MC claims to avoid meeting the hero, yet ends up in the same elite class where the hero is. This inconsistency is baffling. The MC's sudden friendship with the hero also defies explanation given his earlier intentions to distance himself. Lastly, the MC's statement about the hero's gratitude contradicts his previous avoidance attempts.

Lastly, the MC's background is presented as if it's irrelevant, which it clearly isn't if we're supposed to care about his journey. While the story might still be enjoyable for some, it's crucial to ignore the trivia-like details that detract from the core narrative.

The novel appears to be shifting its emphasis from a one-dimensional overpowered protagonist to a strategic approach. Although it's still early in the translation, the recent battle showcased thoughtful and logical tactics. Additionally, the translation quality has been impressive, making for an enjoyable reading experience.

The idea behind the story is intriguing, but the narrative style leaves much to be desired. The author tends to overload with irrelevant details, such as extensive descriptions of flowers and their pollinators, which get sidetracked into tangents. Each chapter suffers from this same issue, lacking focus.

Characters lack depth and come across as one-dimensional, with everyone seemingly reduced to praising the main character without any distinct personalities, not even the typical traits found in harem novels. The story feels excessively dry, with an abundance of buildup for battles and political intrigue, yet these events fail to deliver the promised excitement when they actually occur.

Furthermore, the author inserts real-world historical references into the narrative, often inaccurately or with questionable information. For instance, comparing weapons like spears to samurai katana adds confusion rather than enhancing the story.

In summary, this novel is incredibly boring and not worth recommending. Despite my attempts to read it twice, I consistently find myself unable to continue past chapter 30.

This marks my first four-star novel (one star deducted for excessive irrelevant information). The main character deviates from the usual Japanese archetype, and the plot is fairly engaging. The translator has done an commendable job. I would suggest it to those who aren't put off by occasional information dumps. Note that the translator has implemented anchor links to allow readers to easily skip over non-essential details.

The author frequently laments how "the game" omits significant details due to irrelevant information, but then bombards the reader with excessive details nonstop. From my perspective, I find it unappealing to continue reading; the constant interruptions disrupt the flow of the narrative for me.