The Shut-In Prince’s Splendid Social Debut — Me, a Villainous Imperial, Have Spent the Last Fifteen Years Fighting the “Wicked Thoughts” Eating Away at My Mind. When I Finally Returned to High Society, There Were Way Too Many People I Didn’t Recognize — - Chapter 24.1: Intermission: Larsen Ragnar

Five years ago.

That boy, barely ten years old, was an apprentice attendant. When he was born, he lived in the Valley of Kings, yet he did not know his parents’ faces. He had asked his foster parents once, but they refused to tell him.

Incidentally, there had been no record of the Valley of Kings being invaded by humans for several hundred years. The reason was simple.

It was extremely difficult for humans to even reach the Valley of Kings.

First, the entire country was surrounded by steep mountains known as the Daylago Ring Mountains, and anyone attempting to cross them would die of frostbite long before reaching the other side. Second, dangerous creatures called dragons lived within those mountains, and defeating them was virtually impossible.

The humans living in this land coexisted with dragons.

Soon after he was born, the boy had been left with foster parents and raised strictly as a servant. Those foster parents belonged to a family of Dragon Knights. Because the boy himself did not possess the Role Archetype of a Dragon Knight, he was overwhelmingly the weakest person in that household.

The children of the house struck him whenever they had the chance and abused him, calling him a “good-for-nothing.” In that country, those who possessed the Dragon Knight Role Archetype were considered superior.

After enduring such a painful childhood, the boy eventually entered the Attendant School.

Attendants were the lowest status within the Perdraon family’s hierarchy. Their duties involved cleaning dragon stables, guarding the Dragon’s Shrine, managing and maintaining the Dragon Gate Dungeon, and performing countless miscellaneous tasks.

Every day was training. Every day meant leveling up inside the dungeon.

Among his peers, the boy was particularly skilled with the sword, and he learned Sword Arts quickly. With a certain goal in mind, he continued training tirelessly.

One day, a sorcerer appeared before him.

The figure wore a black hood that completely concealed their body, and the boy assumed they were a sorcerer because of the strange staff they carried. He immediately readied his wooden sword.

“Who are you…?!”

“I am a traveling sorcerer. I was merely looking for someone to talk to.”

“…”

Travelers could not reach the Valley of Kings. Unless one was a Dragon Knight, crossing the Daylago Ring Mountains was impossible. Naturally, the boy remained wary.

“Do you know the legend of the bloodstained ‘Throne of the Supreme Ruler’?”

“…No.”

“Then allow me to tell you.”

The sorcerer began speaking abruptly, using a voice so androgynous it was impossible to determine whether they were male or female.

—He who controls the Throne of the Supreme Ruler rules the Werstan Continent.

“This story dates back to the era of Ancient Romania. At that time there existed a single absolute Emperor. His rule was said to extend not only across the Werstan Continent but even to the lands beyond the southern sea. And the symbol of his authority was the Throne of the Supreme Ruler.”

The boy knew nothing of such ancient history. The Attendant School only taught the shallow history of the Perdraon family, mostly focusing on the Unification War in which the Six Kingdoms joined forces with the Rodenze family to defeat the Tyrant Emperor Hywin.

“Ancient Romania made the Throne of the Supreme Ruler the symbol of royal authority. Their prosperity continued for a long time, but eventually the nation fell into decadence and was destroyed by an external force from beyond the sea. From that moment onward, the continent’s rule collapsed and the Werstan Continent divided into Seven Kingdoms.”

That was finally a term the boy understood.

“But the authority of the Throne of the Supreme Ruler never disappeared. The rulers of that era all sought its glory and fought to obtain it. The land once known as the Great Bayhead—what is now the Azellan Empire—was constantly engulfed in war. That age came to be known as the era of the Seven Kingdoms Upheaval.”

The sorcerer spoke with a distant gaze.

“However, about a hundred years ago an Absolute King appeared. A man claiming to carry the blood of the Ancient Romanian Emperor declared himself the rightful successor of the Throne of the Supreme Ruler.”

That man’s name was—

—Elias Ragna Owens, the King of Terror.

“Naturally, the kings of the Seven Kingdoms refused to recognize him. Yet Elias silenced them through sheer power. Every kingdom except the Valley of Kings fell to him, and from that conquest the Engaia Empire was born.”

The boy recognized that name.

The Engaia Empire was the predecessor of the Azellan Empire, a nation destroyed by the Seven Kingdoms. However, the story differed from what he had been taught.

“…That’s strange. I was taught that the legitimate successor of the Throne of the Supreme Ruler is the Rodenze family.”

“Yes, yes. But unfortunately that is not the truth. The Rodenze family does not wish to admit they are a clan of usurpers, so they attempt to erase the entire era of Ancient Romania and claim that they themselves are the rightful heirs.”

That statement completely contradicted everything the boy had learned.

“…I cannot believe that. The Tyrant Emperor Hywin was an evil ruler who governed through fear. That is why the Rodenze family defeated him. And even if your story were true, the Owens clan was executed long ago, so there is no way to prove it.”

“That is only a biased interpretation. The fall of Ancient Romania and the destruction of the Owens family were not coincidences. This world itself is distorted by a Great Will.”

“…A Great Will?”

“Yes. And the legitimate bloodline has not vanished.”

“What do you mean?”

The sorcerer placed a finger to their lips.

“This is as much as I can say.”

The boy wondered why such a person had told him that story.

He was merely an apprentice attendant, an insignificant existence who could wield a sword slightly better than others. The only unusual aspect of his life was that a beautiful blue-haired princess occasionally visited.

“…What is your purpose? Why tell me something like this?”

The sorcerer smiled faintly.

—History repeats itself.

The next moment, a gust of wind scattered fallen leaves.

When the boy looked again, the sorcerer had vanished.

“You will eventually face your true mission. Until then, make good use of your time—Larsen Ragnar.”

◇◇◇◇

Late at night, before dawn, a black-haired boy with crimson eyes woke up.

Inside the cramped dormitory room, numerous apprentice attendants were snoring in their sleep. Being careful not to wake them, the boy quietly put on a thick coat to protect himself from the cold and slipped outside.

The boy’s name was Larsen Ragnar.

Once a week, the barely ten-year-old apprentice attendant left the dormitory like this during the night.

The stars still glittered in the sky.

The nights in the Valley of Kings were terribly cold.

The place he headed for was the top of an empty hill.

Waiting there was a beautiful blue-haired girl wearing Dragon Knight attire.

It was not a romantic meeting.

Because beside the girl stood a large black dragon.

“Good evening, Larsen. Let’s give it our all today as well.”

The girl smiled broadly, her breath forming white clouds in the cold air.

“I know, Naphna.”

Larsen nodded as usual.

After asking permission, he climbed onto the back of the large black dragon.

“Hold on tight!”

“A-Ah.”

He timidly wrapped his arms around the girl’s waist. That moment always made him nervous.

The girl was Naphna Selene Perdraon, the princess of the Perdraon family—the royal family of the Valley of Kings.

“Fury, please!”

—GUOOOO!

At Naphna’s command, the black dragon soared into the sky toward the Daylago Ring Mountains.

Their destination was the Dragon’s Nest.

They soon exceeded an altitude of ten thousand meters.

“Haa… haa…”

The cold air burned his throat, and the thin atmosphere made breathing difficult.

For Larsen, who lacked the Dragon Knight Role Archetype, it was a harsh environment.

“Larsen, are you alright?”

“…I’m fine.”

Even so, he forced himself to endure.

He refused to show weakness before his sister.

“There it is. A Green Wyvern. Get ready.”

“Yeah.”

Below them flew a green dragon.

Larsen was attempting the Dragon Riding Ritual.

Those with the Dragon Knight Role Archetype were said to leap onto wild dragons and tame them while still young.

Naphna carefully lowered their altitude and brought Fury alongside the Green Wyvern.

Green Wyverns were known for their relatively calm temperament and lack of poison, making them suitable targets for beginners.

“Now, Larsen!”

“Haa!”

At Naphna’s signal, Larsen jumped onto the wyvern.

—GYUUU?!

The sudden weight sent the creature into a frenzy.

Larsen desperately clung to the violently thrashing dragon.

“Larsen, hold on tight!”

His sister’s voice reached him.

Don’t say something impossible, he thought.

“Guh…!”

Below him stretched the hard surface of the mountains.

If he fell, he would die instantly.

Why had things turned out like this?

Larsen remembered the moment he first met that blue-haired girl.

“Actually… you are my brother.”

The truth had been revealed during the New Year’s celebration the previous year.

It was a grand event attended by the Perdraon family and their retainers. Larsen had been allowed to attend after achieving excellent results among the apprentice attendants.

That day the hall buzzed with excitement, as it would be the first public appearance of the Perdraon princess.

Larsen watched her entrance from the edge of the hall.

When he saw her for the first time, he held his breath.

She was a beautiful girl with hair the color of the deep sea.

There was no way someone like him could ever approach such a person.

After all, the Perdraon princess was a celestial figure counted among the Six Flowers and had already been chosen as the fiancée of the Third Prince of the Azellan Empire.

Yet that very day, Naphna had approached Larsen and revealed the truth.

He was actually the illegitimate child of her father, Virio.

In other words—

They were half-siblings.

She had been heartbroken seeing how coldly he was treated.

“I want to improve Larsen’s situation. So please let me help you.”

That was how their strange relationship began.

What Larsen never expected was that the princess was surprisingly tomboyish.

Because her solution had been—

the Dragon Riding Ritual.

“Congratulations, Larsen. Now you can finally call yourself a Dragon Knight.”

Naphna smiled warmly.

Larsen’s expression softened slightly.

“…Thank you, Naphna.”

After countless failures and rescues by Naphna, he had finally succeeded.

“I cannot lose either. Tomorrow I will definitely succeed in the Trial of the White Dragon.”

“Yeah. I’m rooting for you.”

“What is that reaction? You could cheer a little more enthusiastically.”

Naphna puffed her cheeks.

“I thought too much enthusiasm might jinx it.”

“I am the princess of the Perdraon family. I won’t make such a mistake.”

“…Right.”

Still, Larsen had one concern.

Naphna was too exceptional.

Everything had always gone exactly as she wished.

That was precisely why he feared the day she would face a great wall she could not overcome.

“Larsen. If I am chosen as the White Dragon Priestess…”

“If you are chosen?”

Naphna giggled.

“It’s a secret. I’ll tell you when the day comes.”

Her face, illuminated by the dawn, looked beautiful.

Soon the eastern sky began to brighten.

“Oh no! We have to return quickly! If Father learns I took Fury out without permission, I will be in serious trouble.”

“…I really think Naphna should be scolded properly at least once.”

The two mounted their dragons and returned home.

◇◇◇◇

The next day, Naphna was chosen as the White Dragon Priestess.

It meant she had awakened to the duty of confronting the threat of the North.

It was a major turning point in her life.

Larsen was also appointed as her attendant.

The unprecedented decision caused opposition—especially from Larsen’s foster parents—but Naphna’s father, Virio, silenced them with a single word.

After that, the two moved their base of operations to the Azellan Empire.

Through noble society, Naphna gradually abandoned her tomboyish behavior and learned to conduct herself like a noblewoman.

From that point onward, Naphna slowly began to change.

The trigger was likely her contact with the powerful nobles known as the Seven Stars.

They whispered things into her ears.

And Naphna had her own problems.

First, she already had a fiancé.

The Third Prince of the Azellan Empire—Yoan.

A shut-in prince who had never appeared in public.

If anything, his existence only dragged Naphna down.

Larsen also had his own feelings about that.

After spending five years beside Naphna as she grew increasingly beautiful, it was impossible for him not to develop emotions.

From that dependent attachment, he could not accept anyone who stood in the way of Naphna’s interests.

In short—

Larsen held negative feelings toward Yoan.

He did not know Naphna’s true thoughts.

But from his perspective, it seemed clear she intended to build a system that excluded Yoan entirely.

In other words—

to take over the Third Prince faction and remove Yoan.

Perhaps it was merely Larsen’s assumption.

Yet he felt certain he was not far from the truth.

And at first, Naphna’s efforts progressed smoothly.

However, just before the Hero Academy began, everything changed.

Yoan returned to society.

Larsen immediately became wary.

Because of Yoan’s so-called Revelation of the Hero, there was a strong possibility he might become a threat to Naphna.

Yet contrary to expectations, Yoan proved to be a rational man.

Their first meeting had been disastrous, but he was someone one could talk to.

Because of that, Naphna also had to respond rationally.

From the outside, their conversations appeared perfectly natural for a pair of fiancés.

But something stirred uneasily within Larsen.

He had never imagined the two of them speaking so intimately.

He had expected a decisive rift.

Instead—

that did not happen.

And that uncertainty troubled him deeply.

After that, Larsen’s judgment began to waver.

It became clear during the Demon Worship Cult incident.

“[Dark Smoke]”

“…Tsk!”

(Damn, my vision…!)

A cloud of darkness stole his sight.

It was Larsen’s mistake.

“I’ll take that life!”

The assassin’s blade of Viscount Zalnand lunged toward Naphna.

(Naphna!)

But the attack never reached her.

Because Yoan’s sword blocked it.

“What—! For a shut-in prince to—Gyobe!”

Viscount Zalnand was knocked unconscious instantly.

Naphna stared at Yoan in shock.

It was the first time Larsen had seen her make such an expression.

“Was that unnecessary interference?”

“…No. Thank you for saving me.”

Larsen watched silently as Yoan extended his hand to Naphna.

He was relieved she was safe.

But at the same time—

he felt something sharp pierce his heart.

To Larsen, it looked like—

the moment a young man and woman met.