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

“Hmm, then let me ask you the opposite, Prince Roberto. How do you think the Crown Prince will be decided?”

“…Are you trying to play games with me? Isn’t the ‘Azellan Seven Star Court’ the one that presides over the ‘Crown Prince Selection Battle’?”

“The Azellan Seven Star Court decides, huh. That is… half correct, but also half wrong.”

Anima said that quietly.

“…What do you mean?”

“You know the history of how this ‘Underworld Wail Dungeon’ came to be used as a training institution for nobles, correct?”

“Yeah. …The stupid story where upper nobles left dungeon management to lower nobles, which ended with ‘Gekokujo’ (lower ruling the higher) when the surviving lower nobles rose up?”

Naturally, Roberto knew the history of Hero Academy.

“That is correct, Prince Roberto. You are aware of what eventually became of those lower nobles now, aren’t you?”

“—The ‘Seven Stars,’ right.”

The “Seven Stars”—the seven noble families that effectively ruled the Azellan Empire.

“Fufu, exactly. Do you understand now, Prince Roberto? As I have been saying, this world revolves around Level. We obey only the strong. And in this Alfhein—every deed of the strong is affirmed.”

In this world of level supremacy, level sometimes carried more authority than peerage.

Therefore, even upper nobles of Viscount rank or higher constantly faced the danger of being stabbed in the back by lower nobles.

And both Anima and the Azellan Seven Star Court affirmed that idea.

“Kukuku… Ahahaha! Are you sane, Magic Minister Anima? Do you even understand what you are saying?”

“Of course, Prince Roberto. —You have no choice but to win everything you desire through ‘Ability’.”

In short, this class sorting was likely a system designed to cultivate the strong while eliminating the weak.

They wanted the students to climb the class hierarchy. They wanted them to improve their own lives.

By applying survival bias to the extreme, they drove them into the dungeon.

(That’s pretty nasty…)

History proved the outcome.

No wonder so many nobles here had sharp, glinting eyes.

Although they were called nobles, they possessed a kind of barbarism unique to this world—or rather, I sensed a constant willingness to commit ‘Gekokujo’ whenever an opportunity appeared.

“I see. In other words—’Vale Tudo’ (Anything Goes), huh.”

Prince Roberto said that with a ferocious smile.

He seemed to have quite a belligerent personality.

“Kuhahaha, isn’t that fine? If it’s that simple, it only makes things more interesting.”

There was a certain recklessness peculiar to his age.

However, he didn’t seem foolish. As expected of the top candidate.

“Any other questions? …It seems not. Then we will proceed to the ‘Class Sorting Ceremony.’ When your name is called, step forward.”

Finally, the class sorting began.

“—Susan Bonny.”

“Y-Yes.”

A girl with frizzy hair and an unsophisticated air stepped forward nervously.

Since she had no middle name, she was a lower noble. In other words, a Baron or below.

“Hey, Serta. How do they check the level? Normally it’s considered bad practice to force someone to reveal their status, right?”

“Probably [Level Psychic Photography]. Anima-sama was expelled from the ‘Melfi Family,’ one of the ‘Three Great Mage Families’ of the ‘Witch’s Tower,’ so she should be capable of using the Melfi family’s unique magic [Level Psychic Photography].”

Come to think of it, Anima had repeatedly clashed with the family head and had eventually been expelled from the “Witch’s Tower.”

In ERT, she had stayed with Yoan because of her connection with the Tiarma family, but it seemed things were different in this world.

“Unique magic… Could it be something like your [Magic Opening], Serta?”

“Yes. It may be quicker if you see it yourself.”

Anima placed a sheet of paper on the frizzy-haired girl’s back and began kneading magic power.

Then she started chanting something.

At that moment—

(Oh?)

[Universal Glue] began analyzing something intensely.

——

Anima Ray Melfi @ Alfhein
- Undifferentiated Magic Detected
  -> [■■■■] Activating… Progress… 1%
  ——

I had been testing various aspects of [Universal Glue].

The limit of people I could attach it to was probably around ten.

If I exceeded that number, my head became cluttered and it started interfering with my daily life.

I had also attached [Universal Glue] to Serta and asked her to cast fire magic once, but it hadn’t reacted.

There was probably some condition that needed to be met before analysis could begin.

“Susan Bonny… Lv. 25.”

While I was thinking about that, the level appeared.

On the paper Anima held up, the number 25 was displayed.

(I see, that’s how they display the level.)

Sparse applause followed.

It was probably neither impressive nor disappointing.

The frizzy-haired girl showed a faint smile before returning to her seat.

“—Sedri Bottle Lonsdale.”

“Yes!”

It was the glasses-wearing young man from earlier.

Since he was an upper noble, I had expected his level to be high, but—

“Sedri Bottle Lonsdale………… Lv. 21.”

“Kuh… Did I misjudge the exam range?”

…You misjudged it by quite a lot.

He might be the type who focused solely on studying and became oblivious to everything else.

“—Lala Lirure Lorietta.”

“…Uyu.”

Next was a short girl with navy-blue twin tails.

“Lala Lirure Lorietta………… Lv. 10.”

(Oh…)

“…Uyu…………………… Uuh……… This might be bad.”

It was strange for me to say, but that was an unusually low level for an upper noble.

The reason was either that she misjudged the exam range like Glasses-kun, or there were circumstances that prevented her from raising her level.

On her way back to her seat, our eyes met.

“Hah…”

“?”

For some reason, the twin-tailed girl covered her nose and hurried back to her seat in a fluster.

“—Naphna Selene Perdraon.”

“Yes.”

Attention gathered instantly.

The blue-haired beauty stood smoothly and walked forward with elegant steps.

Then came the level measurement.

“Naphna Selene Perdraon………… Lv. 39!”

Cheers erupted.

For someone our age, that was quite a high level.

Naphna smiled and bowed.

“As expected of the ‘White Dragon Priestess.’ To have such a level at enrollment.”

“So that is the princess of the Perdraon family. How beautiful…”

“According to rumors, she exposed the organization ‘Demon Worship Cult’ that illegally manufactures Spirit Armaments yesterday. It seems she is not just beautiful.”

Various voices rose throughout the hall.

“—Fryure Miare Grayash.”

When that name was called, the hall suddenly buzzed.

The silver-haired girl stood up and, for some reason, turned toward me.

Then, after giving a small bow, she walked forward.

“…Hey, that’s the ‘Ice Lady.’ If I remember correctly, her engagement with Serbul-sama was broken off the other day, right?”

“Yeah. Apparently Hraesvelgr-sama is furious about it. I hear Serbul-sama is busy dealing with that right now.”

“According to rumors, she defeated the ‘Founder’ of the dark organization ‘Demon Worship Cult’ all by herself and rescued the captured Third Prince. With that composure, she’s definitely no ordinary person.”

She was the center of attention at the moment.

“Fryure Miare Grayash………… Lv. 38!”

Another round of cheers rose.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t heard what happened afterward, so I should ask later.

“Naphna, I won’t lose to you.”

“Yes, let us get along from now on, Fryure.”

Sparks seemed to fly between Naphna and Fryure.

After that, names were called at a brisk pace and levels were revealed.

“—Roberto Joachim Rodenze………… Lv. 37!”

“Hmph. Eventually, everyone will kneel before me.”

Well, that’s fine. You are the Crown Prince.

“—Missra Rild Rilwayne………… Lv. 38!”

“I wondered how impressive the ‘Six Flowers’ were, but it’s only this level, huh.”

Blonde Drill-san seemed like quite an extraordinary person.

Perhaps she was someone important.

“—Noel Lord Strat………… Lv. 39!”

“Fufu, well, something like that, I suppose.”

A gentle-looking, green-haired handsome man.

Strangely high-pitched cheers rose from the hall.

He seemed to be a famous person, though I didn’t recognize him.

“—Serta Renea Trauden.”

Serta’s name was called.

“Onii-sama…”

“You don’t have to worry about me. Even if we end up in different classes, we can still meet at the dorm, right?”

“…Yes.”

Serta looked slightly anxious.

Since this academy operated on meritocracy, things couldn’t be handled through influence alone.

So I had already told her beforehand that it couldn’t be helped if we ended up in different classes.

“Serta Renea Trauden………… Lv. 35!”

Loud cheers erupted.

“Oi, whose faction is that woman from? What… the Third Prince faction? Why would the Shut-in Prince keep someone of that level?”

“Trauden family… To think even a young lady from one of the Three Great Mage Families is enrolled. This is getting interesting.”

“Kuh, she wasn’t in my data…! To think such talent was completely unmarked! That’s a huge oversight!”

Once Serta’s name and level were announced, the hall became noisy.

A beautiful girl named Serta who appeared like a comet—there was no way she wouldn’t attract attention.

(Fufu, that’s perfect.)

With Serta and Naphna becoming the public faces instead of me, the Third Prince faction would surely grow livelier from now on.

Of course, as a result, resentment would pile up against me—things like “Why is she with that guy?” or “With a Shut-in Prince of all people.”

But that was exactly my goal.

(Because nobody wants to make a hated man the Crown Prince, right?)

However, the person who attracted the most attention that day was not Serta.

“—Larsen Ragnar………… Lv. 42!”

A huge stir spread through the hall.

Because the one who produced the highest level there was not a noble from the “Seven Stars,” nor a representative of the six kingdoms known as the “Six Flowers.”

It was merely Naphna’s attendant.

“Oi, who is that guy?”

“I-I don’t know. Lv. 42 as a first-year… Normally that’s impossible.”

“Breaking through the ‘Wall of Lv. 40’… That’s already top-class even in the Knight Order.”

If he hadn’t been forced to remain Lv. 1 in ERT, his level would naturally have risen.

(Well, even this is still unsatisfactory though…)

It was far from the level required to defeat a Demon.

That said, I had defeated Vahlen, and their “Master” wouldn’t die from this either.

Since I had no intention of becoming hostile, he should be able to grow freely from now on.

(The rest is just watching over him, right?)

Now then, it was time to think about my life going forward.

The academy operated on a muscle-brained system where students were divided into Classes A through D and forced to compete while stepping over others.

But unfortunately, I had no intention of getting involved in class politics.

Because I didn’t want to stand out too much and become a target for “People above.”

So from now on, my life would likely be “Dungeon during the day, socializing at night.”

During the day, I would focus on “Ability Verification” and “Releasing Level Seal.”

At night, I would gather information about the two Princes.

In other words, I planned to move freely.

Just as I was thinking that—

“—Yoan Joachim Rodenze.”

“Yes.”

My name was called, so I stepped forward.

When Anima placed the paper on my back and began chanting, she suddenly froze.

“…………You’re kidding, right?”

“It’s not a lie.”

I answered Anima, who looked shaken.

As expected, my level must have seemed impossible.

“Tsk… Yoan Joachim Rodenze………… —Lv. 1.”

The hall fell silent.

“…Anima-sensei, isn’t that some kind of mistake?”

The first person to speak up was Naphna.

She had seen my status when I was Level 9.

“I personally performed the [Level Psychic Photography]. Are you claiming that my result is false?”

“N… No, but… something like that…”

Because normally, a phenomenon where one’s level decreased was impossible.

I wondered how I should persuade her later.

“Naphna, I understand your reluctance to accept your fiancé’s ‘weakness.’ But this is reality.”

“…”

Naphna sat down, still unconvinced.

I also turned on my heel and quickly began to leave.

“—Why did you come to this place, Yoan Joachim Rodenze?”

I was called from behind.

“…What do you mean?”

“You shut yourself in for fifteen years, correct? Being Lv. 1 is only natural. …But this ‘Underworld Wail Dungeon’ is not a place where a Lv. 1 human can compete. Do you understand that?”

What kind of question was that?

Was she worried about me?

“Yes, I understand, Anima-sensei. I’m not good with danger or scary things, so I’ll prioritize safety and do my best.”

“Is that so… At the very least, try not to die a meaningless death.”

Those were the words from the punk-styled Onee-san teacher.

“Yes.”

The Class Sorting Ceremony seemed to have concluded safely.

Some people looked gloomy, while others raised their arms triumphantly.

All kinds of reactions could be seen.

(How many people were there in total…? I don’t think it reached a hundred.)

Just as I was thinking that—

“Ah, that’s right. Finally, one more person—there is an additional enrollee. Enter.”

At Anima’s signal, the door behind her opened.

A single girl stepped inside.

Long pink hair.

Slightly tight sister clothing.

The moment I saw her, my heart felt like it would leap out of my chest.

(Hah? Why…?)

“Her name is Arterisia. A —who has come from the Ordis Church.”

“I am honored to meet you all for the first time, nobles of the Azellan Empire and members of the ‘Six Flowers.’ I came from the Ordis Church—my name is Arterisia Urthemis.”

The girl who introduced herself as Arterisia bowed with such elegance that it captivated the onlookers.

A gentle smile rested on her lips.

Her eyes were hidden behind a blindfold.

“Arterisia Urthemis………… Lv. 30.”

Her level was displayed.

Much lower than the level I knew.

Incidentally, the culprit who poisoned me remained unknown.

However, I believed the suspects could be narrowed down to a few.

Among them, the one who emerged as the prime suspect was this pink-haired girl.

Because—

Arterisia was the Last Boss of ERT.

(…Why is the Last Boss in this academy?)