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 29: Homeroom

Half of those present here would—disappear—within a single year.

At the words of homeroom teacher Yubel, D Class fell silent as if cold water had been poured over them.

“Of course, I don’t particularly enjoy saying something like this either. But it is a fact. This Hero Academy is an educational institution for all of you, but at the same time, it is also a mechanism meant to weed out those who are half-hearted as nobles. In other words—’Expulsion.’ And those who fail to graduate will be—removed from this country’s noble registry.”

Removal from the registry.

For a noble, that was a humiliation more unbearable than anything else.

“Wha?! We are nobles by birth! There’s no way something like that could be allowed!”

“That’s right! By what authority are you saying such selfish things!”

The carefree-looking young man and the otaku-like boy from earlier voiced their objections.

Humans feared losing their inherent fortune or social standing more than anything.

“Haaa… So we’re starting from there, huh… You all really don’t understand just how critical your current situation is.”

“What?”

“You must take the fact that you are in D Class seriously. Let’s see… First, regarding the purpose behind the founding of this academy—you should know that, correct… Lady Yunoshi.”

Yubel called out to a girl with long black hair seated on the hallway side.

She gave off a somewhat cold impression.

“One of the purposes behind the establishment of Hero Academy is—Ability Development.”

The girl called Lady Yunoshi began explaining the historical background.

During the era of the former Engaia Empire, the nobles had long been oppressed under the rule of the Owens family.

The nobles possessed no power to resist the Owens family and had no choice but to submit.

Later, they were freed from the tyrannical rule of the Owens family through the efforts of the Six Kingdoms and the Rodenze family.

The nobles welcomed this outcome greatly.

However, at the same time, they experienced humiliation.

Because even in reclaiming their own country, their attempts at self-cleansing had been completely powerless.

They had been forced to rely on external forces.

In other words, they had laid bare their own “Incompetence.”

As a result, the Rodenze family rose as the new ruling power, and the Azellan Empire was established.

Through the “Azellan Charter,” they created a powerful governing system that unified the Seven Kingdoms.

The upper nobles of that time adopted an attitude of flattering and currying favor with the Rodenze family.

Those who felt a deep sense of crisis about this situation were the lower nobles.

—The ruler had merely changed.

—The same future awaited them, where they would simply be used conveniently by the new ruler until they eventually broke.

Some lower nobles took action.

They denounced the corruption of the upper nobles and raised a rebellion to overthrow them.

As a result, the upper nobles of that era were expelled, and most noble houses were demoted or destroyed.

The victorious lower nobles eventually became the seven upper noble families known as the “Seven Stars.”

The organization they created was the “Azellan Seven Star Court.”

It was a noble institution formed specifically to oppose the authority of the Azellan Imperial Family.

Because of this historical background, the “Seven Stars” became pathologically obsessed with creating “Strong Nobles.”

They never wanted to allow another era where power ruled unchecked.

What was born from that obsession was this very Hero Academy.

“Thank you, Lady Yunoshi. Edda Mark—you asked earlier by what authority we do this. But that is a question you should originally be asking yourself. What it truly means to be a noble. Whether you are genuinely worthy of calling yourself one. If you can say the same thing directly in front of the ‘Seven Stars’ in A Class, then perhaps I might acknowledge it.”

“Kuh…”

This stubbled man, Yubel, really was a teacher.

The proof lay in how he explained things while admonishing them, rather than outright rejecting their words.

…More importantly, there were members of the “Seven Stars” in A Class?

I wondered who they might be.

“In other words, those who cannot graduate from this academy were never qualified to call themselves nobles in the first place.”

“Sensei, but if we graduate, that means we can remain nobles, right?”

“Yeah, you could say that.”

“Then, even if we don’t dive into dangerous dungeons, if we just stay safely on the surface waiting things out, won’t we graduate automatically?”

One of the Gyaru Noble Ladies beside me asked Yubel.

By the way, diagonally in front of me to the right was another Gyaru Noble Lady, and directly in front of me sat the Twin-tail Girl.

For someone with an introverted personality like me, this formation was extremely harsh.

“It’s not that simple. Because this academy has ‘Exams.’ Exams are held five times each year—midterms and finals in each semester. If you perform well in the exams, you will receive ‘Star Emblems.’ However, if you fail to meet the required standards—unfortunately, that means expulsion.”

“No way…”

The Gyaru Noble Lady lowered her head in shock.

Around the classroom, my classmates began dropping their shoulders and sighing as well.

The “Star Emblems,” if I remembered correctly, determined both the class rankings and the amount of “Alf Coins” distributed.

In other words, the only way to raise your class rank was to earn Star Emblems.

“—Hmph. In other words, all we need to do is become strong, right?”

The delinquent student who had made a bold declaration earlier raised his voice.

If I remembered correctly, his name was Ted.

“I don’t dislike the way this academy does things. As long as you become strong, everything will go your way. Besides, it doesn’t matter to me how many of you drop out. As long as I alone make it through in the end, that’s enough.”

Hmm.

I had expected there would naturally be students who thought like this.

After all, the ideology that Level is everything aligned perfectly with individualism.

Despite that, forcing them into the collective unit of a class and assigning rankings among them almost felt like an intentional attempt to provoke internal conflict.

“—Kuka.”

A quiet laugh escaped from somewhere.

“Aah?”

“…Kuku… No, my apologies. I couldn’t help but laugh at such an incredibly short-sighted and ignorant statement. Forgive me, petit mignon.”

The one who spoke was a well-built young man with long black hair and narrow eyes.

Another rather eccentric individual.

“…You bastard, did you just call me short-sighted? Creepy Long-Haired Bastard.”

“My name is—Barlek Rob Nimday. Being called something so vulgar is rather unexpected. However, yes, your thinking is completely nonsensical, Delinquent-kun. Nobles must remain rational beings to the very end. If you expose your ambition so blatantly—well, you simply look like an idiot.”

“What did you say?!”

The delinquent shouted at the long-haired youth.

True to his appearance, his temper seemed rather short.

The atmosphere grew explosive.

However—

Pashin.

The sound of clapping echoed sharply.

“Okay! That’s enough. Spare me the fights on the first day. If you’re going to fight, at least do it somewhere I can’t see… Ah—no, that would be bad too. Well, anyway, please try not to do anything that gives me stomach pains. I’m begging you.”

Yubel said this while rubbing his stomach.

“Ted Kane, what you’re saying isn’t wrong. But what Nimday said also has merit. Because the contents of the ‘Exams’ are not limited to strength alone. Intelligence, teamwork, or perhaps ‘something else’ might be required. Exams are harsh things. You will definitely encounter a ‘Wall,’ and you will be forced to make a ‘Choice.’ If you intend to graduate in three years, then prepare yourselves.”

Yubel spoke in a low voice.

“Tsk.”

The sound of someone swallowing—gokuri—echoed in the classroom.

But “Choice,” huh…

I wondered what exactly the academy intended to impose on us.

“Up until now, there has never been a case of D Class rising to A Class. That is precisely why I personally look forward to seeing how you will struggle against this adversity. Besides, this year we also have some slightly ‘Special Circumstances.’ After all, one of the Crown Prince candidates is enrolled in the same class. His presence will likely become one of the ‘Keys’ to overcoming this hell.”

Yubel said this while turning his gaze toward me.

Since the entire class’s attention followed his gaze, I quietly looked out the window.

(Don’t look at me.)

Honestly, I just wanted to spend my time quietly without attracting attention.

“Now then, without further delay—we will begin the first semester’s ‘Midterm Exam.'”

Yubel suddenly dropped a bombshell.

“Eh…? Aren’t exams still supposed to be later…?”

A fluffy, small-animal-like girl raised her voice.

“Unfortunately, this exam is a ‘Level Attainment Exam.’ You must reach a certain level standard by the deadline. That is why it was announced now.”

“L-Level Attainment Exam…? Just how high…?”

Charl-kun asked timidly.

“I will now explain the requirements for this exam. —Form a pair, and by the end of May, the combined levels of the two of you must reach Lv. 50.”

“F-Form a pair…?!”

“Does that mean Lv. 25 each?! That’s impossible… The time limit is too short.”

The classroom erupted into a storm of distressed voices.

Apparently, in this world, even reaching Lv. 25 was considered an extraordinary achievement.

From my perspective, it felt strange to hear them say that.

But more importantly—

(Hmm… isn’t this bad…?)

I felt like I had just heard a very unpleasant word.

It was something like an urban legend to me.

Something I had never experienced even once until now.

And yet, I had just heard that word.

A word that had likely produced countless victims in my previous world as well.

“So now, you will—form pairs.”

The greatest trial had arrived.