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 4: Klaus Muller

“…Yoan-sama wants a ‘match,’ you say?”

“Yes.”

When Klaus received that message from the maid Serta, he couldn’t believe his ears.

Yoan, after all, was the “Shut-in Prince,” a man who hadn’t left his room for fifteen years.

He could barely walk on his own, and because the presence of others increased his suffering, even caring for him was difficult.

To the outside world, this was treated as an illness, but Klaus and his few trusted associates knew the real reason.

—The “Revelation of the Hero.”

This referred to the divine protection held by beings in this world known as “Heroes.” Those born with it were said to distinguish themselves as if guided by fate, bringing revolution to the world.

“Great heroes” are fond of women—and just as fond of blood.

The fact that Yoan was granted the “Revelation of the Hero” should have been a cause for great joy, promising him a brilliant future.

However, Yoan—refused to follow the “Revelation of the Hero.” As the price for that refusal, agonizing pain wracked his body, rendering him unable to leave his room.

To say one would not follow the “Revelation” was nothing other than discarding glory of one’s own volition.

For Klaus, who had spent much of his life on the battlefield, this was unforgivable.

“…Did he truly say that? Is there no mistake?”

“No, Yoan-sama also said this: —’Everything is resolved’.”

“Tsk…!”

Klaus trembled. If everything was resolved, that meant…

“…I see. Yoan-sama has finally accepted the ‘Revelation of the Hero,’ hasn’t he?”

—It meant Yoan had begun to walk the path of conquest.

That said, he was still half-skeptical. He doubted whether Yoan, who had been a shut-in for fifteen years, had truly made up his mind until he saw it with his own eyes.

“Understood. I shall head there immediately.”

Klaus instantly stood up and advanced toward the courtyard.

◇◇◇◇

It had been several years since he last met Yoan. Until now, Klaus only had the impression of him being sickly, but his appearance had clearly changed.

(He is filled… with spirit!)

Seeing his figure accepting the light pouring down from the heavens with his whole body, one could even sense a divine presence.

“…The fact that Yoan-sama has left his room like this means you have finally—made up your mind, haven’t you?”

“—Yeah, I’ve decided, Klaus.”

Looking into Yoan’s eyes, Klaus understood. The time that had stopped had finally begun to move.

“Tsk! Oh, is that so! That is a wonderful decision. With this, the Tiarma family has also managed to hang on by a thread. Crescella-sama will finally be able to lay down her burden.”

Yoan’s Third Prince faction had fallen into a critical situation.

Because Yoan was branded as the “Shut-in Prince,” they couldn’t gather support from nobles through “socializing,” and they had fallen into severe financial difficulties.

They couldn’t generate the funds for activities in this Imperial Palace, and the faction’s scale shrank year by year.

What added insult to injury were the factions of the First Prince and Second Prince. They formed noble factions ahead of him and relentlessly cornered Yoan’s faction, which was the most vulnerable.

Subjected to baseless rumors and threats, Yoan’s faction decreased one by one, and in the end, it disintegrated completely.

Currently, excluding Yoan and Crescella, the only ones remaining were Klaus, the wet nurse Ange, and her daughter Serta—just three people.

A faction of merely five people. For a faction holding rights to the throne, it was far too precarious.

This Third Prince faction, which looked like it would blow away with a single breath, was in a situation where if it withered any further, they might eventually be kicked out of the Imperial Palace.

If that happened, the authority of the [Witch’s Tower], Crescella’s motherland, would plummet, and Crescella, the Empress Dowager, would be chased from her current position.

The situation was already like a candle in the wind.

However, at this last moment, Yoan accepted the “Revelation of the Hero.” In other words, what would happen was—

“Ho ho ho. As you wish. Then Yoan-sama, command me anything. This Klaus will go and—’process’ everything.”

—Slaughter.

Klaus licked his lips inwardly.

Just as he had longed for the day Yoan would conquer his wicked thoughts, Klaus had also longed for the day Yoan would awaken.

Beyond the feast of blood, he would present the [Blue Scar Throne] to Yoan. That was Klaus’s true desire.

—All Yoan had to do was command it.

If Yoan waved his baton, Klaus intended to process all obstacles. No matter how much power the First Prince and Second Prince possessed, if Yoan brandished the “Revelation of the Hero,” everything would go well. He held that conviction.

However…

“Wrong! I said I wanted to have a match with you! The kind where we clash swords!”

Klaus was dealt a magnificent anticlimax.

(…Th-This is strange.)

The “Hero” should have been a being who sought blood since ancient times. The god called the “Seven Aspects”—one yet seven faces—was handed down on this Werstan Continent.

One of those faces was the “Hero.”

Yoan, who possessed the “Revelation of the Hero,” should be the embodiment of that “god-like wrath.”

Wasn’t his response far too lukewarm?

—No, that was wrong.

(Don’t tell me, Yoan-sama intends to process them with his own hands…!)

Did he intend to charge into the social scene where demons and monsters writhed, all alone, and crush them all from the front? What recklessness…

However, that thought was easily overturned by crossing swords.

“…Yoan-sama, pardon me, but are you truly Lv. 1?”

(It is definitely not the power of Lv. 1…)

Klaus’s level was 65.

Those who overcame the wall of Lv. 60 were called “Boundary Breakers,” and Klaus himself had one foot in the highest tier of this world.

Compared to Lv. 1, the difference in power was like that of a baby and an adult. Despite that, the fact was they were exchanging blows almost “equally.”

(What on earth is happening…?)

And the unknown sword technique was also eye-opening. The strikes unleashed from a unique stance that hid the sword line were all things one could not let their guard down against.

He was swinging the sword lively, like a fish in water. Every time he swung the sword, the sword line was polished. However, because of that, Klaus thought.

—It was regrettable.

Why did he continue to shut himself away for fifteen years while having this much power?

With this power, it should have been easy to even take the Emperor’s seat.

From such thoughts, he thrust the current state of the Third Prince faction at Yoan. Indirectly saying “It’s your fault” was not something one said to a human on their first day of recovery.

However, Klaus still sought an answer. And he wanted him to prove it.

—That these fifteen years were “not a waste.”

“…I want to know Yoan-sama’s ‘resolve.’ Whether you are a being worthy of me looking up to as ‘Master’ from now on. I want you to show me your full power!”

Therefore, he incited his master with such words.

“…Understood.”

Yoan said that one word and vanished in an instant. Light like blue lightning connected a line. And before Klaus knew it, Yoan was closing in right before his eyes.

“Vertical Slaaaash!”

What was unleashed was a mighty sword strike that caught him off guard. That blow of Yoan’s had reached the realm of [Sword Arts].

[Vertical Slash]

A [Sword Art] that even Klaus, who had lived long, had never heard of.

[Sword Arts] were, so to speak, something like skills.

Depending on one’s “breathing,” “range,” and “technique,” specific effects were activated.

Since these techniques were not polished by so-called “leveling up,” one had to study under a master or imitate them, spending many years to master them, but…

Yoan mastered it in this instant. Klaus was astonished.

—He was built differently.

Against [Sword Arts], one had no choice but to respond with [Sword Arts].

[Parry]

…As a result, both swords shattered. Gazing at the fragments, Klaus realized his own defeat.

(Good grief… I am foolish, aren’t I?)

Klaus was ashamed of his presumptuous behavior.

Thinking about it carefully, continuing to resist the “Revelation of the Hero” for fifteen years was not a human act.

He was resisting the power of a god that surpassed human intellect—so to speak, “Fate.” However, Klaus had denied that way of being. He despised it as weakness.

But… that was a big mistake.

If one looked at Yoan’s standing figure and his eyes filled with spirit, one understood. This person was undoubtedly someone who would become Emperor.

(Right now, my power is far too insufficient…)

It might even end up hindering his path of conquest. Klaus decided to quietly withdraw.

◇◇◇◇

“Haa… Haa…”

As expected of Klaus. I knew it. Klaus had hardly moved from that spot since earlier.

Compared to me, who had many unnecessary movements like flailing about, I was completely shut out by his minimal movements, like his footwork and defensive methods.

(My complete defeat, huh…)

I learned many things from Klaus in this short time. Not just combat techniques, but also mental aspects. I had the responsibility to support the Third Prince faction. I was made to feel that keenly.

(…Yeah, that really is true.)

Because I dragged everyone around with my ego. My past deeds wouldn’t be wiped clean, but at the very least, it was my duty to make them happy.

Even if it didn’t go as far as redeeming my honor, I wanted to repay the kindness of everyone who adored me.

Repayment… Yes, let’s do my best with the intention of repaying the favor.

(I have to make an effort from now on.)

As a start to that, I should probably offer words of appreciation to Klaus, who had supported me all this time.

Klaus looked like he would be happier if I acted haughtily. Although I felt reluctant. In times like this, what would Yoan say?

—Let’s try putting him down a little.

[If it is Yoan, he would grandly disparage the old man in front of him.]

I did not resist it.

“—You’re weak. I’m disappointed in you, Klaus.”

“Tsk…!”

O-Oyo?

“You bastard, do you intend to call yourself my ‘Head Retainer’ with that sorry state…? Know shame…! Who do you think I am! I am Yoan Joachim Rodenze, the man who will become the Emperor of this country! I have no need for a weakling who can only fight equally with me…!”

“…I am… terribly sorry.”

Oi oi, wasn’t that saying too much? Why can you act so haughtily even though you lost?

“Hmph, enough. If I talk to a gutless fellow, the stinginess will rub off on me.”

“…”

Yes, that was crossing the line. It was overkill. I thought the psychopathic Klaus would be happy, but it was a huge failure. Or so I thought, but…

“…The next time we cross swords, at the very least, hone yourself enough to surpass me. That is your ‘duty,’ you bastard.”

“Tsk…!”

The guy who pulls a tsundere move at the end. …Come to think of it, for all that he badmouthed them, he was quite partial to his own people, wasn’t he?

“…Piki piki.”

Klaus was trembling, shaking like jelly. This was a failure; I wondered if he was angry after all.

“K-Klaus, listen…”

“…As you command, Yoan-sama.”

“Eh?”

Klaus said in a low voice.

“…This Klaus shall definitely acquire enough ability to be worthy of serving by Yoan-sama’s side.”

I was wrong. Come to think of it, Yoan did have charisma at least… It was frustrating, but that was something the current me didn’t have. I was jealous.

“A-Ah… I’m counting on you.”

“Ha!”

Well, whatever. Klaus was an indispensable talent for my faction. If he got motivated, it was a huge success. Just as I was thinking that.

“Yoan-samaaa~!”

From the direction of the Imperial Palace, a red-haired maid came running, bata bata. Combined with that flailing motion, her chest area was shaking dynamically.

“Hm, Ange, is it?”

“I heard from Serta, but to think you are really outside! Is that so, you have finally made up your mind. Ahh, you have become so splendid… U-Uuh… Ange is happy. Ange is…”

It was my wet nurse, Ange.

One of the people who had patiently taken care of me since long ago. She was a fluffy, laid-back older sister type that made you want to tease her, but unexpectedly, she was good at magic.

“Ange, you’re as flustered as ever. How old are you now? You’re over thirty, right? Why don’t you settle down a bit more?”

“A-Age has nothing to do with it! Uuh… Even though Ange is worrying about Yoan-sama this much…”

“Ahaha. I think age has everything to do with it.”

It was thanks to this Ange that I had been able to live until now like this. I wanted to properly repay Ange from now on too.

“Hah… This is no time to be having such a conversation. Yoan-sama, Crescella-sama is calling for you. Please show your face immediately!”

It seemed the news that I had left my room had reached my mother as well.

“Understood, I’m going now.”

I headed for my mother’s room.