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

It was the morning two days before the Hero Academy Entrance Ceremony.

I woke up to a certain presence.

I thought it was because of a scent like flowers that wafted softly.

For some reason, the face of the red-haired maid, Serta, was right in front of my eyes.

Just a few centimeters away.

And, for some reason, Serta looked awkward.

“…Onii-sama, it is morning. Please wake up.”

“I would have liked to hear that line before I woke up, though…?”

“…”

Serta fell silent.

Being woken up by a younger sister was a man’s romance.

However, this sister was probably the only one who would wake me up as an afterthought, as if trying to smooth things over after I was already awake.

“Serta, were you doing something?”

“No, nothing.”

“Really?”

“…If I must say, I was watching over you, Onii-sama.”

“Watching over me?”

Serta moved away from me and twirled around once—kurun.

A nice, fluffy girlish scent wafted.

“Yes, because of yesterday’s incident, I understood that Onii-sama is a person who doesn’t know what he might do. Therefore, I, Serta, have decided to constantly watch over you.”

Saying that, Serta floated a faint smile.

[If it is Yoan, he would push her down right here.]

The Wicked Thought arrived right on cue.

Good grief, it was energetic right from the morning.

“Piki piki…”

“…Oh my? Onii-sama, this blue bruise is…”

Perhaps curious about my face, Serta traced around my eyes.

That was right, I had a strange “Blue Scar.”

“Ah, it appears when I feel stress.”

“What is ‘stress’?”

“Mental load, I guess.”

“My, that is terrible. Do you hate me, Onii-sama?”

Oyoyo, she pretended to cry, but it reeked of acting somewhere.

If you said that was typical of Serta, it certainly was.

“That’s impossible. Because Serta is my precious sister.”

“Fufu. I know.”

Serta giggled like a little devil.

This sense of distance where we could exchange jokes was comfortable.

I had known Serta since I was a baby.

After all, we shared milk from our wet nurse, Ange.

Well, Serta probably didn’t remember, though.

Before my body became able to move like this, she had taken care of me all the time.

Literally everything, from feeding me to taking care of my lower needs.

In other words, all my embarrassing parts had been seen by this sister.

So there was no point in being reserved now.

I thought I probably wouldn’t be able to stand up to Serta for the rest of my life.

Come to think of it, I didn’t know what triggered it, but there was a period where we didn’t meet for a while.

About two and a half years? I was really lonely at that time.

Serta was a young lady from a good family too, so I figured she was receiving some kind of education.

And so we reunited just recently, but Serta had come back as a super beautiful girl.

It felt like a childhood friend who went to the city and came back refined.

Her height stretched out to be about as tall as Ange, and the parts I originally thought “she has quite a bit” had increased significantly.

I guessed it was from then that we became close enough to banter with each other.

Probably, there had been a change of heart within Serta during this period.

Although we were a man and woman close in age, the fact that we could be together without being strangely self-conscious was probably the result of our mutual self-help efforts meshing well.

Though part of it was also that I was a bit impotent due to resisting the Wicked Thoughts.

“Onii-sama, I will change your clothes.”

“Ah, about that. I think I’ll get ready by myself from now on. My body has gotten better, and it’s bad to keep borrowing Serta’s hands.”

I made a soft declaration of independence there.

Since I had recovered, there was no reason to continue borrowing Serta’s hands.

However, Serta smiled with a slightly scary face.

“No no, please do not hold back. This kind of thing is a habit, so it is not something you break yourself. Besides, this also serves as a daily health check for Onii-sama, so it is necessary.”

Serta’s theoretical armoring was perfect.

She was perfectly committed to the inevitability that I must continue to expose everything from now on as well.

“No, but, a man and woman who are turning sixteen this year…”

If we lived together, wouldn’t we end up mixing public and private life…?

I tried to say something like that, but.

“That is too late now. Besides, since you and I are siblings, there is no way any mistake would happen. Or does Onii-sama have some inconvenience or dissatisfaction with the current situation?”

She cut me off perfectly…

I didn’t think she would use the word “siblings” as a shield.

This sister was capable.

“If you put it that way, certainly I have no inconvenience or dissatisfaction, but…”

“Then there is no problem. As always, I, Serta, will be in charge of changing your clothes.”

I felt like I was somehow talked into it, but I didn’t feel bad about it.

“…Understood. If you say so, I’ll leave it to you, Serta.”

“Yes!”

…It was a vice, wasn’t it.

Having a sister of the same age change my clothes every morning.

◇◇◇◇

After finishing changing clothes, Serta busily began cleaning.

“…Status.”

Having nothing to do, I performed my usual daily routine.

For me, it was just a frame of ordinary life.

As usual, the brilliantly shining characters of Lv. 1 should have been there…

————

[Overcomer Display: OFF]

Yoan Joachim Rodenze Lv. 9

————

“…What?”

(Eh? What is this…)

Something like a weird “Tag” was displayed…

…It was fine that my level went up to 9. Because I had defeated the [Reaper] yesterday. With Serta.

What was this [Overcomer Display: OFF]?

I had lived for fifteen years and hadn’t seen this even once.

Moreover, if it was OFF, did that mean I could turn it ON too?

It seemed to be something like a button, so I tried pressing it.

(ON)

————

[Overcomer Display: ON]

Yoan Joachim Rodenze [Overcomer] Lv. 9 (Max 51) Limit Break: 1 time

▼ Vitality 928

▼ Mental Strength ♾️

▼ Strength 812

▼ Dexterity 580

▼ Intelligence 921

▼ Faith 589

▼ Agility 701

Equipment: Curly’s Treasure Sword (Wind)

Magic Power: — Magic Change: —

Attributes: Darkness / Overcoming

Sword Arts: [Vertical Slash], [Sword Wave]

————

“Uoh…”

I hurriedly closed the status.

(…That just now)

There was too much information so I didn’t understand for a moment, but those were probably ERT status items.

There were also items that didn’t exist in the ERT era, like “Limit Break,” “Magic,” and “Sword Arts,” though.

Wasn’t it supposed to be impossible to see “Status Actual Values” in this world…?

(Moreover, the numbers just now were considerably high…?)

By the way, the original Yoan was Lv. 50.

I knew the actual values, but the current me was higher by about 100 on average than at that time.

In other words, stats roughly equivalent to Lv. 60.

By no mistake were these the stats of a Lv. 9. Or rather…

(…At this point, I’m cutting into the top ranks quite a bit, aren’t I?)

It was like I could even fight monsters of Klaus’s level that appeared in the middle stage onwards.

There were mountains of other things I wanted to retort to, but…

“Hey, Serta. What level is Serta right now?”

“Umm, let me check. Status…”

In the status I glimpsed…

————

Serta Renea Trauden Lv. 35

————

What was displayed was, as expected, only “Name” and “Level.”

Much less was there any switching of my “Overcomer Display ON/OFF.”

“I am Lv. 35. It seems I went up by 1 in yesterday’s battle.”

“Oh, is that so. Congratulations.”

“Yes, thank you very much.”

Serta smiled, her voice bouncing a little.

(This is… I guess I need to check just in case.)

“…Serta, can you look at my level too?”

I decided to take the plunge and show it to Serta.

The status with [Overcomer Display: ON].

————

[Overcomer Display: ON]

Yoan Joachim Rodenze [Overcomer] Lv. 9 (Max 51) Limit Break: 1 time

▼ Vitality 928

▼ Mental Strength ♾️

▼ Strength 812

▼ Dexterity 580

▼ Intelligence 921

▼ Faith 589

▼ Agility 701

Equipment: Curly’s Treasure Sword (Wind)

Magic Power: — Magic Change: —

Attributes: Darkness / Overcoming

Sword Arts: [Vertical Slash], [Sword Wave]

————

“…”

Serta looked at my status silently.

“My! Onii-sama has become Lv. 9. Congratulations.”

“Eh…”

“However, you must not do reckless things like yesterday. At Lv. 1, it wouldn’t have been strange if you had died right there.”

Even looking at my status, Serta didn’t seem particularly puzzled.

“Serta, looking at my status, don’t you feel anything strange?”

“Eh? No… not particularly.”

(She can’t see… the status items?)

Was it some kind of special visual effect?

It seemed the inhabitants of this world could not see my “Overcomer Display” status.

“…I see. Then it’s fine.”

“…?”

Could it be related to the “God’s Voice” I heard when I conquered the “Wicked Thoughts”?

In other words, what that implied was—

(—It means only I can see the status’ actual values… huh.)

And checking the actual values, there were things that finally made sense.

Thinking normally, it was absurd for a Lv. 1 me to whittle down the [Reaper’s] HP in one hit.

But if I assumed that even at Lv. 1, I already possessed actual values around Lv. 50, which was Yoan’s level cap, then it added up.

(This needs various investigations…)

Just then, there was the sound of footsteps—bata bata.

“Yoan-sama~~~!”

I knew these footsteps immediately. It seemed Ange had come.

Compared to her daughter Serta’s calmness, it was a huge difference.

“Why such a rush, Ange?”

“Ah, Yoan-sama~! Good morning! About the matter you consulted Crescella-sama about the other day, the talks have been concluded~!”

Ange reported happily like that.

Speaking of the matter I consulted about, it was that “Socializing Virgin” problem.

“Oh, you did well.”

“Yes! For details, Crescella-sama has something to say, so when you are ready, please come to Crescella-sama’s office!”

It was Mother. Surely she had invited a professional counselor and put together some kind of “Interpersonal Skills Improvement Program.” Or maybe a “Manners Practice Course.”

As expected of Mother. To grant my request so quickly.

Although I tended to forget lately, I was one of the Princes in the first place.

Being able to receive such generous support was the good thing about being Royalty.

That being the case, I went straight to Mother’s room walking with a swagger, but…

◇◇◇◇

“Yoan, starting today for two days, you will attend the ‘Engagement Anniversary Party’ of a certain high-ranking noble and give a ‘Congratulatory Speech’.”

“…”

They say a lion drops its cub into a thousand-fathom valley.

I was just witnessing that very scene right then.

Although, the one dropped to the bottom of the valley was me…

“I think you understand, but it is necessary to impress the nobles with Yoan’s recovery. You must firmly appeal your existence, okay? And also…”

“…Mother, this is a joke, right?”

“A joke? Yoan, because you said you were anxious about the ‘Entrance Ceremony,’ I had the Perdraon family force this in, you know? Besides, first you need to get used to ‘Socializing’ itself. The real performance is approaching in two days, so if you worry about failures, you will never be able to achieve greatness.”

What could I say?

Mother’s educational policy seemed to be not “Gifted Education” but the “Spartan Education” of yesteryear.

“Virgin? Then just graduate,” a blunt brute-force method.

(That’s brutal.)

Thinking carefully, a “High-Ranking Noble” was a “VIP” of the country.

For me, on my second day of recovery, to go out in front of such people and liven up the place with a speech?

It was too reckless.

I didn’t have an artistic punchline like a certain adulterous talent’s wedding speech.

The punchline would be me slipping all over the place and turning into a ball of fire.

(This is too much, Mother…)

Therefore, I wanted to say to Mother.

First, “One year in the farm (minor league).” That was the tacit understanding, right?

If you threw me into the first string suddenly, of course I’d shrink back.

If you want to raise a player with real potential, it’s better for them to steadily build up solid results than to be forced to face harsh reality right away.

I thought about appealing directly to the manager like that, but…

“…However, this engagement seems to have a bit of a hidden side.”

Mother spilled those words with a suspicious face.

“…What exactly do you mean by that?”

“The person getting engaged this time has a bit of a history. —It is the daughter of that Margrave Grayash.”

(Ah, I see.)

Speaking of the Margrave Grayash family, they were a noble family with vast territory in the north.

They bordered Mother’s motherland, the [Witch’s Tower], and the Perdraon family’s [Valley of Kings], and had interactions too.

Thanks to mine resources and dungeon resources, their funds were abundant.

However, perhaps because they had their hands in so many ventures, their reputation was extremely poor, and they were deeply resented by the other nobles.

“—The Margrave Grayash family, is it? That is quite…”

“Yes. That family has shown a neutral position regarding the imperial succession until now. However, at this time when the ‘Crown Prince Selection Battle’ begins, they suddenly clarified their flag color.”

I see, did that mean a big mountain had finally moved?

“By the way, who is the partner…?”

“…Military Minister Serbul Nolla Grotes. —The closest aide of the First Prince’s faction.”

(…Ah, that guy.)

He was someone whose name I remembered hearing somewhere.

To think he was in the First Prince’s faction…

By the way, the Military Minister, together with the Magic Minister, was at the top of the Azellan Imperial Army.

I didn’t know the details of what work they did, though.

“I see. But does the First Prince’s faction have enough power to suppress the Margrave Grayash family? Honestly, I think there are only risks.”

The Margrave Grayash family held the danger of turning them into puppets if brought inside because their power was too strong.

Besides, that family was an outcast in this noble society.

There was even a danger of causing the faction they had gathered with much trouble to collapse from within.

“That there is a hidden side, is exactly that point. There is no way the First Prince’s faction isn’t thinking anything. …However, I suppose they couldn’t afford to leave them alone. That is the same for us. There is no mistake that they will become a barrier when succeeding to the throne eventually.”

“In other words, they are trying to bring them in knowing the risks?”

As a premise, the Imperial Family of the Azellan Empire, the “Rodenze Family,” and the “Nobles” were not on that good of terms.

Well, there were various reasons for this, but I paid it no mind for now.

Anyway, in order to rule smoothly, we had to get the “Nobles” on our side from then on.

“Yes. …Yoan, now is the time to lie low. The other two factions may look superior, but if you show your presence here, the tide should definitely change someday. Brace yourself…!”

“…Yes, I understand.”

I wondered just how much was expected of me.

“Oh my? Knowing you, I thought you would grumble more, but you are nodding unexpectedly easily, aren’t you, Yoan?”

“Yes, I thought I would try a little harder for Mother’s sake too.”

“My! You must have received some kind of revelation! Very well, Yoan. Thrust into me as much as you like. As encouragement, come on, come on!”

“…Piki piki.”

…Anyway, leaving Mother aside.

The reason I accepted this talk was merely for the purpose of risk aversion, and because I thought there would be a return.

Probably at that rate, the First Prince’s faction would mess up.

I knew that because it was the path the original Yoan had also followed.

If left alone like that, “That Incident” which could be called the prologue to the country’s upheaval would occur.

The incident that became the stepping stone inviting the later “Noble Rebellion.”