The Banished Villainous Noble Son Who Was Used as a Stepping Stone in the Original Work Awakens to Combat and Destroys the Laws of the World - Episode 11: Just Keep Raising Skill Levels

Episode 11: Just Keep Raising Skill Levels

The morning air was cold. And the breeze that brushed my skin felt pleasant.

After finishing breakfast, I headed not toward the guild but in the opposite direction—

It was to a small pharmacy tucked away in a narrow alley of the town.

*Ding-a-ling*, a clear bell rang as I opened the door.

Inside, it was dimly lit. On the recessed shelves, various medicine bottles lined up.

Through the glass, I could see basic items like beginner potions and abnormal status recovery potions.

Next to them were potions labeled “Intermediate.”

Intermediate potions appeared in the game as well.

Compared to beginner ones, they had about twice the effect. And as a bonus, they provided auto HP recovery for 30 seconds after drinking.

This effect could be used to level up skills.

However, the price shot up accordingly.

The crucial cost: 2 silver coins and 50 copper coins.

(If I use it at the wrong time, it’s just a waste of money…)

If used properly, intermediate potions could become far more efficient leveling items than beginner ones.

(But that’s not my current goal—I’ll think about those later.)

With that in mind, I looked for other items I’d likely need soon.

—Fatigue Recovery Potion.

A useful item that quickly reduces the fatigue gauge.

However, if overused, it causes the status abnormality “Addiction.”

Drink it seven times within a short period, and you’re out.

Once that happens, all potion effects are severely weakened. And even abnormal status recovery potions won’t work.

You just have to wait it out over time.

(Still… up to six times should be fine.)

Its price: 30 copper coins.

Feels cheap compared to beginner potions.

After confirming they had the fatigue potion, I picked up a beginner potion and an abnormal status recovery potion.

Just like the guild-issued ones—plain, practical bottles without much decoration.

At that moment—my eyes caught on something at the back of a locked glass case.

A bottle emitting a faint glow, unlike the others.

The liquid inside shimmered with silver and blue. It was slowly swaying… I recognized that bottle.

“—That’s a Level Potion.”

Noticing my gaze, the scruffy-bearded shopkeeper suddenly spoke from behind the counter.

“Drink it while focusing on the skill you want to raise. If it works, that skill’s level goes up by one.”

“…Focus on it while drinking?”

“Yeah, like imagining yourself using the skill.”

“…I see.”

I listened to the explanation and continued staring at the bottle called a Level Potion.

This item also existed in the game.

But it was a super-ultra-rare item—only three were obtainable throughout the entire story.

One that made you seriously consider when to use it.

Commonly, it was used on party members with powerful skills like “Space-Time Magic.”

In the game too, leveling up the “Space-Time Magic” skill had a ridiculous condition—on par with a bad game design.

You had to use it exactly when your total playtime reached a repeating number like 1111 hours 11 minutes 11 seconds.

(But… that total playtime was the real problem.)

In the game Celestia Love Romance, playtime was displayed as “xxxx hours xx minutes xx seconds.”

So unless you used it at exactly “1111:11:11,” the skill wouldn’t level up.

Next chance: “2222:22:22.”

There were rumors the developers implemented this absurd time display just for this skill…

And honestly, I couldn’t see any other reason.

Instead of going through all that nonsense, you’d be better off just using a Level Potion—

That’s how it was.

In the game, you just picked the skill and used the item.

But here… you had to focus your mind while drinking.

The price of the Level Potion: 10 gold coins.

Equivalent to 1,000 silver coins.

At that price, you’d expect it to come with some serious risks… and—

“Don’t even think about stealing it. That whole shelf is sealed with a barrier. If you touch it—”

As if reading my thoughts, the shopkeeper gave a wicked grin.

“You’ll be cursed to be stuck in a toilet for three days straight.”

I frowned. The shopkeeper just shrugged and grinned even wider.

“The psychological damage is enormous. One kid even came crying and apologizing… poor thing.”

His voice carried a hint of sympathy. But his face looked thoroughly amused.

I let out a small snort and averted my gaze from the Level Potion. I then placed the potions I’d been holding on the counter.

“I’ll take these.”

I said flatly.

—The Level Potion.

Looking purely at the effect, it was undoubtedly a bargain.

Just focus your mind and drink, and you could level up the skill of your choice.

But there was no fight in that.

To become strong… there has to be a battle.

“…Hmph.”

The shopkeeper snorted as he rang up my purchase and handed me the potions.

I took them and left the store.

◆

After buying the potions, I returned to the guild and once again accepted the “Miasma Rats” quest.

The receptionist gave me a strange look as usual… but I didn’t care.

As I walked away from the counter, I overheard other adventurers talking.

“…Hey, have you heard about a weirdly large rat showing up in Miasma Rat groups lately?”

“Yeah, that’s a variant, right?”

(…A “variant,” huh.)

I had already learned in the guild training session that certain monsters could appear as special individual “variants” unlike the usual kind.

That brief exchange was more than enough for me. In fact, it was convenient.

For battle training, tougher opponents are better.

(All the more reason to keep at it—)

As I walked toward the drainage canal, I kept thinking.

This time was different from before.

Both “Poison Resistance” and “Physical Resistance” had grown to Lv.2.

“Poison Resistance” slows the rate of poison damage.

Originally, each step would reduce max HP by 1%.

Now, that rate had lessened.

“Physical Resistance” reduced pain from impact and blows. It lowered the chance of a fatal hit.

(I won’t waste the lessons from last time.)

I stepped into the drainage canal once more.

The stench of miasma wasn’t as bad as before.

My steps were light.

My body was already starting to adapt.

—The presence of rats.

Faint skittering.

I calmly watched for the moment they appeared as a group.

(Alright… Let’s begin—)

The swarm of Miasma Rats appeared.

They bared their fangs and charged at me.

—First, poison.

I stood still on purpose and let one of them bite me.

《Status: Poisoned》

《HP: 99%》

A slight dizziness.

But thanks to “Poison Resistance Lv.2,” the poison was spreading more slowly.

Whereas before my HP dropped by 1% per step, now it was about 0.8%.

I could feel the difference.

(With this level of poison, Lv.2 is enough to mitigate it. But—)

The poison mist in the Miasma Plain is on another level entirely.

There, the status is constantly overwritten with poison, not just inflicted once.

(Unless you’re Lv.6 or higher, even if you cure it with a potion, you’ll be poisoned again immediately.)

But against these Miasma Rats, Lv.2 was enough to hold out.

(Not bad. This is perfect for “training.”)

As I allowed myself to be poisoned, I occasionally let the rats bite me on purpose.

The pain was real. But I could tell “Physical Resistance” was dulling the shock.

I stayed calm and kept calculating damage in my head.

《Confirmed level-up of specific skills》

《Skill Poison Resistance Lv.2 → Lv.3》

《Skill Physical Resistance Lv.2 → Lv.3》

(…Good, everything’s going smoothly.)

I took a potion once. I then plunged back into the rat swarm, still poisoned.

Enduring it again and again—this repetitive, monotonous process was exactly what built true strength.

(Skill levels only grow through battle. That means this is the right way.)

But amid all that—something changed.

At the edge of the rat swarm, a slightly different rat appeared.

Larger than the others. Its fur was a darker grey.

Its eyes glowed red-black. And thick miasma oozed from its mouth.

(…A variant?)

Just like the rumor I overheard at the guild.

The way it stared at me, watching intently, was clearly different from the rest of the group.

There was a “will” behind those eyes.

(Now then… how should I deal with this?)

Quietly, the next battle was about to begin.

Original Author’s Comment:

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Thank you for reading all the way to the end!

This chapter was a bit on the quiet side, but the real battles will begin from here!

If you enjoyed it, a ★ or some support would mean a lot!

(Here’s the link if you want to support the Author: https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176303375188.)