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 5: The Skill Arrives

Episode 5: The Skill Arrives

The Miasma Rat extermination request—the destination was an abandoned sewer site on the outskirts of the city. A now-unused, old drainage channel.

The stone-arched passage was dim. And it was so quiet that even the sound of footsteps echoed. The damp smell of moss and a somewhat medicinal odor stung my nose.

From the ceiling, water droplets occasionally dripped down. It was echoing throughout the space—

It felt like time itself had stopped in this place.

(The level of detail is way too accurate… Well, I guess that makes sense.)

I knew this location. In the game, it was the place used for the tutorial. Only Miasma Rats would appear here.

The strategy was to hole up here, enduring attacks from the low-damage but high-frequency Miasma Rats, aiming to unlock skills.

The information from back then is now my weapon.

Back in the day, the game’s “battle system” was rarely used properly.

Data miners had uncovered unused skills and unimplemented status effects. The whole battle system had been pretty much completed. But in the actual story, it was only used “a few times” and never to its full potential.

I knew all that—which is exactly why I wanted to test it here.

I double-checked the contents of the bag of supplies from the guild. Inside were 3 basic potions and 1 status recovery potion—

I was grateful for these supplies. With them, I could hold out longer.

(…Come to think of it, they said something during guild orientation.)

‘When adventurers enter combat, part of their status becomes visible automatically.’

Apparently, things like HP, MP, skill names, and status effects become identifiable under your awareness.

Not that you actually “see” them with your eyes, but you just “know”—it’s that kind of feeling.

If I can keep track of my condition like in a game, that’s obviously a big help—

Anyway, time to see how it plays out in actual combat.

(So… will they come as a group of five?)

Just as I was thinking that, I heard a rustling sound from a crack in the stone further down the passage.

The next moment, shadows leapt out—rats.

But their backs were unnaturally swollen, and purple foam dripped from their mouths.

(Alright, here they come…!)

No doubt about it—those were Miasma Rats.

And just like in the game, they came in a group of five.

One jumped at me. Its front claws grazed my arm. Then its tail and fangs followed up with consecutive attacks.

Each hit was weak… but suddenly, as if an announcement rang in my head, I understood my current condition:

《Status: Poisoned》

《HP: 96%》

(I see…)

So this is what they meant during the lecture by “certain statuses become visible during combat.”

(Yeah, I guess I can’t see the exact HP numbers.)

In this world, HP and MP are only displayed as percentages like 《XX%》.

There’s no actual number display.

In the game, it was explained as a “UI simplification” feature.

I had hoped it might show exact numbers here. But no such luck—it was a bit disappointing.

Combat was just a side feature in the romance game. So they cut down the displays to the bare minimum…

And yet, the battle system was crafted with full RPG-level detail.

That contradiction is part of what makes it so fascinating.

(In the game, being “Poisoned” meant losing 1% HP per step… And it seems like in this world, moving really does trigger the poison. I don’t know the mechanism, but it feels like the poison is building up inside my body. So this is what “poison” feels like.)

Poison deals damage equal to 1% of your maximum HP per step.

So if I don’t move at all… exactly, my HP doesn’t drop.

Only the tingling sensation of poison lingers in my body.

(Man, this is inconvenient…)

Using my slightly reduced HP, I started thinking more deeply.

If status effect damage is based on max HP, then that total amount is incredibly important.

Also—I remembered that there are very few ways to increase your max HP.

Without certain skills, you can’t boost your max HP at all.

Even if you get a skill to increase it, the display still only shows percentages.

You’d have to figure it out from small changes—like if taking the same hit now lowers your HP less than before.

Feeling a heavy sensation at my feet and like my health was slowly being sapped away, I felt a kind of awe.

I even let out a small chuckle.

Even as my body was being corroded… for some reason, I couldn’t help but feel happy.

While I was fully experiencing the sensation of being “Poisoned,” the attacks kept coming.

The rats swarmed at me one after another, as if taking turns.

They clawed with their forelegs, struck with their tails, and bit with their fangs—in a set pattern. But it was with a clear sense of intent to kill.

Their eyes were cloudy. And every time their swollen bellies jiggled, purple foam splattered everywhere.

(I’ll just keep taking their attacks. While drinking potions…!)

And as I endured their attacks—eventually, it happened:

《Skill Acquired: Physical Resistance》

《Skill: Physical Resistance Lv.1》

(Got it…!)

Just as I aimed for—I acquired “Physical Resistance.”

Right at that moment, I felt the rats’ attacks grow weaker.

No—I had grown more resistant to physical damage.

That was without doubt the effect of “Physical Resistance.”

This is what growth feels like—this is my kind of battle.

The rats kept attacking, and I continued enduring.

――My HP dropped to 76%.

I pulled out my first basic potion and drank it without hesitation.

As it went down my throat, I felt a slow recovery:

《HP: 94%》

(First one down. Good.)

I took more hits.

My senses gradually dulled. And I started to feel as though my body was adapting.

《Skill Acquired: Poison Resistance》

《Skill: Poison Resistance Lv.1》

I successfully acquired “Poison Resistance” as well.

Just by staying still and enduring the Miasma Rats’ attacks, I managed to get two skills.

This wasn’t just enjoyable—this was pure joy.

(Alright, alright, this is going great!)

I pulled out the second potion and drank it.

《HP: 77% → 95%》

《Skill Level-Up Confirmed》

《Skill: Physical Resistance Lv.1 → Lv.2》

《Skill: Poison Resistance Lv.1 → Lv.2》

(Yes! A level-up!! I managed to hold out this long with just two potions—this is working… All that’s left is to take these guys out.)

There’s one potion left. But I should keep it as backup.

I want to keep fighting. But if I die, I’ll never experience this again—

That’s why I made the calm decision.

(Still… I never felt this way in real life. Back then, skill acquisition and level-ups were just numbers. But this is different. My body changes with the skill, I can feel the weight in my bones. The blade scrapes me, and still I stand. This… this is what it means to fight.)

――In this world, I am truly becoming stronger.

And that feels incredible.

“Well then—Time for my turn, yeah?”

Smiling, I drew my sword.

I could tell the rats flinched slightly.

My pulse calmed, my vision sharpened.

The colors of the world deepened—

I had become the hunter.

That alone made my breathing easier. And my smile grow deeper.

Right now, I was living for this moment.

――And I was fighting for this moment.

Original Author’s Comment:

――――――――――――

Thanks so much for reading all the way to the end!! ✨

If you thought “This is fun!”, I’d be super happy if you could click the ★ or support button!

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