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 9: Reading the Line

Episode 9: Reading the Line

Charge—

The sound of trampling earth rumbled through the ground and reached my body as vibration.

The Ironhorn Boar charged straight at me. Its rush was direct, unhesitating, and filled with pure killing intent.

But that was exactly why I liked it.

(Nice… easy to read. This kind of thing suits me best.)

Its target—my abdomen.

The boar leveled both of its “Iron Horns” straight at me.

If I took a hit, it would be enough to incapacitate me in one blow. I was certain of that just from the pressure it gave off.

Of course, with “Physical Resistance: Lv.2,” the damage would be somewhat mitigated—but…

(—Slow.)

My body moved on its own.

It was as if the act of dodging didn’t even go through my brain—a reflex, pure and automatic.

I hadn’t even obtained the “Evasion Boost” skill yet, but I understood—

This might be something beyond skill. Something called experience.

A step to the right, pull back my shoulder.

At that moment, the boar’s horn sliced through the empty air.

My gaze followed its massive, twisting back.

I still didn’t draw my sword. It wasn’t time yet.

(First, “Evasion Boost.” That’s where I start.)

My goal wasn’t to win. Or rather, winning the fight was a given—

But more than that, it was about how much, how deeply, I could draw out the flavor of combat.

Another charge.

This time, it leapt from within the tall grass—a surprise attack.

I caught a moment of hesitation as I failed to see it clearly—

But my body was already moving.

“There—!”

A tiny shift in the wind, a rustle in the grass—

That was all I needed to spot its position. I twisted my body and dodged. I immediately took distance.

Next charge. This time, the angle was slightly different.

It wasn’t a calculated read—just instinctive adjustment.

Still, its path remained straight.

I dodged again.

This time to the left—evade, observe, analyze. Then again—evade.

How many times had I repeated this cycle now?

And just when I’d stopped keeping count—

《Skill Evasion Boost Acquired》

《Skill Evasion Boost Lv.1》

(It’s here—Feels good.)

Still, I couldn’t help but feel a bit unsatisfied.

All I’d done was dodge—

Wasn’t there a way to push closer to the edge? A moment to sharpen my senses even more?

That thought lingered.

But I couldn’t hold back a smile.

Something was definitely building inside me.

I could feel it—this world’s “battles” were shaping who I was.

I drew my sword and took a low stance—

Now it was my turn to go on the offensive.

The boar roared.

But I wasn’t afraid.

All I felt was a honed, focused concentration.

“Let’s go—!”

I kicked off the ground.

Stacking evasion and swordsmanship, I aimed for a single, minimal yet maximum strike.

As if it was syncing with my move, the boar charged again.

And the moment it did—

“Got you!”

I dodged while drawing my sword.

The blade cut diagonally across the boar’s side.

A roar.

The giant body lost balance and crumbled to the ground—

And then fell still.

“…Whew.”

I caught my breath and quietly sheathed my sword.

I’d gotten through it without taking a hit. That alone let me finally breathe easy.

Silence spread for a moment.

Afterglow—

I was starting to understand what it truly was.

The feeling left behind after a fight, after a victory.

A sense of achievement? Superiority? No—none of that.

(This is… “thirst.”)

Just when I thought something inside me was satisfied, another empty space opened up.

Every time I mastered one movement, I craved the next.

I want to know more. I want to move more precisely.

That kind of unending thirst.

(It’s like finding water in the desert… no, more like a vicious cycle where the more I drink, the thirstier I get.)

The more I fight, the more I want to fight again—

That’s something I can say definitely exists in me.

For me, combat isn’t about winning or losing.

It’s about gradually turning the unknown inside me into the known.

(Fighting… is what defines me.)

As that thought surfaced in my mind, a smile broke out on its own.

These monsters don’t need “needless explanations” or “emotional baggage.”

I can simply throw everything I am at them—pure and direct.

(If this were a human opponent… things would get messy. There’d be guild rules, reports… and most of all—)

My expression darkened slightly. But it soon twisted back into a smile.

(Most of all, the “post-fight explaining” is a pain.)

In that sense—

These guys are ideal. Monsters are enemies. But they’re not trouble.

I’d won again.

But no way I’d be satisfied with this.

This kind of fight—it’s just a taste.

(If only there were more variety… like coordinated opponents, maybe…)

Thinking that, I wiped my sword lightly with a cloth.

Time to review my training—and sell off the materials.

(Now then, time to harvest the parts…)

And then it happened.

“…?”

I felt something—

A “gaze” from somewhere.

Or rather… for just an instant, it felt like something was behind me.

I turned around immediately.

But in the tall grass, there was no one.

Was it just my imagination? Or maybe a passerby?

(…Well, if it’s harmless, I’ll leave it.)

Not worth worrying over.

Even if someone really was watching—

I didn’t feel any hostility.

(Human relationships are usually just extra stress.)

All I care about is combat.

So if there’s no threat, I’ll just ignore it—that’s enough.

Thinking that, I began harvesting the boar’s materials.

(“Iron Horns”… These go for 25 copper coins each, right?)

I held two “Iron Horns” in my hands.

At this point, that was essentially 50 copper coins already.

Depending on the other parts and how they’re appraised, I might get even more.

(…If things go well, I might be able to move again tomorrow.)

The inn, food, upgrading my gear, potions, leveling up skills—

Factoring all that in, today’s earnings might give me enough leeway to act again tomorrow.

That thought made me grin.

Whether it was because I’d earned more money—

Or because I got to fight that boar again—

Even I couldn’t tell anymore.

Original Author’s Comment:

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Thanks so much for reading this far!

I’m steadily building up my combat progress!

Getting stars and support clicks really encourages me. So please keep it up!

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