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 31: Ice Attribute

Episode 31: Ice Attribute

After the battle with the Twin Fang Wolf, a strangely cold breeze passed by for just a moment. I thought it was just my imagination. However, there were faint traces like frost left on the rocky surface. Cold air coming from the direction opposite the wind.

The deeper we went, the more I felt the air grow still. Yet, that stillness was not comforting. As if the earlier fight with the Twin Fang Wolves had never happened, the surroundings grew silent and cautious.

“This is strange. There was no report of anything abnormal to this extent…”

Sensing something, a slight tension appeared on Lucrane’s face.

“‘Cold air’ like this… it shouldn’t occur naturally—”

“Ice, you mean?”

“Yes, that’s very likely. But the ice attribute… it’s not something you see often.”

(Rare, huh? Yeah, I’ve heard that before. Even in the game, it was called an “enemy-exclusive attribute.”)

The ice attribute was, so to speak, extremely rare. No one among the player’s companions could use it—only enemies ever did. That’s why it came to be called an “enemy-only attribute.”

With something that rare, there’s no guarantee we can take it down the moment we meet it. In fact, it’s more likely we’re the ones being tested.

Which means—

(I need to stay sharper than ever.)

Just as that thought crossed my mind—

The howling wind turned icy. Moments later, a surge of presence erupted from deep within the rock wall.

A pale blue silhouette. A body that looked crystalline. A monster cloaked in ice appeared. In its mouth, it held something that dimly gleamed—

(A chunk of ice…!)

In the next instant, with a thunderous roar, the giant ice mass was launched. It flew in a straight line—combining weight and speed like a bullet.

Lucrane was right beside me. I hesitated for just a second.

Whether to dodge or react—my instincts screamed that even that slight delay could be fatal.

“──!”

I stepped forward and drew my sword. I slashed at the incoming ice. A single point of aim. The instant slash ripped through the air. The ice shattered the moment it was struck.

…However, the fragments were a problem.

Several of the pieces scattered in all directions and grazed my shoulder and side before I could completely dodge. A dull pain followed. My clothes tore slightly. Then came the chilling sensation of cold clinging to my skin.

《HP: 91%》

(…I see. Its attacks are a mix of physical and ice.)

The impact came with dull pain—but it wasn’t that bad. In fact, it felt light. I could clearly tell my “Physical Resistance” was working.

Then, in my mind, a notification appeared.

《Skill Frost Resistance Acquired》

《Skill: Frost Resistance Lv.1》

(…What?)

My thoughts halted for a moment.

I had definitely taken an ice-based attack. But that shouldn’t have been enough to meet the condition to acquire the skill.

(All at once…? No, was it a “multiple-hit check” from the fragments?)

Something felt off. Normally, the condition to gain resistance-type skills is “to repeatedly take a specific kind of damage.” I got “Poison Resistance” and “Physical Resistance” that way too.

But as for this “Frost Resistance”…

“Alphonse-san!”

Just as I was deep in thought, a voice called from behind. I turned to see Lucrane looking at me, flustered—ah, of course. He probably thought I got injured from that just now.

“I’m fine… for now, let’s retreat.”

We slowly backed away from the monster. It was still growling and staring at us intently.

◆

By the time we returned to the temporary tent at the base, the sky had begun to dim faintly.

That monster hadn’t chased us. But even now, I could still feel its presence glaring from deep within that mine. Like its eyes were pressing against the back of my skin.

“Your wounds… they look okay.”

Lucrane let out a small breath of relief.

“It only grazed the surface. Nothing to worry about.”

“But… it’s ice, right? Normally, even a scratch would cause more—”

He muttered suspiciously.

One of the known traits of the ice attribute is “partial defense penetration.” It bypasses outer armor or skin hardness to inflict damage from the inside—at least, that’s how it was explained in the game.

Not full defense penetration. But it still ignored some defenses—making it quite a threat.

(Even in the game, enemy ice attacks hurt a lot. If you didn’t counter them directly, your HP would vanish in a flash… I remember that well.)

His eyes moved to the tears in my clothing. Silence followed for several seconds.

(…Silence brings its own problems.)

“Fortunately, I have ‘Physical Resistance’. That’s probably what kept it to this level.”

I responded plainly, letting his gaze slide off me.

“‘Physical Resistance’… true, that attack did resemble a bullet.”

Seeing Lucrane nod slightly, I added one more bit of information.

“Also, that ice mass… was likely a combined physical and ice attribute. The first strike was reduced by my ‘Physical Resistance’. But the lingering cold remained afterward.”

“…I see.”

Lucrane’s eyes sharpened a little. He seemed to be analyzing each of my words carefully.

(I won’t let him dig any deeper.)

While mentally drawing the line, I kept my expression unreadable and ended the conversation calmly.

“Either way, it’s not a problem.”

“…Yes. But—”

Lucrane stopped mid-sentence. He then faintly lifted the corner of his mouth.

“As I thought, you’re quite an interesting individual.”

There was little emotion in his voice. And that made it feel all the more sincere.

(Whether it’s praise or surveillance, it doesn’t matter.)

Right now, all I need to do… is prepare for the next battle.

Original Author’s Comment:

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