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 39: Toward Acquiring the Intended Skill

Episode 39: Toward Acquiring the Intended Skill

――The silence of the night enveloped the entire Principality of Lustea.

Staying at the inn arranged by the academy’s side. Though, since it’s the same inn as yesterday, it’s somewhat better.

Still, being like this makes the inn near the guild in the royal capital feel strangely nostalgic. Perhaps I’ve grown attached to that inn, too. Since it has become a part of my daily life.

According to the landlady there, she’ll keep my room available until I return. 

If that’s the case, then focusing on this current request is, in a way, a form of repaying her.

As if the daytime commotion was a lie, outside the window was dyed in a deep ultramarine. And from time to time, only the sound of crows echoed through the darkness.

A tension different from the excitement of battle pulsed deep in my chest. Starting tomorrow, the reinvestigation. Beyond that, the unknown and danger await.

――That is why, now, I need it. To carve a certain resolve into this body.

Here, I can concentrate for sure. And tonight… I have time.

That’s exactly why it had to be “now”――or so I felt.

“…Let’s do this.”

I quietly stood up and took out the Crystal of Murky Will. It was converted for me by Flone.

It’s an item with a clear demerit effect—while equipped, all incoming damage is constantly multiplied by five.

In the game, it was popular among a portion of testing players as a “nonsensical mystery item.”

And the conclusion those testers reached was…

“While equipped, reduce your own HP to 20% or lower.”

That is the hidden condition for acquiring the skill “Indomitable”. Not by taking damage from enemies, but by reducing it yourself. That’s the key.

“Willpower that rises even on the brink of pain and despair… so that’s ‘Indomitable,’ huh.”

I murmured in my heart, to no one. My emotions weren’t heightened. I simply and quietly looked within myself.

I took up my sword and slowly rolled up the hem of my shirt. Then, I equipped the Crystal of Murky Will.

Immediately, a faint vibration ran through me. And my body’s sensations changed. It felt like my skin was tingling. Most likely, this is the effect of “taking five times the usual damage.”

I exhaled deeply.

I lightly pointed the tip of my sword toward my arm. Not a thrust—just a “wound” to reduce HP. It was just like a ritual.

The blade touched my skin――and in the next moment, a pain that seemed to echo from the pit of my stomach pierced through my body.

《HP: 94%》

“……”

Still, I didn’t cry out in pain. If I think of it as the price to obtain the “Indomitable” skill, this much is just necessary expense.

Even with “Physical Resistance: Lv.6,” the damage still goes through. That’s how powerful the x5 damage effect is.

But I can’t afford to stop. Once more, I pressed the blade. Not just my arm—this time, my side. Next, my thigh. Each strike weighed heavily deep within my body.

《HP: 61%》

――Even so, I come to understand my own limits as “pain.”

Was the sensation of “pain” binding me this much?

Conversely, I also thought—if I can surpass it, something might “change.”

《Skill Pain Tolerance Acquired》

《Skill: Pain Tolerance Lv.1》

It wasn’t “Indomitable”. But it seems I’ve acquired the “Pain Tolerance” skill. The condition for acquiring “Pain Tolerance”—reducing one’s own HP—was quite similar to “Indomitable”.

In game terms, it reduces stagger duration when taking damage. If raised to Lv.8, the stagger time becomes nearly zero.

When that happens, you can force attacks even while being hit—basically a super armor effect.

Still, I haven’t obtained my target skill yet. In that case, I have no choice but to continue. Fortunately, thanks to “Pain Tolerance”, things feel a bit more manageable now.

《HP: 19%》

And at the end of a seemingly endless stretch of time――

I sat down. I was breathing heavily from my abdomen. And in my vision, it felt like a single line of light ran through.

《Skill Indomitable Acquired》

《Skill: Indomitable Lv.1》

――It came.

The hand holding the blade trembled slightly. But that wasn’t emotion. It was just a physical reaction.

Rather, my mind was astonishingly calm.

Not only does this skill raise survival under critical conditions, but it also suppresses emotional “wavering” during battle.

For a fighter, it’s not some insurance. It’s the final step to rise again in the direst of circumstances.

……Truly, it’s the very proof of a will to “live for battle.”

It didn’t feel like I gained something.

More like something that was already inside me simply took shape. A power that resists pain and fear.

This core named “Indomitable”, engraved into my body—this is what now supports me.

“…Hah.”

A quiet smile escaped me.

But it wasn’t from joy or a sense of accomplishment. Just a calm acceptance of having reached this point.

I immediately drank a potion and restored my HP.

At the same time, my wounds rapidly healed. It returned to normal.

(…I see, so this is what “Indomitable” feels like.)

Strangely, my heart was quiet. Not that my emotions were gone—but I felt like I could control them better.

Even though the pain still lingered, something like a definite “core” had been born inside me.

Just that one skill—

And yet, it was also a milestone at the far end of pursuing the path of “battle.”

I acquired it without anyone knowing.

Even so, that’s fine.

Now, I finally feel like I’ve gained the “resolve to fight.”

I looked outside the window.

In the ultramarine night sky, the moon shone more brightly than anything else.

“…I’m looking forward to it.”

That applied to the days ahead as well.

Raising the skill level of “Constant Activity”.

Moving forward beyond the battles.

Once my wounds had healed, I quietly stood up.

I neatly folded the cloth I had laid out beforehand and placed it into my bag.

The stains were kept to a minimum. With this, I shouldn’t be accused of dirtying the room.

Without bothering anyone, without anyone noticing—

Just engraving my resolve into my heart.

That was the purpose of this ritual.

I gave the outside one last glance and gently closed my eyes.

Even within sleep, the aftertaste of battle lingered deep in my body.

That, without a doubt, was the proof that I was still “alive.”

Original Author’s Comment:

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Thank you very much for reading to the end!!

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