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 45: Report and Mission Complete

Episode 45: Report and Mission Complete

“—Something like a string… I see. So a creature with such a unique structure was active underground.”

Lucrane pushed up his glasses with slender fingers and closed his notepad. His movements were composed. But a faint intensity flickered in his eyes.

“Yes. It spread string-like structures underground and was absorbing magic power.”

“Magic power, you say?”

“Indeed. I suspect that the weakened ground was due to that effect. The string-like ‘tentacles’ showed signs of eroding the bedrock while circulating magic power.”

“…Hmm.”

Lucrane quietly pondered this as he flipped through the paper in front of him.

“In other words, those ‘strings’ were also affecting the magic environment around the base, correct?”

“Most likely. The instability of magic near the base is almost certainly due to that creature’s influence.”

“I see… Did that creature display any unusual behavior?”

“It had multiple cores. Even after destroying them, it continued to function. And its reaction speed was high. Touching the strings would result in magic power being absorbed. So factoring that in, we can’t determine its true count yet.”

Lucrane narrowed his eyes. Behind him, someone who appeared to be his assistant continued taking notes in silence.

“…This is valuable information. We’ll coordinate with upper management and consider sealing off the area.”

“Understood.”

“Also… did the creature appear to be isolated?”

“Yes. At least, there were no other reactions detected nearby.”

(—That’s not a lie. It’s true nothing was detected.)

Lucrane gave a short nod and scribbled something on the document in front of him.

“Thank you. …For now, that will be all. Please submit a formal report for the finer details later.”

“Understood.”

I gave a polite nod, ending the inquiry and brief report.

(…I’ve thought many times about whether I should report that.)

The ice creature. Cloaked in cold air, it was cautious of us but showed no hostility.

(Its actions seemed almost willful. As if guiding us to eliminate the fragments. If it truly possessed intelligence, why didn’t it attack? If it really had a will—)

That might no longer fall under the category of simple “information gathering.” If I casually included it in a report, it would likely end up as a research subject. It would be confined and treated as a specimen.

(I still don’t know what it really is. And because I don’t know, it’s too soon to report.)

I don’t have enough to go on. Something about it prevents me from labeling it as just another monster.

(…I gained “Frost Resistance” after encountering it. Was that just coincidence? Was I led to it? I don’t know. But—)

I closed my eyes.

(Its actions seemed almost willful. As if guiding us to eliminate the fragments. If it truly had intelligence, why didn’t it attack? If it really had a will—)

Then it is no longer “just a monster.” If I report it carelessly, it will definitely be confined as a specimen in time.

(I still don’t know what it is. And because I don’t know, it’s too soon to call it an “enemy.”)

I lack the evidence to decide. For now, I will prioritize “observation.” It’s not that I’m refusing to report it—“I’m simply not at a stage where I *can* report it.”

That was my decision.

“…Also, this as well.”

I took a black shard from the pouch at my waist. It was wrapped in cloth.

“This was part of the underground creature. I suspect it might be the main cause of the magic instability.”

“…I see.”

Lucrane received it with gloved hands. He narrowed his eyes slightly.

“A structure that absorbs magic and erodes the ground. That matches the instability around the Magic Ore layer—I’ll submit this promptly to the academy for analysis.”

—

The day after completing the investigation. 

I returned to the Academy once more.

Inside the reception room, Lucrane and several assistants waited silently for my report. Papers were spread across the wooden table. And faint light filtered into the room. Which carried a subtle tension.

“…That concludes the findings from this investigation.”

Lucrane quietly nodded at my report. He pushed up his glasses again and wrote something in his notebook.

“‘String-like structures crawling underground’ and ‘interference with magic absorption and circulation’… It’s a major discovery to confirm that our hypothesis about magic instability had a real cause.”

There was a subtle heat in his voice.

“Now that signs of magic stabilization have been confirmed, this is a significant achievement.”

An assistant nodded and began swiftly drafting the report.

“We’ve already received orders from the upper ranks: ‘Once the report is complete, the mission will be considered fulfilled.’ Therefore, this marks the formal completion of your task.”

“…Understood.”

I quietly exhaled.

Amid the chaos of both combat and investigation, I still hadn’t fully sorted through everything in my mind. Especially the strange battle with the ice creature—a situation that could almost be called a “joint effort.” There were too many pieces missing to explain it now.

Eventually, several of the assistants finished their work and left the room. Finally, Lucrane turned to me.

“…I’ll also inform the upper ranks that there’s no detailed report on the ice-attribute creature. Given the lack of sufficient information, there’s no need for you to mention it.”

I raised my eyebrows slightly at that. But Lucrane’s gaze remained calm and focused solely on the facts.

“…Thank you. At this point, I don’t have much to say.”

“Yes. Rather than forcing an explanation, it’s better to wait for the right time.”

Lucrane offered a faint smile.

“There’s a possibility that further investigations will be conducted in the future. If that happens and we need your cooperation again… we’ll contact you then.”

“Yes. I’ll help as long as it’s within my capability.”

The exchange was brief. But it left a clear impression on both of us.

“Once again—thank you for your cooperation. The results of this investigation are extremely valuable.”

“…I’m glad to hear that.”

After a light bow, I quietly stood from my seat. Outside the window, the soft hue of sunset slowly spread over the base.

—

The investigation was done. The report was submitted. Yet inside, I felt strangely quiet.

When I stepped outside the academy, the sky had already grown dark. As the dim glow of magic lamps lit the path, I walked forward—then paused.

—The ice creature. That “gaze” back then. And the reason it didn’t interfere.

(…Was it not an enemy? Or did it simply not become one?)

There was no answer. But I didn’t include it in the report. After much deliberation, I chose not to.

The reason was simple: there’s no proof. If I included speculation, it might provoke a response. And—

(…Something still feels off about calling it an ‘enemy’.)

It was a calm decision. At least for now, I chose to believe that.

Just then, a gentle breeze blew through. On the rooftop of the base, the night wind carried the moonlight.

“…”

The sky above looked clearer than ever. As if it was watching something from afar—something yet to come.

I quietly exhaled. I then turned on my heel and began walking.

Tomorrow, I was set to return to the capital.

A small smile rose to my lips. Battles, abnormalities, records—all had reached a stopping point.

Even so, my battles would continue—quietly, steadily. But without a doubt, I would keep moving forward.

To fight—that is the proof of living.

(Note: There’s an Interlude after this chapter that you can buy with coins.)

Original Author’s Comment:

――――――――――――

Thank you for reading again today!!

Next time, there’ll be a bit of progress…!!

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