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 51: The Possibility of the Constant Activity Skill

Episode 51: The Possibility of the Constant Activity Skill

――Evening. I was walking alone on the way back.

There was a light sweat on my body. But not enough to call it fatigue. On the contrary, with “Constant Activity: Lv.2”, I felt my body moved far more lightly than before.

(Lv.2 is good. But at this level, it’s still not enough.)

The memories of today’s battle ran through my head. The rematch with Maw of Miasma. The growth of my skills. And still, there was a lingering “not enough.”

I want to fight, to dive deeper. Enough to feel my own “limits.”

While thinking that, I sensed movement from the grass. Letting out a small breath, I readied myself.

Seconds later—a small monster, a Smog Rat, leapt at me. At that moment, I shifted my center of gravity to the side. I dodged. From that stance, I stepped in and slashed with my sword.

The Smog Rat was blown away before it could even groan.

(…So weak.)

Thanks to the skill, my breathing wasn’t disturbed in the slightest. My movements were sharp and efficient. I had already “read” the enemy’s attack before the fight even began.

I quickly took some material and started walking again. Soon, I left the miasma behind. And the red sky became clear. The clouds were dyed crimson.

After a while, the outline of the royal capital came into view. Towers shone under the setting sun. It cast long shadows on the ground.

I quickened my pace toward that silhouette. Along with the hunger starting to grow, a quiet sense of anticipation for what lay ahead was in my chest.

◆

By the time I returned to the inn, night was nearly falling. The hustle of the town had calmed,. And the moment I opened the door, warm air and the smell of spiced cooking flowed out.

As always, the landlady was there in the dining area. But today, at a table farther away, some adventurers were making noise.

“Oh, this soup’s cold…! There’s ice in it!”

“Seriously? Well, it was hot today…”

“Huh, did they rent a cold room? Ice is expensive, you know.”

“Eh, sometimes it’s nice to have something like this!”

I glanced over—sure enough, the adventurers were enjoying cold soup. Transparent ice chips floated inside. They were gently swaying.

“Welcome back. You came at just the right time.”

“The right time?”

The landlady brought out a chilled wooden bowl and poured soup into it. Tiny ice fragments floated on the surface.

“It’s a little unusual. How about some cold soup for a change?”

“…Thank you.”

I took the soup, sat at a table, and lifted a spoon.

The moment it entered my mouth, a refreshing sensation ran across my tongue. Not the sharpness of spices, but a coolness that quietly seeped into my body.

If my thoughts had been hazy from heat, this would have snapped them clear.

(Not bad.)

The taste of the dish, the feeling of ice—just another piece of everyday life.

――After finishing my meal quietly, I thanked the landlady and stood up.

(…?)

Walking down the hallway toward my room, I felt a faint chill trailing behind me. It was as if cold air brushed my back.

My steps faltered. But I shook my head and kept walking.

(Just my imagination.)

Back in my room, I opened the window a little. I was letting in the night breeze.

Sitting on a chair, I looked outside. Night had begun to spread. And in the distance, insects were chirping. Though the day was hot, the night air was pleasantly cool.

I let out a deep breath.

(Now that “Constant Activity” is Lv.2, it’s clearly different than before.)

I had sensed it during today’s battle. But sitting here calmly, the feeling was even clearer.

At Lv.1, it felt like fatigue was being “controlled.” At Lv.2, it went further—as if fatigue didn’t seep into my movements at all.

To put it simply, it’s like “becoming less prone to fatigue.” In reality, even when tired, the skill controls it so it doesn’t build up inside me.

And beyond that, it allows me to control fatigue more finely. So that in every movement, I can always perform at my best.

That is the effect of “Constant Activity: Lv.2”.

Honestly, it’s hard to imagine what lies beyond this. But that makes it all the more exciting.

I sat on the bed, in the quiet time before sleep. I wasn’t reviewing today’s training or thinking about monsters. I just closed my eyes quietly.

Thanks to the stronger “Constant Activity”, I didn’t feel much fatigue. Maybe because of that, I didn’t feel any drowsiness from exhaustion either.

(No, I can sleep. But it’s more like—I don’t need to anymore.)

Honestly, I know I shouldn’t put too much faith in the skill. Even at Lv.1, I already felt its effect. But there hasn’t been enough testing. Unless I get solid proof of how far I can go safely, there could be unexpected accidents.

During training with Maw of Miasma, I had been checking how my body felt as fatigue accumulated. But it’s possible I might suddenly black out someday.

(For now, I need to keep strengthening “Constant Activity” and keep testing it.)

No matter how strong the skill, I can’t stop being human. Being able to stay active for a day without sleep is one thing. But for a week, two weeks, a month… that would clearly step outside the realm of humanity.

(But… it’s worth testing how far I can go.)

Even so, the sweet temptation of “fighting without worrying about fatigue” was irresistible.

Thinking of only that, I closed my eyes. Not to sleep, but simply to wait for what came next.

Original Author’s Comment:

――――――――――――

Thank you so much for reading until the end!!

I truly apologize for yesterday’s posting mistake, but I’m grateful to everyone who still read it…!!

Your supportive comments, ★, and follows give me so much strength!!

I’ll keep doing my best to deliver stories you can enjoy, so please continue to support me!!

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