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 66: The Girl’s Circumstances

Episode 66: The Girl’s Circumstances

――Linea’s gaze flicked around as if checking her surroundings. Picking up on that, I asked her:

“Is this something you can talk about here?”

After a pause, Linea shook her head.

“Um… not here.”

“I see.”

I gave a small nod and led her through the side path of the inn. We circled around to the back. The night air was a little cold. And the crunch of gravel underfoot sounded strangely loud.

Once I was sure no one was following, I turned back to Linea. Her lips moved hesitantly before she finally opened her mouth with determination.

“This morning… I went to the Verdant Mist Prairie on a herb-gathering request. On the way back, suddenly, some kind of monster I’ve never seen before appeared.”

“A monster you’ve never seen, huh.”

At this point, a few things came to mind. But nothing was certain yet. I quietly waited for her to continue.

“It looked like a wolf. But… it didn’t feel like it wanted to attack me. Instead, it just stared straight at me.”

(A wolf-like appearance… could it be…)

Linea’s voice trembled slightly. She lowered her gaze. She carefully chose her words as if tracing the memory.

“…It wasn’t a clear voice. But it echoed directly in my head, saying this: ‘I know you.’”

“You, specifically?”

“Yes, I think it meant me. At that moment, its eyes narrowed just a little… and then it vanished without doing anything.”

Linea finally lifted her head.

“…When it looked at me… deep inside my chest, something felt strange and unsettled.”

Her words stopped there. And she looked down again, as if unsure.

“But I can’t… explain it well.”

(I see…)

If it had only been an encounter with a monster, reporting it to the guild would’ve been enough. But being told “I know you” was different.

For Linea, that was basically the suggestion that there might be some sort of connection between herself and that ice monster. No wonder she hesitated to report it—too heavy a burden to carry alone.

But one question came to me. So I asked:

“I understand. But why tell me this?”

“Ah… um, I was actually going to talk to Aunt Miranda. But… she has the inn to take care of, and I didn’t want her to worry.”

Apparently, that’s why she hadn’t told Miranda, the innkeeper. Her eyes, though searching for words, were filled with uncertainty.

“So… I thought, since you’re an adventurer and know about monsters, maybe you would understand, Alphonse-san.”

“Monsters, huh.”

“Yes. I… um…”

Linea’s words suddenly cut off.

In that instant, not in my ears but at the very core of my mind, a coldness scraped through me—like my consciousness being gouged by the tip of an icy blade.

‘…Wait at that place.’

Not a sound. Not a breath. It was a voice forcing itself into my head.

No mistake—this was the same “Telepathy” skill I experienced when I first faced that creature.

“Y-you heard it too, right?”

When our eyes met, her gaze confirmed it. We had both received the same telepathic message.

The night air grew colder. The gravel in the alleyway shimmered under the streetlight. It whispered faintly in the wind. Even that sound seemed to come from far away.

(…What are you planning?)

The image that surfaced was that monster, with icy fur and a piercing gaze. This wasn’t coincidence. It had clear intent, and it was inviting us.

And because it knew Linea possessed ice magic, it made sense.

“…Do you know what it means by that place?”

“Ah, p-probably… the southern edge of the Verdant Mist Prairie, where I went herb-gathering. When the voice echoed, that scenery flashed in my mind…”

According to her, this wasn’t a chance encounter—it was a deliberate summons to a specific place. That alone was behavior far beyond any normal monster.

(Direct contact with Linea… and now even sending me telepathy…)

I exhaled. I was sorting my thoughts.

The possibility of a trap couldn’t be denied. But its true identity and purpose were unknown. And if we missed this chance, there might not be another. And since Linea had met it unharmed, the chance of it being a simple trap seemed less likely.

“Going now would be dangerous.”

“…But…”

“It’s night. Visibility is bad. And we don’t know what it’s planning. If we go, it’s better to wait until morning when we can see clearly.”

Linea gasped softly. She bit her lip. She was conflicted. But after a few seconds, she nodded. That nod seemed to carry not fear, but a resolve to face the truth herself.

“…Understood. Tomorrow morning, then.”

“Yeah.”

The night breeze brushed against my cheek again. Cold, yet the shiver down my spine was sharper still.

Deep in my mind, the echo of that voice remained. It was frozen in place, refusing to fade.

Original Author’s Comment:

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Thank you so much for reading up to this point!!

I’ll be happy if you enjoy the next chapter as well!!

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