The Fastest Evolution of the Unrivaled Slime: My Rejected Skill was a Cheat for Super Efficient Leveling, So I Trained 100 Times Faster to Become the World’s Strongest

192. It’s All Right

“Raize, Sierra-san, Irena…”

Standing there were three people I knew. Their appearance was the same as always.

But their eyes stared into the void, empty as if seeing the abyss.

Ignoring my thoughts of “Why are they here?”, Raize began to speak.

“Hey, Arx. You wouldn’t kill me, would you?”

“I’d never do such a thing!”

“Liar. When things get tough, you’ll kill us, just like the monsters or Dan.”

“I said I wouldn’t!”

I raised my voice. Their cold stares pierced me.

“Then, Arx, if it were a choice between me dying or you, which would you choose?”

“That’s…”

I couldn’t answer. Words were easy, but could I say the same thing when the moment came?

“See? You love yourself the most, don’t you?”

Irena accused me.

“…What’s the point of this? Showing me fake versions of my friends… What kind of trial is this!?”

“They’re not fake. We’re like mirrors reflecting the future… Let’s leave it at that.”

“Arx, you can’t answer the question. That means, in some future, you might abandon us to die.”

“Stop joking… That’s absurd!”

“Then, Arx, who will you choose? Yourself or us?”

I couldn’t answer.

While hesitating, I began to lose sight of myself.

What should I do…?

“Time’s up.”

At that moment, Dan, who had been watching silently, clapped his hands.

Simultaneously, the three’s heads were blown away.

“!?”

The sudden event left me paralyzed.

The gruesome sight made me violently nauseous.

“What… What did you do!?”

“Ahahahaha! Oh, getting mad now? You’re the one who made the choice!”

“What choice…?”

“You delayed deciding, leaving your comrades to die!”

“I didn’t do that!”

“Then can you decide? Yourself or others?”

I can’t. That’s not something I can decide easily.

“You trample others underfoot, pretending to be a saint, but deep down, you only care about yourself.”

“That’s not true! I’m not like that…”

“Then what are you? Say it!”

At that moment, Dan closed in and struck my face.

I was sent flying, rolling on the ground. My whole body ached.

“Remember something like this happening before? You haven’t changed at all.”

Dan laughed eerily, pointing at me.

“You exist only to hurt others. So—live alone, causing no one any trouble, and die lonely.”

“Aaaaahhhhhhh!”

All I could do was scream.

Tears streamed down my face. My throat burned. Yet, screaming was the only way to calm this turmoil.

I thought I had grown stronger. Fighting countless enemies, leveling up, becoming stronger.

—At least, that’s what I believed.

“It’s all right.”

It was then.

A voice called out from behind me.

“It’s all right, Arx.”

A beautiful, gentle voice like ringing bells.

The voice called my name, and its owner embraced me from behind.

“…Noah.”

“Don’t cry, Arx. I know you’re a kind person.”

Soft arms held me, and a floral fragrance surrounded me. Her hair brushed against my shoulder.

“But… I couldn’t refute Dan! I’m someone who could kill without hesitation!”

“Yet you’ve brought happiness to so many people.”

Noah moved in front of me, gently stroking my head.

“Yes, maybe you’ve taken lives. But you’ve saved far more. Everyone knows that.”

“But what if I someday kill Raize or the others… my comrades?”

“You won’t. I know you wouldn’t do that. You smile, cry, and get angry for others. That’s who you are.”

Noah turned to face Dan.

“You must be Dan. Stop tormenting Arx.”

“…Who are you? Are you saying it’s fine if Arx kills you?”

“Arx wouldn’t do that. Besides… I trust him. So, yes, it’s fine.”

“Tch.”

Clicking his tongue in frustration, Dan looked away and began walking.

“Ah, this got boring. Later, slime. I’ll mess with you again someday.”

Dan walked out of the village. Or so I thought, but his figure soon vanished.

Left in the empty village were just me and Noah.

“…Thank you, Noah. You saved me.”

“It’s nothing. I just said what I felt.”

“You said you wouldn’t mind being killed, but…”

“I meant it. I know you’re not a bad person. That’s why I trust you.”

Noah smiled gently and offered her hand to me as I sat on the ground.

“The past can’t be changed. It’s full of mistakes and regrets. But I think the past is light.”

“Light?”

“Light shows us where to go. That’s why we must rely on it and move forward. I want to walk the path you choose, Arx.”

I wiped my tears and took Noah’s hand.

There was so much I wanted to say. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for being here.

But I felt Noah already understood, so I said nothing.

I’m truly grateful to have companions. Companions who trust me.