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

102. A Moment Of Peace

A pleasant breeze blows. The sky is clear blue as far as the eye can see, and the sunlight gently illuminates us.

The only sound is that of wheels turning. Sierra and I are currently riding in a carriage.

“Mmm! Feels so nice!”

Sierra-san stretches broadly in the sunlight. She’s sitting next to me, swinging her legs back and forth.

“You’re in a good mood today. Does it have something to do with the reason for this trip?”

“Hm? Not really. If anything, I’d prefer to be working today… But you wouldn’t like it if I looked bored, right?”

Surprising. I thought Sierra-san was the type to separate work and private life, so hearing she’d rather be working feels odd.

…That said, maybe she has days like this too.

“By the way, why are we going to the capital? Is it work-related?”

I haven’t asked Sierra why she’s going to the capital. Her attitude makes it clear it’s not for sightseeing.

When I ask, Sierra goes serious for a moment—then quickly regains her smile.

“I’m going home. Something urgent came up.”

“What? You’re from the capital, Sierra-san?”

This is news to me. I thought she was from the town where we’ve been working since I came to Ortia.

Sierra-san asks, ‘Is it that surprising?’, touching her hair and smiling a bit shyly.

“Well, I haven’t been back in a while. So it’s no wonder you didn’t know.”

“Really? Is it because of work?”

“Yeah, something like that. So I might be a little nervous.”

At that moment, Sierra suddenly exclaims, ‘Oh!’, and looks up. A white bird is flying gracefully overhead.

“Today really is a good day. It’s been a while since we had such a peaceful day.”

“Yes. If we stay relaxed like this, we’ll reach the capital soon.”

Chatting happily with Sierra while riding in the carriage—It’s surprising this is considered a work quest.

Even if it’s a guard duty, without any monsters, there’s nothing much to do. For now, it’s just an escort, and it doesn’t seem like we’ll get busy anytime soon.

This is amazing. I never thought there could be such an easy job.

If I wasn’t aiming to get stronger, I’d want to keep doing jobs like this forever. Back when I worked under Dan, I probably would have.

I wish these peaceful moments could last forever—

“Heyyyy!! Stop that carriage right now!!”

—But I guess that’s wishful thinking.

“What the…!?”

Sierra-san raises her voice in surprise. Looking where she’s looking—there are men ahead.

A rough-looking group is blocking the carriage’s path. Among them, the bald man at the front is grinning at us.

The carriage slowly decelerates and stops. As soon as it does, the men surround the carriage.

“Who are you guys!?”

The driver asks, and the bald man answers.

“I’m Vasago! This carriage is now under the control of the ‘Vasago Thieves’! Hand over all your valuables!!”

The men laugh wickedly. They must think we’re helpless against their numbers.

“Sierra-san…!”

Sierra-san grabs my sleeve. Her face is anxious, and her grip tightens.

Meanwhile, I cover her trembling hand with mine, then silently step out of the carriage to face them.

“What’s with you!? Got something to say!?”

“…Yes, I do.”

“Huh!? Speak up!! I can’t hear you!!”

“I said I have a big problem with you, you idiot!!”

My blood was boiling.

We were enjoying a pleasant trip together. I thought we could continue this peaceful time.

These guys ruined it. Anger surged through me, consuming me.

I’ll never forgive them. They’ll regret disrupting our time.

“You think a scrawny kid like you can beat us? That’s a laugh!”

“I can beat you. I don’t even need to know you’re weaker. Even if you weren’t, I’d still take you down.”

Vasago’s eyebrows furrowed. He’s irritated by my provocation.

“You… Want to be stripped and killed, huh!?”

The atmosphere is tense. Vasago and I glare at each other.