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

181. Worst Reunion [Side – Glen]

“Phew, that was delicious~!”

After finishing the meal, Sarah was unusually cheerful. She hummed a tune, skipping ahead far beyond me.

…The meat she ordered must have been high-quality because my wallet was now completely empty. I decided to keep that to myself.

“Hey, Glen? Why don’t we go somewhere fun after this?”

“No way. Do you even realize what situation we’re in? We’re fugitives, remember?”

“Just because we escaped doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy ourselves. Come on, pleeease?”

I let out a sigh. Half of it was out of exasperation, but the other half was because Sarah was becoming harder to handle.

Somehow, I was finding it increasingly difficult to speak harshly to her. When we first met, I could command her or even ignore her to make her comply.

This change in me was likely because Sarah was becoming a special person to me.

It was the same with Vitt. At first, I thought of him only as a guide, but he taught me something important.

Sarah, too, had shown me the value of human connections. She probably wasn’t aware of it, but it was significant.

I was confused by these newfound emotions. At the same time, I felt they were genuine, something that arose from within me.

“Hey! Isn’t that one of them?”

At that moment, Sarah, who was running ahead, came to a sudden stop. Standing before her was a soldier clad in armor.

“G-Glen!”

“Get back!”

The moment I saw the soldier, I lunged forward like a wolf going for the throat.

“Uwaaaah!! Stay back! Stay—”

My fist crashed into one soldier’s helmet, caving it in and sending him sprawling to the ground.

The face behind the helmet was filled with terror.

“W-Wait! I don’t want to die yet—”

“I bear you no grudge, but you have to die.”

Driving a punch into his abdomen, I heard the sound of armor cracking as the man fell back, landing hard on his rear.

“N-No! Please!!”

“Glen, stop it!”

Standing before me as I prepared to deliver the final blow was Sarah.

“Move. He needs to be killed.”

“No! I don’t want a Glen who kills people!”

Sarah clung to me, preventing me from finishing off the man. In that moment, the man in his half-destroyed armor scrambled away in panic.

“I’m… a monster! So why does it matter if I kill someone?!”

“No, you’re not! Glen is human! Don’t say such sad things!”

It hurts. What is this feeling? Back then, I could’ve killed him without a second thought!

“Well, well, how scary. You’re quite angry, aren’t you, Golem boy?”

Just then, replacing the soldiers, a man with slicked-back hair appeared.

Shaking off my turbulent thoughts, I glared at him.

“…You look like you’re enjoying yourself.”

“Of course I am! Today’s the day I finally get rid of you. It’s about time I paid you back for all you’ve done to me.”

With a sinister chuckle, the man continued.

“You have two choices. One, run away and spend your remaining days in fear. Or two, come with me and face your end with dignity.”

“Like I’d ever agree to that.”

“Oh, but these are your only options. Surely, you don’t want to waste the life you’ve been spared, do you?”

This guy… Is he talking about Vitt?!

“You… scumbag!”

“Call me whatever you like. So, what will it be? Will you come with me, or prolong the inevitable?”

This was barely a choice. Suppressing the urge to scream, I muttered:

“…Take me to Zanent.”

“I’m glad you understand. Let’s go, then.”

Following the slimy man’s lead, Sarah and I trailed behind him. Our destination was the largest mansion in Haleake—a building I recognized. It was once Matthew’s home.

“This is the place.”

After walking down a long corridor, the man stopped in front of a door and cleared his throat.

Beyond this door, Zanent awaited. Bracing myself, I swallowed hard.

“Pardon me, Zanent-sama.”

The man knocked politely before entering. We hesitantly followed.

The room was a massive hall. It was stark, devoid of furniture, but in the center stood a colossal chair, exuding an overwhelming presence. Sitting in it was a towering figure.

“Well done.”

A low, rumbling voice echoed through the room, striking directly at the heart.

The man sitting with his legs crossed was enormous, his seated height nearing three meters.

So that’s Zanent!? He’s absurdly huge! His upper body was bare, muscles like interwoven boulders.

“Lord Zanent, these are the escapees, the Golem and the Phoenix! The Golem in particular tormented me! Please, deliver your divine punishment!”

“…I see.”

Zanent muttered quietly, stepping toward the man with thunderous steps.

“Z-Zanent=sama? Why are you…? Shouldn’t the punishment be for those two—”

“Before that, I’ll start by delivering about a thousand blows of ‘love’s fist’ to you.”

“…Huh?”

The next moment, Zanent’s massive fist crushed the man entirely.