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

Chapter 153. Noa-San Is Upset

“Arx-san, don’t you have something to say to me?”

One night, Noa-san spoke to me with an unusually serious expression.

We were in Noa-san’s flower field—or more precisely, in what appeared to be my mind. Noa-san and I had agreed to meet here from time to time in our dreams. It’s simple: whenever I wish for it, I can always come here in my sleep.

“Something to say?”

“Yes. Something very important. You haven’t forgotten, have you?”

Though I had come here as usual, it was clear that something was different about Noa-san today. She seemed… upset.

But, since I’ve been around her for a while, I understood what she was getting at. Smiling, I summoned a slime.

“No helping it. Look, I brought it! Today it’s a chocolate-covered donut!”

“Yay, donuts! I love sweet treats!”

Noa-san grabbed the donut from the storage slime’s bag and started eating it, nibbling like a chinchilla.

My life of bringing food from the outside world to Noa-san still continued. She happily ate anything I brought her, which always made me feel good to watch.

After finishing the whole donut, Noa-san looked content. Is it resolved now?

“—No, that’s not it at all!?”

Seems like I was wrong.

“Noa-san, are you still hungry? Isn’t that a bit much…?”

“No, it’s not about food! Why do you always assume it’s about that!?”

Noa-san cleared her throat and started again.

“It’s about my memory! Arx-san, when are you going to start investigating about me!!”

Her voice filled the entire space, shaking the flowers.

That’s right. I had promised to help bring Noa-san back to the outside world!

Noa-san had given me the skill, and in exchange, she had entered my mind. But after that, there were no more clues. I had been so busy that I had put Noa-san’s situation on hold… but now I realize it’s probably about time I started doing something.

“Sorry, sorry, I completely forgot.”

“Geez! Now’s not the time to just bribe me with snacks! Plus, lately, Arx-san, you’ve been getting friendly with lots of other girls!”

Whenever I’d give Noa-san an update on the outside world, she would listen with shining eyes. But today, she remained angry. She had probably been frustrated with me for not looking into her situation all this time. But with the Hero Tournament and the Strategy Team, I had been too busy. She must have held back out of consideration.

Luckily, the Strategy Team business was wrapped up, and I had safely been discharged from the hospital. Now’s the best time to get to it!

“Alright. I’ll start investigating Noa-san tomorrow.”

“Really!? You won’t distract me with food next time, okay?”

“So I don’t need to bring anything?”

“Well… I’d like a chocolate cornet next time.”

So she still wants something after all.

Now, even though I said I’d investigate Noa-san… I actually don’t know much about her at all.

“Your last memory was… ‘a dark place,’ right?”

“Yes. I was desperately running through a dark place. I remember meeting Arx-san at the end, but I don’t know why I was running or where I was.”

There aren’t enough clues… This is going to be tough.

“Is there anything else you can remember?”

“Hmm, I think my heart was pounding while I was running!”

“That’s not quite what I meant.”

“Then, my throat was dry from running!”

“That’s still not it!”

“…I think I smelled grass.”

“Now that’s important!”

The smell of grass—this is a crucial hint. The dark place must have been outdoors. And since she met me, it must have been somewhere I had been in the past.

So, the place we should search is—

“Alright, I’ve decided. I’m going back to my hometown!”

I had moved from my hometown to Ortia to become an adventurer and earn a living. So, the place where I met Noa-san is likely near there.

“I feel like I’ll find something if I return home. Besides, I want to see my family again.”

“Wow… To deduce all that from just these hints, Arx-san, you must be a great detective!”

Honestly, I think Noa-san’s just a bit slow.

Anyway, tomorrow, I’ll head back home. I’ve saved up enough money to take the carriage, so I should be able to get there easily.