Alistair looked toward the source of the voice. He saw a man who stood at least six-foot-one—a giant by local standards.
However, despite his height, he didn't look "big." He looked like a normal person who had been stretched out proportionally. His posture was hunched and his features were... unfortunate. The first word that came to Alistair's mind was "sleazy."
"Holy shit! Is that a rat demon?!" Alistair blurted out. The man's beady eyes and twitchy demeanor were a perfect match for a rodent.
"A rat? Pfft! Hahaha! That's spot on!" Chitose burst out laughing.
"Mmm... pfft..." Aoi nodded, trying to keep a straight face, though a muffled giggle escaped her.
"Who are you? Where are your manners?" The Rat-Man's face darkened, his eyes narrowing at Alistair.
"Talking about manners? You're the one who jumped out with that sketchy greeting. With those shifty eyes and that wispy mustache, the police back home would arrest you on sight just for looking suspicious," Alistair shot back. He genuinely wondered if the guy was a "Demi-Human"—specifically a Wererat.
"Humph. I'm their classmate. We walk to school together every day. I'm also their suitor. I'm a much better match than some pretty boy who just appeared out of nowhere," the Rat-Man grunted.
"Classmate? You look like you're thirty! I'd believe you if you said you were their dad's age. And I'm not a pretty boy—I'm five-foot-ten, for God's sake."
Alistair was genuinely surprised. The guy was wearing the school uniform, but his "early aging" was extreme.
"Is that supposed to be tall?" The Rat-Man straightened his back, topping out near six-foot-five, looming over Alistair. Alistair's skin was clear and his features refined, making him look like a "pretty boy" in contrast to the rugged, rodent-like man. For a moment, Alistair actually didn't have a comeback.
"Alright, alright. Miki isn't actually a bad guy, he's just... aesthetically challenged. He usually helps us deal with the real creeps who harass us," Chitose said, stepping in to play peacemaker.
"A real 'Good Guy,' huh? Sorry, your look just gives off the wrong vibe." Since the guy wasn't actually looking for a fight and acted as their "knight," Alistair decided to be civil. He'd be leaving in a few days and wouldn't be back until summer; it was better to have this "Rat-Man" guarding the girls in his absence.
Crucially, Alistair noticed the guy's hair was brown—not the gold or yellow that often symbolized an enemy.
"I can't help it. I wish I was as good-looking as you," Miki grumbled, his hostility deflating into a pout.
"Well, it's a genetic lottery, I guess..." Alistair trailed off. He instinctively pulsed his mana to scan the "Rat-Man" and nearly tripped over a stone in shock.
In Alistair's sensory perception, this "Miki" possessed an incredibly deep reservoir of mana. His "Mystery" level was around 70%—meaning he wasn't just a Transcendent, he was well into the advanced stages. Furthermore, a strange, unique energy was circulating in his body. Alistair's gut told him this energy was far more potent than standard mana.
"You okay? Watch your step," Chitose warned as Alistair stumbled.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Alistair kept his discovery to himself. His mana-detection, refined by Uncle Takai, was stealthy enough that the Rat-Man didn't notice the probe.
This place is full of hidden masters, Alistair thought. Between his uncle and this "student" who was 70% awakened, the village was a powerhouse. Though, based on raw stats, Alistair felt he could still take the guy if it came down to a brawl.
They reached the town center. Other students were scurrying toward the school, mostly slackers who liked to arrive just as the bell rang.
"The school is right there. You can go explore now. Please come pick us up this afternoon," Chitose said.
"I'll walk you to the gate. I want to make sure you get inside safely." Alistair looked toward the school, but his peripheral vision caught something else—a small figure wearing a red hooded cloak. For some reason, his gaze was drawn to them.
As soon as the girls entered the school, Alistair doubled back to where he'd seen the figure, but they were gone.
"Strange. I can feel a residual mana fluctuation here. Where did they go?"