The shortest one did not even reach the big guy's waist. To be more precise, he looked more like a dwarf.
Facing such a distinctive trio, Subaru Natsuki scratched his cheek and glanced at Satoru Gojo beside him.
"This feels like some kind of forced battle trigger, Gojo. You can handle this, right…"
"Yeah, yeah. As long as you don't hurt us, we'll do whatever you want."
"Even beating him up would be totally fine."
Gojo ignored Subaru completely and instead put on an exaggeratedly frightened expression, wriggling around theatrically at the side.
"..."
"What do you mean, beating me up? At a time like this, shouldn't you step in and deal with them in some cool, heroic way?!"
"Huh?"
"Is that how it's supposed to go? But earlier you looked pretty disappointed, so I figured I'd let you have this chance to shine."
"What? You want a normal high school student to take on three guys like this? I don't have any abilities at all."
"What if you awaken something during the fight? By your logic, don't protagonists always break through when they're on the brink of death?"
"Who deliberately pushes their partner to the brink of death like that? And didn't you say I was the supporting character?"
The three thugs watched the two of them start bickering and exchanged looks.
The tallest and most heavily built one, Gaston, muttered in a low voice, "Are these two idiots in the head?"
"They're just yapping to themselves about nonsense, like we don't even exist!"
Camberley scowled in irritation.
As for the skinny, silver-haired boy in the middle, he was far more direct than his companions.
He walked straight toward Gojo and Subaru, impatience written all over his face.
"I'm talking to you two. Do you not understand human lan—"
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"Move it already! Don't block the road!"
A crisp voice suddenly rang out in the alley.
The three of them instinctively turned around and saw a petite, blond girl in neat clothes sprinting toward them at top speed.
If it was not Felt, the girl who had crossed paths with Gojo before, then who else could it be?
"Perfect timing!"
Seeing the silver-haired boy turn his head, Subaru's eyes lit up. He lunged forward and swung a punch straight at the guy's cheek.
Even though he had been arguing with Gojo just a moment ago, one thought had tempted him.
Maybe fighting really could trigger some kind of special ability.
And with Gojo nearby, there was no way he would get beaten too badly, right?
If he wanted to become a hero who defeated the demon king, he could not avoid the trial of battle!
Caught completely off guard, Rachins was knocked flat to the ground by Subaru's punch.
"Rachins!"
Camberley shouted and rushed over to help him up.
"Hiss. Force really does go both ways. That actually hurt."
"But hey, I'm not half bad, am I?"
After landing the hit, Subaru did not press forward. He shook out his hand and spoke with a hint of pride.
On the ground, Rachins stood back up with Camberley's help. His face darkened, his already gloomy expression turning downright chilling.
"I told you not to shout my name when we're working!"
Rachins snapped, shoving Camberley aside.
Then his hand moved to his lower back, as if gripping something.
When his hands came back into view, two gleaming daggers were clenched in his grip.
Subaru's smug expression froze the moment he saw the blades.
He immediately took a big step back, retreating just as fast as he had advanced, ending up beside Gojo again as he whispered,
"Should we run now?"
"Running is like a probability check, right?"
"This isn't an RPG! We just need to get to a crowded area, don't we?"
Subaru spoke nervously.
As he talked, the girl who had rushed into the alley from behind the trio was getting closer and closer.
Seeing that the three thugs had no intention of clearing the way, Felt could only speed up. She planted a hard step on the wall to her right, then with nimble movements that seemed to defy gravity, kicked off the wall on the left.
Left, then right.
In just two steps, she vaulted cleanly over the trio, light as a butterfly. Subaru could not help but stare.
"Seriously, don't you know you're in the way?"
Felt complained midair. If she were not in a hurry, she would have said more.
Just as she was about to dash out of the alley and shake off her pursuers, she spotted a familiar figure inside.
Someone she remembered all too well.
The white-haired guy from yesterday. The one who had not only stopped her from stealing, but had even taken her money instead.
She would never forget that white hair.
Sure, the candy he gave her afterward was pretty good.
But that was not enough to forgive him. That had been three whole silver coins!
If she finished today's job, she would earn twenty Holy Gold Coins.
Even so, thinking about those three silver coins still made her heart ache.
"It's you!"
Felt glared angrily at Gojo.
At the same time, she quickly understood the situation in the alley. It looked like the guy who had robbed her yesterday had run into trouble today.
"Hey, you three better do your best. Don't let people look down on you!"
Felt said gleefully.
Yesterday he robbed her. Today he was getting robbed.
Karma, plain and simple.
Still, thinking about how the money about to be stolen had originally been hers made her chest twinge.
"Yo."
"Isn't this the girl from yesterday?"
"Didn't expect to run into you again."
Hearing Felt's voice, Gojo did not get angry at all.
On the contrary, he smiled and waved at her cheerfully.
"I don't want to run into you!"
"Enjoy getting taught a lesson. If you don't want it to get ugly, just hand over the money…"
Felt curled her lips and picked up her pace.
But just as she passed over Gojo's head, his voice floated up from below.
"Leaving without catching up first. That's disappointing."
The moment those words reached her ears, Felt suddenly felt weightless and dropped straight down.
She looked down and saw something that instantly set her off.
That annoying white-haired guy was gripping her ankle, wearing that infuriating smile.