The short one didn't even reach the tall brute's waist—or more accurately, he was a dwarf.
Looking at this highly distinctive trio, Subaru Natsuki scratched his cheek and turned to Satoru Gojo beside him.
"We've triggered a random forced encounter, Satoru. You should be able to handle—"
"Ah! As long as you don't hurt us, we'll do anything you want!"
"Even beating him up is completely fine, you know~"
Satoru Gojo ignored Subaru's words, instead putting on a look of exaggerated terror, flailing his body dramatically to the side.
"..."
"What do you mean 'beating me up'?! In a moment like this, shouldn't you coolly step up and take them out?!"
"Eh?"
"Is that how it's supposed to go? I just thought you looked pretty dejected earlier, so I was planning to let you have this chance to show off."
"Huh? You want a normal high schooler like me to deal with these three guys? I don't have any abilities!"
"What if they get triggered during the fight? According to you, don't those protagonists always break through their limits when they're on the brink of death?"
"Who intentionally sends their partner to the brink of death?! And besides, didn't you say I'm a supporting character?!"
The trio watched the two of them bickering and exchanged confused glances.
Gaston, the tallest and most muscular one, grumbled in a low voice: "Do these two have problems in the head?"
"Just chirping away over there with words we can't understand... they're completely looking down on us!" Hambalie, the dwarf, said with an annoyed expression.
As for Chin, the lean youth with silver-gray hair in the middle, he was more direct than his two companions. He walked toward Satoru and Subaru, his face full of impatience.
"I said, you two... do you not understand human speech—"
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"Move it up ahead! Don't block the way!"
A crisp voice rang out abruptly in the alley.
The trio instinctively turned around to see a petite girl with blonde hair, dressed in practical gear, sprinting toward them at incredible speed. Who else could it be but Felt, who Satoru Gojo had encountered once before?
"Now's my chance!"
Seeing the silver-haired youth turn his head, Subaru's eyes lit up. He lunged forward in a sudden dash and swung a heavy fist right at the guy's cheek.
Despite the bickering with Satoru just now, one point had actually tempted him: what if he really did activate some special power during a fight? Besides, with Satoru Gojo standing right there, surely he wouldn't let him get beaten too badly?
To become a hero who slays the Demon King, one has to experience the baptism of battle!
Caught off guard, Chin was sent sprawling to the ground by Subaru's punch.
"Rachins!"
Seeing this, Hambalie shouted and rushed forward.
"Ow... Newton's third law is a real pain, that actually hurts."
"But, my strength seems pretty decent!" Subaru didn't press his advantage after the successful hit; instead, he shook out his hand, speaking with a touch of self-satisfaction.
On the ground, the fallen Rachins stood up with Hambalie's help. His face was dark, and his already sinister expression grew even colder.
"I told you, don't use my name while we're working!" Rachins snapped, shoving Hambalie aside.
He reached for the small of his back as if gripping something. When his hands reappeared in front of Subaru, two gleaming daggers were held firmly in his grasp.
Subaru, who had been feeling proud a second ago, froze instantly at the sight of the blades. He took a sudden leap backward, returning to Satoru's side as quickly as he had left it, and whispered:
"Should we be choosing the 'Escape' option now?"
"Doesn't the success of the escape option depend on a probability check?"
"This isn't an RPG! We just need to run to a crowded place, right?!" Subaru said nervously.
As they spoke, the girl who had rushed into the alley was drawing closer and closer behind the trio. Seeing that the three men had no intention of clearing the path, Felt had no choice but to speed up. She kicked hard against the right wall, then used her agility to leap toward the left wall as if defying gravity.
With two rapid kicks—left then right—she soared directly over the trio like a light butterfly. Even Subaru was dazed by the sight.
"Honestly, don't you know you're in the way?" Felt called out irritably from mid-air. If she weren't in such a rush, she would have liked to say more.
However, just as Felt was about to burst out of the alley and lose her pursuers, she spotted a figure that had left a deep impression on her.
It was the guy who had prevented her from stealing anything yesterday and had instead robbed her of her own coins! She would never forget that white hair!
Even though the candy he gave her afterward was actually quite delicious, that was absolutely no reason to forgive him—that was a whole three silver coins! Even though she stood to earn twenty Holy Gold coins if she finished today's job, the memory of those three silver coins still made her heart ache.
"It's you!" Felt glared at Satoru Gojo angrily.
She quickly assessed the situation in the alley. It looked like the guy who robbed her yesterday had run into trouble.
"Hey, you three, do your best! Don't let yourselves be looked down on!" Felt said gloatingly.
Robbed her yesterday, getting robbed today. Talk about karma. Though, at the thought of the money that used to be hers being stolen by someone else, Felt felt a twinge of phantom pain in her chest.
"Yo."
"Isn't it the lady from yesterday?"
"To think we'd meet again."
Hearing Felt's words, Satoru Gojo wasn't angry at all. On the contrary, he even grinned and waved his hand at her in greeting.
"I didn't want to meet you!"
"Get taught a lesson! If you don't want it to be too painful, just hand over the money..." Felt curled her lip and increased her pace.
However, just as she was passing over Satoru Gojo's head, his voice drifted up from below.
"Leaving without even catching up? How disappointing."
The moment those words rang out, Felt felt a sudden sense of weightlessness and began falling toward the ground. She looked down and saw an infuriating sight: that annoying white-haired brat was currently gripping her ankle, a frustratingly smug smile on his face.