They could probably mask their scent and sound too, but it didn’t seem like they’d been hiding their presence with ill intentions. Most likely, they’d been doing it to explore the dungeon safely. They looked just as surprised to see us as we were to see them.
Apparently, they’d heard the sounds of battle and come to check things out. Now they were tilting their heads, confused by the sight of three kids standing in a place marked by combat.
I kept up my act as an innocent child as I looked them over. It was a man and a woman, both with black hair and dark eyes, and facial features that seemed almost Japanese.
The young man was a delinquent, with a rooster-like pompadour; glaring sanpaku eyes, showing more of the whites than normal; and a half-open mouth that looked ready to spit out an intimidating “Huh?” His shoulders were puffed up with pointless aggression, and for no reason, he had his head tilted. There was no other way to describe him—he was a stereotypical Japanese delinquent.
If he’d been wearing a long coat embroidered with Chinese characters, he’d be the complete package, but his outfit was just standard light warrior gear. Still, his leather armor and stab-proof clothing were spotless, making him look like an amateur. They were clearly high-quality pieces, probably meant for professionals.
Maybe he’s some rich kid who started out with nice gear? He doesn’t look like a rich kid though... There was something about him that felt mismatched.
The same went for the girl standing listlessly behind him. She gave off a plain impression and had bangs that covered her eyes. Her slight hunch and the way she kept glancing at the delinquent’s face spoke of how timid she was.
She wore what looked like a witch’s hat and a black robe. They also looked like beginner equipment, but her mana was strong. Her gear was clearly of a higher rank than it appeared.
From where they stood about thirty meters away, the mismatched pair of black-haired, dark-eyed strangers watched us closely. They didn’t seem hostile, but they weren’t friendly either.
Well, seeing a group of kids in a place like this, the natural assumption would be that we were magical beasts in disguise.
Honestly, I don’t want to get involved with other mercs, so we better leave now while we still can.
They were just as wary of us, so our retreat went smoothly. The mismatched pair didn’t follow us, and we managed to get away clean.
“That guy had nasty eyes,” I said.
“He kept looking at us weird!”
“Creeeepy.”
“Yeah! Creepy!”
It was natural for them to stare at us—we were kids in the dungeon, after all. Sizing us up was to be expected. But the delinquent’s gaze seemed to carry something more: desire. Money, lust, violence—I didn’t know what he was thinking about, but it was definitely something beyond simple caution.
Shiro and Kuro must’ve sensed that emotion too. They frowned and started tearing into the delinquent.
“That hairstyle was weeeird.”
“Rooster-head!”
It’s called a pompadour. I didn’t think that hairstyle existed in this world. That black hair really made him look like a Japanese delinquent. Black hair and dark eyes are rare enough, but two people like that? They’re not reincarnators, are they? Well, as rare as they are, I guess it’s not impossible that two people with features like that paired up—it’s gotta be a coincidence. Apparently, several past heroes had had black hair and dark eyes, and their descendants sometimes inherited those traits, as well as their skin color.
Those heroes had to be reincarnators. I mean, the reason I ended up being reincarnated into this world in the first place was because I’d saved a kid who was destined to become a hero here. Maybe that hairstyle was a tradition passed down from past heroes? Either way, that flashy delinquent guy really stood out.
The girl, on the other hand, left almost no impression. Even overshadowed by that intense delinquent, her presence had been way too faint. She didn’t seem like she was following him, though...
An attention-grabbing delinquent warrior and a plain, forgettable magic girl. It wasn’t just their looks; their dynamic felt mismatched too.
“For now,” I said, “we should keep an eye on that delinquent.”
“Delinquent?” said Shiro.
“Dee-lin-quin?”
Oops, I guess they wouldn’t get that.
“How should I put it? Someone who rebels against their parents or teachers, or goes against authority...”
“A bad guy?” asked Shiro.
“Delinquents evil. Got it.”
“No, not exactly evil. More like, trying to act tough?”
They seemed perplexed.
Whoa! Total blank stares! But it’s not like I can give a good explanation. They’re not quite villains or criminals. Well, considering I was usually the victim of getting bullied by delinquents for money, I can’t really defend them. It’s too much of a hassle to explain, so for now, I’ll just label him a bad guy so they’ll keep their guard up.
“Y-Yeah. Delinquents are evil.”
“Roger that!”
“Okieee.”
To all the delinquent manga fans out there, I apologize. In our family, delinquents are now officially bad guys!
“If they attack, Kuro’ll beat them,” she declared.
“Not fair! Shiro will beat them!”
Kuro and Shiro didn’t seem scared of the pair at all, probably because they didn’t give off any sense of strength. They were unpleasant, sure, but not frightening.
“They did look weak, but you never know what they might have hidden up their sleeves. The girl was clearly a sorcerer. Best to avoid fighting them altogether.”
“Oh! You’re right!” said Shiro. “Then next time, we’ll spot them before they get close and run away!”
“Yeah. Kuro will find them.”
“No, Shiro will!”