The cunning NPC and the heroine who misread the situation (part 2)

The dark-brown-haired boy was focusing all of his attention on whoever was buying one and a half pounds of some fancy fruits – which considering the climate of Wondalandor, could be anything from pineapples to litchis.

"...?"

Curios about what exactly could bother Theo to the point of him breaking his composed but timid character, Ava leaned forward as if she tried to take a good look at the displayed sweets and...

"!!!"

Her eyes widened so much that her irises almost disappeared.

There was a boy around her age paying for his purchase.

He didn't look particularly outstanding, although he was on the handsome side – especially when smiling like he was at that moment.

But more importantly...

He had the long earrings hanging from his ears, right over his shoulders – yellow marbles at the end of the reverse cones.

That was one of the things that stunned the pixie-cut girl – one, but not the only one.

The boy standing there had black hair.

He was the first properly black-haired person that Ava had ever seen after reincarnating into Wondalandor.

She was sure that in the game, she had never seen even a single black-haired NPC or capture target – the pixie-cut girl was certain that Theo had the darkest hair – and his was still only dark brown.

As the world of the game was her reality, Ava did hear that there was a nation across the ocean where blond hair was just as rare while black hair was the standard – but once again, it wasn't something that she could check on a whim.

But then, here she was.

Facing a black-haired individual like that.

Ava's head was instantly filled with theories – the one that she had just met, another reincarnation on the forefront.

Back in her original world, black hair was also the standard – same with the reincarnation stories being popular setting novels and TV shows.

|He doesn't care about the events with capture targets because he doesn't like men! Wait... Does that mean that he is aiming for some of the returning female NPCs? Or the villainess... of maybe... maybe... me...?!|

There definitely was a lot that Ava had to think about, but before she could make her move and speak to the black-haired boy...

"You rotten bastard, what are you doing here?!"

*THUMP*

"?!"

Before Ava acted, Theo was already on the move – he shook the pixie-cut girl's arm and charged at the unsuspecting boy, and pushed him with enough power to make his victim fall and drop the fruits he had just paid for.

"Theo?!"

"What in the world...?! Guards! Some thug started harassing my customer!"

Ava gasped in disbelief, staring at the red-faced Theo while the fruit stall owner didn't waste any time and called for a pair of soldiers that were patrolling the streets.

"Th-Theo...! Don't you remember your promise with sir Hector?! Hold my hand or..."

"No! I don't care for some bullshit promise! Why is Medea here?!"

The pixie-cut girl tried to calm down her dark-brown-haired companion, but the boy was in the middle of a temper tantrum and jumped away from her as if the hazelnut-haired girl was made out of the fire.

"..."

The black-haired boy at the wrong end of the situation was too preoccupied with picking up the costly fruits to pay attention to the person who caused it – or so it seemed.

"You! Say something, you bastard!" *crunch*

"Guards! That's him!"

Theo growled at Medea while stepping on fruit that the black-haired boy was about to pick up and turning it into pinkish mush while the fruit stall owner was pointing at him in anger.

"...Theodore..."

"...!"

One of the soldiers who approached them noticed the troubled Ava, who wasn't able to hold onto Theo because of his rash actions, and sighed with disappointment – for a moment, it seemed that it worked and cooled down the dark-brown-haired boy's aggression...

"Oh? Hold on – if it isn't little Tee? Why are you pushing me around? Haaa... you are such a disappointment for big sister Lea..."

"DON'T YOU DARE TALK ABOUT MY MOTHER LIKE THAT!"

...but then Medea looked up and said in Theo's face, sending the dark-brown-haired boy into a frenzy...

"YOU BAS-!"

With Medea still on the ground, almost ready after collecting back most of the fruits, Theo roared and tried to kick the black-haired boy...

*WHAM*

"URGH!"

But as he was mid-motion, the two guards grabbed his shoulders and slammed him to the ground without hesitation.

"L-let me go! You don't know who that bastard is or what he is capable of!"

"...!"

While Ava watched in shock, Theo was struggling and trying to escape the two soldiers – but his struggles turned futile.

"Sure. You will be able to tell us everything back in the mansion."

"Young Miss. I apologize for this kid's terrible behavior – but unfortunately, I also need to take you back home according to sir Hector's order."

Despite talking to two different individuals, the two soldiers were clearly referring to the same thing.

|So this guy is the person that caused Theo to move out of Daakvillan...?|

"A moment. Let me apologize to this young man in Theo's stead."

Ava thought but said something completely different out loud.

"NO!"

"If that's what you wish, young Miss. But be quick."

Theo howled but was silenced by the soldier, who nodded at Ava.

"I'm sorry about him."

The pixie-cut girl offered the black-haired boy her hand – he took it without any hesitation – but on his way up, just as his head was by Ava's head, he snickered.

"...that was such a letdown... so if we would want to kidnap you, I just have to show up, and your boy-toy loses his head?"

"!!!"

The boy whispered in an odd mixture of amusement and boredom, causing the hazelnut-haired girl to freeze.

"... don't make that face, Ava~ I said -if- didn't I? I was under the impression that you wanted to use me to contact a certain group. I will be more than willing to offer you my assistance... if your request will be beneficial to us, that is~"

Medea chuckled and muttered before pulling away and bowing his head.