Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: He's Not That Kind of Person (3)
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To be honest, even though I’d been reincarnated as a girl of unparalleled beauty, I had yet to truly feel it.
Sure, on my first day, I’d received all sorts of advances in the city.
But back then, my mind was in turmoil, reeling from having been dropped into the world of Fixer.
After that, I kept myself completely hidden, wrapped head to toe in cloth.
Until now, I’d only been treated as a suspicious, petite person swathed in fabric.
I hadn't even fully grasped the fact that I was a beautiful girl, or even that I was in a child's body.
Besides, I rarely saw a mirror, so I gradually stopped being conscious of it.
Perhaps that was why.
When I took off the cloth in Greg's shop and faced a mirror properly for the first time in a long while.
An unfamiliar embarrassment crept all the way up to my head, and I couldn't help but curl my toes.
‘Ugh, ah… this feels strange. Without the cloth, I feel… naked.’
It was like suddenly having to walk around outside without a mask after wearing one for nearly half a year.
Maybe because the cloth that had covered my body was gone, revealing my figure so clearly.
I found myself overly conscious for no reason, and my body felt stiff and awkward.
‘Hoo, let’s calm down. It’s not a big deal, right? I’m wearing a mask on my face anyway. And it’s not like I’m unsightly. It should be fine.’
I fiddled with the ugly goblin mask on my face, pretending to adjust it.
The goblin mask, with its crooked aquiline nose and lopsided features, looked as if it had been thoroughly beaten.
Right now, this thin mask was the last bastion protecting my fragile mind.
‘Alright, then the problem is this…’
Having calmed down a bit, I slowly turned my head to look at the clothes draped over a chair.
It was what one would typically call a maid outfit, with a black fabric base adorned with white frills.
It consisted of a dress, an apron, stockings, and a headdress.
I carefully picked it up, trying not to damage it, and spread it out with both hands.
The size was petite, just right for my body.
‘How is it that the first change of clothes I get in this world is a costume like this!’
A step up from a hospital gown straight to a maid outfit?
My head felt dizzy.
Shouldn’t there be some preliminary steps to take first?
For example, starting with androgynous clothes to lower the psychological barrier.
Then slowly moving toward a more comfortable style!
This was like handing a level-one hero, who should be fighting slimes, a wooden club with 10 attack power and telling them to defeat the vicious Four Heavenly Kings threatening the town.
‘If I say I don’t want to wear it now… that wouldn’t work, would it.’
But I had no choice.
With a hefty bounty on my head, working at Greg’s shop was the best option by far.
It would be morally wrong to refuse to even wear the proper clothes when I was already grateful that he’d hired me.
Still, I had looked at Greg with pleading eyes, asking if there were any other clothes.
But it seemed that, due to the nature of his shop dealing in underworld goods.
The only way children's clothes ever came in was through methods like, say, a mad scientist’s maid outfit intended for an android he created.
‘Hmm, well… let’s think positive. At least I won’t look like a ridiculous cosplayer. If I had to classify it, it’s more of a standard server’s uniform, not something fetishistic, right?’
I held the outfit, my mind racing with conflict after conflict.
In the end, I resolved to wear it.
Even with a mask on, I was a perfect beauty now.
Wearing a maid outfit wouldn't look strange on me.
And looking at its overall design, it wasn’t some perverted outfit that exposed a lot of skin.
There was no need to overreact as if putting on a single piece of clothing would kill me.
Having made my decision, I took a deep breath, shed the hospital gown I’d been wearing.
And began to put on the maid outfit and its components.
*Rustle.*
The soft fabric, smooth as my hair, tickled my skin.
The texture under my fingertips was so exquisite, I couldn't help but marvel at how expensive the material must have been.
‘Ah, I’m dressed. Hmm, let’s skip the headdress. It’s not like I’m a real maid.’
Feeling the strange sensation of the clothes fitting snugly yet not feeling restrictive at all.
I stood before an enormous full-length mirror, likely sized for Greg.
In the mirror stood a maid with skin as white as a snowflake.
Her skin was so clear, like a freshly steamed rice cake, that she looked more like an expensive doll than a person.
As I stared blankly at the sight, I slowly lifted the mask from my face as if drawn by a magnet.
‘Gasp.’
The girl in the mirror, without her mask, was so beautiful she left me speechless.
I was so startled that I reflexively slammed the goblin mask back onto my face.
‘Th-this is much better. My own face is so cute it startled me.’
If my face was enough to make people on the street bother me even in a baggy hospital gown.
How much more would its cuteness stand out in clothes that fit perfectly?
An inhuman cuteness. And a mystique as if made from sugar and snow!
At this point, I was terrified by the fact that this was my face.
*Hup! Hup!*
To quickly shake off my fear, I composed myself by striking a silly pose, raising both arms high.
If I didn't do something like this…
I felt like I would fall head over heels for my own reflection in the mirror.
Did my urgent movements carry outside?
Greg knocked on the door of my room and entered.
"Are you dressed?"
“…”
“It suits you quite well. That mask doesn’t seem to match, though. How about taking it off…”
“!”
“Ahem, if you’re that against it, I suppose it can’t be helped. How about a different mask, then, instead of the goblin one.”
A different mask?
I, who had been vigorously shaking my head in protest at Greg’s suggestion to remove the mask.
Paused to ponder his words.
Come to think of it, there was no reason to be attached to the goblin mask.
As long as I didn’t have to see my own face, I wouldn’t mind wearing a dried squid on it.
Besides, this ugly goblin mask might even hinder customer service.
“!”
“I’ll take that as a yes. Understood. I’ll bring a few.”
I indicated my approval.
Greg then disappeared into the back of the shop with long strides.
And when he returned a short while later.
He was holding several different kinds of masks in his hands.
“You can take any one you want. I don’t mind giving one as an employee benefit.”
“…”
Employee benefits already.
Feeling a strange mix of emotions at Greg’s words, which could have been a joke or serious.
I carefully examined the masks he offered.
And then my gaze locked onto one that stood out from the rest, as if nailed in place.
“!”
“So the fox mask is your preference. Not a bad choice.”
The one that had captured my heart was none other than a white fox mask with eyes, nose, and mouth drawn in purple dye.
For one, it matched my hair and eye color perfectly.
But the deciding factor was that it was the cutest among them.
Greg handed me the fox mask with a look of approval.
I quickly turned my back to him and swapped the goblin mask for the fox mask.
The moment I put on the fox mask, my eyes widened in surprise.
‘Is this… an artifact? I’m definitely wearing a mask, but my field of vision seems wider.’
To begin with, the fox mask felt different to wear.
Unlike the goblin mask, which naturally got sweaty due to poor air circulation.
The fox mask felt light, as if I were wearing nothing at all, and it was well-ventilated.
Moreover, it seemed to be some kind of artifact.
The usual obstruction of vision characteristic of masks was completely absent.
To give me such a fine item for free under the guise of an employee benefit!
It was a display of generosity befitting one of the most virtuous characters in the world of Fixer.
“Hmm, you seem to like it.”
“!”
“No need for thanks. If you’re not busy, let’s start work today.”
Of course. Let’s start right away!
My motivation fully charged, I excitedly trotted out after Greg.
The ghost who used to pilfer in the back alleys was dead.
Starting today, I am the fox-masked employee of ‘Greg's Emporium’!
I resolved to work hard enough to bury my bones here.
After all, starving to death before I could even enjoy a moment of peace… would be a bit much!
*
Five days had already passed since I started working at Greg’s Emporium.
And perhaps because I hadn’t been active as the ghost during that time.
The bounty-hunting frenzy in the underworld was gradually subsiding.
Of course, if you walked the streets late at night, you could still occasionally see bounty hunters whose eyes were crazed by the huge reward.
But the number of so-called radical bounty hunters, who would swarm the back alleys at the slightest scream, had noticeably decreased.
Well, it had been a while since my last appearance.
I suppose those who thought it was a waste of time were starting to drop off.
It was neither a good thing nor a bad thing.
Just something not worth worrying about.
In any case, the ghost incident was still ongoing, though the flames had died down a bit.
And for me, working at Greg’s Emporium, it was a moment when I had overcome one hurdle.
“…The profit from these past five days is comparable to a whole month’s profit before I hired you. So the problem really was my face…”
“!”
“No, I’m not blaming you. I’m just feeling pathetic about my own foolish business skills. In fact, I’m delighted.”
In just five days since I started working as an employee, we had surpassed the profit Greg used to make in a month when he ran the shop alone!
Of course, it wasn't like I did anything amazing.
I just sat silently at the employee desk near the entrance, swinging my legs and greeting customers.
But perhaps because my presence acted as a buffer.
I was able to keep customers who would have normally been startled by Greg’s orcish face and fled.
Naturally, the emporium’s profits had increased significantly.
Which meant…!
“If you’re not against it, how about we sign a formal contract? I’ll make sure you’re well-compensated.”
There it is, the full-time offer!
I pretended to think for a moment, then nodded as if reluctantly.
Greg’s offer was one I had no reason to refuse, especially since I had nowhere else to go until the ghost-hunting craze died down.
But revealing your hand so transparently is what amateurs do.
As long as I didn’t play too hard to get, it was always better to feign that a decision was made after careful consideration.
From the other person's perspective, it would seem like a more serious choice rather than one made on a whim.
That logic doesn't hold up? Well, so be it.
“…”
“Good. I’ll go get the contract. Please wait here.”
Greg observed my reaction carefully.
Then he disappeared into the back of the shop, saying he would fetch the contract.
So I’m finally getting a stable job.
Feeling even better, I swung my legs from the chair my feet couldn’t reach.
Living in a warm place and being fed is definitely better than living in the cold, dark back alleys and shaking down thugs for money.
The physical warmth of the past five days, something I hadn't felt once since reincarnating, was utterly satisfying.
‘Is it about time to close the shop? Should I get things ready before Mr. Greg comes back?’
But if there was one thing I had been oblivious to.
It was that no matter how trustworthy and virtuous Greg was, in this world, you could never just let your guard down.
Perhaps the moment I unconsciously let go of the vigilance I had maintained all this time.
The thing that pierced through that opening was what you might call fate.
“Mr. Greg, are you there? There’s something I wanted to ask you…”
*Jingle, jingle.*
The door opened and someone strode into the shop.
As I happened to be walking toward the door, I came face-to-face with the newcomer.
And at the sight of a completely unexpected person, I gasped and froze like a stone.
“Oh? A child?”
‘This… is…’
Before me stood a beautiful woman.
Pink hair, as if dyed with cherry blossoms.
A Japanese-style kimono that was rare to see in Nighthaven, revealing one entire leg.
A wooden stick held between her lips, and three hairpins tying up her long hair.
And two swords clattering against each other at her waist.
I knew this distinctive woman.
No, it was impossible not to know her.
She was none other than… one of the main characters of Fixer.
A heroine who served as the protagonist's companion!
‘I’ve met her…!’
*Gulp.*
I swallowed unconsciously.
The joy of meeting a character from the story in person and the trouble of knowing that getting involved was dangerous.
Those two opposing emotions swirled chaotically in my mind and exploded.
What on earth was I supposed to do here?
It was, to say the least, a bewildering situation.