Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: I'm Not That Kind of Person (4)
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To think a character from the original story, and one of the main characters at that, would show up so suddenly.
I was momentarily stunned, but I quickly suppressed my chaotic feelings and composed myself.
It was true that I was a fan of the manga, *Fixer*.
And it was also true that I'd consume just about anything from the fixer genre, regardless of the subgenre.
But I wasn't such an avid fan that I'd get overly attached to the characters.
For example, if I were to meet a celebrity I liked... sure, I'd be incredibly happy and amazed.
But not to the point where I'd drop everything and run to them. It was that kind of feeling, I suppose.
*Phew, okay, calm down. Overreacting here will only draw more attention. I just need to act normal. Just like I've handled every other customer.*
After taking a light, deep breath to calm my racing heart.
I calmly looked at the pink-haired woman and dredged up my knowledge of the original story from my memory.
*That person... she must be Sakuragi Alice.*
Unless my eyes and memory were seriously failing me, she had to be Sakuragi Alice—the combat specialist and only female member of the main trio.
After all, I couldn't imagine there being two beautiful, pink-haired women in Nighthaven with such a unique style—wearing a kimono with a high leg slit and two swords at her waist.
In that case, this situation wasn't entirely impossible.
Greg often appeared as the appraiser who assessed the main characters' items.
As long as I was working at Greg's shop, perhaps our meeting was inevitable.
*Considering what she said when she came in, her business is with Greg. So I should... just slip away and erase my presence.*
Okay, I've got a plan.
I regained my usual composure.
I started to naturally step back, intending to call for Greg, who had gone to the back of the shop.
That is, if Alice, who had been staring at me, hadn't suddenly closed the distance, her eyes twinkling.
"Um... are you the new employee? Oh my, you're so cute! Your hands and arms are like a doll's!"
"...?!"
"Honestly, Greg. He should have told me he hired such a cute employee! Ah, want a piece of candy?"
A sweet, peach-like scent wafted from her as she drew close enough to touch if I were to fall.
But I barely had time to register the sensation.
I could only back away in bewilderment, matching each of her steps forward with one of my own.
With Alice, a woman with beauty you'd only expect to see on TV, getting close enough for me to feel her breath...
...it was simply too much for someone like me, who was still just an ordinary person on the inside, to handle.
Why, why is she getting so close?
As that question surfaced in my mind,
a certain detail about Alice from the original story flashed through my head.
*That's right, she's... a cuteness enthusiast!*
That was it. A cuteness enthusiast.
Normally, Alice had a very rational and earnest personality.
But there was a setting where she'd completely lose her composure whenever she saw something cute.
Her level was so high she was practically in the "at-risk" category for cuteness enthusiasts!
If an enemy took the form of a cute stuffed animal,
she was a truly severe case, unable to retaliate in the slightest even if it charged at her with a knife.
So, wait, let's take a moment to review my current appearance.
Right now, I was a short, white-haired girl in a maid outfit, wearing a cute fox mask.
Moreover, the maid outfit I was wearing was a masterpiece crafted by some eccentric scientist for his android.
It was designed to minimize exposure while accentuating the wearer's cuteness and personality.
In this case, the fox mask covering my face actually amplified my mystique.
*...I didn't expect this.*
A cold sweat instinctively broke out on my brow.
The look in Alice's eyes was nearly that of a predator staring down its prey.
Of course, she was still fundamentally a person of common sense.
Even if she lost control, she'd probably stop at hugging me and sniffing the top of my head.
Alice didn't have any perverted or dangerous inclinations, after all.
She just had an abnormally strong love for cute things.
But even that was a problem for me.
Just facing her at close range was overwhelming enough, but to go through *that*?
There was no way my mind could take it.
Wouldn't my face just explode from embarrassment?
"Ahem. This is expensive candy... Won't you just try one? This big sis here knows Greg pretty well. But you, you're really cute. What's your name?"
*No, you can't, please don't!*
With the spirit of a desperate last stand, I maintained my distance from the approaching Alice.
When Alice took a step forward, I took a step back.
Then she'd take another step, and I'd retreat again.
This seemingly endless cycle came to an abrupt end.
Just as I tried to back away from her again, my back hit a solid wall.
I was cornered.
Just as a chill ran down my spine and the smile on Alice's lips widened,
Greg emerged from the back of the shop and stopped her.
"That's enough. Stop bothering my employee."
"Ah, Greg. It's been a while. But, bothering her? I just wanted to give this child a piece of candy..."
"That *is* bothering her, Pinky. Enough, you come over here too."
I'm saved! Thank you!
I slipped through the opening in the encirclement and scurried to hide behind Greg's desk.
Phew, I was almost doted on to death.
I clutched my still-pounding chest.
And listened in on Greg and Alice's ensuing conversation.
"So, what is it, Pinky? Business hours are over. You should know I don't do appraisals after I've closed."
Greg's voice was as stiff as ever as he snapped at Alice.
Hmm, from my perspective as someone who's been working here for five days,
that was the tone he used when he was slightly annoyed.
I guess it's hard to look kindly on customers who show up after closing.
It was something I could strongly sympathize with. Hating overtime is a universal trait of all working people!
Perhaps Alice also picked up on Greg's displeasure.
She bowed her head apologetically and explained why she had come.
"Haha, my apologies. But I didn't come for an appraisal today... I came to ask about a rumor circulating in the Western Labyrinth."
"A rumor?"
"Yes. By any chance... have you heard of the Ghost?"
What?
My ears, which had been secretly listening from my hiding spot, perked up involuntarily.
I hadn't expected in the slightest that she would bring me up.
My eyes darted around, and I focused on the conversation with bated breath, wondering what was going on.
"...I've heard of them. Quite the celebrity these days, aren't they?"
"Ah, I knew it! Actually, our agency is looking for the Ghost... I was hoping you might be able to share any information you have!"
L-l-looking for me? Why?
My heart plummeted at Alice's words.
I carefully peeked my head out.
As I did, my eyes naturally met with Greg's, who had glanced in my direction.
Reading the question in his gaze, I frantically shook my head to refuse.
"Well... I can't say I know much. The Ghost usually appears in the deep back alleys, it seems. I'm not too familiar with what goes on there."
"Ahh... is that so. I'm sorry for showing up so suddenly at this hour. I'll be sure to come by with an appraisal request next time as an apology."
"Mm."
I quietly breathed a sigh of relief at Greg's natural response.
As expected of the boss! He really knows how to protect his employees.
I had no idea why Alice was looking for the Ghost.
But since she'd missed me when I was right under her nose, I wouldn't be walking back into her net.
As I calmed myself down with that reassuring thought,
Alice showed signs of leaving, as if that question had truly been her only purpose.
Does that mean I've overcome one crisis?
From now on, let's just see each other as a mere employee and a customer.
I poked my head out from under the desk and gave a farewell gesture to the departing Alice.
"Bye-bye~ See you next time!"
"..."
"Hehehe, so cute... Ah, by the way, Greg. What's that child's name? She seemed a little shy earlier..."
*Freeze.*
Alice's surprise question made both Greg and me freeze simultaneously.
A name? Uh... come to think of it, I didn't really have a name to go by right now.
Greg usually called me "Ghost" or "you."
And I hadn't really needed a name either.
But Greg had already severed the connection between me and the Ghost.
So now, what was I supposed to be called?
"Ahem, hm, that's..."
It seemed Greg was feeling the same confusion.
He kept clearing his throat, trying to buy time.
Hmm... I don't really care what I'm called.
I guess I'll let Greg decide whatever he likes.
So, I gave a calm nod to Greg, who was glancing my way, signaling that anything was fine.
Did the meaning behind my gesture get through to him?
After a moment more of thought, he finally answered Alice.
"It's... Yuria."
"Heeh, even her name is super cute! Yuria... Mm, thanks for your help. I'll come again next time!"
Bye then!
Alice said her goodbyes to me and Greg and left without a second thought.
Just as expected of the main characters who attract trouble.
She was truly like a whirlwind of a woman.
"...Sorry about that. I'm not very good at coming up with names."
As I was mulling over my encounter with Alice,
Greg suddenly spoke to me with an apologetic look.
It seemed he felt bad for arbitrarily making up a name for me.
Yuria... did he come up with that from "Yuryeong" (Ghost)?
It doesn't sound bad, so I don't really mind. I'm not the type to get hung up on names, anyway.
In fact, since people have been calling me Ghost lately,
having a similar-sounding name might actually be quite efficient.
"...!"
"I'm glad you're okay with it."
So, to show I was genuinely fine with it, I stretched both my arms straight up.
Whether my sincerity got through or not, he let out a small chuckle and thanked me.
"This is the contract I mentioned earlier. Read it over and fill it out. You're a smart kid, so you should be able to handle it."
After saying that, Greg handed me the contract he'd brought out and disappeared into the back of the shop.
It seemed the situation of having given me a name had made him a little awkward.
For an orc, he's a surprisingly thoughtful person.
I chuckled to myself, took the contract he gave me, and sat on the sofa.
And as I looked over the contract's contents, a thought occurred to me.
*Come to think of it... why was Alice looking for me? Could she be a hired Fixer, like that blonde pervert from before?*
The Ghost's reputation in the underworld wasn't very good right now.
Those I'd helped or those drawn to my strength saw the Ghost in a positive light.
But those who'd only heard the bad impressions from the subsequent rumors of evil deeds and criminal acts seemed to view the Ghost as a presence that needed to be eliminated quickly.
Meanwhile, a huge number of bounty hunters had flooded in, throwing the back alleys into chaos for the past few days.
So, there was a good chance that public opinion was decidedly negative overall.
And I had a feeling Alice was probably one of those bounty hunters...
*Well, as long as I stay quiet here, I'm unlikely to get caught up in any incidents. So it doesn't really matter. Still, I should be careful to avoid getting involved with her if possible.*
I lightly sorted out my future course of action, finished reading the contract, and just as I was about to write the name Greg had just given me and sign at the bottom,
"Aaargh!"
*Huh?*
A man's scream suddenly rang out from somewhere not too far away.
A commotion like this in the Gray Zone, where things are usually quiet?
A question mark appeared above my head as I stood up.
It seemed some kind of disturbance was happening outside.