I Became the Cute One in the Problem-Solving Team

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Fixer.

That was the title of a popular boy’s manga serialized in the famous comic magazine Halo Magazine.

The genre was fantasy, sci-fi, comedy, and action.

It was quite an impressive piece with flashy action depicted in a beautifully illustrated futuristic city.

The storyline of the manga was simple.

For various reasons, beings like dragons, elves, and orcs, along with magic, crossed dimensions and arrived on Earth.

These different races and humanity naturally clashed due to differences in culture and values.

After decades of various conflicts, the races acknowledged each other’s existence.

Meta cities for these mixed races, commonly referred to as metahumans, began to emerge around the world.

And one of those representative metacities was Knight Haven.

In this city, filled with all sorts of troubles, there was a job called a Fixer, who solved issues upon request.

The Fixer was the story of Raven, the protagonist who, despite being purely human, tackled the myriad problems of the city.

A unique sensibility that was wedged somewhere between fantasy and sci-fi.

And with a plot that flowed smoothly without being frustrating, alongside quirky character development.

It was a representative work loved by many in Halo Magazine.

In fact, the manga was so engaging that I only realized a truck was approaching when it was right in front of me.

As someone who absolutely loved solver stories, I could strongly recommend this work.

“Well, it is interesting, but…”

But just because a work is fun doesn’t mean it’s good for reincarnation.

Unlike the cheerful atmosphere of the protagonists in the story, there was the issue of a world steeped in darkness.

First off, the reason the different races came to Earth was that their world was destroyed by invaders.

Additionally, the initial conflict between the different races and humanity was hastily patched up.

There were still numerous hostile forces against the mixed races scattered across the world.

Moreover, advancements in technology led to a devaluation of life and the extreme rise of individualism.

Gun battles happening in broad daylight and kidnappings were practically everyday occurrences.

Even the invaders who had destroyed this world were eyeing Earth carefully.

In short, this was a dangerous world filled with blood and violence under a precarious peace.

“Of course, it’s because of such a world that the protagonist can thrive… but isn’t it too dangerous for an extremely ordinary citizen like me to survive?”

Knowing the dangers of the world doesn’t mean I could do anything about it.

Just as a newborn child cannot choose their parents, reincarnation seems to disregard the wishes of the person being reborn.

If I could choose the world for my reincarnation, I would have undoubtedly picked one filled with peace and devoid of war and conflict.

A world without camping, guitars, or clubs—

It was truly a sad affair.

*

However, I couldn’t stay gloomy forever.

The dice had already been rolled, and time was passing.

Thus, it was better to gather my wits than to be half-hearted about it.

This place was more than capable of ripping off noses, and, if I hesitated, I might end up in a fate worse than death.

“I guess gathering information should come first. Whether this is before the original timeline or during its progression. Depending on which it is will change my course of action.”

Fixer wasn’t a manga that followed one giant main story, but rather an episodic series with various stories popping up like an omnibus.

Yet, as the protagonist resolved issues, positive effects emerged.

Consequently, the vibe of the city started to transform for the better.

Thanks to this, the early and late parts of Knight Haven in the original work were so different that one might question if they were the same space.

In the early days, Knight Haven was a labyrinth of violence and corruption with numerous gangs fighting for interests.

The later days saw the formation of a semblance of order beneath the police and corporations, yet it remained a dangerous place with external invaders.

In other words, during the early days, it’d be best to hide from the dangerous ones who weren’t yet smashed.

In the later days, it would be safer to be above ground, among people, rather than lurking in the alleys.

With such a complete reversal in behavior, it was vital to grasp the timing.

“Meeting the protagonist to seek assistance… let’s put that on hold for now. That person is too noticeable in this city, and the likelihood of getting entangled in troublesome matters is too high.”

Nonetheless, approaching the protagonist, regardless of the situation, wasn’t a good choice.

If the relationship was simply one of client and fixer, I currently had nothing of worth to offer.

Even if I tried to explain my plight and begged to be accepted as a guest, ending up joining their group somehow,

There was a risk of getting kidnapped to draw the protagonist where I wanted.

Or facing retaliation from a villain holding a grudge.

Of course, in the comic, due to various unwritten rules, even if one got kidnapped, everything would resolve in the end without a scratch.

But considering the fate of someone kidnapped in real life…

Yeah, it didn’t look good.

“Alright. First, gather as much information as possible in the city. Then I can think about what’s next. Right now, considering the many variables doesn’t seem particularly meaningful.”

With my thoughts organized, I steeled my resolve.

Since I had been given another chance at life,

This time, I wouldn’t let it end in vain like before.

I had no desire to become a remarkable figure etched in history.

But setting a goal of living a long and healthy life wasn’t a bad thing, right?

Muttering this to myself lightly in my mind,

I moved my feet towards the sparkling Knight Haven, which almost hurt to look at.

After walking for a while and exiting the forest where the underground facilities were concealed,

When I reached the streets of Knight Haven,

I unexpectedly confronted another problem I hadn’t anticipated.

“Hey, watch where you’re going, jerk… Huh?”

“Oh my, are you interested in the idol scene? You could definitely become a star in cyberspace…!”

“Hey you, are you Elstar? Can you give me your ID? Don’t run away~”

My face, resembling that of a young girl, seemed to stand out quite a bit.

Simply passing through the streets caused various people to bother me to an annoying extent.

A rough-looking man I accidentally bumped into had a dazed expression as he rubbed his chin.

A long-eared woman clung to me like someone who’d just seen a rare jewel.

A flirtatious blond man draped his arm over my shoulder as if trying to be friendly.

Something felt off.

Not being able to utter a word, I quickly made my judgment.

In a hurry, I distanced myself as if fleeing.

To escape the tenacious blond man chasing me,

I used telekinesis to leap to the building’s rooftop from the alley and was able to realize the cause of all this from a discarded mirror on the rooftop.

‘What the… who is this ridiculously cute little girl?’

In the mirror was a cute, white-skinned girl looking almost like a fairy.

Her skin, smooth as if molded from pure, snow-like materials, and her softly downturned eyes and petite lips highlighted her pitiful beauty, evoking an instinct to protect.

Even without looking in the mirror, her shining white long hair caught the eye like she had just stepped out of a salon.

And despite wearing a loose patient gown style, she exuded an unreal charm.

Of course, crawling up a vent had left some black dust on her clothes.

But due to her naturally captivating visage, that barely seemed noticeable.

She was truly a fragile and pristine young girl, as though she had jumped right out of a comic— an appearance that could qualify as a national treasure, one that made it sorrowful to know I was the one inside.

‘So that’s why people keep bugging me. Hmm… this isn’t good.’

If you asked whether her face was to my tastes, the answer would be an unequivocal yes.

The downside was that she looked quite young, about the upper grades of elementary school.

And no matter how much emphasis I put on my face, it struggled to go beyond a blank expression.

But if this were a game’s customization,

It was perfect enough to not need any alterations.

However, in this world, being beautiful could be seen as a bad status.

What looked delicious to me would surely look delicious to others as well.

Especially in a city where people would stab others to get what they want, I had effectively offered them an excuse to target me.

I had no choice but to hide.

Sighing lightly, I scanned the area,

Then used telekinesis to grab a large cloth lying across from me to cover my face and body.

Knight Haven was home to many small mixed races like dwarfs and goblins.

So if I didn’t recklessly reveal myself, perhaps my identity as a young girl wouldn’t be discovered.

‘Making a fake hand and controlling it with telekinesis would also be a good idea.’

After jotting down the sudden idea somewhere in my mind,

I approached the rooftop’s railing.

Perhaps it was because I was on a rather tall building.

The neon signs brightly glittering in the city came into view all at once.

The city of dreams and opportunities, Knight Haven.

And the city of darkness and despair, Knight Haven.

As I thought I had to live here from now on,

A mix of overwhelming dread and vague excitement rose within me.

Perhaps, without even realizing it, I was feeling thrilled to have fallen into the world of a comic.

‘But I absolutely don’t plan to get involved with the protagonist and crew…’

If the chance arose, it might be nice to grab some popcorn and enjoy their antics from afar.

While contemplating a future yet to come,

I wore a pleasant smile.

*

[Wanted / Rag Ghost / Only Alive

The size of a goblin in a stronghold.

Identifiable by the pure white fur, exposed through the cloth’s seams.

Suddenly vanishes with a magic that leaves no trace.

Mainly appears in the back alleys on the outskirts of the city.

Primary crimes include assault and robbery.

Most victims don’t even realize how they were attacked.

It’s concluded that the criminal possesses quite a high level of intelligence, as they can easily break through encirclement without causing significant harm to the victims.

[700,000 Credit]

Having lived in Knight Haven for three months,

I had somehow become a wanted criminal.

How did this happen?