I Became the Cute One in the Problem-Solving Team

---

The sudden appearance of original characters, and not just any characters, but the protagonists’ group.

For a moment, I was so dazed that I quickly gathered my confused emotions like I was stuffing them down.

Of course, it’s true that I like the comic fixer.

And it’s true that I feast on problem-solvers regardless of the genre.

But I wasn’t such an intense fan that I became overly immersed in the characters.

For instance, meeting a favorite celebrity… Sure, I would be incredibly happy and amazed.

But it wouldn’t make me drop everything and run over—that kind of feeling, perhaps?

“Whew, for now, let’s calm down. Overreacting here would only draw more attention. Just act like it’s all normal, like I’ve been welcoming customers all this time.”

After taking a deep breath to settle my pounding heart.

I calmly looked at the pink-haired woman and retrieved my knowledge of the original work from memory.

“That person… must be Sakuragi Alice.”

If my eyes and memory weren’t completely mistaken, she was undoubtedly the combat role among the three main characters and the only woman, Sakuragi Alice.

No matter how I thought about it, it didn’t seem likely that there would be two uniquely identifiable beauties with pink hair, wearing a kimono with one leg out and carrying two swords, in Night Haven.

Then, this situation wasn’t entirely impossible.

Greg often plays the role of an appraiser, evaluating the protagonists’ items.

Since I worked at Greg’s shop, it was perhaps inevitable that I’d run into them.

“Considering what was said upon entry, the business is Greg’s. So, I just need to sneak back and allow myself to fade into the background.”

Alright, my thoughts were organized.

I regained my usual calm rationality and planned to naturally step back and call out to Greg, who had gone towards the inner part of the store.

However, if Alice, who had been gazing at me, didn’t suddenly sparkle her eyes and take a step closer.

“Excuse me… Are you the new employee? Oh my, so cute! Your hands and arms look like a doll!”

“…?!”

“Greg, oh my, you should let me know when you get such a cute employee! Do you want a piece of candy?”

Whoosh.

As she got close enough that I could fall over and touch her, a sweet, peach-like scent wafted from her.

But before I could even fully register that sensation.

I had no choice but to awkwardly retreat as she approached.

With Alice’s beautiful features, which looked like something one would see on TV, coming so close, it was unbearable for someone like me, who was still pretty average.

Why, why is she coming so close?

As that question crossed my mind, suddenly.

One setting about Alice from the original work flashed through my brain.

“Right, this person… was a cuteness enthusiast!”

That’s right. A cuteness enthusiast.

Usually, Alice was very rational and diligent.

But once something cute came into view, she would completely lose her composure—what a setting that was.

That level was practically that of a cuteness enthusiast level of risk!

If an enemy were to appear as a cute stuffed animal.

If they came at her with a knife, she wouldn’t be able to muster even a feeble counterattack; she was essentially a severe patient.

Then wait a second, let’s take a moment to reflect on my own situation.

Right now, I am a short girl maid with white hair wearing a cute fox mask.

Moreover, the maid outfit I was wearing seemed to have been painstakingly made by some wacky scientist for their android.

It was designed to minimize exposure while showcasing the wearer’s cuteness and personality.

So that fox mask covering my face amplified that mysteriousness.

“… I didn’t expect this.”

I instinctively broke into a cold sweat.

Because the look in Alice’s eyes as she stared at me felt almost predatory.

Of course, she was undoubtedly a sensible person.

Even if her rationality slipped, she’d probably only stop at hugging me and smelling my hair.

Alice wasn’t someone with a predatory nature.

She just really loved cute things to an absurd degree.

But even that put me in a difficult position.

Simply facing her at such a close distance was already overwhelmingly intimidating, and to face such a fate?

There was no way my mind could handle it.

I might just burst from embarrassment!

“Ahem. Candy is expensive… Want to try just one? I know Greg pretty well. By the way, you’re really cute! What’s your name?”

‘No, no, no, please don’t!’

In a desperate attempt, I kept my distance from Alice as she moved closer.

With every step she took forward, I took a step back.

And then again, she stepped forward, and I stepped back again.

This seemingly endless cycle soon reached its conclusion.

The moment I tried to step back from her approach, I felt a solid wall against my back.

I was cornered.

Feeling a chill down my spine as the smile on Alice’s face grew wider.

Just then, Greg walked out from inside the shop, holding her back.

“Back off. Don’t tease our employee.”

“Oh, Greg! It’s been a while. But tease? I just wanted to give this girl some candy…”

“That counts as teasing, pink head. And you come here too.”

I made it! Thank you!

I dashed through the opening in the encirclement and quickly hid behind Greg’s desk.

Phew, that was a close call with potential obsession.

With my pounding heart still racing.

I eavesdropped on the conversation between Greg and Alice.

“So, what’s going on, pink head? It’s already after hours. You know I don’t appraise things after closing.”

Greg snapped at Alice in his usual stern tone.

Hmm, as an employee of five days, I could tell this was the tone he used when he was slightly annoyed.

It seems it’s hard to be positive about customers who show up after closing.

It’s something I could strongly empathize with—everyone hates overtime!

Alice must have sensed Greg’s discomfort.

Bow her head apologetically, she explained the reason for her visit.

“Haha, I’m sorry. But I didn’t come to request an appraisal today… I wanted to ask about a rumor going around regarding the west labyrinth.”

“A rumor?”

“Yes. Do you know about… the ghost?”

What?

My ears perked up instinctively at Alice’s words.

I never expected my name to come up in Alice’s mouth.

I spun my eyes around, breath bated, focused on the conversation.

“I do know. Isn’t it someone famous lately that everyone knows about?”

“Oh, I see! Actually, we are looking for the ghost at our office… I was wondering if you might know any information!”

Wait, wait—looking for? Why?

Feeling a dizzying sensation as Alice’s statement dropped my heart down.

I carefully peeked my head outside.

That’s when I found myself making eye contact with Greg, who had been glancing my way.

He looked like he was inquiring about my thoughts, but I quickly shook my head to indicate my refusal.

“Well… I’m not sure. It seems ghosts usually appear in the back alleys. I don’t know much about that area.”

“Oh, I see… I’m sorry for coming at such a late hour. I promise to come by and request an appraisal next time as an apology.”

“Hmm.”

I sighed with relief at Greg’s calm response.

That’s our boss! He certainly knows how to protect his employees.

I had no idea why Alice was looking for a ghost.

But now that I had narrowly escaped from being captured by her.

I should no longer have any reason to enter that encircling again.

As I felt reassured and calmed down.

It seemed Alice was truly about to leave, having just asked if that was her goal.

Then did that mean I had just overcome a crisis?

From now on, let’s just consider our relationship as that of an employee and a customer.

I peeked out from under the desk and waved goodbye to Alice, who was about to leave.

“Goodbye~ See you again!”

“…”

“Hehe, so cute… But, Greg, do you happen to know that girl’s name? I noticed she seemed a bit shy earlier…”

Suddenly.

With Alice’s question coming as an ambush, both Greg and I froze at the same time.

Name? Uh… now that you mention it, I really don’t have a specific name.

Usually, Greg would call me either ghost or “you,”.

And I hadn’t really needed a name until now.

But now that Greg had completely severed my connection to the ghost…

How the hell am I supposed to be addressed now?

“Ahem, well, that is…”

Perhaps sensing the confusion as well, Greg was continuously clearing his throat, stalling for time.

Hmm… It doesn’t really matter how I’m called.

Maybe I should just let Greg call me whatever he likes.

So, I nodded calmly as if it didn’t matter how I was called, looking at Greg.

I wonder if he properly understood the meaning behind my gesture.

As he mulled it over, eventually Greg replied to Alice.

“U… ria.”

“Wow, that’s a really cute name! Yuria… Thanks! I’ll come by again!”

Ah, farewell!

Alice waved to Greg and me as she left the shop without any reluctance.

Truly a storm of a woman, the protagonists sure do attract events.

“… Sorry. I’m not very good at naming.”

As I reflected on my encounter with Alice.

Greg suddenly spoke up, seeming a bit embarrassed.

He must have felt sorry for haphazardly giving me that name.

Yuria… I guess it’s a name that popped into his head when he thought of a ghost?

It doesn’t sound bad, so I’m not too concerned about it. I’m not attached to my name.

After all, I’ve been called a ghost by so many people lately.

So this similar-sounding name seems efficient enough for me to understand as well.

“…!”

“Thanks for saying it’s okay!”

So, I gestured with both arms raised in a sign of sincerity indicating that it was truly fine.

As my feelings were communicated in such a way, he smiled wryly and graciously thanked me.

“This is the contract I mentioned earlier. Review it, fill in the details, and since you’re smart, I’m sure you’ll manage well.”

Saying that, Greg handed me the contract he had brought and disappeared into the back of the shop.

It seemed he felt a bit awkward about having named me right then.

How unexpected for an orc to be such a considerate person.

I chuckled inwardly as I took the contract he handed me and sat down on the sofa.

As I examined the contents of the contract, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

“Speaking of which… why was Alice looking for me? Could it be that she’s a fixer hired like that blonde pervert from earlier?”

Right now, the ghost’s reputation in the underworld wasn’t particularly good.

Those who had received help from me or were impressed by my strength viewed ghosts positively.

On the contrary, those who formed negative impressions due to the more widespread tales of wrongdoing and criminal acts saw ghosts as entities to be eliminated quickly.

In the chaos, an enormous influx of bounty hunters had entered the streets. The alleys had been total turmoil for the past few days.

Overall, the public opinion was certainly tilted towards the negative side.

And I suspected maybe Alice belonged to that group of bounty hunters… perhaps.

“Well, as long as I’m quietly staying here, I shouldn’t have too much chance to get caught up in any incidents. So, it shouldn’t matter. But I need to be cautious to avoid getting entangled, if possible.”

I lightly organized my future intentions as I read the contract cover to cover, and just as I was about to write down the name Greg had just given me and my signature at the bottom.

“Guaagh!”

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, I heard a man’s scream not far off.

In a gray area where usually nothing happened, such a commotion seemed out of place?

With a question mark floating above my head, I stood up.

For whatever reason, it seemed like some kind of uproar was happening outside.