I Became the Cute One in the Problem-Solving Team

I had two main reasons for not getting a terminal until now.

First, there was money, and the second was, of course, the issue of my identity.

Before explaining that, I should probably clarify what a terminal is.

Simply put, it’s akin to a smartphone in this world.

You can make calls, send messages, take photos, and use the internet. Functionally, it’s not much different from a smartphone, an essential item for modern folks.

But, you might wonder why we don’t just call it a smartphone, and insist on calling it a terminal… Well, there were various reasons.

The emergence of different races, prolonged wars, and the shift in technology and social culture led smartphones to become losers of the era.

On top of that, in this time, there are so many devices that are impossible to call phones, like bracelets, earrings, or even piercings. So, it’s just easier for everything to get lumped under the term terminal.

Anyway, since you can do all sorts of things with just one device, despite advancements, it’s practically impossible for it to be cheap.

If I exclude the small expenses like the snacks I sometimes buy when I’m starving, I’d have to work nearly a full month just to buy a basic terminal outright, right?

In other words, acquiring a decent terminal was quite a hurdle for me. My income was more like pocket money from a part-time job, and when unexpected expenses arise, it gives me a headache.

‘Plus… the identity issue is a pain too. There’s a telecom company here, and to use the functions properly, I’d need to sign up. But for that… usually, you need an ID.’

Seriously, my finances were already tight, and even if I had money, in the end, the identity issue was always a stumbling block.

Given all of this, although living with a terminal seemed delightful, it was just a pipe dream for me. It’s a bit envious, really, to live as a citizen of Night Haven.

But that was only true when I was pursuing things through proper and honest means.

Let’s think about this. Surely, I can’t be the only one living in this city without an identity, right?

There are former criminals exiled from overseas, refugees who’ve discarded their names due to being pursued, and avengers who’ve even thrown away their identities to settle grudges, among others.

It wouldn’t be surprising if a mountain of people were unable to disclose their identities openly for various reasons.

Would merchants just overlook potentially profitable items? No way… they wouldn’t!

“Hey, did you hear the news? That organization we talked about last time got smashed after messing with Snake.”

“Ah, I knew that would happen. Those hicks from outside strutted around and got caught by a monster’s eye. This place isn’t somewhere you can mess around in and get away with it.”

“Whoa, move aside! This is a bomb! A bomb!”

“Hmm… this collection seems to have considerable value.”

In the Northern Slum of Night Haven.

This area was so cut off that neither buses nor subways could properly reach it, making it one of the most neglected and dangerous neighborhoods in Night Haven.

With decrepit buildings and a rancid stench in the air, it was populated by fierce beastmen sporting horrific scars and bizarre tattoos, truly a sight that gave a stark contrast to the relatively clean city folks.

Thanks to the stronghold of beastmen, some order was maintained in the western part, but in the north, where there wasn’t a strict ruler, every day was a battlefield soaked in blood.

However, perhaps because it seemed so challenging to create anything of value here, surprisingly, the black market was thriving.

In a way, it might have an advantage that it’s difficult to pinpoint any central figure since there’s no clear leader.

Anyway, in this stubborn black market that couldn’t be eradicated no matter what, you could buy and sell just about anything.

Rare beastmen eyes, internal organs, core technologies from famous companies, even crazy paintings by art masters were freely traded here.

Items that one couldn’t normally part with due to fears of consequences were exchanged without hesitation.

Well, it was a common occurrence for someone without proper backing to get robbed while trying to buy or sell items here.

But aside from such cases, there probably isn’t a more attractive or enticing place for the darkly-inclined.

“…”

Wrapping myself in the black robe I had casually purchased during an outing with Sabrina, I briskly made my way into the Northern Slum’s black market.

To avoid getting caught, I tightly tied my hair back and concealed it carefully. Instead of the fox mask Greg had gifted me, I wore a goblin mask for thorough disguise—perfectly prepared for any scenario.

When I glanced at the mirror earlier, the disguise seemed decent. I figured this would probably be enough to mask my identity even from someone who might know Yuria. …Maybe, right?

‘…That aside, this is my first time here. All the buildings are so low. I can’t just casually use telekinesis to fly around.’

The Northern Slum was overall characterized by short buildings and dirty floors and walls.

It reminded me of a poor mountain neighborhood.

Considering the western maze was crammed with high-rise buildings dripping with money, it was surprising the stark contrast one could find in the same underworld.

I definitely made the right call hiding out in the west rather than the north.

Thinking this to myself, I lightly passed through tight crowds and slipped into a narrow alley.

The place I was aiming for was not a busy thoroughfare but deeper inside the alley. It’s time to head in.

As I entered the alley, perhaps because my robe stood out, those lingering in the alley pulled out knives and confronted me.

“Hey, wait a minute, kid. You wanna pass through here? Then hand over everything you got… Gah!”

“Hey! What the hell are you doing, you punk… urgh!”

Bam! Slam!

I effortlessly delivered a telekinetic slap to the heads of each thug, who didn’t even remember the last time they faced telekinesis.

Thanks to the improvement in precision and distance of my telekinesis, knocking out those with knives was easier than yawning.

With me this far away, even if a passerby happened to be nearby, they would surely think that those guys just suddenly collapsed rather than suspect me of anything, right?

‘That said, goodness. What a bunch of nasty folks. I guess I have no choice but to charge them a surprise fee.’

Thinking this in my head, I looted the wallets of those who were foaming at the mouth while lying there.

After all, if I just stood here, a pack of hyenas would come and strip me bare.

No one would say anything if I just made off with some cash first. Hehe, I’ll spend it wisely.

“Hey, don’t just… urgh!”

“Cough! Hand over everything! Or I’ll take all your insides… cough!”

“U-uh, are you a magician? …Ack!”

Bam! Bam! Bam!

After I knocked out the three goons blocking the way, I finally reached my intended destination.

‘If it’s the place from the original, it should be around here… Hmm, it really looks shabby.’

I halted in front of a building that, without a sign buried in dust, could pass for an ordinary house.

The sign read “General Store” in simple Chinese characters.

I was certain I had come to the right place to see such rarely used characters in Night Haven.

…But now that I was about to enter, I felt a bit nervous.

Feeling a tremor in my body, I casually pushed the door inward to enter.

Well, that was the plan.

Just as I was about to grab the doorknob, loud commotion erupted from inside.

“Get out now! You damn bastard!”

“Ah! Master! It hurts! It hurts!”

“Then let me hit you until it hurts to death, you idiot!”

Whoa, better step back for a moment.

As I thought that and took a few steps away from the door, almost simultaneously, it swung open, and a young man dashed out frantically.

“I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to!”

With messy, honey-colored hair sticking out like bees had swarmed it, a somewhat timid-looking guy rolled on the ground and scrambled away into the depths of the alley.

He looked so out of it; he didn’t even notice my presence by the door.

Next out was a woman with thick, round glasses perched on her red-head.

She looked to be in her late 20s to early 30s, and though freckles dotted her nose, her busty figure and revealing sleeveless outfit made her three times more attractive.

She was chasing after the young man, sliding out in her slippers, but then turned to shoot me a sharp glance that was automatically nerve-wracking.

Then, as if she realized I wasn’t just a stranger, she squinted and cautiously spoke.

“Are you… a guest?”

“….”

“Dammit… come inside. It’s cold outside.”

Nodding at her question, she rubbed the back of her neck like she questioned why I showed up right now.

She seemed to have some urgent business to attend to, needing to chase after the guy who just fled, yet still acknowledged me as a guest first.

With a face that had seemingly calmed down, she led me into the shop.

She was quite an adult; a proper mature person, just like Greg or Raven. So cool.

Looks like she’s just as she appeared in the original story.

Thinking that, an unexplainable feeling of intimacy began to blossom inside me.