Fixers, especially those not well-known, often have deep ties with the underworld.
The reason was simple. There was no place with as much demand for fixers as the underworld.
Think about it. A fixer is essentially a high-performance errand service recognized worldwide.
But ordinary people living normal lives don’t really need much help from fixers.
I mean, how often do office workers, stuck in the daily grind, find themselves in situations so dire they need outside help?
And even if something does come up, most issues can be resolved by the police.
Spending a fortune to hire a fixer is a rare occurrence in one’s life.
However, things were different for those living in the underworld.
This world operated on knives and fists rather than laws—a wild and dangerous place.
A fixer, willing to take any job for money, was like a reliable mercenary.
Moreover, expecting help from the police here was out of the question.
For them, a fixer was literally someone who could turn around desperate situations—a true problem solver.
Fixers also needed fame to land lucrative jobs.
So for unknown fixers, the underworld was an incredibly attractive blue ocean.
“Your name’s Yuria, right? Not a fan of candy? Then how about chocolate? This one’s pretty expensive. What do you think?”
‘And this person too, is a fixer who mainly takes requests from underworld residents. A medical fixer who’ll treat anyone for the right price.’
I cautiously observed the man offering me candy and chocolate, trying to gauge his intentions.
One side of his face scarred and dyed blue, the other white—quite the intimidating figure.
If my memory served me right, his name was Crow.
In the original story, he was a skilled eccentric doctor people often visited when sick.
An open-minded drag artist who didn’t care about gender differences.
He was quite the celebrity in these circles.
Night Haven’s hospitals always left traces behind somehow.
On the other hand, unlicensed private doctors weren’t always trustworthy.
So Crow, a verified fixer with excellent medical skills, naturally stood out.
What? You’re wondering what if it’s someone else who just looks like Crow?
…A rough-looking male doctor with a feminine tone and distinctive hairstyle?
Having two of those in this world would just feel wrong. That’d be some cosmic error.
“…Mr. Crow. If you’re done, could you please check my condition now?”
“Oh my, you’re so cold. I wanted to get closer to this cute kid…”
Apparently, according to Alice gripping my shoulder, this really was Crow himself.
Thank goodness. The world wasn’t broken after all.
Thinking he might get hurt if he heard my earlier thoughts, I politely accepted the candy he offered.
Despite his appearance, his skills were top-notch. No harm in getting along with him.
Looking at the wrapper of the candy I received, it turned out to be mint-flavored.
Offering me something like this… Should I be glad it’s not ginseng candy?
‘Anyway, a check-up? But I’m not feeling sick or anything.’
Come to think of it, that was strange. Don’t people usually go to the hospital when they’re sick?
Suddenly curious, I turned my head back to look at Alice, who was gripping my shoulder.
She flinched under my gaze, guiltily shrinking her shoulders.
It seemed she thought I was mad about being tricked into coming to the hospital.
No, while it was a bit shocking, I wasn’t exactly angry…
What does she think of me? Does she see me as a real child?!
“Wh-what’s wrong?”
“…?”
“Huh? Why am I here? Well… Hospitals aren’t just for when you’re sick! It’s for regular health check-ups!”
“…”
Was that so? Thinking about it, it wasn’t wrong.
Many illnesses progress without symptoms until it’s too late.
Sometimes, early treatment with medicine prevents major surgeries later.
Checking your health beforehand isn’t illogical.
Besides, I hadn’t been to a hospital even once since becoming Yuria.
‘Though, thanks to the Tesseract, I doubt there’s anything wrong with my body… Isn’t this all pointless?’
Months ago, after Drakel injured me badly, the Tesseract healed all my wounds.
I hadn’t been hurt since then. Did this check-up even matter?
Still, judging by Alice’s behavior, Raven or Greg probably asked her to do this.
Fine, let’s just get checked. If I’m healthy, that’s good news, right?
I placed the bag I was holding nearby.
Gently patting Alice’s arm to signal I was fine, I waited.
Fortunately, my message seemed to get across.
She carefully released my shoulder and stepped back slightly.
Regaining my freedom, I raised my arm energetically and looked at Crow.
“…!”
“Oh my, such energy! Hmm. First, let’s remove that mask, shall we? Though I want to respect your secret… it’s a bit in the way of checking your condition. Sorry about that?”
“…”
Ah, yeah. Masks would definitely get in the way during a health check-up.
Since this was a private clinic with no other patients, there was no reason to hide.
After briefly considering, I nodded and lightly removed my fox mask.
Warm air hit my bare face, and Crow’s eyes widened in shock.
His expression was as if he’d been struck by an unexpected blow.
“Oh my, oh my goodness! How can someone be this cute?”
“Cr-Crow?! Please stop, it’s kind of threatening!”
“Ah, sorry. My bad… I can’t resist cute things.”
Whoosh!
Alice suddenly pulled me into her arms and turned my body away.
As if protecting me, she glared at Crow with dagger eyes, issuing a warning.
Her reaction wasn’t surprising.
Crow’s wide-eyed stare, veins popping, was quite menacing.
If I saw that face in a dark alley, I’d definitely think it was a threat.
Could this guy be another hardcore cuteness enthusiast like Alice?
Peeking out from Alice’s embrace, I checked Crow’s expression.
He winked at me with eyes dripping honey. Awkward.
“Hehehe, what a surprise! Ah, how wonderful it would be to have such a child! Now I understand why you wear a mask! Yes, treasures must be hidden from prying eyes!”
“…Can we really trust this guy with Yuria?”
“…”
Well, despite appearances, he doesn’t seem like a bad person, so it’s probably fine?
Smiling lightly, I looked up at Alice, signaling I wasn’t bothered.
“Haa…! Th-that face is cheating!”
“…?”
Alice squeezed her eyes shut and turned her head somewhere far away.
You still love my face this much? Isn’t it time to get over it?
Her ears turned bright red as she sweated nervously, looking quite adorable.
Not long after, I was freed from Alice’s embrace.
He probably had a schedule too. It was best to stop fooling around.
With a melting face, I followed Crow, who gestured for me to come along.
“Alright, I was asked to check your condition. I’ll examine your body thoroughly. Any allergies or medications I should avoid?”
“…”
“None? Got it. Sit here first. Let’s start with your eyes.”
Perhaps his reputation as a master doctor of the underworld wasn’t unfounded.
Crow seated me on a chair and began examining me with utmost seriousness.
He carefully shone light into my eyes, inserted sticks into my ears and nose.
He asked me to open my mouth and examined my throat and teeth closely.
He attached a cold stethoscope to check my heart and lungs.
He measured my weight and height, took pictures in various poses using a CT-like device.
He checked my blood pressure and drew blood with a terrifying syringe.
Finally, with a serious demeanor, he announced:
“…There’s nothing wrong. Healthy… No, your body is so ideal it’s almost unbelievable.”
What? Why are you making such a scary face?
Noticing my subtle glance, Alice tilted her head and asked:
“Ideal? Isn’t that a good thing?”
“…Sigh, you see, the human body naturally becomes imbalanced. Alice, if you chew five times on the right side while eating, you should do the same on the left. Do you act like this in everything?”
“Well, no… How could I?”
Alice squinted tiredly just imagining doing such things.
People usually do whatever’s convenient. Why bother with such tedious tasks?
Crow nodded knowingly and continued:
“Exactly. Since the human body is divided into right and left, one side inevitably gets used more. Naturally, the body loses balance. It’s not bad or strange—it’s just natural. But Yuria’s different.”
“Different?”
“Yes. Her body is in an absolutely ideal state with no imbalance. Maybe… Never mind, I almost asked something unnecessary. So, should I send the results to you, or would you like a printout?”
“…Printout, please. Can I also receive the file separately?”
“Sure. It’s no trouble. I’ll send the results to Raven later.”
Crow rose without hesitation, as if this was no longer his concern.
Maybe my test results were that shocking.
I couldn’t figure out what he almost said.
Still, thinking positively, being perfectly healthy was better than being sick, right?
Hehe, having a flawless body. In a way, it’s the highest compliment, isn’t it?
Feeling satisfied with the results, I nodded to myself.
From inside, Crow, holding thick paper, gestured for Alice to come over.
“Me?”
“Yes. Could you come for a moment? I have something to say… Yuria, just sit there and eat some snacks. Adults need a little time alone.”
“…”
Hmm, a conversation only adults should share?
It piqued my interest. Judging by their subtle glances, it was probably about me.
Normally, I wouldn’t care and would stay quiet…
But I felt mischievous because Alice tricked me into coming here.
‘Echo. Can you listen in on their conversation through Alice’s terminal?’
[Yes! I’ll try!]
Our excellent assistant M immediately executed my request, playing music without a timer on the screen.
Probably, the sound currently playing contained Crow and Alice’s conversation.
I adjusted the volume carefully and brought Echo close to my ear.
Soon, their distant voices reached my ears.
[“As requested, I carefully examined Yuria’s neck. But her vocal cords are extremely healthy. Her inability to speak isn’t due to physical issues. It’s likely psychological… or…”]
[“The curse, perhaps?”]
[“…It’s embarrassing to say this as a doctor, but yes. She’s probably under some kind of curse.”]
…Really? I’m cursed?
I could only blink in surprise at their conversation.
