"I haven't gotten myself a communicator until now for two big reasons.
First, it's the money. And second, as you might guess, it's an issue of identity."
"Before I explain further, I suppose I should describe what a communicator actually is.
Simply put, it's the equivalent of a smartphone in this world."
"It can make calls, send messages, take photos, and even browse the internet.
Functionally, it's not much different from a smartphone, something essential for modern life."
"But why don't they just call it a smartphone? Well... there are a variety of reasons."
"The emergence of different species, the long-standing wars, the advancements in technology, and the changes in societal culture—all of these contributed to the decline of smartphones. They became relics of a bygone era."
"Moreover, in this era, communicators come in forms like bracelets, earrings, and even piercings—shapes that can hardly be called phones. Calling them 'communicators' is just more convenient in many ways."
"Anyway, given that these devices combine so many functions into one, it's no surprise they're far from cheap."
"If you exclude minor expenses like the occasional snack when I’m hungry, I’d need to work diligently for an entire month just to afford a basic model outright."
"In other words, getting my hands on a decent communicator is quite the hurdle.
My income is barely pocket money from part-time work, so any major expense like this gives me a headache."
"‘And on top of that... the real nuisance is the issue of identity.
There are telecom companies here, and to properly use a communicator, you need to register. To register... you typically need an ID card.’"
"Being strapped for cash is one thing, but even if I had the money, the identity issue would still hold me back."
"Because of all this, no matter how convenient life with a communicator might be, it’s nothing more than a pipe dream for me. A luxury that’s out of reach.
I envy them, really—those who get to live as citizens of Night Haven."
"But this is only true if you’re playing it by the book, sticking to the honest and proper way."
"Let’s think about it. Surely, I’m not the only one in this city living without an identity.
Exiled criminals from overseas, fugitives who’ve abandoned their names, avengers who’ve cast aside their identity for revenge, and so on."
"There must be heaps of people here who can’t openly declare their status for one reason or another.
Do you think merchants would just ignore such a lucrative market? Not a chance!"
"‘Hey, did you hear about that group I mentioned before? They got torn apart by Snake the other day.’
‘Ah, I figured as much. Those out-of-town bumpkins didn’t know their place and started acting up. Guess they caught the monster’s eye. Around here, if you act out, you’ll get stabbed in no time.’
‘Whoa, move, move! This is a bomb! A bomb, I tell you!’
‘Hmm... this piece seems quite valuable.’"
"Welcome to the northern slums of Night Haven.
This place is so cut off that even buses and subways rarely reach it. It’s one of the most crime-ridden areas in the entire city."
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"Run-down buildings reeking with a stench that assaults your nose, intimidating non-human species with grotesque scars and bizarre tattoos dangling from their bodies.
Compared to the relatively tidy citizens of the main city, this place feels like a world apart."
"Unlike the western side, where the beastkin have established enough power to maintain some semblance of order, the north is a chaotic battleground with no clear ruler. Every day is a bloody struggle for survival."
"Still, surprisingly, despite its decrepit appearance, the northern slums host a thriving black market.
Perhaps the lack of a centralized authority makes it nearly impossible to uproot its operations entirely."
"Here, you could find and sell just about anything. Rare organs from exotic species, corporate secrets, blood-soaked cursed swords forged by mad artisans—you name it."
"Of course, if someone without the right backing tries to make a deal, they often end up getting robbed or worse. But aside from those cases, there’s no more enticing place for the desperate and the shady."
"...."
"With my face deeply hidden under a black robe I had secretly bought during an outing with Sabrina, I casually strolled through the black market of the northern slums."
"I tied my hair back tightly to ensure it stayed hidden and wore a goblin mask instead of the fox mask Greg had given me—just in case.
When I checked in the mirror earlier, the disguise seemed convincing enough. Even someone familiar with Yuria would probably struggle to recognize me like this. ...Right?"
"‘...Anyway, this is my first time here. The buildings are all so low. It’s not like I can just fly around freely using telekinesis.’"
"The northern slums were mostly low-rise structures with dirty walls and grimy floors.
It reminded me of shantytowns or makeshift neighborhoods."
"Considering the western labyrinth was filled with towering, gold-plated buildings, it’s surprising how stark the difference is between two parts of the underworld."
"Good thing I decided to hide out in the west instead of the north.
Weaving my way through the dense crowd like a thread through a needle, I slipped into a narrow alley off the main street."
"The destination I had in mind wasn’t along the bustling main roads but rather tucked away deep within the alleys. It was about time for me to head in."
"As I turned into the alley, my robed appearance must have drawn some unwanted attention. The individuals lingering there immediately pulled out knives and tried to pick a fight."
“Hey, hold on, kid. You wanna get through here? Then hand over everything you’ve got, and—grrk!”
“H-hey! What the hell is this guy trying to—ugh!”
Thwack! Thwack!
"I kindly delivered a telekinetic flick to each of their foreheads—a skill I hadn’t used in so long that I’d almost forgotten about it."
"Thanks to the increased precision and range of my telekinetic abilities, knocking out those threatening me with knives was easier than yawning."
"From this distance, even if someone happened to pass by, it would probably look like those guys just randomly collapsed rather than me doing anything suspicious."
‘Well, that was unexpected. What nasty people. I guess I’ll just have to collect a small surprise fee for the trouble.’
"With that thought, I rummaged through the pockets of the foam-mouthed men on the ground, pulling out their wallets and helping myself to the money inside."
"After all, if I left them lying here like this, the hyenas in the slums would strip them of everything anyway. Nobody’s going to complain if I just take the cash. Heh, I’ll put it to good use."
“Hey, this place isn’t for brats like—urk!”
“Cough! Hand over everything you’ve got, or I’ll rip out your—gah!”
“W-wait, are you a mage? ...Ugh!”
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
"After dealing with three more thugs blocking my way, I finally reached my intended destination."
‘If I remember correctly from the original, this should be the place. Hmm... it really is shabby.’
"The building I stopped in front of looked utterly unremarkable—so much so that, without the dusty sign, you might mistake it for just another ordinary house."
"The sign bore the simple Chinese characters for 'General Store.'
Seeing this rare script in Night Haven reassured me that I was in the right place."
"...But now that I was about to go in, I couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous.
Suppressing the shiver running down my spine, I pushed the door open to step inside."
"Or rather, I tried to.
Just as my hand reached for the doorknob, I heard a loud commotion from within."
“Get out of here, you worthless bastard!”
“Ack! Master, it hurts! It really hurts!”
“Of course it hurts, you idiot! Do you think I’m hitting you to make you feel better?!”
‘Well, looks like I should step back for a moment.’
"With that thought, I moved about three steps away from the door. Almost immediately, the door burst open, and a flustered young man came stumbling out."
“I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to, I swear!”
"His yellow hair, looking like it had been dipped in honey, gave him a rather feeble appearance. Scrambling on all fours, he darted down the alley like a frightened animal, not even noticing me standing nearby."
"Next, a red-haired woman wearing thick, round glasses stepped out of the store."
"She looked to be in her late twenties or early thirties. Her freckled nose gave her a unique charm, but what truly stood out was the sleeveless top she wore, showing off a generous figure that made her presence all the more striking."
"Sliding her slippers along the ground, she seemed ready to chase after the yellow-haired man, but her sharp gaze landed on me instead, making me instinctively tense up."
"Then, as if realizing I wasn’t just some passerby but rather a customer, she narrowed her eyes and cautiously spoke."
“Are you... a customer?”
“...”
"When I nodded silently, she sighed, rubbing the back of her neck as if lamenting her bad timing. She must have been torn—chasing after the man or attending to the unexpected guest."
"But it seemed that, despite her urgency, she believed in prioritizing her customers.
After calming herself, she gestured for me to follow her inside."
"Her composure reminded me of Greg or Raven—mature and reliable in every sense of the word. Really impressive."
‘She’s just like in the original,’ I thought, feeling a sudden, inexplicable sense of familiarity with her.