ALL NOVEL Chapter 51
Chapter 1: Night Haven’s Chaotic Charm
“Night Haven is officially a free city with a population reaching millions, at least according to the census.”
“And it’s a sort of autonomous city-state, not belonging to any country.”
“If you’re a meta Human, you’re welcome here.”
“If you’re of a different race, this is the place for you.”
“Under the philosophy of the powerful Dragon Mayor, those of other races, originally from different worlds, could easily enter and exit the city without complex procedures.”
“Thus, skilled individuals from various races began pouring into Night Haven like bees to blooming flowers.”
“This was because they found the city, a refuge from the excessive discrimination in human society, incredibly attractive.”
“However, such a radical policy had a double-edged nature, not just positive.”
“An uncontrollable influx of criminal beings from other races came flooding in as well.”
“Vampires, Beastmen, Demons, Orcs, Ogres, Treants, and others.”
“Those who found human rules bothersome wanted to act on their own terms, creating all sorts of trouble and plunging the city into chaos.”
“With the mindset that if it’s a city for other races, I can live however I want, they were quite brazen.”
“We will increase police forces to enhance public safety in the city. Huh… These damn criminals! If I catch them right in front of me, I swear I’ll split their heads in two!”
“Uh, Mayor… the mic is still on.”
“W-what? Cough, cough… That’s it! Today’s announcement is over. Edit that part out, quickly!”
“Fortunately, thanks to the Dragon Mayor’s intimidating influence, who openly declared he would smash anyone who blatantly caused a ruckus, the rising crime rate gradually began to settle down.”
“No matter how much one wished to run wild, no one wanted to face a walking natural disaster adorned with a Dragon Heart radiating magical power.”
“However, as long as it remains undetected, it isn’t a crime.”
“There were still unresolved issues scattered throughout the nooks and crannies of Night Haven that were out of sight and reach.”
“Of course, it’s inevitable when various races with diverse personalities and tendencies gather in one city.”
“Still, despite the darkness of Night Haven, it remains an attractive city for those of other races.”
“If cats weren’t cute, they’d have gone extinct long ago; likewise, Night Haven, where criminals run wild, still retained its unique sense of freedom.”
“Among the appealing elements of Night Haven was the stunning urban scenery and ample leisure spaces available.”
“Cafes, theme parks, large stadiums, performance halls, art galleries, hot springs….”
“You could find plenty to enjoy without even leaving Night Haven, and parks designed for citizens to enjoy nature were also quite popular leisure spots.”
“Central Park No. 3.”
“Unlike Central Parks No. 1 and 2, which are close to the city hall where the Dragon Mayor works, this one is a bit distant and not as popular.”
“Compared to the crowdedness of the other two parks, it felt almost deserted.”
“Still, it was one of the few places in this city filled with skyscrapers and neon signs where people could enjoy nature, so locals often used it as a rendezvous point.”
“Well, maybe it’s because it’s winter and snow is falling heavily now that I can’t see a single person passing by.”
“I quietly watched the falling snow beneath the eaves of the park information center building.”
“The gently floating snowflakes from the sky made for a delightful sight in themselves. It felt like time was flowing slowly as I stared absentmindedly.”
“Fwooooo!”
“Suddenly, a gust of wind mixed with snow swept past me.”
“The cold wind creeping through the skirt of my maid outfit was quite fierce.”
“Well, it is cold. I should’ve worn something thicker.”
“I felt a shiver run down my spine and absentmindedly rubbed my thighs.”
“I just want to get inside somewhere. Where is Sabrina?”
“As I thought that and blinked in a daze, I suddenly saw someone hurrying from a distance.”
“In the blink of an eye, the small figure turned recognizable as none other than Sabrina.”
“You’re late; I almost turned into a snowman standing here!”
“Huff, huff… I’m sorry! The subway suddenly stalled due to an accident… I was late because I ran to get here!”
“…”
“Wait, the subway stalled?”
“It seems there was some reason for leaving me out here in the cold for an hour.”
“Well, it can’t be helped. It’s not like Sabrina wanted to be late.”
“Honestly, running all the way here in under an hour is quite impressive.”
“But still….”
“I was feeling a bit peeved, so I stepped up to Sabrina, whose face was filled with remorse.”
“And suddenly grabbing her hand, I pulled her forcefully into my coat pocket.”
“Uh, eh…! Y-Yuria?!”
“….”
“How’s that? Cold, right? I’ll give you the punishment of being my coat’s furnace.”
“I felt the warmth of Sabrina, who had stiffened in surprise, as I playfully brushed off the snow from her bangs with my other hand.”
“In this cold winter, the fact that she was that warm meant she must have run quite hard.”
“It even made me feel a little guilty.”
“Speaking of which… Sabrina dressed up quite a bit today.”
“As I looked closely, I realized her appearance was different from usual.”
“Her usual hairstyle was let down instead of tied back, and there was a glisten of something minimal on her previously makeup-free face.”
“Her clothes, too, went from boyish shorts to a flowing, knee-length dress paired with knee-high socks. She didn’t seem like the usual laid-back Sabrina at all.”
“Could it be she got all dolled up just to meet me?”
“If so… that would make her a seriously earnest and sincere Bear Beastwoman!”
“It was a display of tremendous effort just for a simple meeting to apologize.”
“Um… so, um, I don’t really look good in this, do I?”
“…!”
“Wow, you look super cute! Honestly, you’re the best beauty out there!”
“That’s pretty much what I wanted to convey through my gestures full of heartfelt support.”
“Uh, d-did I…? It’s really not bad?”
“…!”
“Hehe… Oh, that’s a relief….”
“Fortunately, my intentions got through to her.”
“Having gained some confidence, Sabrina’s expression brightened, forgetting her earlier embarrassment about being late. Yep, it’s true, everyone looks better with a smile.”
“After we joined up, we leisurely left the park.”
“I hadn’t thought about anything today, so I was planning to leave all the decisions up to Sabrina. I really had no clue what was around here anyway.”
“‘For now, it’s still too early for lunch. Let’s head to a café. Leina told me there’s a new dessert café nearby…’”
“Snow kept falling abundantly from the sky, piling atop Sabrina and me.”
“But maybe because we were holding hands inside our coats.”
“My legs felt chilly, but it was significantly warmer than before.”