Nighthaven was a free city-state with an officially recorded population numbering in the millions.

    It belonged to no nation and operated as an autonomous city-state.

    “If you are Meta-Human, you belong. If you’re a non-human race, this is your home.”

    Under the philosophy of the powerful Dragon Mayor, anyone from another world belonging to a non-human race could enter and exit the city freely without complicated procedures.

    Because of this, hordes of capable non-humans began flocking to Nighthaven like bees drawn to flowers.

    This was because the city held immense appeal to non-humans who had been marginalized and battered by excessive discrimination policies in human societies.

    However, such an aggressive policy came with its downsides.

    Large numbers of uncontrollable non-human criminals also poured into the city.

    Vampires, beastfolk, demons, orcs, ogres, dryads, and the like.

    Those who considered human laws bothersome and acted as they pleased caused chaos and plunged the city into disarray.

    Their shameless attitude could be summed up as: “It’s a city for non-humans, so why not live however I want?”

    “We’ll expand the police force and work harder to maintain public order in the city. Damn these criminals! Let them just try to get caught in front of me—I’ll split their heads in two!”

    “Uh... M-Mayor, the microphone is still on.”

    “What? What did you say? Ahem... This concludes today’s announcement. Edit this out, quickly!”

    Perhaps thanks to the influence of the Dragon Mayor, who openly declared he would smash anyone who dared to defy him, the once-soaring crime rate was beginning to subside.

    After all, no matter how recklessly one might wish to act, nobody wanted to face a walking natural disaster equipped with a Dragon Heart emanating overwhelming magical power.

    But in the end, crimes that go unnoticed aren’t crimes, are they?

    Unresolved issues still plagued the far corners of Nighthaven, beyond the reach of watchful eyes and hands.

    When so many individuals of diverse personalities and temperaments gathered in one city, such problems were inevitable.

    Even so, Nighthaven, despite its shadows, remained an attractive city for non-humans.

    Just as cats are adorable enough to avoid extinction, Nighthaven, even with its rampant crime, retained its charm through its unique sense of freedom.

    Among the city’s appealing features were its stunning urban aesthetics and an abundance of recreational spaces.

    Casinos, theme parks, massive stadiums, theaters, art galleries, hot springs—there was no shortage of things to enjoy within Nighthaven. Its parks, designed to let citizens experience nature, were also popular leisure spots. RA?NO?ЕS?

    Central Park No. 3.

    Unlike Central Parks No. 1 and 2, which were close to City Hall where the Dragon Mayor worked, this park was located far away and wasn’t very popular.

    Compared to the bustling crowds in the other two parks, this one felt almost deserted.

    Still, it was one of the few places in the city filled with skyscrapers and neon lights where people could enjoy nature. Because of this, it was often used as a meeting spot by nearby residents.

    Well, except now. With the heavy snow falling in winter, there truly wasn’t a soul in sight.

    I stood under the eaves of the park’s information center, quietly watching the snow fall.

    The snowflakes floated down gently from the sky, providing delightful entertainment all on their own. It was the kind of sight that made time seem to flow aimlessly.

    Whoosh!

    A sudden gust of wind, mixed with snow, brushed past my body.

    The chill seeping through the hem of my maid dress was quite biting.

    It really is cold. I should’ve dressed warmer.

    Feeling a shiver run down my spine, I rubbed my thighs together for some warmth.

    I really want to get inside somewhere warm soon. When is Sabrina coming?@@@@

    As I blinked and stared absentmindedly, I suddenly noticed someone sprinting toward me from afar.

    The small figure quickly closed the distance, becoming recognizable—it was none other than Sabrina.

    “You’re late. I almost turned into a snowman out here.”

    Since I hadn’t made any plans for the day, I decided to leave everything up to Sabrina. Besides, I didn’t know the area well anyway.

    “Since it’s still a bit early for lunch, let’s head to a cafe. Reine said a new dessert cafe opened nearby....”

    Snow was still pouring down from the sky, piling up on top of both my and Sabrina’s heads.

    But maybe because we were holding hands inside my coat pocket, the cold didn’t feel as bad as it had earlier.

    The dessert cafe Sabrina led me to was a place that sold cakes.

    It had plenty of seating, so we found a quiet spot in a corner away from the main path.

    Cakes, huh...

    I hadn’t had a proper cake from a dessert cafe like this before.

    But since I had a sweet tooth, I was pretty sure I’d like it no matter what I ordered. I’m getting excited.

    As I mulled over whether to get a classic strawberry shortcake or an orange tart, Sabrina, seated across from me, was also agonizing over her choice.

    “Ugh... Wh-Which one’s good...?” she muttered with a troubled look.

    Ah, you’re not used to places like this either, huh?

    Come to think of it, with Sabrina’s serious and hardworking personality, she’d probably spend her free time training instead of hanging out with friends at cafes.

    Feeling an odd sense of kinship with her, I chuckled to myself and pointed at a safe choice—the humble egg tart.

    This one can’t be bad. Even people who don’t like desserts would love it.

    Sabrina, trusting my recommendation, nodded in agreement and decided to get it.

    After a short wait, our desserts arrived along with our drinks.

    On my side was a strawberry shortcake topped with a big, plump strawberry, while Sabrina had chosen the golden-colored egg tart.

    “...!”

    “Mm! So good!”

    The moment we each took a bite of our desserts, an unintentional exclamation of awe escaped from us both.

    The taste was so incredible that it felt like our eyes had been blown wide open.

    As expected of a high-end dessert cafe!

    It was no wonder Reine had personally recommended it.

    To be honest, I’d been hesitant at first since the price was a bit steep, but...

    It’s definitely worth the money.

    I didn’t regret the cost at all. It was that good.

    While I was thinking that, I stabbed the strawberry with my fork and nibbled on it.

    Suddenly—

    Crash! Clatter! Thud!

    “Kyyaaahh!”

    “...?!”

    “H-Huh?!”

    A loud crash echoed from nearby, along with a panicked scream.

    Naturally, Sabrina and I turned our heads in the direction of the sound.

    There, we saw a woman with blue skin sprawled on the floor, having dropped the tray she was carrying.

    What... What’s happening?

    Both Sabrina and I glanced at each other, puzzled. Neither of us knew what to make of the situation.