Dozens of planes come and go nonstop today at Night Haven’s Midnight Airport.
A certain woman who came through the softly opening automatic door took off her hat and called out with a bright expression.
“Finally back! Night Haven!”
The identity of the woman letting her beautiful cherry blossom-colored hair flow freely was none other than Alice.
She had just arrived in Night Haven after taking a flight from the airport near Saintmaria.
When she left, she started before sunrise and barely arrived by lunchtime, but this time she departed in late morning yet it wasn’t even noon yet.
Alice was so moved by the speed of the airplane that easily surpassed trains or cars.
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“Go a bit slower, why are you in such a hurry, you idiot.”
Drruk.
Raven dragging a suitcase with one hand scolded her as he caught up.
His face seemed to say ‘what kind of person is this’.
Even though the trip ended, she’s still grinning like this.
Raven looked completely exhausted by Alice’s unrelenting energy.
Of course, thanks to this trip, she’d shaken off some past emotional baggage.
But her current state wasn’t just because the trip was fun.
“You’re really excited. Is coming to Night Haven that good?”
“Of course. It’s my hometown!”
“…Isn’t your hometown Japan?”
“I was born in Japan, but Night Haven is my spiritual hometown!”
Tsk, Mr. Jin knows nothing about what Night Haven means to different races! Zero delicacy!
Alice said this while holding her forehead and shaking her head.
No city on Earth offers as much freedom for different races as Night Haven.
In a way, it’s more than enough to be considered a spiritual homeland where they can strongly feel a sense of belonging.
However, technically speaking, hometown refers to the place where one was born and raised.
He was merely stating the facts, so his situation was rather unfair.
“That aside… This place seems less crowded than I expected. It doesn’t feel like the Midnight Airport I know.”
After teasing Raven, Alice casually looked around and made this observation.
The reason was simple.
Midnight Airport was one of two airports in Night Haven.
This place was usually packed with people – it was hard to even use the restroom.
What met their eyes now looked like an unpopular airport, with fewer customers than staff.
Well, it wasn’t exactly unpopular since expensive vibes were obvious from floor to ceiling.
Though saying it like that was slightly inaccurate.
Raven answered her question as if it was the most natural thing.
“This is a private terminal for business jet customers. Just using it probably costs a fortune? Even I wouldn’t use this.”
“Hehe… Thanks to Mr. Victor, we get to enjoy such luxury.”
“Yeah, having a good friend sure helps.”
The reason they could use this expensive private terminal was simple.
Victor had rented them a charter plane to return to Night Haven.
Victor was a famous Pixie whose name was known worldwide.
Operating a charter plane through his earnings from commissions wasn’t much of a burden.
Since he planned to stay in Saintmaria a bit longer to recover from serious injuries,
He could lend the charter plane to Raven’s group without much concern.
Planes are so expensive that buying time with money isn’t an exaggeration when it comes to transportation.
Not only did they get a charter plane that avoided contact with others, but it was free too.
There was no doubt Victor was an extremely generous man with muscles as impressive as his generosity.
“Hmm, already missing those muscles of his.”
“If Victor heard that, he’d be pleased.”
As Raven looked up at the sky, thinking fondly of Victor resting in bed,
The rest of their group approached, chatting and walking leisurely behind them.
“Ah, there you two are. We’ve been looking for you.”
“Hm? Why?”
“We’ll be heading out first. Haha… Despite some commotions, this trip was really fun.”
“Hmm… Yeah, glad you enjoyed it. See you at the office after the holiday.”
“Take care! See you after the holiday!”
“Yes.”
“See you again later.”
That’s all, thank you for your hard work.
David and Raine greeted them politely.
They probably planned to return first and unpack.
“Yuria… We can play again next time, right?”
“…!”
Sabrina clinging to Yuria showed a reluctant expression full of attachment.
But thanks to Yuria giving her a light hug and promising to meet again, she somehow managed to part ways.
Why is this guy so popular with girls?
Raven watched Yuria waving goodbye to Sabrina with an exasperated look.
Come to think of it, Alice, Raine, Sabrina…
Even Karen who they’d just met was practically desperate to give Yuria candy.
Thinking about it, she truly was a bewitching woman.
‘Looking at her like this, she seems like a harmless small animal… But the more I dig, the more mysterious she gets.’
He quietly watched Yuria’s back, recalling memories from Belmont.
Indeed, that time she fought against Akashmir, one of the most troublesome among the Seven Stars.
No matter how much she covered herself with cloth, things like body shape, stride, breathing…
Considering the evidence that couldn’t be hidden, that ghost was definitely Yuria herself. No, it had to be.
Then even more reason to be cautious of her.
The fact that she held her own against Akashmir, whom even Raven couldn’t guarantee victory against, meant… she was hiding her power somehow.
‘A being capable of wielding force comparable to the Seven Stars… If she ever goes berserk, I can’t even imagine the damage…’
Whether she’s an impossible esper or someone with fundamentally different magical abilities…
If she’s a time bomb waiting to explode, as a Pixie, Raven couldn’t just blindly protect Yuria.
But if she was truly dangerous, would Greg remain silent after witnessing everything?
Like Drakel the vampire who turned the western labyrinth upside down,
Or Morty the necromancer – if she were that dangerous, Greg wouldn’t trust her like this.
Trusting both Greg and Yuria, Raven had no choice but to suspend judgment.
To recklessly act and ruin their current relationship… He’d grown too close to Yuria.
But after talking enough with Victor in Saintmaria,
And encountering the cat beastman fighting against Morty, he couldn’t help but change his current thoughts.
‘…The Nexus Project and God’s Child, huh.’
Raven turned his gaze from Yuria to the wide glass window beside him.
What met his eyes was Night Haven under the sparkling sunlight.
The rampaging Liberation Army of different races, traces of gods reappearing, the Invader threat still remaining…
Who knows what the future holds, but it won’t be smooth sailing.
Raven secretly thought this to himself.
“Mr. Jin, what are you doing? Let’s go quickly!”
“…?”
“…Ah, right. Let’s go. Home.”
Raven changed his expression like changing masks and followed the two ahead at a leisurely pace.
Alice walking under bright light and Raven remaining in deep shadow.
And Yuria standing beside Alice, looking back.
He suddenly felt that scene was somehow familiar.
*
At the same time, in a mechanical workshop where devices ran nonstop without rest.
A woman with snow-white hair was in such extreme concentration that it was questionable whether she was even breathing.
She was slowly moving a very tiny gear with a screwdriver in her hand.
Following her minute movements, magical lines around her bounced around like melodies.
It was as if the woman was an excellent conductor,
And beneath her, magical laws were being played in a mysterious scene.
And when the finely moving gear made a click sound, as if meshing with something,
The magic power that had been flickering irregularly like a candle before wind began moving precisely along paths as if under someone’s control.
Like clear sounds emerging from a radio that previously emitted strange noises due to mismatched frequencies.
The magic power poured down into a small doll on the desk in front of the woman.
Ten seconds, or rather exactly eleven seconds passed.
At that moment, the doll on the desk slowly opened its eyes… and spoke.
“Hello master. Nice to meet you.”
“It’s, it’s doneeeeeee!”
The snow-white haired woman cried out in joy upon seeing the doll stand up.
This was the ecstasy of a mechanic who worked tirelessly even during the holidays.
