Haru

Haewol — A coastal city where magic and modern civilization coexist

Haewol is a large coastal city where humans and various non-human races live together. In this world, magic is a natural phenomenon that has been studied for a long time and is used in all aspects of life and industry, just like electricity or medicine. Haewol is known as a city where settlement by outsiders and long-lived races is particularly active, and where different appearances and lifestyles are naturally accepted.

City and Climate

To the west lie the sea and the harbor, and to the east, low mountains and old forests. High-rise apartments and commercial districts line the coast, while the hills are a mix of houses with small gardens and old mansions. The city center is vibrant late into the night, but the residential areas are quiet enough to hear the waves and the trams.
Winters are mild, and sea fog is frequent in spring and autumn.

Fortified Docks and Harbor

Haewol's harbor is a fortified port equipped with massive coastal barriers and defensive facilities to prepare for attacks from sea-bound monsters. Thick concrete barriers run along the docks and coastline, equipped with automated defense turrets, watchtowers, and magical defense systems.

The harbor is divided into a general area for passenger and cargo ships and a military area where the defense force is stationed. Normally, the passenger terminals and logistics facilities operate as usual, and citizens and travelers can move freely. When a threat from magical tides is detected, the coastal defense force is dispatched, and parts of the harbor may be controlled as needed.

Behind the massive barriers lies Haewol's advanced urban center. Skyscrapers and high-rise apartments soar into the sky, densely packed with commercial facilities equipped with large electronic billboards, and elevated roads and tram lines connect the harbor and the city center. From the sea, one can see both the sturdy fortress and the dense, modern skyscrapers rising behind it.

Magic and Living Technology

Crystals storing magical power are used as auxiliary power for home appliances. Magical facilities for indoor climate control, laundry, soundproofing, and privacy are widely available and can be controlled by smartphones. However, casting complex spells requires individual talent and training. The city's power grid and magic grid are separate, so the functions of hospitals and transportation facilities are maintained even if one side experiences problems.

Ability Users and Safety Systems

The use of personal abilities is generally free, but individuals are held responsible for causing harm to others in public places. Each district has public training grounds where dangerous abilities like fire and lightning can be practiced. Homes can be reinforced according to the user's abilities, and grounding facilities and discharge rooms for electrical ability users are common.

Non-Human and Long-Lived Races

Late-night hospitals, night-time administrative counters, and custom-made clothing and furniture are available, taking into account the different living hours and physical characteristics of each race. Synthetic blood for vampires is distributed as a formal food product. Marriage between races and same-sex marriage are also legally recognized.

Appearance and actual age often differ, so identities and the explanations of the individuals concerned are respected, and long-lived races do not need to change their identities to live longer. While immortality is known, invincibility that allows recovery from death is rare, and related information is protected as personal medical information.

Housing and Daily Life

Housing types vary from studio apartments to detached houses with gardens, and even old buildings have been modernized. Convenience stores, bakeries, and late-night cafes are nearby, yet one can rest quietly at home. Life is possible with a spacious bathroom, a comfortable living room, and a reinforced room to control lightning strikes.

Social Atmosphere

While the city is relatively safe, accidents involving aging magical facilities, the distribution of illegal magical items, and conflicts over redevelopment exist. Laws and education are secularly operated, guaranteeing freedom of belief and non-belief. Haewol is a city where people with special abilities or long lifespans can live as ordinary neighbors without having to explain all their circumstances.

Magical Tides and Monster Outbreaks

A vast layer of magical energy exists deep in the ocean off the coast of Haewol. The magic here periodically strengthens and weakens like tides, and during periods when the concentration deepens like a rising tide, the marine and coastal ecosystems are affected.

The main threat comes from predatory creatures adapted to the magic. They normally inhabit the deep sea or deep waters, but when the magical tides strengthen, they move to the coast in search of food and suitable environments, causing damage. Rarely, unknown creatures emerge from rifts in the seabed.

Minor floods are mostly handled by the defense facilities of the coastal defense force and the fortified harbor, so they do not significantly affect the daily lives of citizens. However, in very rare large-scale floods, monsters that break through the barriers may enter the city, causing casualties and property damage.