In Prayer!
Neon-drenched Cyber City, a place that glittered ceaselessly day and night. Rain was a rare sight here—and not the artificial downpour from Axis, but the real deal. Amid towering skyscrapers, a middle-aged man with horn-rimmed glasses watched it through floor-to-ceiling windows. His hair streaked with white, a neatly trimmed beard connecting to his sideburns, and a crisp brown suit. Despite his wrinkled face, he had a sturdy build, standing with hands clasped behind his back as he murmured a brief impression.
"Can't remember the last time it rained like this."
The unique humidity artificial rain could never replicate. The scent of dust-laden drops, the prickling chill in the air. Zeke Fullan, director of Residual Heat, savored it all. That unforced naturalness. That's why he never bothered with cybernetic implants, not even one, and when he took vacations, he headed to Lazesta Continent or the ancient martial world. His philosophy carried over to filmmaking too. He used S.E.L. to capture raw, unfiltered emotions. The results? Works on a whole other level from standard films.
Through his glasses, the hologram screen displayed a news article—the perfect capstone to his masterpiece.
The actors who'd played adulterous lovers in the film couldn't shake their lingering feelings even after wrap—and ended up making it real. That was Zeke's pursuit: realism, immersion stacked on immersion, turning it into reality. He called himself a director, but movies were just a fallback for him. The true ideal was something else, reserved for the elite few. Film was merely the vehicle. The genuine anguish and torment it forged in the actors. S.E.L. would now be exclusive to Cyber City's ultra-rich elite, the Gold Bar circle. All the thrill, fear, jealousy, anxiety, guilt, and rationalization James and Nellivasa felt—raw and unfiltered. True Residual Heat.
But even that pinnacle, Residual Heat, felt lukewarm compared to what Zeke had recently encountered. A live crime stream via fixer Mosco Bi Chacos. Shared by Gold Bar member Villancy as game-like content, it ignited his inspiration.
* * *
Lately, Cyber City news dominated my feeds. From the mayoral election to replace AI Axis, to a string of bizarre incidents.
"All the chaos lately is coming out of Cyber City," I muttered, clicking my tongue as I stood. Seeing headlines like these always made me crave a smoke. Thwack! But Kim Yang, sitting beside me, grabbed my wrist and shook her head.
"Ah, sit."
"……."
"M-Matching meeting."
"I know. My head's just a bit fuzzy. Gimme a sec to step out for a cig."
"Y-You're acting weird lately, boss."
"Huh?"
I tried to shake her off and leave, but Kim Yang sighed, looking at me with genuine worry.
"C-Can't focus."
"……."
"Because of the kids?"
The kids from the cathedral—I'd seen them around since then. Taking Renea along to buy them treats or letting them game at the PC bang. I did what I could. But I couldn't erase the shadows on their faces. What they really wanted was something else entirely.
"Tch. Makes you wonder what that so-called kids' mom is up to."
"M-Maybe."
Kim Yang hesitated. She knew it was harsh, but she steeled herself and took a breath.
"She ditched 'em?"
"……!"
No need to make her say the hard words. I shrugged it off myself, and she nodded with a flinch.
I gave up on the smoke, sank back into my chair, and let out a short sigh.
"Won't happen. The Bi Chacos I know wouldn't do that."
"Why?"
"Huh?"
"Why believe her?"
"……."
Surprisingly, I couldn't answer easily. Fair point. No solid reason to think Bi Chacos would definitely come back for them. That cybernetic implant? Could've just been a farewell gift. The Mosco Bi Chacos I knew suited the fixer life way more. Too much of a hardass to play nun and mom.
But.
"……Gut feeling?"
She'll come back. She has to. I tried to laugh it off awkwardly, figuring it wouldn't convince her—but.
"Y-Yeah. Got it."
Kim Yang accepted it surprisingly easily. Then, as if it were the most natural thing, she dove back into work. Watching her, a strange itch crept over me.
'She trusts me more than I thought.'
Felt good. Proud we'd made it this far. Sitting there, embarrassed for no reason, I fiddled with a drawer.
"Ah."
A photo caught my eye. A blonde girl beaming brightly. Holding a white flower. I'd found it by chance at Bi Chacos's cathedral last time. She'd cleared out all the other kids' photos—but this one lingered.
'Never seen a kid like her.'
Word was, the 6th-floor cathedral was run by a Mexican nun named 'Himena.' Her kid, maybe?
"No way……."
A face flashed in my mind. Kinda similar, maybe.
"Hard to tell without seeing her smile."
I flicked the photo idly, muttering. Show the kids—they might know.
"Gonna head out early today."
"Ch-Cheater."
Jealous? Be the boss then.
* * *
Rain poured over Cyber City's skyline. On a skyscraper rooftop, Mosco Bi Chacos stared blankly at the sky, cigarette dangling from her lips. No sign of it letting up. With Axis gone, climate system chatter was rampant—this was no manipulation. Real monsoon season dumping on the city.
Beep-beep-beeeep!
An alert buzzed from her pocket as she savored the smoke. Irritation flared; she crunched the filter between her teeth. No rest, even for a second. With a sigh, she pulled out her terminal.
Mayoral Candidate Ellik Drulv Assassination
Reward: The Children's Health
"Not a failure yet. I can try again."
Bi Chacos typed frantically, but as if reading her desperation, the reply mocked her.
"……."
"Cut the crap. I said I can do it again. This time, his head's—."
Blunt pressure. Rain pattered on the green terminal screen. Bi Chacos gnashed her teeth and replied.
"Contract's still valid."
"I'm a fixer. I deliver for the pay. Looking after the kids? Part of the deal."
"……."
Hoo—. She exhaled the lingering smoke like residual heat, issuing a low warning.
"You. And whoever else is getting off on this. I'll kill every last one of you."
"Sister Himena."
Silence. Thought the terminal glitched out, but after a brief pause—like catching a breath.
The intel on Himena came instantly—chilling. I'd sensed it during the candidate hit; she was clearly a puppet in some massive, grotesque scheme.
"……."
The screen lit up. Went black, then showed a 3rd-floor cathedral.
Bi Chacos's eyes widened in horror. A building she'd never seen—but matching every detail Sister Himena had described like a fairy tale. The place she'd dreamed of visiting as a smiling child. But now, it filled her with dread.
"Don't—!"
She screamed desperately, but the feed marched toward the cathedral. First-person view—a cruel courtesy for the impending horror.
"Stop—!"
Her raw screams went unanswered. As the figure reached for the cathedral door—
—Huh?
A voice from the screen—not welcome, but unforgettable. A man stepping out with a cigarette: Kim Juseon, face zoomed in large.
"K-Kim Juseon?"
The terminal showed the assassin facing him. Juseon took the cig from his mouth and spoke.
The view dipped low, then rose. A nod. But Juseon smiled, not budging.
The proffered business card was a far cry from Meracle's early days.
In countless worlds, we find your miracle.
Hunter Specialist Matchmaking Agency, Meracle
Grinning, Juseon tried leading the assassin away—but the view shook. The assassin's swung fist flew at Juseon. Yet the one tumbling out the door onto the ground was the assassin.
"Told you, talk outside."
Kim Juseon strolled out, cig back in mouth, sighing.