The Way to the 6th Floor!
The Tower was currently plunged into unprecedented chaos. Cyber City had sealed itself off. The Tower elevator leading up to the 6th Floor had ground to a halt. Even the Management Bureau couldn't pinpoint the cause. It was as if those urban legends about Cyber City developing ways to sever ties with other floors after the inter-floor war had turned out to be true.
The TV in Meracle's lobby showed footage of people making do like refugees inside the Tower—using their suitcases as pillows or pulling out bedding to lie down flat. They had to go up, but couldn't, so they were hunkering down right there.
"Sigh, what in the world is going on?"
Renea, in the middle of cleaning, leaned on her mop and let out a deep sigh.
"The 6th Floor's environment may be quite unpleasant, but how can one fathom the hearts of those unable to return to their homeland?"
"……."
"At least they have a place to stay—how fortunate! A roof overhead, shelter from the wind!"
To a race that napped flat out at the sight of any tree, the Tower's interior must have looked like some luxury hotel. Anyway.
I'd returned to my daily routine. I'd offered more help, but Yu Ye-na had drawn a clear line.
'You're good now, Juseon. I'll handle it from here.'
'Go back to being Meracle's president. Back to your everyday life.'
Three days since she'd said that and sent me on my way. Meracle was excessively peaceful. Or, to put it bluntly, dead quiet. With Arachino's death throwing Yeoeumhoe into disarray, Meracle—which had been feasting on their business lately—was seeing tumbleweeds roll through.
"Life's full of twists and turns, as they say. But how does it just dry up like this?"
It wasn't just new sign-ups vanishing; even existing members were putting off meetings. Business had ground to a halt. Worse, even our regular members were thinning out, spooked by the Yeoeumhoe connection.
"Ah…… Good thing I didn't buy that car."
I was patting myself on the back for dodging hard mode when Renea piped up proudly.
"Behold this! When this lady speaks, manna falls even from your dreams!"
"A living, breathing proverb."
We draw wisdom from our ancestors' lives; she is the ancestor. A walking bundle of sage sayings. Who knows—maybe all those old adages we know came from the mutt next door to her.
Kim Yang plopped down beside me, handing over instant coffee, and asked tentatively.
"St-still. Y-you've got m-money, right?"
"Money's not the issue. Don't worry—I won't be delaying paychecks like the old days."
Thank goodness for Yu Ye-na's 200 million in cash. Or maybe thank goodness I'd even considered blowing it on a car. If I'd dumped that as seed money into crypto or stocks, the losses would've been brutal right now. The market was tanking across the board thanks to the 6th Floor mess. Sure, public opinion expected a rebound once it sorted itself out, so I'd held off investing. But no one knew when "normal" would return.
"Sigh, with things like this, you've just gotta roll with the empty lobby."
The lobby was a ghost town. No need to hang out on the 3rd-floor office—we were lounging on the 2nd-floor sofas, watching TV. Raichen, ever diligent, had been glued to the lobby, furiously texting. Things must be going swimmingly with Kim Da Jeong.
"We're not the only ones in this boat, right?"
"N-no way."
"Everyone else must be the same!"
Kim Yang and Renea tried to console me, but I checked my phone just in case, firing off a message to Tower Soul.
Tower Soul's rep, Yu Ji-hye, picked up right away.
"Hello?"
"Hi, it's Kim Juseon."
"What's up?"
"Just checking in on an industry senior—how've you been?"
"Ah? Must be slow for you right now." Got me.
"Ahem, how's Tower Soul holding up?"
"Same boat. People only date when they've got leisure time. In chaos like this, you just hunker down and minimize spending."
"……Solid advice."
"Not that our base customers are vanishing. Meracle made a killing off Yeoeumhoe clients, though."
"Ahem."
"Gorge too much on the good stuff, and you'll get indigestion. Like now."
She was spot on; nothing to say. We'd raked it in from Yeoeumhoe, but it left Meracle's image…… peculiar.
"Still…… Meracle's motto is we don't turn away customers who show up."
"……Juseon, if Meracle tanks, come to Tower Soul anytime. We've always got a spot for you."
"Thanks just for saying that."
"I mean it."
I hung up. Small harvest: we weren't the only ones hurting.
"Puts my mind at ease. Not just me sinking."
"What gives that woman the right to invite the president to her company?!"
Renea's ears were sharp; she'd caught the whole call and was grumbling. Meanwhile, the TV looped old Cyber City skyline footage, captioned with dramatic "May Never Be Seen Again" flair—classic broadcaster hype.
"……."
Staring at it dredged up my chats with Axis, rolling like end credits. A story I no longer needed to touch. I'd done all I could.
—It's Axis's wish.
That reply lingered strangely.
"Renea."
"Yes?"
She was bored now, no more cleaning left. I asked her.
"Do you have a wish?"
"This lady? Out of the blue?"
"Yeah, just curious."
She beamed back.
"Marriage! This lady wants to fall in love with a super handsome guy!"
"Wasn't it that Cha Woon guy?"
"Nah, not my type anymore. Park Bu-gyeom style now!"
Tastes change fast. Bright, sunny answer. My gaze drifted past to Raichen.
"Raichen? Any wishes?"
He strode over promptly. Could've answered from the lobby, but courtesy to the boss, I guess.
"Ultimately, I aspire to become a great mage. Surpassing my master. But short-term…… learning to be human."
"Seems like you're getting it."
Raichen didn't deny Renea's prickly remark. He was making progress, his way.
"Kim Yang?"
Finally, to her, glued to her phone beside me. She pondered, then……
"……Hot springs?"
Random.
"Hot springs out of nowhere?"
"J-just. N-now that things are c-calmer."
"Getting warmer out, wanna hit the springs before summer?"
"Y-yeah."
"Hm……."
Silly wish. I nodded, stretching.
"Ahhh! Once this blows over, hot springs trip? Like a workshop retreat?"
"F-for real?"
"Ooooo?! For true?!"
"……."
The three perked up. Better reaction than expected.
"No customers anyway. Yeoeumhoe fallout'll take time to clear. Might as well call it vacation."
Indoor waterparks often bundled hot springs these days—perfect.
"Hot springs—! H-hot spwings!"
Excited, Kim Yang grabbed and shook my arm.
"For real?! Not teasing?!"
"Ow, dizzy. Think I'd fake it?"
"Workshop! P-president pays?"
"……Yeah."
200 mil from Ye Ye-na covered that easy.
"Waaa! This lady's always wanted to go! Waaa!"
Renea hopped, hands up, dirtying her own clean floor. Raichen hung back, hesitant. Obvious what he was thinking, so I reassured.
"Bring Da Jeong. But you're on babysitting duty."
"Ah! Thank you, sir!"
He bowed deep, fidgeting. I waved him off to text her; he hustled back to the lobby.
"Alright, let's do it."
Meracle deserved a break too.
"Once this is over."
I muttered low, texting Yu Ye-na.
* * *
Tower Management Bureau. The conference room lights blazed nonstop for three days and nights. Screens symbolizing each floor's reps glowed—save for 6th Floor [AXIS], dark.
6th Floor [AXIS]: OFFLINE
All other floors: ACTIVE
"Haa……."
Director McKellen sighed heavily.
The Tower doors to the 6th Floor were sealed tight—no passage. And this wasn't just Cyber City's lockdown; stranded citizens lingered like refugees, with no telling when inter-floor war might erupt downward. If only they could send forces up…… But impossible, leaving them paralyzed.
How the hell did they block transit?
Second floor ever to self-isolate. Like the 7th.
—……Director McKellen.
A screen lit with clouds and holy motifs: Lazesta Continent's Pope.
—No helping it. Inter-floor war is inevitable now.
"Your Holiness……."
—Sitting idle only buys Cyber City time for total war.
—They're already deep in other floors' lives.
—Perhaps…….
The hesitating Pope was cut off by the 5th Floor rep.
—Use Kim Juseon. Can't go up? Send him to the 7th first, then down to the 6th.
Ancient Murim's screen: a shadow behind a folding screen declared firmly. Fan snap—no better strat.
But Yu Ye-na, listening silently, refused flat-out.
"He's contributed plenty already. Going to the 7th risks exposing him."
—Then we just watch this unfold?
She bit her lip, no rebuttal. No other path to the 6th visible.
Sorry…… I promised to protect you.
Failed again.
Self-mockery swallowed—
Bzzz!
Yu Ye-na's phone vibrated short.
Heart dropping, she checked with trembling fingers.
"……We have it!"
Eyes wide, she shouted urgently. All eyes on her, fist clenched.
"A way to reach the 6th Floor…… without routing through the 7th!"
* * *
Rumble! Crack!
Thunder crashed over Cyber City's sky. Ryu Seram, hunkered in a Helalite skyscraper, stared blankly upward with a sigh.
"How long do we gotta hole up here?"
Thanks to Namgoong Yeon and Jessica dodging trackers, days had passed. Chaos piled on: comms dead, trapped on the 6th. Tower elevators fully sealed, guarded by military gear. The regime had militarized into a dictatorship. Step outside? ID checks and bag searches—by drones, no less.
"Frustrating, huh?"
Jessica sidled up beside her. Even she was swept up, clueless on the full picture.
"You have no idea…… I've missed so many team games already."
Tsking, she kept it light. Jessica chuckled, gazing out too.
Storm clouds. Neon city under thunder.
"Huh?"
Jessica voiced a short, staring skyward.
"What? Something wrong?"
"Well…… Cyber City controls weather somewhat."
"Yeah."
Snow on Christmas, rain on schedule.
"But they can't make lightning, right?"
"Hm? Must be natural. What's weird—"
GRRROOOOAAAARRR!
Earth-shaking roar. Ryu Seram's eyes flashed; she peered through the glass.
"Ah."
It was here. She'd heard this cry before. Goosebumps racing, she yanked on her coat.
"It's here! Here!"
"Huh? What's—?!"
"A monster that skips Tower floors!"
The god-like being whose mere arrival nearly leveled Seoul proper.
GRRROOOOAAAARRR!
Roaring back at her. Space tore beyond the clouds.
One of Ancient Murim's gods descended on the neon city—with her daughter.
