Chapter 11 : Gateway

Lost in thought, I noticed Kang Rimun’s finger pointing to the city’s center, where the tallest buildings loomed.
“This is simply called the Core, home to Megacorp’s headquarters and key administrative bodies. Ordinary citizens can’t even enter.”
“It looks and feels important, and the name’s pretty clear too.”

Nodding, Kang Rimun moved his finger to a massive ring, supported by pillars, floating at mid-height around the Core’s skyscrapers.
“This is Flare Ring, where nearly all the city’s broadcasting, entertainment, and advertising facilities are concentrated.”
“I saw it when we descended yesterday—flashy and dazzling.”

Flare Ring, huh? No wonder it was so vibrant.

As I recalled yesterday’s view, Kang Rimun’s finger kept moving.
“Below Flare Ring is Glimmer Garden, a hub for everything too low-class for Flare Ring and a central transit route.”
“Wrapped around the city’s core, it must see heavy traffic.”
“That, and there are few paths between districts that don’t pass through Glimmer Garden. Cheongdo and Nodril are practically cut off from each other.”
“Hm…”
“Babel Stack, southeast below Cheongdo, is a maze, but it’s got its own rules. That’s why I suggested starting with Glimmer Garden.”

All the “low-class” stuff gathers in Glimmer Garden, he said.
I’d rather avoid taking Freesia there, but it sounds unavoidable.

“Babel Stack is one giant building, entirely a slum, with different factions controlling each level, making it unpredictable. Further southeast, the cartel-run Espera.”

He pointed to the coastline beyond Babel Stack and Espera.
“This is Mist Shore, along the coast.”
“The coast… you mean that pitch-black place?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“What happened to the sea…?”
“That’s a long story. I’ll tell you another time if we get the chance.”

Done with Cheongdo’s neighboring districts, Kang Rimun spun the city map faster.
“The abandoned southern district, Gray Depths; the industrial Iron Vein; Rain Rift; Codex Zone; Delmin; Emerian Heights; Erata Square; Sigframe.”

He rattled off names clockwise from the east.
“Twelve districts, one for each direction, plus the central Core, Flare Ring, Glimmer Garden, and coastal Mist Shore. And—”

He pointed to Babel Stack again… no, below it.
“Fake Haven, an unofficial district beneath Babel Stack. Lake City has 17 districts in total.”
“That’s a lot. What do the ones you just named do?”
“I’ll give you this terminal when you leave. Tap a district on the map like this, and it’ll show details.”
“I’m getting a lot here.”

Without the language translator, I wouldn’t even be having this conversation.

Glancing at the watch-like device on my wrist, Kang Rimun shook his head.
“That was payment for handling the Crashed yesterday. This is part of the reward for today’s job. Just standard practice for hiring an outsider and paying fairly.”
“Hm? Wasn’t today’s job just for two meals?”
“…Expensive.”

He’d said natural ingredients were insanely pricey, and this was actually a bargain.
I stared at him, and he shifted his gaze from the map to me.
“Think of it as a bonus. It’s better than having an unscathed outsider, who broke out of Nodril head-on, lingering in Cheongdo.”
“You were cagey yesterday, but you’re blunt today.”
“No issues now. ORRYX’s pressure was deflected by Tessarix’s bizarre antics, and even if it wasn’t, you and the girl would’ve been a ticking time bomb in Cheongdo. You’re leaving for another district soon.”

Kang Rimun squinted with a faint smile.
Yesterday, my dramatic arrival and Megacorp’s pressure must’ve put him on edge.

“So, a terminal with a map? No big deal.”
“Well, I won’t say no.”

Chatting, Kang Rimun pulled out a letter-like item, tapped below the giant ring, and zoomed in on a chaotic, flashy street.
“The job is to deliver this to Glimmer Garden.”
“A letter?”
“Close enough.”

Delivery, huh? He said all of Glimmer Garden’s under that ring.
It’s not like I can drop it anywhere in that huge district.

“Where in Glimmer Garden exactly? Or, even if I knew, wouldn’t I get lost?”
“Not a specific place. There’s a guy named Luma, a fixer like me but… different. Deliver it to him.”
“How do I find him? You approached me here, but I’d just fallen from the sky in armor.”

I scratched my chin, eyeing Kang Rimun.
Is he saying I should wear my armor to stand out again?
ORRYX knows I wear it, so I’d be spotted fast.
Not that I’m scared.

“No, no. Just go as you are, Lord Roland.”
“Hm?”

His eyes flicked to my face.
“Go to Glimmer Garden, and he’ll find you.”
“Like you did yesterday?”
“He’s… much quirkier. Don’t be too shocked.”

Quirky? How quirky can he be?
…Everything in this world’s quirky, though.

“Got it. If you say so, I’ll just go.”

I pocketed the terminal and envelope, lifting Freesia.
“Your current location and the route to Glimmer Garden are on the map. If you return to Cheongdo, I’ll see you then.”

Carrying Freesia and following the map, the calm Cheongdo vibe shifted as we neared the outskirts.
The plain appearances and clothing grew more distinct, though mostly just hair colors changed, still keeping an East Asian feel.

“That guy’s an outsider?”
“Could be someone altered to look Western.”

…They can change races here?

Curious for a second, I shrugged it off as unimportant and kept walking.

“He’s too naturally handsome for that… eek!”

The women talking about me stumbled and collapsed for some reason.

“…That person, don’t like.”
“Hm? Why, what don’t you like?”

Odd timing, but no way this pouty, adorable Freesia did that.

I soothed her and headed toward a low cliff in the distance.
“That’s the gate?”

It’s not half the height of Nodril’s cliff, but tall enough to call a cliff.

Atop it, thick pillar-like buildings stood spaced out, as if propping up the sky, with part of the glittering ring visible above.
Lowering my gaze, chaotic buildings beyond the cliff tried to mimic the ring’s dazzle, their lights spilling down, faintly illuminating a road carved into the cliff and a massive gate.

The gate, bold before the cliff, had the layered roof style common in Cheongdo, but wider to match its broad frame.
“They call it a gate, but it’s practically a giant checkpoint.”
“…Gate, big.”

Inside, a road stretched wide enough for ten of the vehicles I rode to block it, with all sorts of cars passing through.
A smaller but sizable pedestrian path connected to the gate, so I adjusted Freesia in my arms and stepped onto it.

Entering, a few people passed through a frame-like structure, coming or going.
A person seemed to oversee it but ignored the frame, closely watching the entrance I came from.

“Oh.”
“Hm?”

He met my eyes, stood, and approached.
“You’re Lord Roland and the young lady, as Kang Rimun mentioned?”
“That’s us. Who are you?”
“Yoon Jinheon of House Yoon. Kang Rimun informed me, so I’ll guide you.”

He pulled me from the line and opened a side door.
“Go straight through, and another door appears. Open it, blend back into the crowd naturally.”

Yoon Jinheon paused, touching his ear as if remembering something.
“I’ve opened the door with my authority, but it’s brief, so don’t get locked in.”
“Wait, can’t I just pass through that frame?”
“The frame? But I heard you don’t have a Mindpulse…”
“Hm?”

I tilted my head, and he looked puzzled.

Mindpulse—that chip in the brain, right?
You need it to pass the frame?

“Oh, that’s required?”
“Yes. Only those with a clean Mindpulse record pass without inspection.”
“I see. My apologies.”
“No problem. I’ll head back now.”

Yoon Jinheon left quickly, likely unable to stay away long. I opened the door and entered.

Inside was a cluttered passage, piled with unknown items—almost a warehouse if not for its long shape.
Without the junk, it’d be striking: white and blue lights lit smooth, wood-like walls, with faint glowing patterns.

Marveling at the walls, Freesia reached out.

Zzt—
“Freesia, what’d you do?”
“…Access.”
“Access…?”

Connecting to what?

As I wondered, she spoke.
“Door, now, stays open.”
“The door? Oh, he said it’d lock if we’re slow. You mean it’ll stay open?”
“…Yes. When I leave, closes.”
“Not permanent, then. Good.”

Yoon Jinheon only opened it briefly, so a permanent open could’ve caused trouble.

But just touching the wall did that?
Can others do it, or just Freesia?
I can’t tell.

“Nothing to see here, so let’s go.”

Thinking that, I walked toward the nearby door.