FLAW

collapsed backward—eyes teary, legs trembling. With what little strength she had left, she managed to let out a weak cry.

"G-grandpa..."

Before she could finish, her friend's head was slammed into the ground with a sickening crack.

Standing over the fallen body was the man they thought unconscious—now fully awake.

And he was not happy.

FLASHBACK

"Come on, just once," a taller man pleaded to a boy no older than twelve.

"B-but... I don't want to..." The boy's voice trembled, filled with fear.

"It won't hurt. Trust me."

"B-but—"

"You don't want me to tell your parents about this, right?"

The little boy froze. He still tried to reason.

"Y-you have no proof I'm involved with you—"

"You think they'll believe you? A scared little kid over a respected, kind adult?"

That line hit like a bullet. The boy didn't even realize he was being manipulated—used. Too innocent to understand.

And now, that same thing was happening again—right in front of him.

What he felt wasn't rage. It wasn't even anger. It was the return of that memory. That same incident. That same manipulation. That same disgust.

Back at Sumei's Home

The bald man lay out cold—like a deadbeat, only barely alive. The long-haired man backed away, keeping distance from Sumei... and the man in front of him.

Trying to gather his courage, he opened his mouth.

"Y-you won't get away with this... you killed someone! The law will never let you—"

The man didn't look the slightest bit bothered. He simply asked,

"And...?"

His voice was deep, calm. Threatening, but not angry. The kind of tone that sparked primal fear in anyone weaker.

Before the long-haired man could respond, his face met a jaw-shattering punch.

Out cold.

Sumei instinctively backed away—terrified. She thought she was next. He looked scary. But she could smell it.

He wasn't meant to kill.

Still, her fear got the best of her. As he approached, she panicked.

"D-DON'T—DON'T COME ANY CLOSER! DON'T HURT ME! TAKE WHATEVER YOU WANT—JUST DON'T ASSAULT ME—!"

Seeing her reaction, he couldn't help but feel pity. He knew what it was like to feel weak. To feel scared. To feel powerless.

But he also knew panic wouldn't help now.

So he knelt down in front of her, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. No words. No speeches. Just silence.

Sumei flinched, thinking it was over. But slowly... She calmed down.

His scent. She could smell that he meant no harm. She could feel it—through the silence. He was telling her, without words, to breathe.

And she did.

"Y-you're not gonna hurt me... right...? G-grandpa...?"

The word "grandpa" caught him off guard.

He blinked.

"...Grandpa?"

Sumei tilted her head, voice returning to its usual playful self.

"Wait... you're not my grandpa? Like... great-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grandpa?"

He paused.

"...Do I look like a grandpa?"

"N-no... but you smell like one."

"Eh?"

"You smell like a century-old grave. Like... old wars. You just happen to have a tough body, that's all!"

"...You're a weird brat."

"See? You even call a cute little girl like me a brat! No way you're not a grandpa, Grandpa~!"

"Stop."

"Nope! Not until you tell me your name."

He was about to—but suddenly stopped. He couldn't remember. His memories were... blurring.

"Ugh... I... don't know, i don't remember..."

"See!? Typical grandpa behavior!"

"You little brat."

There was no malice in his voice. Just... warmth. For once, he was able to prevent something terrible. If not for himself... Then for someone else.

NEON DISTRICT: NIGHTLIFE AND DANGER

Iris stared down at the corpse of the last assassin Morrin had extracted information from.

"I still don't understand what you got from him. Care to elaborate?"

Morrin sighed as she lounged on the couch.

"Jeez. You really don't trust me?"

Iris said nothing. Morrin rolled her eyes.

"Fine, fine. Ever since I escaped, they've been after me. You know—typical criminal-hunted-by-police stuff. They knew I knew something. That's why they're even here."

"Stop twisting your words, will you?"

"Aww, alright. I hacked their servers and dug deeper into the layers... and I found something interesting."

"Besides that 'immortal' you keep talking about?"

"Yep. He's the main dish, sure. But there are other things—beyond the human realm."

Before Iris could respond, they were suddenly surrounded by a swarm of glittering nano-fairies—hundreds of them.

"Nanobot fairies? This is bad. If we move, we're done fo—"

Morrin cut her off. Her succubus tattoo glowed with deep violet light.

"Says who?"

Iris felt it. Even the fairies did.

Just before detonation, Morrin chanted something—and everything within a 100-meter radius shut down in a blink.

Only one thing remained: a glowing purple digital screen in front of Morrin... and her tattoos.

Iris saw it.

More than Morrin herself... she saw something.

But it disappeared before she could process it, leaving her stunned.

"What... was that?"

Morrin smirked at her flustered expression.

"I know you know. Or at least... have an idea."

Iris regained composure.

"That wasn't something registered in any Layer or system. It looked like tech... but it wasn't."

"Bingo~"

"Morrin... don't tell me..."

Morrin grinned mischievously.

"It's magic. Half of it, at least."

She reached into her coat, pulling out a small glowing orb. A world map materialized—but not of just any world.

Layer Zero. Earth.

"Our... or maybe I should say, our ancestors' original home was full of mysteries, you see."

"Something supernatural? Like what?" Iris asked.

"Contracts, Iris."

Iris raised a brow.

"Contracts? Let me guess... you summoned some spirit from another world?"

"Kind of, yeah. But this spirit? It belongs to this world—not another."

"You're confusing me. First immortality, then magic, then spirits? What is going on?"

"Everything, Iris. Everything is about to fall into chaos~."

Iris narrowed her eyes, staring at the screen showing real-time data of the city.

"Then why should I join you?"

Morrin looked at her for a long second—like Iris had just asked something childish. Then she chuckled.

"Oh, my naïve death goddess... you still think the heaven of Layer Ten is a paradise?"

Iris flinched—but didn't show it. Morrin knew her too well.

"Your so-called heaven? It's a server that collects consciousness into data. Your stats, your abilities—even your memories—all uploaded into something no one on the outside even knows exists."

Iris froze.

Everything she had worked for. Everything she believed in. Her dream... shattered like glass.

"...Why should I believe you?"

"You know me, Iris. I flirt with death, not lies. I'd rather sleep with your first love than lie to your face—just like he did when he claimed to love you, remember?"

Iris clenched her jaw.

"There was no reason to bring that up. He lied about his skills. End of story. Drop it."

Morrin gasped theatrically at Iris's small outburst.

"Oh my~ The great Iris Vale finally admitting she got tricked~!"

"I hate you."

"I know. But hey—we're partners again, right?"

"Temporarily."

"YEAHH~"

"Ugh. Go put something on."

"Huh? I am dressed~"

"For sleeping with someone?"

"Geez, fine."

Morrin pulled on a light pink, neon-striped coat—leaving the zipper intentionally open. She added a pair of baggy tactical pants with multiple pockets, perfect for hiding gadgets and tools.

As she turned, Iris caught a glimpse of a scar on Morrin's pelvis. It wasn't new. It wasn't surgical. It was ugly.

And hidden—usually beneath layers of glowing tattoos.

Morrin noticed her stare.

"You? Of all people? Staring at my scar? Not like you, Iris."

She wasn't smiling now.

For once, Morrin's expression was... neutral.

"That? Just a scar. Nothing worth worrying about."

Iris didn't reply. She played it cool, but her silence said everything.

-FLASHBACK-

A pretty girl—Morrin. Flawless face. Curiosity in her eyes.

She was thirteen when sold on the black market of the Subnet in Layer One.

By the time she turned fifteen, she'd been owned by too many to count. Her beauty kept her alive. Because people hate when things get ugly.

Morrin knew that. To survive, she had to stay beautiful. She endured everything—from creeps to monsters. And she never complained.

Complaining didn't help. It never did.

Suddenly, she snapped back to reality.

Iris poked her head in from behind.

"What's wrong? We need to move. And you still owe me an explanation—these contracts you mentioned."

Morrin blinked, returning to her playful smirk.

"Alright, alright. I'll tell you everything. But let's get out of here before another 'customer' arrives."

"Customer?"

"You know~"

"Never mind."

Together, they stepped out of the Neon District.

In front of them, stretching to the horizon—

ZYRLÓVIA. City of Lights.