The Living Hotel
The main exploration team, led by Rise, opened the door he had discovered during his days as a drifter. Beyond it stood a towering high-rise hotel. The space surrounding the hotel was fairly spacious, but it was enclosed on all sides by walls, with a ceiling even a bit higher than the hotel's roof. It felt like an isolated area existing solely for this hotel.
Kuung! As the main exploration team stepped into the space, the door behind them closed on its own. They glanced back at it briefly before slowly heading toward the hotel. That's when I called out to them.
"Kids. Hold up a sec."
─[Stop.]
─"Stopped."
─[Duumba?]
─[What's up, son?]
At my words, Iris halted immediately, followed by Azeras, Hedgehog Summoner God, and Niara turning to stare at Iris's screen.
"Iris. Zoom in on that hotel for me."
─[Zooming.]
Iris's screen magnified, bringing the hotel into sharper focus.
"Hmm... Looks like that building's a living creature."
─[Duumba?!]
The hotel's threat level read A-grade. Since the team had my severed arm, the real danger was SS-grade. But something felt off. If you didn't focus properly, you couldn't sense any threat from it at all. And what that implied hit me a moment later.
"That hotel seems like part of some monster's body, but if I had to compare it... it's like a shell. No, more like an outer casing to protect the main body."
"Probably."
The team didn't flinch at my words. Even knowing the hotel was a monster didn't change their expressions a bit.
─[We already knew it was alive.]
─"I knew too. Spotted it the second I saw it."
─[D-duumba?]
Niara Nephensis and Azeras spoke up.
─[Impossible not to know.]
─[Duumba?!]
Iris chimed in while shrinking the screen. Hedgehog Summoner God glanced back and forth at them in bewilderment, then timidly wiggled its hips.
─[Duumba... Actually, I knew too, yot...!]
Niara gazed fondly at Hedgehog Summoner God, then shifted to Iris and asked me.
─[Son, so what should we do?]
Don't go inside—just smash the building from out here? Or head in quietly and scout the interior? Niara laid out the two options.
─[Building threat level: SS-grade. Pure defense estimated at SSS-grade equivalent. Even Niara and Azeras's power insufficient to destroy. Projected to withstand dark matter. Recommend summoning Abyss Lord to demolish.]
Iris figured demolition was best. But I disagreed.
"Smashing it from outside doesn't seem smart."
I had no intention of attacking the building externally. We weren't here just to slay monsters. Any monster we could tame, we had to tame.
"Let's check the exterior for a red spot first."
"It might have one. It's not the core, but it's still part of the monster's body. Anyway, scan the walls for a spot. If none, we go inside and hunt the main body."
The core was almost certainly inside the hotel. No way it'd make such a sturdy shell and wander around exposed.
─[Affirmative. Commencing scan.]
Iris whipped its tentacles and soared high, circling the hotel while meticulously scanning the exterior.
─[Say if moving too fast. Will slow.]
"Nah, that speed's perfect."
Time passed. They'd checked every inch of the exterior, but no red spot appeared. Disappointing, but it must be on the core. No need for a recheck—I wouldn't miss it by accident. My S-grade body sharpened my dynamic vision to magic-like levels when focused.
"Nothing we can do about it. We'll head inside and scout... But first, summon Abyss Lord ahead of time, Dochi."
─[Duumba! Got it, yot!]
Hedgehog Summoner God shook its hips in response, promptly summoning the SSS-grade undead spirit Abyss Lord.
─[Duumba. Time to dance, it seems.]
With that guy around, I could send the team anywhere worry-free.
With Abyss Lord in tow, the main exploration team stepped into the hotel.
─[Duumba! We're here, yot!]
─[Duumba. Perfect space for a dance.]
Hedgehog Summoner God and Abyss Lord led the way, hips bouncing. Azeras and Niara followed.
─"Damn, it's huge..."
─[Oh my. The interior space must be distorted.]
Iris brought up the rear, screen capturing them.
─[Estimated to be true size.]
Iris's screen switched, slowly panning across the hotel interior. From the entrance alone, it was obvious the inside didn't match the exterior dimensions.
The lobby-like space far exceeded normal proportions. The ceiling soared endlessly, and the floor stretched to the limits of sight.
While the allies' chat continued, the main team silently traversed the hotel lobby. Then, suddenly, a mechanical whir echoed from the ceiling.
Geiiiing—!
A boxy object descended slowly from above. It was an elevator. It landed softly with a kuung, doors sliding open on both sides as hazy smoke billowed out, revealing a figure.
Click-clack.
The figure stepped out in heeled shoes.
─[Welcome. It's been ages since we had guests.]
Its form fully emerged from the smoke.
─[Pleased to meet you. I am the manager of this hotel, Lady Luna.]
Threat level: B-grade nerfed. True threat: S-grade. A suit-clad rabbit beastkin appeared, arms crossed in haughty poise.