I’m a Doorman at an Assassin’s Hotel

Day 1 of Vacation

Weather: Sunny

This was my first break since becoming the hotel's door attendant. Just five short days, but it felt like an oasis in the desert—after all, my life had been either dodging bullets or questioning the meaning of existence.

At 9 a.m., for the first time, I wasn't woken up by a mission. I stretched lazily in bed, savoring the rare moment of peace. Unfortunately, my growling stomach dragged me out of bed.

Plan for the day? None. Just wander around, grab some good food, and return to being a couch potato. Honestly, it felt like time could freeze at this moment, and I'd be perfectly content.

That said, I've realized I might not be used to ordinary life anymore. While eating breakfast, I spotted a delivery guy standing by the roadside. My first instinct was to check if he had a weapon. Then I realized he was just pulling out his phone to take a call. I almost choked on my coffee in embarrassment.

In the afternoon, I wandered around town and felt oddly out of place. The streets were crowded with smiling faces, but I couldn't shake the sense of lurking danger around me. The system's voice kept echoing in my head: "Be alert. Always ready for combat." Give me a break! It's my vacation!

On the bright side, I found a nice jacket while shopping. The salesperson said I had an "action hero" vibe when I tried it on. I couldn't help but think, "Action heroes don't go shopping for clothes." Still, I secretly enjoyed the compliment.

Day one of my vacation ended peacefully. I hope tomorrow will be just as smooth. Though, to be honest, I've got a strange feeling...

Day 2 of Vacation

Weather: Cloudy and cool

I woke up, stared at the ceiling, and thought about how uneventful yesterday was. Maybe I'm just not cut out for a "normal" life anymore.

To avoid wasting the day, I decided to find something to do. I grabbed the remote, turned on the TV, and started flipping through channels. Morning programs were the usual mix of news, commercials, and mindless variety shows. Then something on the movie channel caught my eye.

On screen was a man in sunglasses, wearing a black trench coat, holding a gun as he scanned his surroundings coldly.

I froze for a good three seconds before blurting out, "Léon?"

The man's familiar demeanor, his movements, and—wait—was that Mathilda standing next to him? It was them, the duo I met in that other world!

"What… is going on?" I leaned forward, practically pressing my face against the TV. As the story unfolded, it became clear: Léon and Mathilda, a cold-hearted assassin and a grieving little girl, sharing a deep, bittersweet bond.

"This doesn't make sense…" I muttered as I watched, my thoughts racing. Did returning from that world alter the timeline? Or was their story always meant to be… fictional?

Just as my confusion reached its peak, the system's icy voice chimed in:

"Note: Host need not panic. Stories from certain multiverse worlds may manifest as 'fictional works' in your reality."

I sat there, scratching my head, trying to process what that meant. "So, you're telling me their story is a movie here?"

The system, as usual, offered no response. I was left staring at the screen, where Léon was dispatching enemies with precision. I let out a bitter laugh. "No wonder he looked down on me. Compared to this guy, I'm just… Brick Man."

When Mathilda's sad farewell to Léon played out on screen, I clenched my fists unconsciously. Her words from that world still echoed in my mind.

"Is this a coincidence or fate?" I muttered to myself as the TV continued playing. My thoughts were a tangled mess.

Day 3 of Vacation

Weather: Overcast with a breeze

I had planned to sleep in today, but my door was violently kicked open in the early morning.

"Lorne! Get up!" A familiar voice roared, accompanied by the loud bang of my door hitting the wall.

I bolted upright, groggily mumbling, "What the… Who—"

"Who? Who else would it be?"

It was Ariana Brown, standing in my doorway with her hands on her hips, her face radiating anger.

Fully awake now, I stared at her in disbelief. "Ariana?! What are you doing here?"

She strode into the room, her sharp gaze scanning the mess. "What am I doing here? How about you explain why you've been missing for a whole month! Last month, you broke up with me, and then you just vanished. And now you dare ask why I'm here?"

Hearing her mention the breakup made my stomach drop. Truthfully, after the breakup, I got swept up in hotel matters and didn't contact anyone. Now, standing before her, I felt an inexplicable sense of guilt.

"Uh… I've been busy with work," I said with an awkward smile, hoping to defuse the situation.

"Work? What kind of job keeps you so busy you can't even send a message? Even your parents couldn't find you!"

"A… very special kind of job," I muttered, scratching the back of my head.

"Don't give me that crap!" She wasn't buying it, crossing her arms as she glared at me. "You're just avoiding me, aren't you?"

Her accusation left me momentarily speechless. I raised my hands in surrender. "No, no, of course not! Why would I avoid you…"

"Then explain how your work is so consuming you ghosted everyone," she demanded, her eyes burning with anger.

"Look… I'm sorry, but didn't we already break up?" I said hesitantly, hoping it would calm her down.

Big mistake. Her eyes instantly sharpened, like daggers piercing through me. She raised her voice. "Break up? Break up means you can vanish without a word? Break up means you don't have to explain yourself? Lorne, you broke up with me, but did I agree to it?"

With every word, she stepped closer, backing me against the wall until I had nowhere to retreat.

"C-Calm down, Ariana," I stammered, raising my hands in a peace gesture. "Can't we sit down and talk this out?"

"Talk about what?" She grabbed my shirt and pinned me against the wall, her eyes blazing. "You disappeared for a month, left me with nothing but a breakup text, and now you think we can just 'talk it out'?"

I opened my mouth to respond but found myself utterly at a loss. My mind raced—should I apologize? Explain? Admit defeat? Whatever the answer, one thing was clear: no amount of smooth-talking would extinguish her fury.

In a desperate move, I leaned in and kissed her.

She froze, her eyes wide with shock. A moment later, she shoved me away, her face a mix of anger and disbelief. "Lorne! Are you out of your mind?"

"Uh…" I scratched my nose, forcing an awkward smile. "Sorry… My bad. I shouldn't have ghosted you."

She crossed her arms, glaring. "You think one apology and a kiss will fix this?"

"Of course not!" I waved my hands frantically, inwardly cursing my clumsy words. "What I mean is… I really shouldn't have disappeared like that. It was a mistake. I didn't know how to face you, but now I realize how worried I made you."

Her expression softened slightly, but her tone remained sharp. "Do you really mean that?"

I nodded earnestly. "I do. I was a mess, but I know I was wrong. I'm sorry."

She eyed me suspiciously before letting out a sigh. "Fine. At least you're willing to admit it. But don't think this means you're off the hook."

Relieved by her softened tone, I smiled. "Hey, progress is progress, right?"

Day 4 of Vacation

Weather: Overcast

Ariana stayed the entire day. Let's just say it was… intense. I'll spare the details, but it was more exhausting than a firefight.

Day 5 of Vacation

Weather: Rain turning to drizzle

As rain fell outside, I stood by the window with a cup of goji tea, my legs trembling slightly.

The vacation was over. Tomorrow, it's back to the Shadow Hotel. Strangely, compared to facing Ariana, the hotel almost felt… peaceful.