I’m a Doorman at an Assassin’s Hotel

After passing through the rift, the intense sensation of temporal distortion left me dizzy. When I opened my eyes, I found myself standing in a lush, verdant valley. The fresh air and gentle sunlight gave the place an almost surreal feeling.

"Where are we?" I asked, looking around in confusion.

Irésha stood a short distance away, scanning the surroundings with a vigilant gaze. She turned to me, her cold eyes narrowing slightly. "We've crossed into an unfamiliar world. Judging by the scenery, this appears to be a medieval setting." She glanced at the scanner on her wrist, her brow furrowing slightly. "Strange. The magical energy here is far stronger than expected."

"Magic?" I asked, unable to hide my disbelief. "So… we're not on Earth anymore?"

"Of course not." She raised her head, her sharp eyes fixed on me. "Moreover, the spatial energy readings here show an unusually strong resonance from the artifact. We need to locate the sealing point for the gem immediately."

Just then, the rhythmic sound of hoofbeats approached, breaking the brief tranquility around us. My nerves instantly tightened, and my hand instinctively moved toward the holster at my waist. Irésha was faster, pressing my hand down with swift, decisive force. "Don't move. Let's see what we're dealing with," she said in a low, steady voice.

Seconds later, a group of riders came into view. They were clad in armor and armed with lances, their faces stern and focused, ready for battle at a moment's notice. Without uttering a word, their sharp glances exchanged information silently as they quickly surrounded us.

"Strangers, who are you, and why have you trespassed on Rohan's borders?" the lead rider demanded in a deep, commanding voice, his eyes sharp with authority.

"Rohan?" My heart skipped a beat as I tried to confirm what I'd just heard. Rohan? Could it be the kingdom of horse-lords from The Lord of the Rings? Scenes of knights and warhorses flashed through my mind, but the men before me looked far more intimidating and real than any movie portrayal.

"Ding! World Mission Activated: Seal the Spatial Gem and assist in the destruction of the One Ring. Failure: Permanent residence in this world as a servant of the Dark Lord."

The mechanical voice echoed in my mind, leaving me frozen in shock.

"What?! A servant of the Dark Lord?" I whispered, my voice breaking. My imagination conjured an image of myself clad in tattered armor, eyes vacant as I toiled in Sauron's forge—a nightmare I didn't want to dwell on.

The lead rider's gaze bore into us as if trying to read our intentions. His grip on his lance tightened, and his voice remained firm and imposing. "Identify yourselves. Where do you come from, and what is your purpose here?"

"We…" I began, struggling to find the right words. What could I possibly say? That we were from another dimension?

Before I could stumble further, Irésha stepped forward, her voice calm and steady. "We are travelers who lost our way and mean no harm."

Her tone carried a polite firmness that seemed to demand attention. Although her words were straightforward, they were imbued with an undeniable air of authority. The lead rider's eyes lingered on her, clearly assessing her credibility.

"Lost?" He scoffed, unconvinced. "Your attire and your companion's weapons speak of foreign origins and danger. Travelers? Your claim does not persuade me."

I silently cursed, realizing it wouldn't be easy to gain their trust.

"We truly mean no offense," Irésha said, her voice steady but edged with resolve. "If you wish to escort us back for questioning, we will comply. But until then, I suggest refraining from unnecessary hostility."

Her words carried weight, but one of the riders behind the leader grew impatient. "Why not just deal with them now?" he spat. "They don't look like anything but trouble."

The lead rider frowned but did not reply to his subordinate. Instead, his piercing gaze moved back and forth between us, calculating his next move.

"Listen," Irésha said, stepping forward with deliberate calmness. She locked eyes with the rider, her tone low yet commanding. "I understand your duty, but we are not your enemies. Take us to your lord, and the truth will become clear."

After a moment of hesitation, the lead rider finally nodded. He gestured to his men, who lowered their lances reluctantly. "Very well. I'll take you to see King Théoden. But any sign of treachery, and you will be dealt with on the spot."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. Though we were still effectively under arrest, at least we had avoided an immediate fight.

The riders reorganized themselves, herding us into the center of their formation. We were forced to walk while they remained mounted, their wary eyes never leaving us, as if we might suddenly reveal some hidden danger.

"Irésha," I whispered, keeping my voice low to avoid their attention, "are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Do you have a better one?" she replied curtly without even glancing my way.

"Uh…" I faltered, realizing I didn't.

"Building trust through dialogue is more effective than resorting to force," she said evenly, her tone devoid of emotion. "Here, we must follow the rules, not your usual impulsive behavior."

I rolled my eyes, muttering under my breath, "Another lecture…"

As we trudged along, I couldn't help but take in the stunning scenery. The vast plains stretched endlessly, dotted with hills and wildflowers. In the distance, the peaks of towering mountains loomed, their silhouettes softened by the golden sunlight. Despite the beauty of the surroundings, a gnawing tension gripped my heart. We were in an unfamiliar world, and the artifact's energy was already causing ripples of chaos.

After what felt like an eternity, we arrived at a grand castle. Its high towers gleamed in the sunlight, and the heavy gates slowly creaked open to reveal the bustling activity inside. Knights, servants, and officials moved purposefully, the air thick with the hum of a busy stronghold.

"Welcome to Edoras, the capital of Rohan," the lead rider announced coldly before gesturing for us to follow.

"Edoras…" I murmured, my mind racing as scenes from the movies came flooding back. At that moment, I knew beyond a doubt: we were inside The Lord of the Rings.

We were escorted into a spacious hall bathed in the glow of sunlight streaming through stained-glass windows. At the far end of the room sat King Théoden on a high throne, flanked by advisors and guards. His gaze was sharp and probing, as if he could see straight through us.

The lead rider knelt before the king, speaking in a hushed tone. "My lord, these four strangers were found at the borders. They claim to be travelers."

Théoden's piercing eyes scanned us, his expression unreadable. "Travelers? How do strangers find their way to Rohan? State your purpose."

Before I could stammer out a response, Irésha stepped forward, her voice steady and resolute. "Your Majesty, we hail from distant lands and were caught in an unforeseen calamity. We mean no harm, only to investigate a matter of grave importance to both us and your realm."

Théoden narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced. "What could be so grave that it draws you to Rohan?"

"We seek an artifact known as the Spatial Gem," Irésha replied evenly. "Its energy is tearing apart the fabric of space, and unless we find and seal it, this world will suffer catastrophic consequences."

A ripple of unease spread through the hall as murmurs broke out among the gathered courtiers.

Théoden's expression darkened, his voice heavy with skepticism. "And what proof do you offer for such a claim?"

Before we could answer, a soldier burst into the hall, his face pale with alarm. "My lord! In the direction of Mount Doom, the sky has been torn asunder with strange light!"

My stomach dropped, and I exchanged a glance with Irésha. The gem's power had already begun to manifest.

Théoden's gaze grew even more intense. "It seems your words carry weight, though not enough to justify trust. If you wish to prove yourselves, you must first demonstrate your sincerity."

I turned to Irésha, hoping for a plan. She simply nodded, her expression calm and resolute. "We're willing to prove it," she said.

"Prove it?" I blurted, dread creeping up my spine. "Uh… how exactly?"

Théoden didn't answer but spoke in hushed tones to his advisor, who stepped forward with a grave expression. "At our borders, a band of orcs has gathered, threatening our people. If you can eliminate this threat, you will earn Rohan's trust."

"Orcs?" I echoed, my throat tightening. "You mean those hulking brutes with swords and fangs?"

The advisor nodded solemnly.

"This doesn't sound like a simple 'test,'" I muttered, beads of sweat forming on my brow.

Théoden's tone turned steely. "If you cannot handle this, how can you hope to stop the artifact's destruction?"

I glanced desperately at Irésha, silently pleading for help. She met my gaze, her cold expression unchanging. "We accept," she said.

"Accept?" I nearly shouted. "Irésha, are you serious? We're not here to fight a war!"

She turned to me, her eyes unwavering. "If we don't prove ourselves, they won't help us access Mount Doom. Do you want to delay this mission indefinitely?"

I opened my mouth to protest but only managed a weak, "…Fine. But if we die, it's your fault."