I’m a Doorman at an Assassin’s Hotel

I didn't know when I had fallen asleep. The exhaustion from last night felt like an invisible net, weighing me down completely. When I woke up again, dawn was breaking, and the world around me was steeped in an eerie quiet.

"Léon?" I rubbed my eyes, still groggy. Turning to where he had been resting, I froze. The spot where he had sat was empty. His bag was gone, and the figure that had leaned against the wall last night had vanished without a trace.

"Damn it, he left without waking me!" I sat up abruptly, a mix of irritation and panic swirling inside me. Léon had left? Where had he gone? Was he planning to act alone and leave me behind?

I quickly got to my feet, scanning the area for any clue he might have left behind. That's when my gaze fell on an old wooden crate, with a small handwritten note resting on top.

I grabbed the note in a hurry. It had only four words written in sharp, bold strokes:

"Take care of yourself."

The simple message hit me like a gut punch. Was this his goodbye? Did Léon decide he didn't need the burden of dragging me along anymore, so he chose to leave silently?

"Seriously? That's just irresponsible!" I muttered through gritted teeth, anger flaring up—but beneath it was an undeniable pang of disappointment. We hadn't known each other long, but Léon's cold composure had been an anchor in this chaotic world. Now, he had disappeared without so much as a proper farewell.

[Alert: New mission incoming.]

The familiar mechanical voice in my mind startled me out of my thoughts. I frowned, knowing that whenever this voice appeared, it meant more trouble.

[Mission: Find Léon and safely escort him and Mathilda out of this world. Reward: Stealth Lv1.]

I stared at the mission details, stunned. Get them out of this world? What did that even mean?

"Out of this world?" I muttered to myself, confusion swirling in my mind. "Does it mean escaping to somewhere safe? Or… does it literally mean leaving this world?"

I rubbed my temples, trying to calm my thoughts. The system had always been cryptic, dropping vague missions without clear explanations, leaving me no choice but to figure things out on my own.

"Hey, system, care to explain for once?" I asked tentatively in my mind.

Of course, there was no response. It was as cold as ever, silently saying, Figure it out yourself.

I sighed deeply, letting out a self-deprecating chuckle. "Fine, I'll figure it out myself. But this mission feels like playing hide-and-seek in a minefield."

Flashes of Léon's icy gaze and Mathilda's defiant expression crossed my mind. Despite my constant complaints, a growing sense of responsibility stirred within me.

"Alright then. I'm already in this mess." I stuffed the note into my pocket and took a deep breath. "I might as well see it through. Besides, what's one more risk when I've already been this close to death?"

Stepping out of the abandoned building, I squinted at the now fully lit streets. They were just as desolate as before, with only a few hurried passersby paying no attention to me. The quiet felt oppressive, as if the entire city was shrouded in an invisible shadow.

"Léon wouldn't have gone far. He's too cautious for that," I murmured, trying to recall the paths we had taken last night.

It didn't take long for me to notice some unusual details by the roadside: scattered bullet casings and a bullet-ridden wall. Crouching down to inspect more closely, I saw a few droplets of blood nearby.

"He's injured?" My heart tightened as I followed the trail of blood, my pace quickening along with the rising anxiety in my chest.

The blood led me to a narrow alley. I slowed my steps, holding my breath as I crept closer. Faint voices reached my ears—low and menacing.

"Don't resist, Léon. You're not getting out of this one," said an unfamiliar man, his tone cold and threatening.

Peering into the alley, I froze at the sight before me. It sent a chill down my spine. Léon was on one knee, immobilized, while Mathilda was held by a man in black, a gun pressed against her head. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear and desperation.

"Damn it!" I cursed silently, my palms clammy with sweat. This was far worse than I had imagined. The enemy had total control, and I lacked the firepower or skill to stage a rescue.

The man holding Mathilda sneered. "A killer like you protecting a little girl? How pathetic!" He tightened his grip, making Mathilda gasp for air.

"Let her go. She has nothing to do with this," Léon said, his voice low, brimming with suppressed rage.

"Oh, she has everything to do with this," the man mocked, pressing the gun harder against Mathilda's temple.

I gritted my teeth, knowing I couldn't wait any longer. My mind raced through possible actions. Finally, I spotted a small piece of brick nearby. Taking a deep breath, I picked it up and hurled it toward the man, aiming to create a distraction.

The brick sailed through the air, striking the wall with a loud clatter. The man flinched, turning his head slightly toward the noise. Mathilda seized the opportunity to struggle free, kicking him hard. At the same moment, Léon sprang into action, tackling the man.

"Bang! Bang!" Gunshots echoed in the alley as chaos erupted. Léon dispatched two enemies with swift precision, shielding Mathilda behind him.

I bolted into the alley, grabbing a fallen gun. My hands trembled slightly, but I tightened my grip, determined to provide cover.

As soon as I picked up the gun, an influx of knowledge flooded my mind—details about its weight, aiming techniques, reloading speed, all as if I had trained with it countless times. It felt instinctive, natural.

"So, this is Precision Shooting?" I whispered, amazed by the sudden clarity.

"Damn kid!" One of the men in black spotted me and raised his gun. Acting on newfound instincts, I aimed quickly and pulled the trigger.

"Bang!" A flash from the barrel, and my shot struck his head dead-on. He froze, eyes wide, then collapsed.

My breath hitched, my heart racing wildly, but my grip on the gun remained steady, as though I were born for this.

"Not bad," Léon remarked, his cold eyes betraying a flicker of approval.

"Just luck—" I started to reply when I saw another enemy aiming at Léon. Without hesitation, I raised my gun, aimed, and fired.

"Bang!" Another shot rang out, and the enemy cried out, clutching his bleeding arm as his gun fell to the ground.

"Not just luck," Léon said, finishing the enemy with another shot.

Mathilda peeked out from behind Léon, her eyes wide with surprise. "You… you're not completely useless after all!"

"Thanks for the compliment," I muttered, trying to sound nonchalant, though internally I marveled at my own accuracy. This skill is insane!

We quickly fled the scene, finding shelter in a more secluded alley. The fight had been brief, but for me, it was a trial by fire.

Leaning against the wall, I caught my breath, staring at the gun in my hand. This system really saved my life. This skill feels like having a cheat code.

Léon checked our surroundings, his voice low and firm. "Take Mathilda and leave. We'll split up."

"What?" I stared at him, almost shouting. "You're going solo again? That's too dangerous!"

"Danger is exactly why," he said coldly. "They're after me. Splitting up gives you both a better chance."

"That's not a solution!" I protested, anxiety clawing at me. He was right, but the thought of leaving all the risk to him felt wrong.

"Listen." His tone grew sharper, leaving no room for argument. "I'll draw their attention. You just make sure she stays safe. Got it?"

Mathilda clung to his sleeve, tears brimming. "No! I'm not leaving! We can't split up!"

Léon knelt to meet her gaze, his voice softening. "Mathilda, this is the safest way. I'll come back for you, but you need to trust me and go with him."

"But…" Tears streamed down her cheeks as she gripped his hand tightly, unwilling to let go.

"Hurry!" Léon glanced at me, urgency in his tone. "If we wait, none of us will get out alive."

I clenched my fists. As much as I hated it, his plan made sense. I took a deep breath and nodded. "Fine. I'll get her out. But you'd better survive."

He nodded back, his gaze briefly softening before standing up and checking his gun.

"Go, now." His voice was firm as he turned and ran down the alley without looking back.

Taking Mathilda's hand, I whispered, "Don't worry. He's not someone who gives up easily."

Mathilda sniffled and nodded reluctantly. We hurried in the opposite direction, both silently praying for the man who had stayed behind to face the storm alone.

We navigated the narrow alleyways, doing our best to avoid any possible pursuers. The alleys were damp and dark, the crumbling walls covered in moss, each step echoing with a tension that made me jumpy, afraid that a black-clad enemy might suddenly appear. The gunfire and shouts from behind gradually faded, but my heartbeat remained deafening, pounding relentlessly in my ears.

Finally, we found an abandoned warehouse. The rusted iron doors creaked as I pushed them open, revealing a space filled with long-forgotten debris. The dim light filtered through the cracks, and the air smelled musty, reeking of years of neglect. After confirming the area was safe, I led Mathilda to a corner and let out a long breath. "Alright, we should be safe… for now."

Mathilda, however, didn't sit down to rest. Instead, she stood there, her small fists clenched tightly, her eyes full of turmoil and anxiety.

"What's wrong?" I asked cautiously.

She looked up at me, her eyes glistening with tears. "We can't just stay here. Léon is still out there! He must need our help!"

I frowned, my tone laced with helplessness. "I know you're worried, but Léon chose this plan. He wanted to split up so you could stay safe."

"But he stayed behind for me!" Mathilda's voice trembled with emotion, her tears sliding down her cheeks. "I can't just leave him behind! He's risking his life to protect me… Please, I'm begging you, go back and help him!"

I gritted my teeth, staring at the little girl sobbing uncontrollably. A storm of emotions swirled within me. To be honest, I didn't want to leave Léon behind either, but reason told me that going back would only make things worse.

"Mathilda, I understand how you feel, but we can't act recklessly now." I tried to keep my voice calm, though my heart was a chaotic mess. "If we both go back, none of us will make it out alive—including him."

"I can't just sit here and watch him get hurt!" she shouted stubbornly, shaking her head, her voice full of resolute defiance. "If you won't go, then I'll go by myself!"

With that, she turned on her heel, ready to run out. I grabbed her arm quickly, my tone growing sharper. "Are you crazy? If you go back, you'll only make things worse! Calm down, please!"

Mathilda struggled against my grip, tears streaming down her face like beads on a broken string. "He's the only family I have left… I can't lose him…"

Her words struck me like a punch to the chest, leaving me momentarily speechless. Her cries were filled with fear and despair, and I couldn't bring myself to abandon her or Léon.

"Fine, you win." I let out a long sigh, releasing her arm, my tone low but firm. "But you have to promise me, stay here and don't move, no matter what happens."

Mathilda looked up at me, a glimmer of hope lighting up her tear-streaked face. "You're really going back?"

I nodded, despite the unease roiling in my stomach. Some decisions leave no room for hesitation. "Yes, I'm going to find him. But you have to promise me, stay here and wait for us. No matter what."

She nodded vigorously, wiping her tears as she tried to appear braver. "I'll wait for you. I promise."

"Alright." Taking a deep breath, I readied myself to leave. My heart was pounding with apprehension, but a surge of inexplicable courage told me that this time, retreat was not an option.

With heavy steps, I retraced our escape route, each step echoing like a drumbeat of unease. Even though I had assured Mathilda I'd bring Léon back, doubts and fears clung to me like shadows.

"Can he really hold out?" I muttered under my breath, the image of Léon facing off against the black-clad pursuers replaying in my mind. I could almost see the hail of bullets raining down on him, and the helplessness of the thought weighed heavily on me.

As I neared the alley, sweat slicked my palms, and my mind raced through possible scenarios. Would I find him lying in a pool of blood? Captured? Or worse… I didn't dare finish the thought.

Finally, I reached the entrance of the alley. My heart pounded so hard it threatened to burst out of my chest. Pressing myself against the wall, I peeked cautiously around the corner—and froze at the sight.

The tense atmosphere from before was gone, replaced by an eerie stillness. On the ground lay several black-clad bodies, some clutching their chests, others staring lifelessly with open eyes, their expressions frozen in horror. The alley was littered with signs of chaos, but the fight had clearly ended. Only silence remained.

"What the…" I whispered, stunned. My mind couldn't process what I was seeing. Where was Léon? Where were the remaining enemies? What had happened here?

A familiar voice broke through the silence, startling me. "What are you doing back here?"

I whipped my head toward the sound. Léon stepped out from behind a piece of cover, his figure emerging from the shadows. His clothes were stained with blood, his gun still in hand, but his expression remained as cold and composed as ever.

"Léon!" I almost shouted but quickly lowered my voice as I ran to him. Relief and disbelief colored my words. "You're okay?! I thought… I thought you were…"

"Were what?" he interrupted coolly, glancing briefly at the bodies scattered around us. "These guys were just obstacles. They've been dealt with."

I stared at him, dumbfounded, my earlier fears now seeming laughably misplaced. "You took out all of them by yourself?"

"This is my job," he replied flatly, his tone devoid of pride or arrogance, as if this carnage were routine.

I was momentarily speechless, overwhelmed by a mixture of awe, shock, and embarrassment. Just minutes ago, I'd been ready to stage a rescue, only to discover he didn't need saving at all.

"So… we can leave now?" I asked awkwardly, forcing a weak smile to cover my earlier panic.

Léon didn't answer immediately. He gave me a curt nod and then said in his usual low, commanding tone, "Get back to Mathilda. It's dangerous for her to be alone."

I hurried to follow him, my mind still reeling from what I had just witnessed. We're the ones dragging him down, aren't we? What kind of superhuman is this guy?