Chapter 43: Hail to Euphoria

The moment the door to the hotel room shut, I couldn’t help but transform back into my original human form.

Thud.

I fell to my knees, placing my hands against the floor as I breathed heavily.

Transforming back into my human form was quite a painful process, and I didn’t think I’d be getting used to it anytime soon. Still, staying in that doll form felt so morbid that I could not bring myself to endure it for any longer.

I couldn’t move properly, nor could I look around. My entire body felt stiff, as though I’d been cemented in place, and even the simple act of moving my limbs felt strangely uncomfortable.

Honestly, I was beginning to wonder if there were any advantages to being a doll besides being able to fit inside a suitcase.

In any case, I couldn’t afford to waste too much time complaining. I had to do something, especially since I already knew what sort of Supernatural Space this was.

And it was definitely not a pleasant one...

Tap. Tap.

Someone tapped their hands against the wall behind me.

— Welcome to the hotel, dear guest. I trust you’ve had a pleasant journey.

I turned my head toward the voice.

I wasn’t particularly surprised by the sudden greeting, as I’d already expected something like this to happen.

Standing a short distance behind me was a butler dressed in a black tailcoat, a neatly pressed white shirt, and a pair of white gloves.

His clothes were immaculate, almost as though he’d just stepped out of a luxurious hotel rather than appeared inside this rundown establishment.

It’s just that he was faceless...

Well, calling him faceless wasn’t entirely accurate. He had a mouth, but there wasn’t a single eye, ear, or nose on his head.

I couldn’t help but shiver at how eerie he looked.

— Allow me to introduce myself. I shall be your personal butler for the duration of your stay. You are currently the seventh guest to arrive at our establishment, and we kindly ask that you make yourself comfortable until the grand opening.

His tone was polite and professional, as though he were welcoming an ordinary guest into a perfectly ordinary hotel.

— Should you require anything, please do not hesitate to inform me. It is my duty to ensure that your stay is as pleasant as possible.

Ignoring his appearance as best I could, I tried to avoid looking directly at him.

"Mm. I see."

I nodded before getting up and walking toward the closet to inspect the room.

— Is there anything you would like to ask, dear guest?

The butler followed me at a respectful distance, his footsteps so quiet that I could barely hear them.

— As your personal attendant, I am here to provide you with whatever assistance you may require. Whether it concerns your accommodations, meals, or other personal needs, please allow me to take care of them on your behalf.

"No need."

I opened the closet and began searching for a certain item I needed to survive this place.

Honestly, part of the reason why I was rushing was because I couldn’t bear to keep staring at the butler behind me.

I was sort of a coward, which was probably why I’d always enjoyed horror genres in the first place.

Although it sounded ironic, I believed that cowards were often the ones who ended up forming the most memorable memories in horror situations.

After all, fear had a way of leaving its mark on people.

And trauma tended to stick around for quite a long time...

— Would you care for a bath, sir? I could prepare one for you immediately. Alternatively, I could arrange a meal according to your preferences. We have a variety of options available, and I would be more than happy to assist you in making a selection.

The butler’s voice remained polite and soothing to hear.

"How about letting me out of the hotel, then?"

I turned around to look at him, hoping that he might actually agree to my request.

Unfortunately, his response was just as I’d expected.

— I’m afraid that will not be possible, sir.

His tone remained courteous, without the slightest hint of irritation.

— All guests are required to remain within their assigned rooms until the grand opening. Once the preparations have been completed, Euphoria shall finally be brought into this world.

Euphoria, my ass.

I turned back toward the closet and sighed.

This was going to be a bit tricky...

...

[Opening of the Grand Hotel to Euphoria]

[An F-ranked Supernatural Space dedicated to accommodating guests within its hotel rooms.]

[To enter the hotel, one must simply ring the bell at the front desk and receive a key to their assigned room.]

[Once they have entered their designated accommodations, a personal maid or butler will appear to attend to their needs and ensure that their stay proceeds as comfortably as possible.]

[Guests are free to do as they please within their assigned rooms, provided that they do not attempt to leave.]

[They may request any food they desire from their personal attendants, enjoy a relaxing bath or shower, or simply spend their time resting in bed.]

[Regardless of their preferences, the hotel will do its utmost to satisfy their needs, allowing them to enjoy a peaceful and comfortable stay without having to worry about the outside world.]

[As time passes, guests will gradually begin to feel more comfortable within their assigned rooms.]

[The longer they remain inside, the more they will grow accustomed to their surroundings, until their rooms begin to feel like the closest thing they have ever known to the concept of "home."]

[For some, it may even become difficult to imagine leaving.]

[However, do not be deceived by the hotel’s seemingly generous hospitality.]

[Once every room in the hotel has been occupied and all guests have been properly accommodated, the hotel will proceed with its grand opening.]

[At that point, all guests residing within the hotel will be used as sacrifices to bring forth an existence known as "Euphoria."]

[Upon the successful completion of this process, the Supernatural Space will undergo a change in rank.]

[Perhaps, by then, the guests will have already come to understand the true meaning of their stay.]

[Every meal, every moment of comfort, and every kindness they received will have served a purpose, bringing them one step closer to the occasion for which the hotel was prepared.]

[After all, what greater honor could there be for those who have been welcomed into a place of such comfort than to become part of its grand opening?]

[Hail to the happiness that binds us, hail to the comfort that keeps us, and hail to Euphoria, for which we gladly surrender all.]