Chapter 49: Pursuit and Ideas

The entirety of Team F-5 fell silent. Jonathan’s eyes widened, as though he could not quite believe what he had just heard.

"W-what...?"

Marcus frowned and slowly closed the suitcase while I was still inside.

It was a bit rude, but I couldn’t exactly complain. After all, what I had just said concerned the life of one of their teammates.

It wasn’t the sort of thing anyone could casually brush aside, especially when the person in question was standing right in front of them.

"It’s only a fortune-telling doll, Jonathan. And its rank is F, which tells us plenty about its capabilities. Don’t take its words as an absolute prediction of your future, alright?"

"I agree. We’ve read about plenty of documents regarding fortune-telling and fate-related entities with much higher ranks, and even their prophecies aren’t always set in stone. So don’t go thinking you’re doomed just because a little doll said so."

Clara added, giving Jonathan’s back a gentle pat.

She tried to sound encouraging, though there was a hint of concern in her voice.

Elias, who had remained quiet until then, gave a small nod.

"Yes, we shouldn’t treat the words of an F-ranked entity as an absolute. We don’t even know what circumstances its fortune is referring to, or whether there’s a way to prevent it."

They all knew how sensitive Jonathan was to danger. He was by far the most coddled member of their team, and they had always treated him like a frail little brother.

Naturally, none of them were particularly fond of the words that had just come out of my mouth.

The lighthearted mood from earlier had suddenly grown dim.

I didn’t know if I should be offended that they were underestimating my [Augury] ability or not...

Although they were right that fate could be changed...

It was just that... the color of Jonathan’s [Augury] had been extremely dark. No, it was almost like Vantablack, a shade so dark that it seemed to swallow up any trace of light.

This... definitely indicated a sure death.

I could only remain quiet inside the suitcase as they continued discussing their next move.

...

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

With me tucked inside the suitcase Marcus was carrying, Team F-5 raced through the hotel corridors as countless faceless butlers and maids chased after us.

— Esteemed guests, should our service have fallen short of your expectations, we kindly ask that you return to your rooms. We shall make every effort to satisfy you.

— Guests, please stay. Guests, won’t you stay? Please, won’t you stay?

— Euphoria awaits! Be patient, dear guests. Happiness and endless joy shall be yours! Come to Euphoria!

Honestly, since it was an F-ranked Supernatural Space, this whole situation felt more action-packed than frightening.

Still, being pursued by almost a hundred of faceless butlers and maids was more than enough to make me repeatedly scream "Run faster!" in my head.

Unfortunately, I was just a doll. I couldn’t run, fight, or do much of anything besides sit inside this suitcase and watch.

"Shit... This is the last floor, and there’s still no kitchen!"

Marcus cursed as Team F-5 reached the end of the corridor, with no kitchen in sight.

To be fair, I already knew there wasn’t a kitchen in this strange hotel. Otherwise, I would’ve simply sent my butler there and had him set the place on fire myself...

Ah, right. There was also the restriction that prevented my butler from burning down the hotel. Its very existence depended on this place, so it couldn’t go against its instinct to protect it.

The only thing that had changed was the object of its loyalty.

Its allegiance had redirected from [Euphoria] to me, meaning it now regarded my every instruction as the most appropriate way to serve the hotel.

In other words, I couldn’t simply order it to burn the place down.

It wasn’t as though I lacked ideas. I had already come up with several ways to set the entire hotel ablaze.

However, I wasn’t willing to risk losing control of my butler by making it go against the very nature of its existence.

If my actions caused the [Command] talisman to break, I’d lose a rather useful entity that was essential for the last part of my plan incase [Euphoria] forced themselves to enter this place.

That was why I had to leave this part to Team F-5.

I had already given them the clue they needed. Now, it was up to them to figure out how to start the fire themselves.

Just as the team seemed to be running out of options, Marcus suddenly stopped and turned around. He raised one hand towards the approaching servants.

"Wait! We’d like to return to our rooms."

The words seemed to catch the servants off guard. The maids and butlers slowed, their faceless heads turning towards Marcus.

Then, one of the butlers stepped forward.

— Of course, esteemed guests. We shall escort you back to your rooms at once.

The others followed suit, their pursuit abruptly coming to an end.

A moment ago, they had been chasing us through the hotel. Now, they were preparing to lead us back the way we came.

Elias glanced at Marcus, clearly puzzled.

"Marcus... What are you doing?"

"Trust me. If they insist on us staying in our rooms, then let’s give them what they want."

Marcus replied, lowering his hand.

As the servants began leading them back, Marcus leaned closer to Clara, Elias, and Jonathan.

Keeping his voice low enough that the surrounding maids and butlers wouldn’t hear, he whispered.

"Just follow my lead. I think I know how we can get them to bring us what we need..."

He then quietly explained his idea to the three of them, making sure to keep his words concealed from the servants.

The others listened without interrupting, their expressions calming as they gradually understood what he was planning.

With the servants no longer blocking our way, the team followed their escorts back through the corridors.

Before long, me and Marcus arrived at his assigned room. The butler opened the door for him, and Marcus stepped inside with the suitcase still in his hand.

Apparently, the hotel itself was the only thing capable of recognizing me as an individual rather than an ordinary object.

The servants didn’t seem to care that Marcus had brought me along, nor did they make any attempt to stop him from carrying me into his room.

Once inside, Marcus placed the suitcase down and turned towards the newly assigned butler.

"Could you prepare a bath for me? And I’d like some scented candles as well."