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At that moment, the guests in the lobby were caught off guard, unable to escape in time. It’s not easy to react quickly when your life is suddenly threatened in what should be a safe place.

In a supposedly safe place, the sudden threat to their lives left them struggling to comprehend the situation and react promptly. While they might have had a chance if they understood the situation within three seconds and fled, that was an impossible feat for anyone.

“What’s going on? It’s so noisy.”

The gentleman sipping his tea, looking alarmed at the men rushing into the lobby, uttered those words, which turned out to be his last. One of the men grabbed the gentleman’s face, drew a sword, and thrust it through his throat.

“Aaaaahhhhhhh!”

Screams erupted amidst the splattering of blood. The marauders now had weapons in hand, each ready for mayhem.

“Kill them! Kill them!”
“Avenge the blood of our brothers!”

No discrimination—everyone present, hotel staff and guests alike, became targets. Beaten down, kicked, and swords thrust upon them.

As people tried to escape toward the back, a flash of magical bullets erupted.

The ≪Shock Ball≫ spell loaded into the staff disintegrated three guests into a shower of debris, showering those fleeing with a rain of blood.

By the time there were no more screams, the blood-soaked men remembered they had originally planned to capture at least one person alive.

It was at that moment when Lucella, who had been in the underground restroom, emerged into the lobby.

The lobby was bathed in red, scattered corpses, and men armed with weapons. Although the motive was unclear, it was evident that something terrible had occurred.

“Perfect! Catch that brat!”
“Huh?”

Men who seemed more adept at wielding violence than speaking in words lunged at Lucella together.

“Wait a minute!”
“This little-!”

Lucella slipped through their four arms, rolled on the floor, and bounced back up. The men continued to pursue her. Although lacking in speed and technique, they charged toward her like wild boars or bulls.

Dodging their onslaught, Lucella slid under a large table.

“Agh, enough!”
“Gbf!”
“Gah!?”

Then, adopting a position almost like a backward handstand, Lucella kicked the table upwards. The two men were hit in the face by the hefty tabletop, spraying blood from their noses and broken teeth as they were sent flying.

Directly kicking opponents of this level would most likely open holes in them, so Lucella used the table to attack. In short, she held back.

“What’s with this brat!?”
“Damn you!”

Seeing his comrade fall, the third man, instead of trying to capture Lucella, raised his sword and charged at her.

It was a mass-produced steel sword, not even made of mythril. Nevertheless, it was sufficient as a tool of violence, its blade already smeared with blood and grease.

Lucella, facing the blade that had dulled due to the blood, caught it with her bare hands.

“Um, I’d like you to explain the situation first.”
“Hot, hot, hot, hot, hot!?”

The sword turned red-hot. The blade began to melt like ice cream exposed to sunlight. In this state, not only the blade but also the hilt was compromised, and the man dropped the burning sword as he suffered burns on his hand.

“You little-!”
“!”

Another man swung a staff down.

Lucella discerned that the staff was not a magical medium used by mages but rather a magical item that anyone could use to cast spells. In that case, regardless of the user’s skill, the incoming magic could be lethal.

The light bullets unleashed from the staff roared towards Lucella!

“…Hm!”

A mass of flames materialized from the void, intercepting the magical bullets head-on. At the moment of impact, both the magical bullets and the fireball each released their stored energy, exploding.

The explosion from the magical bullets was completely overwhelmed by the force of the fire. It vanished without a trace, and the excess energy from the large explosion sent twenty chairs and tables crashing into the wall.

“W-What’s happening!?”
“Ugyaaa! It’s hot! It’s so hot, I’m gonna die!”

The man who swung the staff was extinguished, and those nearby burned quietly like logs. Those barely alive, engulfed in flames at the last moment, screamed while dancing frantically.

Meanwhile, the individuals who were still in one piece were left bewildered, not understanding what had just occurred.

…Can’t be helped.

Lucella deemed it an act of self-defense.

The flames began to spread to the lobby furniture, but soon enough, pipes installed on the ceiling began to shower water.

It was a sprinkler system. Sealed with a material that would melt under heat, it automatically released water when a fire broke out.

I can use this!

Lucella drew the falling water towards her like a fisherman pulling in a net. Chaotic downpour gathered together like a group of fish, gradually forming into a transparent, serpentine water current.

The water snake, fittingly coiling and twisting, began to loop around the lobby, instantly extinguishing the fire that threatened to consume the burning furniture, curtains, and people within.

“Gbbbf!”

The sinuous water serpent swallowed up the troublemakers and flowed effortlessly out of the entrance, blowing the front door away with water pressure. The lobby, now dampened and charred, fell silent.

“What’s this… it’s not a robbery, right?”

Having dealt with the immediate problem, Lucella analyzed the situation. This was more like a ‘raid’ rather than a simple robbery.

While considering questioning the ones washed outside about their motives, Lucella suddenly heard muffled screams and the tumultuous sounds of a brawl echoing from down the corridor.

They’re infiltrating from the back too!

Not just their motives, but the number and methods of the assailants were unclear. In such a situation, Lucella quickly decided there was no time for contemplation.

Breaking a nearby window with a powerful kick, Lucella leaped outside and began scaling the exterior of the building with a speed resembling flight, using the window frames as footholds. Counting the floors in her mind, she melted the window on the 17th floor and leaped into the corridor.

“Monica, are you okay!?”
“What do you mean?”

The group was staying in one of the most luxurious rooms in this high-end hotel.

When Lucella burst into the room, which was as wide as an imperial tea room, Monica and Kafal were enjoying elegant pastries from a white wooden box while sipping tea.

“Hey, I dropped by. About ten minutes ago.”

In the corner of the room, a man Lucella didn’t recall inviting was arranging Callers on a writing desk.

“Ivar… Why are you here?”
“Today, the safest place in this city is probably this room. I sought refuge here. Here’s a souvenir.”
“It’s delicious. Lucella, want some?”
“Oh, sure…”

The mysterious square-shaped pastry handed to Kafal was fruity and sweet.

“I got into a fight with weird people in the lobby.”
“That’s some bad luck. For both you and the other side. You probably already figured it out, but this is a raid. The b̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲s̲ who have a bad history with the hotel owners are up to some annoying scheme.”

Ivar, activating Callers one after another and tapping the desk with his fingers, continued speaking.

“Attention, dear guests! We are the ‘Death Hornets’! We’ve taken control of this hotel. Everyone, return to your rooms and stay put. If you try something, you will pay with your life!”

They were likely using some kind of magical item. Through the air vent, a menacing male voice echoed, delivering an intimidating message.

“Taking everyone hostage and barricading themselves. Well, I guess that’s one way to do it.”

Ivar let out a small sigh through his nose.

Lucella was well aware that this city was a den of the mafia. In such a place, conflicts between them were part of daily life. However, if they were launching an indiscriminate attack, including guests, in a high-end hotel that should be protected, it would undoubtedly be a historically significant event.

“Anyway, it’s dangerous, so stay put.”

Lucella stated it clearly for Monica. However, Monica’s mood soured and she furrowed her brow.

“Listen… do you think of me as a child? I know that much without you telling me.”
“Right, sorry.”
“…Ah!”

Monica suddenly covered her mouth. And then clung to Lucella.

“W-What?”

With a firm grip, Monica clung to Lucella, who was still bewildered. Then, as soon as she let go, she turned her face away and started eating a pastry, as if trying to cover something up.

“But what about the guide? He said something about a meeting and left a while ago.”
“Huh?”
“That’s probably not good. He was proudly wearing a diplomatic badge on his suit collar.”

Lucella finally realized that there was another person she needed to protect in this situation.