Chapter 33: Theresa: "I Could Tell She Wasn't Human From the Start!"

After a satisfying meal, Old Goethe instructed the staff to escort everyone to their rooms. They were all assigned luxurious suites conveniently located next to each other.

"Ugh, I'm so sleepy! I'm going to take a bath and crash. I can't wait to see what exciting things happen tomorrow!" March 7th yawned, standing in front of her door and addressing the group with eager anticipation.

"March, every time you get your hopes up, something uniquely disastrous happens the next day. Remember when we crash-landed on that planet and crashed into the embassy? We ended up doing forced labor for two weeks," Dan Heng remarked calmly, watching March 7th's face flush with embarrassment.

"Hey, it wasn't on purpose! But I still feel bad for dragging everyone else into it," March 7th said with an awkward smile.

"Let's hope tomorrow is uneventful, but my instincts tell me it won't be that simple," Stelle muttered.

"Dan Heng, you've noticed it too, haven't you? About Supreme Guardian Cocolia Rand?" Theresa whispered, turning to Dan Heng.

"Hmm, something about her feels off," Dan Heng said calmly, his gaze fixed on Theresa. "She was initially arrogant towards us, but became extremely wary after learning about the Stellaron."

March 7th, rarely engaging her mind in such a way, chimed in, "Normally, locals would be overjoyed to have outsiders handle problems they can't solve. But Cocolia reacted the opposite way. She seemed reluctant to let us deal with the Stellaron. Doesn't she realize her planet is in grave danger?"

"That's one of the things that's suspicious about her," Dan Heng continued. "I suspect she's had contact with the Stellaron and may have even reached some kind of understanding with it. Otherwise, why would she refuse to hand over a problem her planet can't handle? And her words were full of hidden clues."

"Plus, even though she tried to maintain a calm demeanor afterward, I noticed she had become wary of us," Theresa added. "If I'm right, trouble's brewing. Everyone, get some rest now—we need to be prepared for a potential betrayal tomorrow!"

Theresa, addressed everyone solemnly.

"So that's why you were acting so strangely yesterday, Theresa," Stelle said, looking at her thoughtfully. "You were trying to distract Cocolia from paying too much attention to you?"

"After all, normal people instinctively distance themselves from things that make them uncomfortable," Stelle continued. "That gave the 'foolish' Theresa the perfect opportunity to observe her closely."

"In any case, we should all be cautious here. Stay vigilant," Dan Heng said as he entered his room and closed the door. The others exchanged goodnights and retreated to their own quarters.

Once Theresa confirmed everyone was settled in, she recalled the urban legends surrounding the hotel—the "Shining" easter egg Mihoyo had supposedly placed in the building, and the story of the ghostly doorknocker.

A mischievous glint sparked in Theresa's eyes. Yes, she thought, I'm going to do something reckless!

With an air of calculated wisdom, Theresa stealthily crept to the end of the corridor and began listening intently at the doors.

The first two rooms were deathly silent. From the third, she heard a man's muffled sobs, his voice choked with suppressed panic. Theresa listened carefully but detected nothing else unusual. After eavesdropping on a few more rooms, she finally detected the faint murmur of a man and a woman speaking in hushed tones.

"Honey, it was just a nightmare..." The woman's voice was soft and soothing, trying to calm the hysterical man.

"You have no idea how terrifying my dream was. I had an axe, and I..." The man's voice trailed off into a hoarse whisper.

Then came the woman's tearful voice, mixed with the cries of a child. Theresa, deep in thought, left the doorway and moved to another room to listen, hoping to trigger the hidden easter egg.

"I checked room 237—there's nothing there. He's probably just bored and trying to get our attention by making himself look like a ghost," a man's voice said, clearly muffled.

"No, honey, we should leave. There's something wrong with this hotel. Sometimes when I'm half asleep, I hear something tapping on our window!" The woman's voice trembled with fear, choked with sobs.

The room fell silent. Just as Theresa was about to leave, an angry male voice suddenly erupted from within.

"I'm never leaving this place! No one can make me leave... Heh heh ha ha!"

The unsettling, maniacal laughter faded away, and after listening for a moment, Theresa realized the room had fallen silent.

She left the guest room and began listening at other doors. Some held faint whispers, others the scuttling sounds of something crawling. But whenever Theresa pressed her ear against a door, the crawling noises would abruptly stop, as if sensing her presence, leaving her disappointed.

She'd hoped whatever was inside would leap out and attack her, but nothing happened, thwarting her mischievous anticipation.

"Knock, knock! Anyone home? Trick or treat~" Theresa called out softly, her voice laced with wicked glee.

"Ugh~"

The creature in the guest room seemed startled. Theresa heard the frantic skittering of limbs retreating from the door.

"Tch, what a wimp," she muttered, bored. After all this effort, nothing remotely fun had happened. She sighed wearily, ready to return to her room to wash up and rest. Tomorrow might bring a fight with the Silvermane Guards.

Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine. She felt as if someone—or something—was watching her from behind.

Her excitement surged. Here we go! The Easter egg's finally here!

Theresa whirled around to face the deepest part of the corridor, where a pair of twin sisters stood staring at her with eerie, languid gazes.

Huh?

Theresa scrutinized the twins with a knowing look.

Let's see if this Theresa is brave enough.

"Hehe~ Wanna play with us?"

"Forever..."

"Let's stay together... forever~"

"Hehehe~"

The twins grinned menacingly at Theresa.

"I knew you weren't human the moment I saw you!" Theresa declared.

"Great Mighty Heavenly Dragon, eat my Oath of Judah!"

To the twins' stunned horror, Theresa confidently pulled out her enlarged Oath of Judah, ready to slam it down on them.

Is this how it's done?

"!!!"

The terrified twins vanished instantly. Theresa's shout startled some guests, who cautiously opened their doors to investigate. But when they saw Theresa's perfectly serene expression, they quickly slammed their doors shut again, dispelling much of the corridor's eerie atmosphere.

"Ugh, Theresa, what are you doing now?!" March 7th, still in her pink pajamas, rubbed her eyes as she watched Theresa standing at the end of the corridor, Oath of Judah slung over her shoulder.

Stelle and Dan Heng also stared in bewilderment at Theresa, wondering what antics she would pull next.