Ensemble Leveling
Chapter 45: Lotus Land Story
After a little while later, they have arrived at the Lotus-Eater Island and the entirety of the resort is within his view as Jihoon took in the entirety of its appearance in his sight. From what he recalled from his previous visit of the Central Museum of Atria, it looked like if someone just haphazardly mixed various South Eastern cultures in his world together without regard of how they go together. But here, it seems that depiction before isn’t too far off either.
His eyes scanned the resort, chunks of distinct aesthetic and architecture clashing in a manner that both intrigued and disoriented him to no end.
There’s the pagoda right near island’s central away in distance, with its sharp tiers and dragon motifs, looked like it had been lifted somewhere from ancient Chinese dynasties, while the stone torii gates that lined near this entrance felt unmistakably Japanese.
His memory flashed back to his visit to Avanthal Central Culture Museum, where he’d seen a similar mishmash of cultural depictions that, to him, seemed careless. Like an author go full pride and audacity to just write a stock Far Eastern that any fantasy world would have.
“Hopefully, it’s better organized than my first impression of it.”
The island was a vibrant tapestry of cultural inspirations, its architecture and landscapes pulling from a myriad of Eastern influences from his own world. The rooftops of pagodas, temples, and quaint inns were layered in vibrant tiles of jade and crimson, their edges curling skyward like mythical dragon tails. Bridges of delicate wood curved over koi-filled streams, and paper lanterns of every hue swayed gently in the breeze. Bamboo groves and neatly sculpted gardens framed the scenery,
The vibrant gardens lining the walkways, with cherry blossoms, lotus ponds, and sprawling bamboo groves, shimmered under the warm light of East Southern Absence’s ever-perfect weather. The soothing sound of water trickling through a series of elaborate fountains intertwined with the soft rustling of the trees. Even Jihoon had to admit that despite the chaotic combination.
Despite standing amidst the lively yet tranquil beauty of the island, he grudgingly admitted that the fusion didn’t feel as off-putting as he expected. If anything, the sheer harmony of the chaos was… oddly impressive.
As they walked through the entrance of the resort, a mix of curiosity and confusion gnawed at Jihoon’s mind.
“So, uh…” Jihoon began, glancing at Karim, Rosa, Alvorna, and Aquarius, “when did everyone agree that this was where my therapy should happen? I don’t remember signing off on this.”
Karim gave him a knowing grin, his hands clasped behind his back as they strolled. “What, you thought we spent those two days just pacing around hospital halls like nervous relatives? Believe it or not, Jihoon, we do have lives outside of babysitting you.”
Rosa snorted, nudging Jihoon lightly in the ribs. “He’s not wrong. You’d be surprised how productive we can be when someone isn’t busy trying to kill themselves for their ideals.”
Alvorna stayed silent, her emerald eyes scanning the surroundings, though her expression was unreadable.
Aquarius, walking beside Rosa, chimed in, her voice soft yet curious. “You may not realize it, but you have people who care about you. Even if you can’t always see it, Jihoon, you’re not as alone as you think.”
“You keep putting yourself in these impossible situations. You act like you’re the only one who can shoulder the burden, but you forget—there are people watching, worrying. People who want to help.” Rosa continued, her voice softening.
Karim chimed in, his voice less sarcastic than usual. “You’re too self-centered to notice it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not real.”
The words struck a chord. Jihoon’s gaze shifted toward the horizon, lost in thought. People who care… The concept felt foreign even until now. Back in his world, there hadn’t been anyone waiting for him after a tough day or checking if he was fine.
Long before even the Gates opened and humanity’s world began to collapse, he’d learned to be self-sufficient, everyone else did the same. Everyone around him had their own problems, their own schedules. Survival wasn’t a community effort but a solo performance. Surrounded by people he may be but lonely, it was the same for him and perhaps everyone else.
As he let their words sink in, a small part of him bristled, instinctively rejecting the notion. But another part that he hadn’t been allowed to surface in years wanted to believe in it.
“Well, don’t expect me to suddenly turn into some sunshine and rainbows protagonist,” he muttered, a weak attempt to push back against the vulnerability creeping into his chest.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Rosa quipped back with a smirk.
“Don’t worry. None of us are asking for that.” Karim laughed, though his tone remained sincere.
Jihoon looked ahead at the lotus ponds shimmering under the warm sun and sighed.
‘Perhaps they’re right about this, just letting things go, even if just for a moment’
They continued walking, the serene atmosphere of the island beginning to work its magic. Jihoon knew the therapy ahead would likely challenge him in ways he hadn’t anticipated. But for now, he allowed himself to breathe, just once without the weight of the world pressing down on him.
Now, it is about the schedule of what they will do now that they’re at the Lotus-Eater Island. The first order of business whenever you visit an island is… take a swim in its beach, duh!
The group continued through the scenic pathways of the Lotus-Eater Island, and as they reached the resort’s central plaza, Rosa held up a laminated itinerary. Jihoon blinked, half expecting it to be Karim’s idea, but the wood elf merchant was already shaking his head with an amused expression.
“The first thing we’re doing is—wait for it—taking a swim in the pristine beach,” Rosa announced, pointing to the first item on the schedule.
Jihoon raised an eyebrow, already skeptical. “You’re telling me you came to this place with its mystical lotus-themed therapy chambers just to plan a day at the beach?”
Rosa smirked. “You’ve been through hell, Jihoon. If you think we’re letting you dive straight into more mind-bending nonsense without taking a breather first, you’ve got another thing coming.”
Karim chuckled, leaning on the closest support pillar of the plaza, maintaining his appearance to appear as charming and mystique as befitting of his profession. “A clear mind and positive spirit are worth plenty on their own, you know. And besides, what’s the point of visiting a paradise island if you don’t enjoy the actual paradise part?”
Jihoon sighed, though a small smile tugged at his lips. He couldn’t argue with the logic, even if the idea of lounging around felt unnatural.
Rosa continued, holding the itinerary like a battle plan. “After the beach, we’re hitting the resort’s main garden for lunch. I’ve already reserved a table—don’t ask me how I convinced them, but I did.”
She’s the goddamn CEO/heiress of Magni Conglomeration, one of the largest industrial conglomerations in the entirety of Absence, she doesn’t need to pull strings to get a seat, her presence alone demands that, which anyone finds is a complete no-brainer itself. Even just this entirety island’s daily upkeep cost is penny pinch for her.
Rosa flipped the itinerary. “At the end of the day, you will be doing the full Lotus Chamber therapy session. Apparently, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Tailored lotus oils, immersive sensory relaxation, guided introspection—the works are numerous.”
Jihoon tilted his head. “Sounds suspiciously like an excuse to make me sit still for hours.”
“Exactly,” Rosa shot back without missing a beat. “But you’ll thank me when your mind isn’t running laps around itself by the end of it. Or going through another bout of self-destructive behaviors or saving the world alone.”
Karim added with a sly grin, “If until then that you don’t mellow out, we’ve got evening tea at the cliffside pavilion with a sunset view.”
Jihoon groaned, though his protest was half-hearted. “You really planned all this just to make sure I don’t think about anything serious for a day?”
“Correct,” Rosa, Alvorna, Aquarius and Karim said in unison. They’re clearly have plenty of concern for him to go this far.
Aquarius chimed in, her voice melodic and playful. “It’s about time you learned how to let go, Jihoon. Just for a day.”
“We had to pull more strings than I’d care to admit to get you into the therapy chamber at the end of the day. Even with Alvorna and me pulling rank, this place is absurdly in-demand. We’re talking about the Daughter of Matriarch and the heiress to the Magni Conglomerate”
Alvorna folded her arms, her usual cool demeanor intact. “You’re lucky we even managed this much. Take advantage of it.”
Jihoon looked at the group, their determined faces leaving him no room for debate. He exhaled, a mix of resignation and amusement. “Fine. Lead the way, I guess.”
With that, the group set off toward the beach, ready to kick off a day of carefully crafted relaxation. Despite his usual resistance to the idea of leisure due to just how screwed up his life had become, couldn’t deny the faint hope that maybe, just maybe, this was exactly what he needed.
Well, Jihoon didn’t exactly bring swimwear amongst his Hunter’s survival gear, so they have to purchase one here. He come to Absence not even knowing in the slightest what its world be like, let alone thinking that he will have a leisure beach episode at all.
As the group stop by the nearest swimwear shop they found, Jihoon just chose another usual swim trunk that the shop hung like hundreds of them. For male category, they looked as much as what he expected of male swimwears in his world. But when it comes to female however, just the sheer diversity of designs almost felt overwhelming as though one came to the beach for fashion runway instead of actually swimming.
And he would not have it in any other way because he would truly die of embarrassment if he tried to wear any of that.
Having changed into his simple swim trunks, Jihoon stepped onto the sun-drenched sand, the waves rolling gently against the shore. The sound of the ocean filled the air, serene and unbroken except for the occasional call of a distant seabird. He took a deep breath, letting the salty air fill his lungs.
It had been so long since he’d last been to a beach. Back in his world, any popular spot was riddled with trash, overcrowded with people, and only a shadow of what beaches once were. And after the Gates arrived, the sea became a restricted zone, overrun by seaborne monsters that turned what should have been a source of beauty and peace into another battleground and unreclaimable no man’s land.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
The sight before him now—a pristine beach untouched by pollution or danger—was almost alien. He stood frozen for a moment, overwhelmed by a mix of nostalgia and personal disbelief.
Beside him, Karim stretched with a satisfied groan, already having changed into his swim trunks, which were just as unassuming as Jihoon’s. “Ah, nothing beats a good beach day. You’ve got to relax, Jihoon. Let the water wash all that stress away.”
Jihoon gave a distracted nod, his gaze fixed on the horizon. But then, his thoughts took a sharp turn, and his face reddened as he remembered something else. The other girls were still changing into their swimwear, and the sheer thought of what they might emerge wearing froze him stiff knowing female swimwear fashion of this world. His ears burned as he tried—and failed—not to think about it.
Karim noticed immediately, a mischievous smirk forming on his lips. “Oi, what’s got you looking like a steamed lobster, huh?” he teased, nudging Jihoon with his elbow. “You embarrassed? Come on, you’ve got a fine physique! The girls are probably going to be drooling over you. If anything, you should be proud!”
Karim threw his head back and laughed, thoroughly enjoying Jihoon’s discomfort. “Oh, come on, live a little, Jihoon! You’re on a beach with friends! Loosen up! Or are you just afraid of how you’ll react when the girls show up?”
Jihoon glared back but that did little as Karim burst out laughing even louder before slapping Jihoon on the back.
“Relax, Jihoon! You’re way too easy to fluster. You should enjoy the attention when it comes. It builds character, like it did me.”
Jihoon groaned, burying his face in his hands. Yet given enough time, Jihoon couldn’t help but let out a small and begrudging chuckle at his own. The tension eased just a bit as he looked at the peaceful wave once again, he indeed felt that perhaps, things would indeed be fine.
“Jihoon! Over here!” A familiar voice spoke to him which he recognized without fail.
As Jihoon turned around to see where it came from. It was Alvorna who descended in front of him, wearing a large sun hat with a pure white sundress which conceal the bikini swimwear of same color underneath. Despite what appears as modest is accentuating the appeal of her graceful and enchanting appearance.
The long dark vanilla hair of her billowing in the wind in wavy cascade, the eyes of emerald stand out prominently as though constantly sparkling of curiosity and captivation. The closed large bird-like wings of same hue adding an otherworldly and mystical quality to her appearance.
“How do you like what you see, Jihoon?”. Alvorna said as though this get-up of her is decided solely just for his view.
Jihoon froze, his mind scrambling to find the right words. “I—uh—it looks…” He struggled, his voice trailing off as his gaze darted between Alvorna’s sparkling emerald eyes and the pristine white of her sundress. “It suits you… very well.”
Karim, standing nearby, couldn’t suppress his groan. Before Jihoon could react, the elf delivered a firm smack to the back of his head. “That’s the best you can do? Really? Show some real honesty, you idiot!” Karim barked, his tone equal parts amused and exasperated.
Jihoon winced, rubbing the back of his head and shooting Karim a glare. “I was being honest!”
Alvorna’s gaze flicked between the two, her expression unreadable. “It seems someone here has trouble expressing themselves,” she said, her voice light but tinged with amusement.
Karim sighed dramatically, placing a hand on his chest as if enduring a great burden. He truly wished the best for the two of them, but that dishonest behavior of Jihoon landed both of them in hot water so many times that he surprised that this crazy venture of theirs haven’t triggered the alarm of the Matriarch of the Harpies.
“Alvorna, your style is exquisite,” he said smoothly, bowing slightly. “A perfect balance of elegance and allure. Truly, a vision worthy of poetry.”
Alvorna chuckled softly, but her focus returned to Jihoon, who stood awkwardly, his face redder than the setting sun. This is the same man who wrought havoc across the first trail of the Odyssey in Lap 4.
“I… uh…” Jihoon stammered again before finally summoning his courage, something that felt more difficult than him facing a real insurmountable threat for some reasons but…
“You look… stunning, Alvorna. Absolutely beautiful.” The words came out quieter than he intended, but they were heartfelt nontheless.
Her expression softened, the faintest hint of pink dusting her cheeks. “Thank you, Jihoon.”
Unbeknownst to Jihoon, this moment held a deeper meaning for her. For someone like Alvorna, who grew up in a society of all-female Harpies, the concept of intimacy and appealing to the opposite sex was foreign territory. To the Harpies, they themselves were the prize that any man worth his salt can stood side-by-side with their grace.
Alvorna once again stood differently as every detail of her appearance—the sundress, the hat, even the careful way she carried herself—was an earnest, albeit fumbling, attempt to bridge that gap and show a side of herself she’d never revealed to anyone before.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was genuine. And it struck something within Jihoon—a realization that despite everything, despite how much he had doubted himself, someone had gone to such lengths for him. For someone who had long resigned himself to thinking he’d never get far in relationships, this sincerity left a mark deeper than words could express.
“Well,” Karim interjected with a smirk, stepping slightly away from Jihoon. “I’ll just leave you two to bask in the awkward romance. Try not to get me in trouble again, Jihoon.”
“Wha—! That’s not—!” Jihoon started, but Alvorna simply smiled, the sparkle in her eyes brighter than ever.
As this moment of intimacy lasted for a few seconds, another certain someone finally arrived. Now that he remembered it, he recalled why he felt so anxious in just a beach trip to begin with. And the culprit was…
“Alvorna! How dare you leave me behind like that!?” Rosa’s voice rang out, accompanied by the dramatic flourish of her rose-gold twin tails billowing in the breeze.
Jihoon’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to her choice of swimwear—or lack thereof.
Rosa who comes in her own extremely extravagant swimwear that seems to cover absolutely nothing meaningful. The black string bikini crisscross across her body barely holding onto her absurdly disproportionate body distribution in place without snapping. She was already shorter than her fellow compatriots here and all the mass concentrated at her chest makes Rosa’s petite stature only made the concentrated effect of her form more pronounced.
Jihoon’s mind blanked as he struggled to find an appropriate response. Her presence felt almost unreal, like a caricature of an ideal that teetered precariously on the edge of taste but somehow stayed just within bounds.
The only other saving grace is the black translucent cloth wrapped around her lower body added a faint hint of modesty, but it did nothing to mitigate the overwhelming presence of her exposed figure.
If one has the words to summarize. The heiress herself is a bombshell packing with nuclear ballistic. Too much payload even if one can say.
If Jihoon had thought he was flushed before, this was another level entirely. His face burned so fiercely it felt as though steam might erupt from his ears at any moment. His eyes darted around frantically, anywhere but at Rosa herself, yet his traitorous brain refused to let him ignore the sheer audacity of her outfit.
Aside from her body, the very long rose-gold twintail flutters with the sea breeze as her hair is decorated with a tropical red flower that felt familiar but couldn’t tell which exactly. Her entire appearance right now is screaming a reference that Jihoon certain that it flew over his head entirely.
This whole thing came from the dignity and pride that all the dwarves have. They kept to their word, hold any slight and gratitude with said respective. And most importantly, the length they will go to fulfill any promise on their part which makes anything that they had a hand in making far surpass others in quality. This extends to not only just craftsmanship but every facet of their life and interaction with others.
In short, Rosa dressed like this, just for him. And he genuinely has no words to even describe the complicated feelings which go through his mind right now seeing her like this. It was somewhat bearable seeing her in usual business clothing but seeing it exposed and accentuated felt like his soul was going to leave his own body.
“Well?” Rosa said, hands on her hips, leaning slightly forward as she gazed at Jihoon with a pointed smirk without a shred of shame. “What do you think? Do I look good or what?”
Jihoon stammered incoherently, his mind spiraling into chaos.
“I-I mean—y-you look—uh, it’s just—” Words failed him entirely, his brain short-circuiting just to try to get out a proper response. He may stand invincible in the battlefield but fumbling entirely in the court of the heart.
Alvorna, standing calmly beside him, watched the scene with a raised brow and an expression of faint amusement. If she felt any embarrassment seeing Rosa dressed so provocatively, she didn’t show it. Instead, she seemed more entertained by Jihoon’s obvious discomfort.
If it weren’t for the fact that this part of the beach is reserved solely for them, even other bystanders would just collapse seeing her. Karim took a long deep breath for even that is pushing him to his own limit of prudence to not lose his calm.
“It seems that our CEO comes equipped with ballistic herself. You certainly do know how to make an entrance. I’ll give you that.”. Karim makes his comment while avoiding the matter of her physique altogether.
“I think I’ll leave Jihoon to handle this one. You’re on your own, buddy.” Then without words of warning, he turned on his heel to leave Jihoon alone to deal with the matter himself.
“Wait, what!?” Jihoon yelped, spinning around to glare at Karim, who was already walking away with an exaggerated whistle. Evidently, not even he with the charisma of a merchant is willing to stood between Jihoon and the heiress of an industrial giant.
Rosa’s smirk widened, her confidence unshaken as she stepped closer to Jihoon. Her eyes of rose quartz sparkled with mischief. “Oh, come on, Jihoon. You’re not going to make a girl like me wait for a compliment, are you?”
Jihoon’s heart hasten as though he is truly in a matter of life and death. Even trying to find the right words felt like a sword of Damocles hanging above him. And in the end, with what little of his own knowledge romance that he can muster, the end result is…
“You’re… stunning,” he finally managed to blurt out, his voice barely above a whisper after all of that thinking.
Rosa’s expression softened for a brief moment before the teasing smirk returned.
“I know,” she said lightly, twirling her twintail’s end. “But it’s nice to hear you say it.”
Jihoon tried to muster any semblance of composure, but his thoughts were a jumbled mess of embarrassment, awe, and many things he couldn’t quite define. He couldn’t deny the effort Rosa had put into this, and somewhere deep down, he appreciated it—even if it felt like his soul might leave his body in the process.
He glanced briefly toward Alvorna, hoping for some kind of rescue, but she merely shrugged, as if to say, ‘This is your problem.’ With all honesty, he thought she would be a lot more jealous knowing his own experience, and the imaginary audience observing his story as though his life a stage.
Jihoon let out a shaky breath, resigning himself to his fate. It was going to be a long day for sure.
Surprisingly enough, he soon recalled someone he missed entirely. And that was Aquarius, the Merfolk Princess herself.
The day unfolded with a series of beachside activities that, while intended to relax Jihoon, instead turned into an endless cycle of chaotic yet memorable mishaps.
First up was beach volleyball, an idea proposed by Alvorna. Jihoon thought it would be a harmless way to ease into the day, but he’d severely underestimated just how competitive Alvorna could be. With her wings folded back and her emerald eyes gleaming with determination, she launched herself into the game with a fervor that bordered on terrifying.
Jihoon set the ball lightly toward her side of the net, thinking to keep things friendly. Alvorna responded with a spike so powerful it sounded like a gunshot, the ball narrowly missing him and embedding itself into the sand like a meteor.
“Uh… maybe dial it back a little?” Jihoon ventured, brushing sand off his face as he stared at the crater where the ball had landed.
Alvorna crossed her arms, a smirk playing on her lips. “What’s the matter, Jihoon? Can’t handle a little enthusiasm?”
He gave her a look, mentally swearing to himself to never let her near a competitive sport again. Even if he could measure up to her as equal, she would become his obituary if she kept going like that.
Next was a swimming contest with Aquarius, who, unsurprisingly, hadn’t changed out of her usual sailor dress. When Jihoon hesitated, wondering how she planned to swim in that outfit, Aquarius waved off his concerns. “Merfolk clothing is technically swimwear. Let’s see what you’ve got, land-dweller!”
Jihoon didn’t know why he agreed to this. Competing against a merfolk in the water was an inherently bad idea, but he found himself roped into the challenge anyway. As expected, it was over before it even began. Jihoon barely made it halfway to the finish line by the time Aquarius completed the lap, her effortless grace in the water making his strokes which despite being trained as a Hunter look laughable.
By the time he reached the shore again, panting and dripping, Aquarius greeted him with a bright smile. “Good effort, Jihoon! Maybe next time, you’ll… oh, wait. Never mind,” she teased, giggling at his incredulous expression.
Then came building sandcastles with Rosa. Jihoon managed to shape a small mound of sand into something that vaguely resembled a castle. It wasn’t much, but he felt a flicker of pride in his modest creation.
Rosa, however, took the activity to an entirely different level. Fueled by her dwarven pride, she crafted a sandcastle so intricate it looked like something out of a fantasy novel. Complete with battlements, towers, and even a functioning drawbridge made of woven reeds, her sandcastle was a literal fortress despite only an hour having passed.
“You can even go inside,” she said smugly, gesturing to the doorway. Jihoon peeked inside, half-expecting to find a sand throne.
“Okay, I’ll admit it,” he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. “You win this one, Rosa. Hands down.”
Finally, there was fishing with Karim. Compared to the whirlwind of previous activities, it was refreshingly calm. The two sat side by side on a small pier, their fishing lines cast into the gentle waves. For once, there were no explosions, no contests of strength, and no overly ambitious sand structures.
“This,” Jihoon said, exhaling deeply, “is normal. I like normal.”
Karim chuckled, reeling in a small fish. “You say that now, but knowing you, Jihoon, chaos will find its way back before the day is done.”
Jihoon grinned faintly, his body finally starting to relax as the sun reaching high-point in the sky. Perhaps Karim was right, but for now, he was content to enjoy the fleeting tranquility.