Chapter 40: Lotus Rest (2)

The Imperial Suite was nothing short of breathtaking. The floors were lined with woven tatami mats, the walls decorated with intricate silk paintings. Wide sliding doors opened onto a private balcony, and beyond the balcony sat the prize: a massive, steaming hot spring carved from natural grey stone, surrounded by glowing flora and shielded from the rest of the world by a high bamboo fence.

"I claim the large bed," Mira announced the second they walked in, instantly throwing her worn leather jacket onto the massive, silk-sheeted mattress in the center of the room.

"Knock yourself out," Leon said, unbuckling his sword belt and laying the Bloodfang Edge and Stormcaller’s Conduit against the wall. He tapped his chest, un-equipping the Fanghide Battleplate and the Sovereign’s Mantle, returning them to his inventory.

Underneath, he wore a simple, fitted black tunic and trousers.

"I’m hitting the bath," Leon announced, stretching his arms over his head, his joints popping satisfyingly. "Try not to steal anything while I’m out there."

"No promises," Mira yelled back, already digging through a complimentary fruit basket on the table.

Leon slid the glass doors open and stepped out into the cool night air. The steam rising from the hot spring was intoxicating. He stripped down to a simple pair of linen shorts provided by the hotel and stepped into the water.

The heat was absolute perfection.

Leon sank down until the water reached his collarbones, resting his head back against the smooth stone edge of the pool. A long, shuddering sigh escaped his lips. His 50 Constitution meant his muscles didn’t ache the way a normal human’s would, but the mental fatigue of the constant, life-or-death grinding over the last ten days finally melted away.

This. This was what he had missed. The simple, undeniable luxury of just existing, without pain, in a comfortable place.

He closed his eyes, letting the ambient mana of the safe zone wash over him.

Ten minutes passed in blissful, uninterrupted silence.

Slide.

The sound of the glass door opening made Leon open one eye.

Mira stepped out onto the balcony.

Leon’s breath hitched slightly.

She had discarded her dark, skin-tight leathers. Instead, she was wearing a hotel-provided white towel wrapped tightly around her body. It was a valiant effort, but the towel was struggling, failing miserably to contain the sheer volume of her chest. The soft, heavy swell of her cleavage threatened to spill over the top edge with every step she took, the terrycloth clinging desperately to her narrow waist and wide, plush hips.

Her silver hair was unbound, falling in a curtain down her back. Her cheeks were dusted with a faint, uncharacteristic pink blush, but her eyes held a defiant, stubborn light.

"I thought I booked this for a solo soak," Leon said, his voice a fraction lower than it had been a moment ago, his eyes tracking her movements with unapologetic appreciation.

"I told you," Mira said, stepping up to the edge of the pool and crossing her arms—a move that pushed her impressive assets even higher, straining the towel to its absolute breaking point. "I take my five percent cut in all forms. Including luxury baths."

Without waiting for permission, she unwrapped the towel.

Leon caught a fleeting, glorious glimpse of pale, flawless skin and lush curves before she quickly sank into the steaming, opaque water, settling on the opposite side of the large stone tub. The water level rose, hiding the most scandalous details, but the image was already burned firmly into Leon’s newly enhanced, high-intelligence memory.

"You’re staring," Mira said, sinking down until the water reached her chin, her blush deepening.

"I’m a healthy, red-blooded man, Mira," Leon replied smoothly, leaning back and resting his arms along the edge of the stone. "You walk into a hot spring looking like that, staring is the polite thing to do. Ignoring you would just be insulting."

Mira let out a scoff, though the corner of her mouth twitched. "You always have an answer for everything, don’t you?"

"Supreme Comprehension," Leon joked, referencing his SSS-Rank talent without actually giving it away. "I’m a fast thinker."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, the only sound the gentle trickling of the heated water cascading from a bamboo spout into the pool. The initial tension of her entrance faded, replaced by the heavy, relaxing atmosphere of the hot spring.

Leon watched her through the rising steam.

"You still haven’t answered my question," Leon said quietly, dropping the banter.

Mira blinked, looking at him over the surface of the water. "What question?"

"Why are you still here? With me." Leon tilted his head. "You know I killed a Zone Boss. You know sticking next to me is dangerous if anyone finds out. And you also know that hanging out in luxury hotels isn’t going to get you past the Level 30 elimination cap. You’re Level 9. You need to be out there grinding, getting stronger, or the system is going to wipe you out in ninety days. So why are you wasting your time babysitting a guy who clearly doesn’t need babysitting?"

Mira looked away. She stared at the glowing flowers planted along the bamboo fence, her expression growing distant, the tough, sarcastic exterior she always wore slowly peeling back.

"I was a lifeguard," she said softly.

Leon paused. "What?"

"Before all this." Mira lifted a hand from the water, dragging it through the condensation on the smooth stones. "Back on Nexus. I was twenty-two. I worked at a massive community pool in my city. It was my full-time job. I sat in a high chair, twirled a whistle, and made sure stupid kids didn’t drown."

She let out a bitter, hollow laugh.

"It sounds like a joke now, doesn’t it? Sitting by a pool in the sun, worrying about scraped knees and running on the wet tile. Compared to this hellhole where monsters tear people apart every single day."

Leon didn’t interrupt. He just listened.

A/N: Thanks for reading, I will love to have your thoughts on the story, how you feel about Mira, and you see Leon as a character