Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Enlightenment X Decision
After bidding farewell to Master Shen and leaving the Dragon Den gym, Ash stored the device in his system's unlimited storage grids.
Instead of heading straight back to the Heavens Arena, he opted for a detour to the residence of Kai and Elsa. Kai had previously shared the address with him, and with Elsa's issues resolved, she no longer needed to remain in the hospital. This decision wasn't solely driven by financial considerations but also aimed at enhancing her mental well-being. Hospitals, with their somewhat gloomy environments, were not conducive to fostering positive mental health.
"Maybe I should rent a place nearby," he mused, his thoughts racing. "Being close to Elsa would allow me to spend more time with her and boost my favorability. An orange beauty level alone earns me a hundred harem points per month. If I teach her Nen and enhance her strength, she could reach the green level, giving me a whopping 1000 HP!"
Excitement bubbled within Ash as he envisioned the possibilities, his mind already racing towards the next lottery. Maybe, just maybe, he'd strike gold once again and gain a powerful ability or item. However, a shadow crept over his elation as a realization hit him.
"What am I thinking?" Ash's smile faded.
"Elsa isn't an object. She's an innocent girl. I can't treat her like those materialistic women from my past. If I want her in my harem, I must approach her with sincerity and pure intent. I must love her from the bottom of my heart, not treat her as a Pokémon that I'll use to fill my harem, just like those fanfic protagonists I used to hate. So the question is, do I love her?"
Ash stood motionless in his place and started contemplating this question. Previously, he only thought of including Elsa in his harem to earn harem points. He is still used to his old way of dealing with women, treating them as something to numb, indulge himself, to escape from reality. But this kind of mindset he must change it if he wants to have a harem with women who will last years with him. Then he must definitely use a correct approach.
'So before deciding whether I include a certain woman in my harem, I must ask myself, is it for the points only, or is it for love? Or is it for both of them? And I prefer the answer to be the third one. Only in this way will those harem members stay with me for a long time without me or them getting bored from each other. A relationship built on mortal physical desires won't last long, but if it's based on deep spiritual bonds, love, and without forgetting a good appearance, then it will last for years.'
Ash kept on thinking about this question and came up with some answers he felt satisfied with, then he returned to his first question.
'Elsa is a beautiful girl, from physical aspects only, it had already scored nine out of ten. If she wasn't sick, then she would be a perfect ten!'
'But from the spiritual and emotional aspect, I can feel when I treat her that she is very shy when I'm by her side. It can be seen from this she had no experience with boys, and she is not used to the presence of other males beside her brother. Which is a good sign; her mind is still pure. So if I showed her my love and care, and adding the fact I saved her, I don't think she will refuse my confession. So there is at least a 90% chance that she will accept. But why do I want to marry her? Is it because of her cute appearance? That's a good reason but not enough... um...'
As a person who had been using physical appearance to choose his partners, Ash finds it hard to start looking at other females from spiritual aspects. Although true to be told, he still believes that his harem members must have a good appearance first, then personality second. This is something he can't change; this is his male instinct kicking in.
Ash thought for a while about various spiritual and emotional reasons that will be enough to justify his marriage to Elsa.
But suddenly, Ash noticed something wrong in his way of thinking.
'Reasons? Why do I need a reason to love? Why do I need a reason to fall in love? Love in the first place is unreasonable!'
'Moreover, if I adopt this mindset of finding a reason, the potential of the harem king system will be wasted.'
'As someone who aspires to become the harem king, I must follow the simple principle. I see a beautiful girl with good character that fits my preference, then do everything to conquer and include her in the harem. That's it! It's this simple. Why am I making the matter complex?"
"Elsa's appearance is beautiful, her character is adorable, it fits my preference. Then let's confess to her today!"
After solving his emotional dilemma, Ash walked with confidence and a bright smile toward Elsa's home.
Passing by a shop that sells flower bouquets, Ash suddenly realized that he needs to buy one.
'Flowers... since I decided to confess, how can I do it without flowers!'
'But which one should I choose?' Feeling perplexed, Ash decided to ask the professional.
"You want a suitable flower bouquet for a love confession?" a middle-aged lady, the shop owner, repeated.
"Right, but I don't know which color to choose. I'm afraid to choose something that had a very different meaning." Ash had heard in his previous life and saw in movies that various kinds of flowers had countless meanings and occasions when they are presented. Some are for love, some are for condolence, some are for sick people, and so on. He doesn't want to cause any misunderstanding, so better choose the appropriate one.
The shop owner smiled at Ash, understanding the dilemma on his face. She gestured toward the vibrant array of bouquets, each showcasing a different combination of colors and flowers.
"Don't worry, sir. Choosing the right bouquet for a love confession can be a hard experience," she reassured him. "It's all about the message you want to convey. Each flower has its own language, you see."
Ash nodded, he said: "I want something that expresses love and sincerity, without any room for misunderstanding."
The shop owner pointed to a bouquet featuring red roses and said, "Red roses are a classic choice for expressing love. They're timeless and universally understood, and almost in any place in the world, they are known to represent love. So I advise you to take this one."
Ash looked at the red roses and nodded in agreement. He thought of the same thing; he said: "Good, then please wrap it up for me."
The shop owner skillfully arranged the flowers into a beautiful bouquet, wrapping it in elegant paper and tying it with a satin ribbon.
Ash paid the money and left with the flowers bouquet in his hands.
'I hope everything goes smoothly.'
Putting the bouquet of flowers in the system storage space, Ash walked toward Elsa's house, following the address.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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