Ryo blinked, completely confused by the bold statement. “Excuuuuse me…?”

  His brain simply stopped functioning.

  For a solid three seconds, his brain refused to process what he had just heard.

  But the most important question at this moment was…

  What is she and the rest of her teammates from Team “Divine Temptation” doing here at the Citadel—especially in this hot spring?

  Sif blushed even redder, her grip on his arm tightening as she pressed her chest more firmly against him.

  Ryo’s entire face burned. “I-I-I—I should leave! This is totally the women’s hot spring room!”

  He tried to loosen her grip, attempting to gently pull her away.

  But Sif refused to release him. “I—I won’t let you go unless you bathe with all of us. At least let me wash you before you leave… and please wash me too!!”

  Ryo’s jaw dropped. “HAAAAAHH?! What are you saying?! A girl should be modest!”

  Gureiha suddenly stood up from the water, steam conveniently shielding her naked form.

  “Ah! You’re that person who became Dodo’s team strategist at the last minute earlier today!”

  She stepped out of the pool and began walking toward him.

  Ryo immediately raised his free hand like a stop sign.

  “HEY, STOP! WHY ARE YOU WALKING TOWARD ME WHILE YOU’RE NAKED?! HOW BOLD CAN YOU B—”

  Before he could finish, she wrapped her arm around his other arm.

  Ryo’s panic doubled instantly. “EEEEHHH?! Do you really have to cling to me too?! Please—this is totally wrong! You’re naked too! At least let me lea—”

  Again, he was cut off.

  White Queen Frigg rose gracefully from the water, steam swirling around her like royal mist. With calm authority, she gestured forward.

  “Seize him, and pull him into the water.”

  Ryo’s head snapped toward her in shock. “WHY ARE YOU ISSUING THAT ORDER, YOUR MAJESTY?! AND WE JUST MET!”

  Sekhora grinned mischievously and stood as well, the steam cloaking her modesty.

  “Yup. You’re not getting away, Surface Man.”

  She stepped forward and hugged him from the front, leaning close to whisper sultrily in his ear.

  “Hehehe… after what happened today at the Caucus Race, don’t think you’ll end up single.”

  Ryo’s brain malfunctioned.

  What exactly did he do during the Caucus Race to cause this reaction?

  And why weren’t they embarrassed at all?

  This was not how the hot spring trope normally worked.

  Usually, the guy who accidentally walks in gets launched across the room by furious women.

  Not embraced.

  Not surrounded.

  Not turned into the centerpiece of an unexpected affection ambush.

  Hou Yian stood as well, smiling warmly as steam veiled her.

  “We’ve discussed it. Becoming his concubine is an option. It’s a win-win for us… and for the White Queen.”

  She stepped out and wrapped her arms around him from behind.

  Ryo nearly short-circuited. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY CONCUBINE?!”

  All of the ladies gazed at him admiringly, hearts practically glowing in their eyes.

  In unison, they murmured, “Shall we take this to the bedroom instead~?”

  Ryo felt his soul trying to hit the emergency exit. “THIS CONTENT SHOULD TOTALLY NOT BECOME AN R-18 PLOT! LET ME GO BEFORE IT BECOMES ONE!”

  And this was not even the first time he had been embraced like this. Something similar had happened in Lunaveth—except those girls had at least been fully clothed.

  White Queen Frigg curled her finger elegantly. “As his main wife, bring him to me. We shall begin the impregnation ceremony. I shall be the first to receive his seed.”

  “DIDN’T YOU HEAR WHAT I JUST SAAAAID?!” Ryo shouted, even more flustered. “WE GOTTA AVOID THE R18 PL—”

  Too late.

  The girls dragged him forward.

  White Rabbit just stared, unaware of what a harem or the adult genre was.

  As they reached the edge of the pool together, the girls leaned forward and fell into the water with a loud splash, still embracing Ryo.

  The girls finally let go of him, and he lifted his head out of the water and shook it, spraying droplets everywhere as he gasped for air.

  “I’m sorry, girls — I gotta leave! Maybe I’ll find the men’s bath!”

  He turned around and froze instantly.

  Frigg was already behind him.

  She smirked confidently and embraced him, pressing her chest against his. Leaning close, she whispered sultrily against his cheek.

  “Now then… shall we begin by impregnating me first?”

  She then attempted to kiss him.

  That was the final straw.

  Ryo’s brain overheated.

  It felt like the temperature surged straight into his skull from the water’s heat… and the sheer intensity of this fanservice moment.

  Steam puffed from his ears.

  His vision blurred.

  His soul gently drifted upward.

  He fainted, head tilting as consciousness left him.

  White Rabbit extended a trembling hand helplessly, as though watching a fallen warrior fade from the battlefield.

  “SIIIIIR!!!”

  Still holding the unconscious detective, Frigg placed her free hand against her cheek.

  “Oh my… what in Wonderland happened to him?”

  Sekhora scratched her temple awkwardly. “Ahahaha… I think we may have unknowingly gone a little too far.”

  15 minutes later…

  Ryo slowly woke up.

  His eyes fluttered open, his head bowed as he stared blankly at the surface of the water. He was still in the hot spring, leaning back against a smooth rock at the edge of the pool, the heat no longer suffocating but gently surrounding him.

  He lifted his head.

  His eyes widened.

  His breath caught.

  All the ladies were seated about a meter away from him in a neat arch formation. Frigg and Sif sat closest on either side of him. Thankfully, they were no longer standing, so nothing inappropriate was exposed above the water — but they were still very much naked beneath the surface.

  White Rabbit was now in the pool as well, floating peacefully on his back a little farther away, his ears drooping lazily as if the earlier incident with the detective had never happened.

  Ryo squinted at the semicircle of women staring at him. “Aren’t all of you supposed to be giving me space? What’s with the close formation?”

  They answered in perfect, affectionate unison, “Because we all love you~.”

  Ryo didn’t even have the energy to fluster.

  He let out a long sigh. “Okay… I’m sensing a plot hole here…”

  He rubbed his temple before continuing. “I know in some harem stories girls fall for the guy for absolutely no reason. But come on — this is reality. What exactly did I do that made all of you fall for me and want to have se— I mean… you know… that? Wanting my, uh… ‘seed’?”

  Then he turned to Frigg. “Especially you, Your Majesty. We literally just met. So what’s going on?”

  Frigg calmly reached behind her, picking up her phone from the rock she was leaning on. She tapped the screen and held it toward him.

  A video began playing.

  Ryo immediately recognized it.

  It was footage of him, Dodo, and his men during the Caucus Race — specifically, the Ruunholt path. The recording showed him issuing rapid-fire commands while fighting Carabosse, Ms. Loki, and the Vrakul’s Petyr unleashed.

  But something was off.

  The blizzard that had swallowed the path was completely absent from the footage. Everything looked almost crystal clear. He knew every team had been assigned a drone for close-up shots so spectators at the harbor could watch. But the whiteout conditions should have made visibility impossible.

  “How are you able to see us in this drone footage?” He asked.

  Frigg smiled faintly. “All drones assigned to each team can be monitored from the Jumbotron and personal devices. That part is true.”

  She tapped the screen.

  “However, my phone has an additional function — White-Hot Mode. It allows me to switch the feed into a cooled thermal perspective.”

  She continued calmly.

  “Unlike the jumbotron the spectators watched — which displayed only the normal feed — I alone had access to both enhanced vision and audio. I could see and hear everything.”

  Ryo squinted at her suspiciously. “Riiiiight…”

  He leaned back slightly. “Okay… so what does this footage have to do with you all falling in love with me and boldly approaching me while completely naked, without a single ounce of embarrassment? What’s the plot hole here? Because look, if this were a novel, critics wouldn’t just make the forums explode and flip tables — they’d also write a 10,000-word video essay dissecting every frame by tomorrow.”

  Hou Yian’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Ooooh… is this what you call ‘breaking the fourth wall’? I’ve read about that online. I never expected you to call it out the same way those anime programs from the Upper Worlds do.”

  Frigg’s expression softened.

  “The way you saved my sister…” she gestured to Sif. “…and the rest of these girls,” she indicated the others. “The way you issued relentless yet efficient orders… it moved us.”

  “I showed this footage to them. You displayed leadership and tactical brilliance unlike anything seen in the history of the Caucus Race. You prevented both yourself and Dodo’s team from being killed.”

  Silence fell between them.

  Ryo’s brows furrowed. “Sister?”

  Because he remembered that Sif had claimed to be Thor’s sister… so what is this?

  Sif blushed deeply, fidgeting shyly while looking down. “Ummm… I know what you’re thinking. I may call Thor my big brother… and now you’ve just found out that Frigg is my big sister. But the truth is… I treat them both as my big brother and big sister, even though we aren’t related. And they see me as their little sister. They took me in when I was lonely on the day I first entered Wonderland.”

  Ryo turned toward her, then slowly turned back to Frigg.

  Now that he took a good look at Frigg, she does appear older and more mature — likely in her mid to late thirties. It wouldn’t be surprising that Sif called her big sister, or Thor her big brother, but he decided not to dwell on it. They probably had their own personal reasons for seeing each other as siblings despite not being related by blood.

  Suddenly, he noticed all of them staring downward in his direction.

  Ryo tilted his head. “What are you ladies looking at?”

  Sekhora blushed faintly. “After getting another good look… your ‘Excalibur’ really does look long and impressive, Surface Man.”

  Ryo blinked.

  Excalibur?

  He followed their gaze downward.

  And froze.

  His towel was gone.

  Completely gone.

  His manhood was fully exposed, and both he and the ladies could clearly see it from above the water.

  Ryo shrieked and instantly covered himself down there. “EEEEEEK! WHERE’S MY TOWEL?!”

  Gureiha explained calmly.

  “When you passed out earlier, we dragged you out of the water and laid you beside the hot spring to cool you down. We had to remove the towel.”

  She added innocently,

  “We did have a good look at your ‘Excalibur.’ But don’t worry — we only stared. We didn’t do anything… even though it was... tempting. We almost touched it, but we restrained ourselves. We would much rather conduct the impregnation ceremony while you are awake— unless you give us permission to attack you while you’re unguarded.”

  Ryo’s face turned nuclear. “FORGET THAT! JUST GET ME BACK MY TOWEL!!!”

  He continued, still flustered.

  “AND BESIDES! IT WASN’T JUST ME WHO SAVED YOU! SURE, I GAVE THE ORDERS, BUT DODO AND HIS MEN CONTRIBUTED TOO! THEY SAVED YOU DURING THAT FALL AT THE FINAL PATH! WHY NOT FALL FOR ONE OF THEM?!”

  Sekhora answered, “Yes, we were grateful to Dodo and his men. But the moment you caught Sif… we became a little jealous.”

  “And Dodo’s team members aren’t even human. We prefer humans.” She smiled dreamily. “The human who showed true leadership and strategy in that chaos was you, Surface Man.”

  Frigg spoke next, calm but decisive. “It is considered improper to bathe with a towel here. We only allow ourselves to be seen this way by the man we love.”

  “We have come to an agreement. I shall be your main wife.” She gestured gracefully toward the others. “These four shall be your concubines.”

  Suddenly, the girls’ blush deepened. Their breathing grew heavier as they drifted closer to him through the water.

  The impregnation ceremony.

  Ryo felt the situation spiraling into its worst-case scenario.

  Yes, he now understood the reason — leadership, strategy, the rescue moment.

  But he wasn’t here for an unsafe harem fantasy.

  The five girls leaned in, their hands sliding over his shoulders and chest as they wrapped their arms around him. Their eyes were dazed and sultry, predatory affection replacing any trace of shyness as they moved closer to his face, ready to make out with him in unison.

  He needed an escape.

  Then he remembered a certain culprit.

  He shouted, “CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT EOS?!”

  Instantly…

  They froze.

  All five leaned back.

  Their expressions darkened.

  The mood shattered.

  Frigg sighed, clearly displeased. “You should have indulged in the impregnation ceremony… but you chose to bring up that name.”

  Ryo exhaled in relief.

  It worked.

  Before anything irreversible could happen.

  But then—

  The girls stood up from the water.

  Their naked bodies fully visible above the surface.

  Ryo immediately snapped his head away. “ARE YOU REALLY ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE NOW?! JUST GIVE ME A BREAK ALREADY!”

  Instead, they stepped out of the pool and headed toward the changing room.

  Hou Yian glanced back. “We are done bathing. If you wish to discuss Eos, meet us in the dining hall for dinner.”

  She added gently, “For now, enjoy the hot spring with Chronos and relax.”

  They disappeared into the changing room.

  Silence fell over the steamy chamber.

  Ryo stared at the entrance.

  White Rabbit floated peacefully, unaware of how close things between Ryo and the ladies had come to spiraling into something irrecoverable.

  Ryo muttered under his breath, “Guess I hit a sensitive subject…”

  He rubbed his temple and leaned back against the rock. “Just like flying… these harem moments are apparently unavoidable for me too.”

  The time in Wonderland was now 8:30 PM.

  Ryo and White Rabbit were done bathing and stepped out of the hot spring, heading to the changing room. When they checked the wooden shelves where their belongings had been placed, they noticed thick bathrobes neatly folded beside their items.

  Ryo picked his up and scanned it. It was a lavish, thick Nordic-style spa bathrobe, heavy and warm in his hands. It reminded him of being given a yukata at a Japanese onsen inn—soft and comforting. White Rabbit found one in his own smaller size, perfectly tailored to him.

  They both put on their bathrobes, wiping themselves dry with the extra towels that had been placed on their shelves.

  Then there was a knock on the door.

  Ryo walked over and opened it. In the corridor stood the same female guard from earlier. The moment the door opened, she bowed deeply—again and again—apologizing profusely for sending him and White Rabbit into the hot spring chamber while forgetting that White Queen Frigg and the rest of the ladies had been there earlier.

  Ryo told her it was fine and that anyone could accidentally forget.

  But instead of stopping, she suddenly dropped into a full submission, smacking her forehead against the floor repeatedly. The sound echoed sharply through the corridor as other staff turned to look. Blood began to seep from her forehead as she apologized frantically, even declaring that she would execute herself to atone for her mistake.

  Ryo and White Rabbit panicked at the sudden suicide declaration and immediately told her not to do that. Ryo quickly said she must not kill herself because it would only worry White Queen Frigg.

  Ryo rushed back inside, went to his backpack, and pulled out a first aid kit he had been given by the CaveQuest Group. He took out a bandage and handed it to her.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  She accepted it gratefully, pressing it against her wounded forehead before carefully plastering it on. Her eyes trembled with emotion at his kindness as she thanked him sincerely. Then she informed them that their belongings would be delivered to their rooms.

  Ryo blinked in surprise. He hadn’t expected that.

  He asked whether he and White Rabbit were staying here at the Citadel.

  The guard confirmed that it was under the White Queen’s order.

  At first, Ryo had planned to look for an inn after speaking with Frigg. But as he stood there wrapped in the warmth of the bathrobe, surrounded by the quiet luxury of the Citadel, he reconsidered. It would be far cozier and more comfortable to stay here.

  He told the guard he would gladly accept the hospitality.

  She looked visibly pleased.

  She then called out to two servants. They arrived promptly, and she ordered them to take Ryo and White Rabbit’s belongings to their assigned room. The servants obeyed, entered the changing room, gathered their things, and exited with quiet efficiency.

  Afterward, the guard informed Ryo and White Rabbit that she would guide them to the dining hall, where White Queen Frigg and the others were waiting. Dinner was also ready.

  Ryo and White Rabbit followed her through the Citadel’s corridors until they reached the large doors of the dining room. The guard pushed them open.

  What Ryo saw made him pause in awe, though White Rabbit remained composed—having visited this place before with Alice.

  The dining hall was wide and open, with pale wooden walls and a ceiling that curved like the sky. Candlelight shimmered on silver bowls and crystal cups arranged along a long table draped with soft furs. Light blue and white curtains flowed gently along the walls, and delicate tapestries depicted trees, birds, and glowing auroras. Small lanterns and long, translucent icicle crystals hung from the beams, catching the flickering light and sparkling like frozen starlight. Carved vines and feathers decorated the hall with quiet elegance.

  On the table were dishes fit for royalty:

  Roasted venison and wild boar glazed with honey and herbs.

  Baked fish with berries and fragrant greens.

  A whole roasted goose stuffed with nuts and dried fruits.

  Cabbage and mushrooms sautéed in butter.

  Fresh rye bread.

  Bowls of assorted cheeses.

  Sweet honey mead.

  Candied nuts.

  Edible flowers.

  fruits.

  And clear water.

  Everything was fitting for a ruler’s dinner.

  At the end of the table sat White Queen Frigg. Along the sides were Sif, Gureiha, Hou Yian, and Sekhora, all wearing bathrobes.

  White Queen Frigg gestured gracefully. “Take a seat next to your two concubines, Sif and Gureiha.”

  Sif smiled warmly and patted the space beside her. “Surface man, over here. Sit with us.”

  Gureiha leaned slightly forward, her eyes shining. “Come, sweetheart. Between us.”

  Ryo rubbed the back of his head, already knowing what kind of situation this would turn into.

  “Of course… another being-fed-by-harem moment for me.”

  Ryo and White Rabbit entered fully. Ryo sat between Sif and Gureiha, while White Rabbit took a seat across the table beside Hou Yian and Sekhora.

  White Queen Frigg raised her cup. “You may all commence eating.”

  To Ryo’s shock, the first to act was Hou Yian. She swiftly took slices of meat, placed them inside a piece of rye bread to make a sandwich, and gently pushed it into Ryo’s mouth.

  He muffled in surprise, nearly choking as he tried to process what was happening.

  Hou Yian lifted her chin proudly. “I shall be the number one concubine—even surpassing the main wife, Queen Frigg.”

  Frigg wasn’t happy to hear that. Not wanting to be left out, she also prepared a portion and brought it toward Ryo to feed him.

  “We shall see about that.”

  Ryo waved his hands slightly, trying to calm them. “Everyone, relax—one at a time!”

  But the rest of the girls began protesting in jealousy.

  “I’ll feed him too!”

  “It’s my turn next!”

  Sif leaned in and fed him gently.

  Then Ryo finally gave up resisting. “Fine… you can all feed me. Just one by one… slowly. Otherwise, I’ll choke, and my stomach will burst, so please… stop with the classic Harem Feeding Frenzy trope.”

  Fortunately, they calmed down.

  Next, Sekhora fed him carefully. Then Gureiha followed. Ryo didn’t even need to lift a single utensil; his waifus handled everything. Meanwhile, the ladies themselves had not even begun eating, too focused on their competition.

  Across the table, White Rabbit could only watch in silent confusion, still not understanding this harem subplot that seemed to follow Ryo everywhere.

  After five minutes, Ryo gulped down some water and wiped his mouth. He was already completely full and firmly denied any more food.

  All the ladies pouted, clearly dissatisfied, as if they had been competing to prove who deserved to be ranked as the number one bride.

  With that, the women finally began eating their own meals.

  In between bites, Frigg began speaking. She said she wanted to talk about the incident at the Caucus Race that had led to several injuries, and that it deeply upset her that such chaos had unfolded under her watch.

  Ryo told her he was ready to answer whatever questions she had.

  She first asked why the invaders had attacked the contestants.

  Ryo responded by asking whether she recognized one of them, since one of the invaders was a blighted deity—Ms. Loki—whom he assumed was formerly from Mydrovith.

  Frigg confirmed that she did know Ms. Loki, then asked Ryo if he was surprised that Ms. Loki was a woman instead of a man.

  Ryo admitted that at first, he had been surprised. But after meeting a gender-bent legendary figure like Hou Yian, who was sitting right in front of him, he had reached the point where he was no longer easily shocked. He assumed there were likely other gender-bent figures and even spin-off pantheons, like Sekhora here, scattered across Wonderland.

  All the women at the table laughed at his comical delivery.

  However, to answer Frigg’s original question, Ryo admitted he did not know why the invaders had attacked.

  He then asked whether Frigg recognized the other two invaders.

  Frigg replied that she only knew Petyr Pann, as he had represented the Queen of Hearts as her Crown Prosecutor during Alice’s trials.

  Ryo said he needed more details about Ms. Loki because he suspected she was the one who made Thor disappear and stole Mjolnir. He had seen her holding the hammer and was about to destroy Dodo’s team’s ship—the very one he had been on.

  Frigg had intended to continue discussing the Caucus Race first, but she was shocked—and impressed—by Ryo’s decisiveness and how straight to the point he was. It made her respect him even more, and she found herself drifting into a brief daydream, imagining a future with him and the children she hoped to have.

  Ryo, oblivious to her thoughts, noticed her dreamy expression and asked what was wrong.

  Frigg snapped back to reality and said it was nothing. Then she asked what details he wanted to hear.

  Ryo asked if she knew anything about Ms. Loki from before they entered Wonderland—back when they were still in the Upper Worlds.

  Frigg said yes. Ms. Loki had once ruled Midgard and governed it as a dictator. She had been cruel and harsh, and the people did not like her.

  Ryo was completely shocked by this revelation. He knew Midgard as a realm from Norse mythology—but the Midgard he knew was supposed to be fictional.

  Did that mean Midgard had existed on the Earth’s surface?

  That was unheard of to him.

  Frigg continued. She had once served as Ms. Loki’s right-hand woman, and she despised every moment of it—forced to carry out tyrannical orders she now deeply regretted.

  A few years into Ms. Loki’s rule, a J?rmungandr invaded Midgard. The monster began destroying the realm, and Ms. Loki tried to fight it, but it was overwhelmingly stronger. She eventually lost the battle and fled. But Frigg refused to flee—leaving the people to face destruction was not something she could do.

  When hope was nearly gone and half the population had been wiped out, Thor—a wandering god of thunder—arrived on a flying chariot and fought the monster fiercely. Fortunately, he managed to defeat it and banish it from Midgard.

  Ryo was beyond stunned. J?rmungandr existed? The legendary, enormous World Serpent?

  He asked if she was joking about such a creature existing on Earth’s surface.

  Frigg said she did not understand the term “World Serpent” and asked him to explain.

  Ryo explained that in the present timeline of the Upper Worlds, people commonly referred to that creature as the World Serpent.

  Frigg replied that she had never heard that title. In Midgard, they simply called it J?rmungandr—or just “monster.” She assumed the people of the present timeline had given it the other name.

  She continued, saying that even though the monster had been banished, there was no confirmation that it had died. Thor had cast it into the Norwegian Sea while it was unconscious, but a few days later it disappeared. It might still be lurking somewhere in the same sea—or perhaps in other seas across the world.

  A chill ran down Ryo’s spine. All he could hope was that J?rmungandr did not exist in the present timeline of the Upper Worlds—or that it had gone extinct. He did not want to deal with such a creature. Internally, he made a firm promise to himself: no sailing across open seas. From now on, flying was the only safe option.

  Ryo then asked when the events of Ms. Loki’s rule and Thor’s defeat of J?rmungandr had occurred, and where exactly Midgard had been located.

  Frigg told him not to worry—she had not finished yet.

  She explained that Midgard had been located in Norway. Ms. Loki’s tyrannical rule began in 850 CE and lasted three years. That was when J?rmungandr invaded, and Thor saved the realm. Afterward, Thor became the new ruler of Midgard, brought peace, and gained the people’s full support. From then on, Frigg became Thor’s right-hand woman.

  However, peace did not last long.

  In 860 CE, Ms. Loki returned to Midgard, seeking to reclaim her throne out of envy. She battled Thor in a deadly confrontation.

  But on that very same day, an extinction event began—when a meteorite suddenly fell from the sky and struck the Earth.

  The people of Midgard began evacuating. The fight between Ms. Loki and Thor stopped abruptly, and Ms. Loki fled in panic.

  Thor desperately searched for a way to save his people from the meteorite. He discovered a rabbit hole somewhere within the realm and ordered everyone to enter it for safety.

  In her panic, Ms. Loki bypassed everyone and entered the rabbit hole first.

  Thor, Frigg, and the rest of the people followed.

  When they emerged, they were stunned.

  They had arrived in Wonderland—this very kingdom they were sitting in now.

  But back then, the one who had welcomed them was the Queen of Hearts.

  Frigg hesitated as she remembered that awful day—the towering presence of the Queen and her card army.

  Ryo noticed her unsettled expression and gently said she did not need to continue.

  Internally, he suspected that Thor, Frigg, and the others had been forced to swear loyalty to the Queen of Hearts—just as the White Rabbit had warned him. Afterward, they were likely given the “Eat Me” cake to grow, since newcomers to Wonderland’s Mydrovith Realm always arrived in a smaller form.

  But Frigg insisted she wanted to continue—at least the part concerning Ms. Loki.

  Although everyone else had entered Wonderland fifteen years ago, Ms. Loki had only appeared here three years ago—which explained why she looked younger.

  Frigg then smiled and told Ryo that she admired him. He had defeated Ms. Loki through wit rather than brute strength during the race. A normal man without overwhelming power, who could overcome a strong enemy with intelligence and ordinary tools instead of force, was far more appealing—and that was one of the reasons she, along with the other women present, had fallen in love with him.

  Ryo flustered and rubbed the back of his head, brushing off the praise and deciding not to pursue that topic further.

  He then asked when Sif had entered Wonderland, since she was not Thor’s or Frigg’s real sibling.

  Sif answered that she had arrived only two years ago.

  Ryo looked at her. No wonder she still appeared the youngest.

  With that clarified, Ryo said he now wanted to discuss Eos.

  All the ladies—except Frigg—looked uncomfortable. Nevertheless, they nodded, ready to speak about it.

  Ryo knew he could not mention that Brynhildr had become a ghost after her death and that he had personally met and spoken with her spirit. That would sound absurd and unbelievable to everyone at the table. If he wanted them to accept the truth of how she died, he needed to frame it in a way that made sense.

  So he decided to approach the matter carefully.

  First, he brought up something else.

  He asked why Eos had not been with them during the final path of the Caucus Race. When the thorn vines were tearing their ship apart, Eos had been gone.

  The girls exchanged glances before explaining. They had never imagined Eos would abandon them like that. They had felt shocked—betrayed even.

  Eos had always been one of the most reliable and skilled members of their team, Divine Temptation. In previous races, she had been dependable. She had even trained her endurance to lift heavy loads during flight, specifically so she could carry all her teammates if the final path collapsed. She always prepared for the worst-case scenario, even though their ship’s mast had a parachute above it.

  Yet when the thorns destroyed the ship, she fled instead of helping them.

  They still could not understand it.

  Before they could continue, Ryo interrupted to ask why they had named themselves Divine Temptation.

  The girls answered without hesitation. Each of them had fan clubs in Wonderland—particularly for the Caucus Race, where they were widely admired. They were famous. Sekhora mentioned that she hadn’t had one before the race since she was the newest member and today had been her first time competing. But after the race—even though it ended in disaster—she checked her phone and discovered that a fan club had already been created for her online.

  Because of those fan clubs—and because they were fully aware of how beautiful they were—they had chosen the name Divine Temptation.

  Ryo narrowed his eyes slightly in disbelief at their shameless confidence, but he let it go and returned to the real issue.

  He asked them something more important.

  On the day Brynhildr died, did they know that Eos had been at Hindarfjall Mountain with her?

  They immediately said no. On that day, Eos had told them she had already returned to the Olyndora Realm after practice.

  That was enough.

  Ryo now knew for certain that Eos had lied to them.

  He then asked another question.

  Today, before the Caucus Race began—when Eos returned to the harbor alone, had she said anything?

  They nodded. They had been confused as to why Ryo and White Rabbit had not returned with her. Eos told them that the two of them needed more time to investigate Hindarfjall Mountain. They had accepted that explanation, assuming murder investigations naturally required time.

  Ryo then revealed the truth.

  Eos had trapped him and White Rabbit inside Brynhildr’s resting hall by deliberately triggering an avalanche with her gun. Worse still, before sealing them inside, she had pointed that same gun directly at him and clearly intended to kill him—and most likely White Rabbit afterward. When her attempt failed, since it would have looked suspicious if they didn’t return, she trapped them with the avalanche inside the hall, then returned to the harbor and acted as if nothing had happened.

  The girls’ eyes widened. They were speechless. The betrayal struck deeper than before—it felt like a blade piercing their hearts.

  Ryo then asked if they were aware that Brynhildr had died at Hindarfjall Mountain.

  They said yes. On the day of her death, a loud avalanche had thundered down the mountain and could be heard from afar. Later, according to Dodo and his men, when they found her, Brynhildr was discovered lying on a tree bark above the avalanche snow.

  That detail had always felt strange to them, because wouldn’t she have been trapped deep within the snow?

  Ryo stated calmly that the one responsible—or at least the accomplice—in Brynhildr’s murder was Eos.

  The girls demanded proof.

  Ryo reached into his bathrobe pocket and took out a two-way radio he had been given by the CaveQuest Group. He placed it on the table and pressed a button.

  A recording began to play.

  Ryo: “You sure you wanna point that gun at me… Eos?”

  White Rabbit: “WHY ARE YOU AIMING THAT AT SIR DETECTIVE, MS. EOS?!”

  Ryo: “So… was it you? The one who kille—”

  Eos: “NO! B-b-but—”

  Ryo: “But what? Explain.”

  Ryo: “If you kill me and Sir-Hops-A-Lot here, don’t you think Dodo and your team will start suspecting you?”

  The recording ended there.

  Silence filled the dining hall.

  The girls’ expressions darkened. They had never imagined Eos holding a gun to Ryo. The stutter in her voice was unmistakable—guilty and panicked.

  Ryo explained further.

  When Eos had volunteered to fly him and White Rabbit to Hindarfjall Mountain, he had immediately found it suspicious. Why would someone choose to escort them away right before an important Caucus Race was about to begin?

  That was why he had discreetly activated the radio recorder and left it in his pocket—just in case something happened that required undeniable evidence.

  The girls’ composure finally broke.

  They began to cry.

  Frigg, Sekhora, and Ryo remained silent, allowing them the time they needed. White Rabbit hopped down from his chair and gently consoled each of them, patting their backs one by one. His ears drooped as he shared in their sorrow—for the loss of their former teammate Brynhildr, and for the betrayal of Eos.

  After several minutes, their tears subsided.

  Ryo then told them that he would find Eos—no matter what—and make her confess her crimes in front of them.

  The girls thanked him sincerely.

  With that matter laid bare, Ryo shifted to the next issue.

  He said he now wanted to discuss Thor’s disappearance.

  Dinner concluded. Frigg rose from her seat and gestured for everyone to follow her to discuss regarding Thor. One by one, the others stood as well. She exited the dining hall, and the group trailed behind her through the quiet corridors of the Citadel.

  They eventually stopped in front of a wooden door.

  Frigg explained that this had once been Thor’s room. She opened it.

  The room was grand in size and design—but it was in complete disarray. Furniture had been shattered. Decorative pillars were cracked. A table had been split in half. The air itself felt heavy, as if anger had once filled the space.

  Frigg explained that when Thor had been worrying about Alice’s safety, he had lost control. Out of frustration—knowing that no other Mydrovith attorney, after H?er’s failure, was willing to step forward to defend Alice—he had destroyed much of his own room in a storm of rage.

  Then Frigg pointed toward the wall.

  Carved deeply into the surface with a knife was Thor’s final message:

  “Should I fall—or be cast back to my era of extinction while saving Alice—appoint a new ruler of Mydrovith without delay.”

  Ryo already knew about this message from Viking Fish, but seeing it in person was different.

  He stepped closer and ran his fingers gently along the carving. The grooves were deep and uneven. The cuts looked rough, jagged—as if they had been carved by trembling hands fueled by fury and desperation.

  He asked whether Thor had done anything else out of frustration before heading toward the Queen of Hearts’ palace in his failed attempt to rescue Alice.

  Frigg said yes.

  Thor had once flown into the sky with his chariot and unleashed explosive bolts of lightning across the heavens, venting his rage in blinding flashes of light. He had thought releasing everything into the sky might ease the burden inside him.

  It had not been enough.

  Afterward, Thor had decided to head directly toward the central hub with the intent to kill the Queen of Hearts.

  But before he could reach the palace… he disappeared.

  Ryo turned toward them and voiced the suspicion he had mentioned earlier.

  He believed Ms. Loki was the one who had stopped Thor, defeated him, and made him vanish.

  During the race, Ms. Loki had been holding Thor’s Mjolnir. That alone suggested direct involvement.

  Ryo reasoned that Ms. Loki may have seized the opportunity for revenge. With Thor charging toward the Queen of Hearts’ palace in a reckless state, he would have been emotionally unstable—perhaps careless. That would have been the perfect moment for a stealth attack.

  She could have ambushed him and knocked him out, stolen the Mjolnir, and either cast him back to his extinction era through a rabbit hole—or imprisoned him somewhere within Wonderland.

  The theory hung heavily in the air.

  Since Ryo had previously handed Mjolnir to Sif, he asked her where the hammer was now.

  Sif replied that it was safely kept in her room. She was taking care of it carefully while waiting for her big brother’s return, even though she didn’t know if he was alive.

  Ryo told her she was admirable and kind-hearted, and assured her that he would do everything he could to find Thor.

  Sif blushed shyly and thanked him, saying she would leave it in his hands.

  With that, the discussion came to an end.

  The time in Wonderland was now 10 PM.

  Frigg announced that it was time to rest. Ryo and White Rabbit both looked visibly tired, yawning without restraint.

  Ryo said they would head to their room and asked where it was located.

  Gureiha offered to guide them.

  Ryo thanked her, and she led the way through the corridors, with Ryo and White Rabbit following behind.

  As they walked, Ryo asked something that had been on his mind.

  “By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask—why are you, Sekhora, and Hou Yian staying here in the Citadel when the three of you are not from the Mydrovith Realm? As for Sif, I understand she lives here even if she, Thor, and Frigg aren’t related by blood. But the rest of you—shouldn’t you return to your own realms?”

  Gureiha smiled faintly and gave a soft chuckle.

  “Since we’re all part of one team with Sif, she often invites us to stay here instead of at an inn whenever we’re in this realm. So we usually stay whenever there’s a Caucus Race, or even just for friendly visits. Before Thor disappeared, he was very welcoming. He didn’t mind at all. It felt almost like being welcomed by Sif’s father—even though she sees him as her brother.”

  White Rabbit suddenly glanced behind them. “Why are you four following us?”

  Ryo turned around as well, raising a brow. “Yeah… why are you all following us?”

  Behind them were Sif, Frigg, Hou Yian, and Sekhora.

  Sif blushed deeply and stuttered, “O-our rooms are in the same direction, that’s all.”

  “That’s right, handsome,” Hou Yan said, fanning herself lightly. “We are not about to do anything suspicious at all.”

  Ryo deadpanned at them, sarcastically. “Oh yes. The fact that you just clarified that you’re not about to do anything suspicious is totally not suspicious at all.”

  Sekhora grinned with a cheeky smile, placing both palms behind her head.

  “Don’t mind her. She just likes saying strange things. She probably meant it… or maybe not. Hihihi.”

  Unfortunately for Ryo, he thought they were simply teasing him and thought nothing more of it.

  Eventually, they arrived at a certain door.

  Frigg gestured to the right. “Chronos, this is your room. Your belongings are inside.”

  White Rabbit tilted his head. “My room? Aren’t I sharing a room with Sir Detective?”

  The women said nothing. Instead, they subtly cast sultry glances toward Ryo without him noticing.

  He, of course, had absolutely no idea what ulterior motives might be forming behind those expressions.

  “It’s alright,” Ryo said with a casual shrug. “It’s more comfortable to have an entire room to ourselves.”

  White Rabbit nodded. “Very well. Good night, Sir Detective.”

  He then turned to the ladies. “Good night to you all as well.”

  And with that, he entered his room.

  The rest of them continued walking until they reached a larger, more ornate door. The carvings were intricate, the silver detailing shimmering softly under the corridor lights. Ryo could not help but feel impressed by its grandeur.

  Frigg stepped forward and pushed it open.

  What awaited inside made him pause in awe once more.

  The room was entirely white—white marble floors, white silk curtains cascading from the ceiling, white fur rugs beneath their feet. Moonlight poured gently through tall windows, bathing everything in a soft glow. Ryo’s belongings were neatly arranged on a polished table to the side. And ahead of him stood a massive bed—wide, plush, layered with silken sheets and countless pillows.

  It looked large enough to fit at least six people comfortably.

  Frigg stepped inside and, while lying, said, “This will be your room for the night. Make yourself at home.”

  The truth was—this was actually Frigg’s room.

  Ryo’s excitement burst out instantly. “YAHOOO!”

  He dashed forward, leaped onto the enormous bed, and landed face-first before rolling onto his back, staring up at the ceiling.

  “Ahhh… this is so comfortable…”

  His voice melted with contentment as his body sank into the mattress.

  Behind him, the air slowly shifted.

  One by one, the women loosened their bathrobes. The thick fabric slipped from their shoulders and fell silently to the floor. Their bare skin glowed softly under the pale moonlight, breaths growing warmer, heavier.

  “Finally…” Gureiha whispered, her voice low and filled with anticipation.

  Hou Yian tilted her head slightly, eyes half-lidded. “Shall we begin the impregnation ceremony?”

  Ryo remained completely unaware of what was unfolding behind him.

  The women stepped closer, climbing onto the bed one by one and crawling toward him. The mattress dipped under their weight as they surrounded him, their bodies leaning in, warmth radiating toward him. Their breathing grew deeper, and their gazes lingered over his relaxed figure.

  Sif brushed her hair behind her ear and, while mounting him, leaned close to his face, her lips hovering near his.

  “I shall kiss you first.”

  They all pressed closer, their warm skin brushing against him, surrounding him with heat and soft, lingering contact.

  And then…

  “zzzzzzzzzz…”

  The soft sound of snoring broke the tension.

  All of them froze.

  They leaned in slightly, listening.

  Ryo had completely fallen asleep.

  The comfort of the bed had claimed him instantly.

  The women pouted in disappointment. They had hoped to mate with him—but in their excitement, they had forgotten to even ask whether he would allow them to act on their sexual desires while he slept.

  They gathered close and began whispering among themselves.

  Frigg crossed her arms gently, exhaling softly. “He is exhausted. It would not be proper to take advantage of him.”

  Hou Yian sighed, fanning herself lightly. “But we are unbearably sexually frustrated.”

  Gureiha bit her lower lip. “Perhaps we should restrain ourselves…”

  Sif nodded reluctantly. “I do not wish to dishonor him.”

  Sekhora then grinned playfully. “Why don’t we just kiss his face… and sleep beside him? Still naked.”

  They all paused.

  That… was acceptable.

  After a brief exchange of glances, they nodded in agreement.

  Frigg leaned down first and pressed a gentle kiss against his forehead.

  Sekhora followed, placing a soft kiss on his right cheek.

  Hou Yian kissed his left cheek slowly, lingering for a heartbeat.

  Gureiha kissed his chin.

  And finally, Sif leaned forward and kissed the tip of his nose.

  By the time they finished, faint lipstick marks decorated Ryo’s sleeping face.

  Their hearts began to race uncontrollably.

  Their eyes softened, glowing with longing.

  That small intimacy only stirred their desires further. For a brief moment, their thoughts wandered dangerously toward his lips. They whispered among themselves, debating whether to go further. Their feelings for him had grown quickly—intensely—and it was becoming harder and harder for them to hold back. At this point, they no longer cared; they resolved to forcefully claim his seed after pressing their lips to his.

  They leaned closer—

  But before their lips could reach his…

  Sif blinked heavily.

  Hou Yian’s shoulders drooped.

  Gureiha swayed slightly.

  Sekhora yawned mid-whisper.

  The exhaustion finally caught up with them all at once. One by one, they slowly lowered themselves against him, resting near his shoulders and chest, even hugging him.

  And fell asleep.

  Soft snoring filled the room again.

  Frigg watched them quietly and leaned back with a faint sigh. “I cannot blame them. They are all tired after the Caucus Race.”

  She gently brushed Ryo’s hair away from his forehead, her gaze lingering on his peaceful expression.

  “Good night, Surface man.”

  She kissed his forehead once more and lay beside him, allowing sleep to take her as well.

  The time in Wonderland was now 7 AM

  Morning had come, and White Rabbit was already bustling about inside his room, adjusting his waistcoat and checking his pocket watch, ready for the journey to the next realm with the detective.

  Once ready, he stepped into the hallway and approached a nearby servant.

  “Excuse me,” he said politely, “which room is the new attorney staying in?”

  The servant told him to follow and guided him down the corridor.

  They stopped in front of a grand, familiar door.

  “This is where he is staying,” she said.

  White Rabbit blinked. “But… this is White Queen Frigg’s chamber.”

  “Yes,” the servant replied. “Her Majesty insisted the new attorney stay in her cozy room for the night. She was concerned for his well-being after yesterday’s… rather hectic events.”

  She knocked lightly.

  No response.

  She tilted her head. “Hmm? Is he still asleep?”

  She smiled gently. “But no need to worry. The room is not locked.”

  “Why would Sir Detective be in this room?” White Rabbit wondered.

  The servant carefully pushed the door open.

  What she saw made her freeze.

  Her breath caught in her throat.

  On the enormous bed ahead—

  All the ladies were asleep.

  Completely naked.

  All over Ryo.

  Ryo stirred at the sound of the door opening. His eyelids fluttered as he slowly lifted his head.

  “Mm… is it morning already?” he mumbled sleepily as he pushed himself up.

  The servant’s face turned bright red.

  And then—

  “EEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

  Her scream echoed through the corridor.

  Ryo blinked in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

  The servant trembled as she pointed at him. “Y-y-your face…!”

  Ryo touched his cheek.

  Something faintly sticky.

  Red?

  The servant then shakily pointed downward. “A-and l-look below you… our honored… guest…”

  Ryo slowly lowered his gaze.

  And froze.

  Frigg, Sif, Sekhora, Hou Yian, and Gureiha were draped across him in various positions, their bare skin pressed against him as they slept peacefully.

  Sure, he had once unknowingly shared a bed with Cleopatra back in Ekhropolis—but at least she had been fully clothed.

  This?

  This was five women.

  Completely naked.

  Sleeping all over him.

  The women began to stir from the commotion. One by one, they lifted their heads groggily. Their eyes slowly focused on him.

  Then, as if rehearsed—

  They smiled.

  Sultry.

  Playful.

  And in perfect unison, they purred. “Good morning… Darling~”

  Ryo sat there in stunned silence for a full second.

  And then—

  “NOT AGAIN!!!!”

  “AND WHY IS IT A ‘NAKED HAREM BED-INVASION WAKE-UP’ TROPE THIS TIME?!”