episode_0056

Passing through the frozen peaks, we arrived at the village guarded by the maidens.

Instead of attacking us, they welcomed us with warmth.

They were so friendly that they even allowed us to greet their families, but if it weren’t for the fact that they were frozen men and women, we would have had to admit that they looked beautiful.

– Families?

– That’s the way the maidens show love. They freeze the ones they love and keep them by their side for a lifetime.

– How do they make the ice sculptures?

– If you thaw out certain parts…

It seems like they are still alive in that state.

I shouldn’t have asked.

– Where is the portal?

– It’s inside here.

– In this igloo.

– Yes. It’s marked on the map like that.

– Really. How did you even find a place like this?

Truly a guild with exceptional map exploration skills.

I sincerely praised their amazing abilities and took a step forward.

Instantly, my body was enveloped in gold, and at the same time, I was teleported.

It was the second gate.

[20th Floor of the Tower of Passion]

The system window appeared side by side.

Unlike last time, classical music played softly in the background like BGM.

The gate was not as plain as before, but a beautiful bridge made of white marble.

“You mentioned a garden in front of the gate?”

“That’s right.”

Two knights were sitting on the garden enjoying their sandwiches.

Despite not having mouths, they were holding food up to their helmets and munching away.

Watching this bizarre sight from below, they also noticed us.

[The Knight of ‘Pure Love’ from the Holy See welcomes you.]

[The Knight of ‘Lily’ from the Holy See welcomes you.]

‘…What should we do?’

‘I’ll handle it, so just wait.’

‘Okay.’

I gestured for Seres to stay back.

The Knight of Lily, who finished his meal first, approached me.

Truly a knight shining brightly, just as Seres described.

The newly appeared [Lily Knight] in the system window was unmistakable.

“Hello, a stranger I see for the first time. Just to be safe, I’ll ask. Does stepping foot here mean you are a challenger?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

As I agreed, the background music suddenly turned gloomy, and he leaned forward.

Although he was still a full plate knight, his armor was now shining white, and a yellow petal fluttered.

“I see. Then I have one more question. Please don’t take this personally or feel uncomfortable.”

“A personal question?”

“Yes. It’s a very important question to determine your beliefs.”

‘What beliefs? It’s not about politics, is it?’

I looked behind the yellow petal, feeling suspicious.

The belated Knight of Pure Love waved his arms and legs.

“~~~~!!! ~~~~~~~~!?!?!!”

It was a bizarre gesture.

It seemed like he was trying to convey something to me.

As if saying, ‘Just go along with it for him!’

I faced the Lily Knight in confrontation.

“What’s the question? Let’s hear it first.”

“It’s nothing difficult. I’m curious if you like lilies.”

– It’s not about flowers.

“Of course, it’s about the relationship between women. A platonic love where beautiful women set aside their desires and connect spiritually. Don’t you find it truly thrilling?”

I finally understood with just that one line.

‘This guy is a weirdo.’

Not surprising at all.

Despite drawing his rapier and moving gracefully, there was something vulgar about him.

“Yes, yes, I don’t have any reason to dislike it, so…”

“As expected!”

Oh damn.

Don’t get too close to my face.

“Hehe. Just as I thought! The scent of white flowers emanates from the body of the woman you traveled with! It’s as if you’ve taken a stroll in a meadow full of honey-filled flowers, and that’s why I thought you might be one of us, our ally, or something-!”

Even as I grimaced, he danced around with his rapier.

“Hehe. I don’t like it when a man intrudes into a yuri relationship. Imagine, women enjoying happiness together, and suddenly a dull man barges in. The moment he defiles the beautiful female energy, the hymen tears, and my heart tears along with it!”

That seems like a fragile and moist heart you have there.

I’ve never seen a lunatic express their broken heart as a hymen before.

“Are you really on the same side as us?”

“Even if we’re not on the same side, there’s no reason to be hostile.”

“Huh, is that really so?”

The rapier pointed towards me.

The knight of the lily, who had been dancing happily just a moment ago, had a red glint in her eyes behind the dark helmet.

“Why does the smell of a man emanate from her body? It’s clear that the purity and freshness of the lily have been tainted with filth… How unpleasant is this?”

Thump thump thump.

The knight approached. The red glint shone even brighter.

I raised my rapier in defense, even though I had done nothing wrong.

“Even among the knights of the lily, there are different factions, but I especially value spiritual connections within them. Those dreadful hybrids like the Futanari faction, who say it’s good for women to become monkeys in the pleasure of men… Ah, those cursed social creatures!!!”

The tone rose.

It glowed.

“Why is it okay for women to be swayed by men…! If a woman is consumed by a man’s pleasure, doesn’t that mean she’s not a woman!? Do you not know why the sacred is called sacred! This is the realm of the lily! It is only complete when the floral scent tickles the nose and love overflows between touching hands! Ugh, it’s pathetic! Why does the world not understand my heart!”

Swish!

[The seat of the Lily Knights is hostile towards you.]

The lunatic bared his teeth.

The helmet shook noisily, making the sound of a boiling kettle.

“I cannot forgive…”

“What in the world! Why are you acting like this out of the blue!?”

“That dreadful thing that makes a woman utter monkey-like sounds to me. The pitiful imagination that crosses the barrier of gender to love a fellow woman… The courage of a woman…! Because of the disgusting lust that dirties the lily with impure desires! I can’t stand it anymore!”

Drip drip drip drip!!!!

The knight extended the helmet forward to smell.

It was clear that she had smelled the scent of Ceress on my body.

“Huh, huh, aahhh!!! So, it was you!!! The despicable intruder who dared to step into the world of the beautiful and pure lily, even if I have to kill you a hundred times with my special rapier in your filthy hole!!!”

With the sound of the kettle boiling, the Lily Knight charged.

Without joking, she attacked me with the intent to kill.

“Uwaaaah! Stop it! This challenger has done nothing wrong!!”

“Gyaaaah!!! I’ll kill you! You cursed stick! I’ll thrust my special rapier into your hole a hundred times!!!”

Swish!

The tip of the rapier grazed my nose.

If the compassionate knight hadn’t intervened from behind, I would have suffered a serious injury.

“Ugh! Oh!? Challenger! Long time no see! I never expected you to reach the 20th floor so quickly! Even with my keen eyes, I couldn’t predict such a fast reunion!”

‘Even with those keen eyes, all you see is a hole.’

Their strengths were similar, and the Knight of Lily couldn’t break free from his restraints.

Despite the insults he hurled at her, she was genuinely grateful for calming down this lunatic.

“Hey!? Are you going to let go of this! You! You! How dare you intrude on a woman’s love!!! A wicked one who interfered with true love! Aren’t you a wicked one who stepped into the realm of evil!?”

“That’s right, this challenger is a comrade! A comrade who walks the same path as us! He would never do such a thing, risking the name of the Knight of Lily!”

“Then why does the body of the woman behind you smell like a male!? Explain right now, or I’ll turn you into a eunuch, you damn brat!!”

Swish!

She brandished her rapier again, jumping around energetically.

With the Knight of Lily blocking her, there was no chance of being stabbed, but an explanation was necessary for the gate.

But how do I explain this?

“Excuse me. May I explain?”

“Is that allowed?”

“Yes. It seems I am the culprit.”

Ceres stepped forward.

She respectfully bowed her head and greeted the Knight of Lily.

“It seems that the presence of the Holy See is angry because I shared a bed with Changgi?”

“…That’s right! You, surely, have another woman in your embrace!”

“How did you know?”

“I smell it!”

-What smell?

“No need for detailed explanations! Instead, explain why you dared to share a bed with a man despite having such feelings!”

Ceres hesitated for a moment and then made up her mind.

“Before I make excuses, let me clarify. None of the incidents involving me are Changgi’s fault.”

“What?”

She stepped forward a bit more.

“To clear up misunderstandings and repent, I will explain how foolish I have been.”

She earnestly explained the events of the past four days.

[The Holy See ‘Knight of Lily’ apologizes.]

“I’m sorry.”

The blonde tip of her hair bowed.

“Whenever I hear these stories, my head starts spinning.”

As the story came to an end, we found ourselves in a fairy tale-like world once again.

Surrounded by a background of flying flowers drawn with crayons, we sat around a small table.

“So, in summary, it wasn’t a blonde tanned man who intruded on Lily, but a blonde tanned woman who intruded on a relationship?”

The Knight of Lily chuckled at this absurd situation.

“The blonde part is correct, but I didn’t tan.”

“That’s it. It’s the first time I’ve seen a woman aiming for NTR.”

Anyway, with the misunderstanding cleared up, the Holy See sighed with her arms crossed.

“I never expected another woman to intrude on the couple I was pushing… Do I view this as a harem or as a lesbian NTR…?”

“Is harem not allowed?”

“It was forbidden a hundred years ago. But these days, there are crazy people who claim to be loyal to Lily even when they have a hundred girlfriends! Even the challenger is a victim, so it’s completely OK~!”

Crazy people.

The Knight of Lily still laughed happily.

She served me burdock tea again, and as I drank it, my throat relaxed.

“Welcome to the 20th floor. Let me introduce myself again. I am the Knight of Lily. I have been sent here to support women’s love beyond the barrier of gender.”

“Why are you here with the Knight of Lily?”

“That foolish guy made a mistake on the 10th floor. So, although it’s not to the extent of being scolded by the Tower Master… I felt the need to keep an eye on him and was dispatched here.”

At that moment.

I really received a lot of help.

“Are you here to conquer the gate of the 20th floor?”

“Yes.”

Agreeing, the Knight of Lily lowered her head and scratched her red tip of hair.

“To conquer the gate… Hmm. Isn’t that too hasty?”

“I understand. Coming this far means we have the basics covered. But conquering the gate is a completely different matter, as you are well aware, right?”

The pace was too fast.

From their perspective, it would seem like they immediately rushed in after finishing the mapping.

Is that really the case?

Since they immediately rushed in to break through the 20th floor.

“Oh, we’re not going in right away. We marked the transfer points up to the 19th floor, so we came to receive an explanation about the gimmick.”

“I see. You came because of the preparations?”

“I was worried that the gate information might change due to past incidents.”

Nod.

“Hmm. If that’s the reason, it’s understandable. Indeed, you’re a challenger who marked the points.”

“Is it possible to explain this? Is there a way around it or something…?”

The yellow fingertips shook vigorously.

“It’s okay. Explaining about the gate is the duty of the gatekeeper. Since the current gate gimmick has not changed, there should be no significant difference from the information you already know.”

“Just in case, could you explain it again?”

“Of course. I will apologize for the previous rudeness and explain it myself.”

“-Leave me, the gatekeeper of this place, alone!?”

“If I leave it to Sunae, she might inadvertently give valuable information to the current challenger. Since you have come as a surveillance officer, we will strictly distinguish this matter.”

“Grr~!”

Sunae collapsed on the table, and the Lily Knight explained instead.

Just like the gatekeeper on the 10th floor, it was a dreadful story unrelated to the gatekeeper and the gate.