Reverse Dungeon

Ian wasn’t lying. At this rate, the elf village was doomed—it would be wiped out completely.

Even on Genea’s route, every elf ranger died, including the prisoner before them. They threw their lives away trying to defend the village.

‘Probably just the game trying to force a grim opening,’ Ian thought.

Still, this outcome was far better than the original route. Offering a dying prisoner a choice? That was mercy, wasn’t it?

As a final act of consideration, Ian even removed the gag from the prisoner’s mouth. He’d already said everything he needed to say.

The prisoner, however, clearly disagreed.

“You... human... Are you threatening me?”

“Me? Threatening you?”

Ian pointed at himself, then at the prisoner, genuine disbelief spreading across his face.

What exactly would he gain from threatening this guy?

“You said it yourself! You said you’d destroy our village! Genea... you... what kind of monster did you bring here?! No—there’s no need to explain. I already know who he is. He’s a hero of the human race! A tyrant infamous even among other races!”

‘You’ve got to be kidding me...’

Was every penalty he’d somehow avoided until now crashing down on him all at once?

Cold sweat trickled down Ian’s back.

Genea stepped forward.

“Think about it rationally. Why would I work together with a human hero? If I truly intended to betray the village and sell everyone out, I would have gone to the demon tribe instead.”

“That man is obsessed with expanding the human faction! He rules his followers like a tyrant! Why do you think someone like that would accept an elf traitor like you? Have you lost your mind?!”

“And why do you think he accepted an elf traitor?”

‘Wait, you know something I don’t?’

Ian found himself genuinely curious.

“Don’t play dumb with me, you cunning human! What are you planning to do with us after capturing us? Don’t tell me...”

Moiken’s eyes widened.

“You’re trying to take over our village?!”

He wasn’t merely a hot-blooded elf warrior. A fool could never have risen to the position of ranger captain. Faced with the current situation, his thoughts raced furiously.

‘A human capable of subjugating demons would never fail to dominate elves.’

Was this human trying to build a kingdom of obedient puppets on this land?

At that moment, Ian’s fist slammed into Moiken’s head.

Thud!

“Gah?!”

“......”

Ian’s expression twisted as he silently swallowed a groan.

Why the hell was this elf’s skull so hard?

‘No... maybe it’s because he’s an elf?’

Even the elf merchants had been absurdly sturdy. They’d survived getting trampled by demons, after all.

“What are you doing, sir?” Keith asked in alarm, quickly catching Ian’s fist.

Then, gripping Moiken by the collar with terrifying ease, he hoisted him into the air.

“Urk... ghk...!”

Keith showed no sign of loosening his grip. Suspended by his own weight, Moiken began choking almost immediately. His eyes rolled back as he struggled for breath before finally losing consciousness.

Keith clicked his tongue and began healing Ian’s hand while scolding him.

“If force is necessary, please leave it to me. Lord Ian, you may be physically weak, but you’re far too quick to throw punches.”

“I’ll remember that next time.”

‘As if.’

Keith saw straight through the lie but chose not to argue. There were more important matters at hand.

‘What if Genea starts resenting him because of this?’

...Then again, would Lord Ian even care if someone disliked him?

Judging by everything Keith had seen so far, probably not.

Ian turned toward Genea.

“Your prisoner doesn’t seem very persuadable.”

“His name is Moiken. He’s my older brother.”

“Oh. Really? You two don’t look alike.”

“I hear that often.”

“So what now? Want to try convincing at least one prisoner?”

“It won’t work. Moiken is the captain of the elf rangers. Among those pursuing me, he holds the highest authority. If he refuses to trust me, the others won’t matter.”

“So persuasion is off the table.”

“Yes.”

Genea answered calmly, but her white teeth lightly pressed against her lower lip. In her own restrained way, she seemed disappointed.

“Then I’ll handle things my way.”

“...Pardon?”

“If words won’t work, then we’ll just have to prove it through action.”

“......?”

“We’re taking the World Tree.”

“......!”

Ian had already decided to upgrade the dungeon the moment they returned. By leveling up the World Tree, he could raise the dungeon’s level. Then he could level up the World Tree again and repeat the process indefinitely.

A beautiful infinite loop.

And for the sake of maximum efficiency, he had even brought Keith along.

When Ian waved his hand impatiently and muttered, “Move, move,” his subordinates immediately stepped aside. Their lord looked far too excited for anyone to risk getting in his way.

Since Ian hadn’t ordered anyone to stay behind, everyone followed after him—including Genea, whose status had somehow changed from prisoner to guest.

The moment Genea entered the residential district, she froze.

A radiant World Tree towered over the cavern.

Its colossal branches stretched upward as though they intended to pierce the heavens themselves, supporting the immense ceiling overhead. The massive trunk radiated soft light that reached even the furthest corners of the underground chamber.

Tender leaves fluttered along the branches, while clusters of blossoms resembling wisteria swayed gently, scattering shimmering light.

“A blooming... World Tree...”

Genea’s voice trembled.

Without realizing it, she stepped closer.

‘Ah—wait.’

The World Tree was sacred. Sacred trees were always protected by guardians.

Realizing her mistake too late, Genea abruptly stopped herself.

But strangely enough, no one else seemed concerned.

“......?”

Children were running around the World Tree without restraint. One boy was even climbing the trunk.

“Stop that! What do you think you’re doing?!”

Genea shouted instinctively.

Startled, the boy looked down at her—and immediately lost his grip.

“Ah!”

As another child screamed, Genea darted forward and effortlessly caught the falling boy before gently setting him back on the ground.

“You must never recklessly touch a sacred tree! It’s dangerous! Children shouldn’t even be allowed near this place. Where is the guardian? What about the protective barriers...?”

But nothing here resembled what she knew.

Every sacred tree she had ever seen was sealed behind barriers and guarded constantly. The guardian’s dwelling would always stand nearby to ensure the tree remained unharmed.

Yet this place was entirely different.

“Who are you?”

The boy Genea had caught stared up at her blankly.

“Is she the elf Ian brought back?”

“Yeah, Ian’s here!”

“There’s Ian!”

The children squealed excitedly and rushed toward Ian all at once. Even the boy Genea had just saved wriggled free from her grasp and ran after them, leaving her standing there in bewilderment.

What exactly was this place? 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

She had never seen people welcome a ruler so openly before.

Ian was famous as a hero, yes—but wasn’t he equally infamous as a tyrant?

An unguarded World Tree. Children unafraid of their ruler.

The villagers didn’t look at Ian with fear. If anything, their gazes were filled with curiosity and admiration. Even the adults quietly gathered nearby with expectant expressions.

‘What is this...?’

Genea had expected only one thing from Ian: revenge against the demon tribe.

She was certain the demons were the ones who had destroyed the World Tree she once protected. Only they could commit such a profane act.

But the humans living here seemed to expect something entirely different from him.

Though they kept a respectful distance, they still gathered around him eagerly.

What were they waiting for from their lord?

Ian, meanwhile, didn’t care in the slightest about the eyes on him.

He simply grinned as he surveyed the dungeon.

Rumble—!

A violent tremor suddenly shook the cavern from floor to ceiling.

Yet no one screamed.

The only visibly startled person was Genea.

Perhaps the Holy Knight following Ian had already been prepared to catch him if necessary.

The shaking ended as abruptly as it began.

Genea slowly raised her head and looked around.

“...It’s bigger?”

The residential district had expanded.

Buildings that once stood close to the cavern walls now sat far away from them.

The structures themselves hadn’t moved.

The space had grown.

‘How is this possible?’

Genea stood frozen before the miraculous sight.

Meanwhile, Ian casually muttered while staring into empty air.

“The ratio of farmers to archers is too high. Let’s build this way instead.”

Swish!

Swish!

Every time his gaze swept across an empty patch of land, a new building appeared.

“How can this even...?!”

Genea could no longer suppress her astonishment.

“Ah, that’s Lord Ian’s magic,” Sema explained proudly as he stepped forward.

Nothing made him prouder than introducing newcomers to Ian’s greatness.

‘I’m the senior here!’

Everyone who had joined the dungeon after Louise acknowledged Sema’s self-appointed authority.

Not even Ian dared interfere with that territory.