Reverse Dungeon

Keith didn’t even pretend to listen.

Instead, he spoke with unwavering seriousness.

“You, Lord Ian, are always kind to the downtrodden. You could not ignore insignificant fairies or that foolish mermaid princess. You even took in those who tried to rob you. ...So I had to know.”

“Know what?”

‘That you’re deaf?’

“Why you are so forgiving toward me.”

“When have I ever been forgiving toward you?!” Ian genuinely couldn’t remember.

Sure, he treated Keith differently from ordinary people. But Keith was a five-star character.

That was only natural.

...Right?

Ian suddenly felt uncertain.

Now that he thought about it, he had been unusually careful around Keith. He always watched his words around the zealot, occasionally tossing out lines like You are God’s emissary just to avoid setting him off.

Not that it helped much.

Still, Ian never left Keith entirely alone. Some situations required aftercare, and Ian wasn’t careless enough to neglect a hero of Keith’s caliber.

‘...Did I overdo it?’

Ian found himself genuinely astonished by how much effort he had invested in Keith.

“You stayed beside me every night and always kept me closest to you.”

“And?”

Was he seriously complaining about that now?

After everything Ian had done for him, if Keith started spouting nonsense again, Ian honestly felt he might curse him out this time. Especially after suffering under that absurd burden for so long.

“You are kind to the weak, are you not? Because you # Nоvеlight # kept me close, I misunderstood.”

“Oh. Yeah, that’s definitely a misunderstanding.”

Ian had never once considered Keith weak.

But Keith continued as though he hadn’t heard him.

“Yes. I alone believed myself special, when in truth you are equally kind to all who are weak.”

Ian stared at him blankly.

This lunatic was seriously calling himself weak?

Did he not know his own stats? Forget stats—one look in a mirror should’ve been enough. Unlike Ian’s frail build, Keith looked exactly like what he was: a knight. Tall, broad-shouldered, overwhelmingly solid.

“This is awful...” 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Yet Keith sounded sincerely remorseful.

Completely baffled, Ian decided to just calm him down first.

“To be clear, you’re not weak. But... fine. Maybe I treated you a little differently.”

What Ian couldn’t understand was why Keith found that so terrible.

What exactly is his issue?

Wasn’t this conversation supposed to be about Louise?

Things had veered so far away from what Ian expected that he no longer knew how to respond.

“I knew it... Lord Ian.”

“What?”

Keith looked at him seriously.

“It may be acceptable for others, but I believe it would be best if you did not treat me that way. No... perhaps it would be better if you restrained yourself with everyone. Though that may simply be my own selfish desire.”

“...?”

Keith hesitated, visibly conflicted.

Then, after a long pause, he spoke again.

“I understand now why people slander you as promiscuous.”

“...What?”

Ian completely lost the thread of the conversation.

“Perhaps it is simply your kind nature.”

“Are you insulting me or praising me?”

“Haha...”

Keith let out a quiet laugh at Ian’s irritation.

“At the very least, please do not be kind to me. It is... dangerous.”

“Fine. I’ll treat you terribly from now on.”

Not once in his entire life had Ian ever been called kind.

“Yes. That would be best... for both of us.”

No matter what Ian said, Keith’s expression barely changed.

He looked down at Ian with a faint smile and an unreadable gaze.

Ian couldn’t decipher the emotions in his eyes, but somehow, they made it hard to breathe.

‘Shouldn’t you be the one careful about your behavior?’

The thought surfaced involuntarily.

Silence settled between them again.

But unlike before, this silence wasn’t awkward.

It felt strangely familiar. Comfortable, almost. As though they had naturally returned to the rhythm they always shared.

Still, Ian wanted to settle things properly.

Eventually, Keith would learn what Louise’s parents had done. Better to cut off misunderstandings before they started.

“Keith. Let me ask you something.”

“Yes?”

“If a child’s parents were murderers, does that make the child guilty too?”

Keith’s expression brightened immediately.

“Have you suddenly taken an interest in theology? No. That would not be just. A person’s sins belong to that person alone, to be judged by God. Humans merely uphold God’s law by punishing murderers because He commanded: Do not kill. But the child has committed no such sin.”

Ian brightened as well.

“Exactly. That’s what I’m saying.”

“However, failing to stop murderous parents is a separate matter.”

“...Exactly—wait. What?”

Ian froze mid-sentence.

Meanwhile, Keith continued enthusiastically, like an overly passionate instructor.

“If a murderer stands before you, and you knowingly allow their crimes to continue, then surely you share responsibility. Much like the dwarves who served the demon worshippers here.”

“No, that’s different. They kept slaves.”

“...?”

This time, Keith looked confused.

“Keeping slaves is not itself a sin.”

“...What?”

“Of course, enslaving innocents is a grave wrongdoing. Selling them to demons is even worse. Ah... I see now, Lord Ian. You mean they were punished for their direct crimes. I agree. Accomplices should not bear the exact same punishment as the principal offender.”

Wait.

What exactly was he agreeing with?

Ian had only intended to lay some groundwork for Louise’s situation, but the conversation had completely derailed. Unable to suppress his modern instincts any longer, he asked directly,

“Are you seriously saying slavery isn’t a sin?”

“...Why would it be?”

Because it violates human rights.

The words nearly escaped him.

But did this world even possess such a concept?

People here died constantly, regardless of rank or status.

Apparently not.

And honestly, Ian had never cared enough about irrelevant lore to check.

“Lord Ian, do you not also capture mamool to use against other mamool? Your willingness to grant even sinful creatures an opportunity for redemption is truly admirable.”

“No!”

Ian was horrified.

“Ah. Then you intend to dispose of them after they have served their purpose. That is wise. In truth, that was what I wished to advise you about. Allowing members of the demon race to live is dangerous.”

Keith looked visibly relieved.

“Well, yes, I’m not planning to let demons live, but that’s not the point—”

“Yes.”

“That’s not what I was trying to say! You’re the one who dragged the conversation off course. I was talking about Louise.”

“Please do not.”

“...What?”

“You are under no obligation to explain yourself to me. As your servant, my only duty is to fulfill the tasks you give me with all my heart. I overstepped before, and you have already corrected me.”

Keith interrupted him politely.

This is absolutely not resolved.

Ian realized Keith had fully retreated into fanatic mode again.

Though, honestly, that wasn’t very different from normal.

“I understand that you are especially mindful of the traitor’s child... Louise. But I worry your kindness may ultimately harm you. I came to my senses eventually, but that boy may not.”

“What are you talking about?” Ian asked sincerely.

“Your boundless affection toward all of us... it is something we should simply accept with gratitude. Humans are greedy creatures. We always desire more love, more attention, more favor than those beside us. It is a weakness we must overcome.”

Keith spoke as though he intended to handle the matter personally.

“I’ll speak with him.”

“Don’t!”

Ian immediately imagined Keith completely destroying Louise’s already fragile mental state.

Besides—

None of this made any sense.

‘What am I, some kind of god?’

Boundless affection?

That sounded nothing like Ian.

If he were truly that sort of person, this entire conversation wouldn’t even be happening.

Before he could sink deeper into the absurdity of it all—

Bang!

A firework exploded across the night sky.

A vivid red flare streaked upward, bright enough to illuminate the darkness even from afar.

It was the “Help Me, Lord Ian” signal flare Momisia had created and given to Genea.

Incidentally, Ian had not named it.

Momisia had.

Her naming sense genuinely concerned him.

But more importantly—

Why would there be danger with that lineup?

Even with Nameita, who was only useful during the early game, it was still three against one.

But that wasn’t what truly mattered.

‘My four-star!’

Genea was in danger.