Reverse Dungeon

In any case, Ian opened the building menu. When he saw the new structures he could construct, he couldn’t help grinning.

[Constructing a new building.]

‘Let’s start with military facilities.’

Ding!

[Weapon Storage]

Stores military equipment.

[Training Ground]

Trains soldiers.

[Soldier Resting Facility]

Provides soldiers with a place to rest.

Ding!

[‘Barracks’ is under construction.]

[Barracks]

Produces soldiers.

“......!”

Keith’s eyes widened as miracles unfolded wherever Ian fixed his gaze.

The ground split open, and buildings rose from within it. Pillars stretched down from the dungeon ceiling, shaping themselves into grand, intricately designed three-story structures.

“What in the world...!”

“They say it’s Lord Ian’s ability. Isn’t it amazing? It seems similar to the way wizards create workshops. Within Lord Ian’s domain, he can construct buildings and even relay commands to anyone inside it,” Sema explained innocently.

Keith could not understand how Sema could speak so casually about such phenomena. How could he treat something like this as ordinary?

Keith had seen similar acts of divinity before.

From the Pope.

Within the Vatican, the Pope could heal those on the verge of death and carry his words to everyone within its walls. Ian’s abilities seemed comparable to that—perhaps even greater.

This power felt less like rule over a territory and more like...

The creation of a world.

Keith’s chest tightened.

While they were speaking, Ian had already begun constructing a temple for the priests and a hospital to treat the sick.

White buildings rose in perfect form, drawing the attention of several people, who stopped what they were doing to stare. Ian gave them a command, and before long, they brought over a priest who had passed out drunk.

Ian placed a hand on the priest’s head. A halo appeared above the man’s round skull.

The priest opened his eyes, bewildered.

Keith recognized him. He was one of the people Keith had once saved—a man consumed by guilt, later taken in by Ian, who had spent his days drowning himself in alcohol.

Ian blessed the priest and said something to him.

The priest burst into tears and began kissing the hem of Ian’s robe again and again.

Using his skill, now at Level 7, Ian healed the priest’s status conditions and entrusted him with the new temple.

“Is it truly all right for someone like me to take on such an important role?” the priest asked, still crushed beneath his guilt.

To Ian, that self-doubt only proved the priest was fundamentally decent.

Most people armored themselves with excuses. This priest’s defenses were weak, and because of that, remorse had consumed him.

“Are you planning to keep shirking your duties while drunk? You have two choices. Stay wasted, or go into that building and help the people here.”

“Are you... forgiving me?” the priest asked through his tears.

“How could I forgive you? I’m a sinner too, same as you. We’ll work off our sins together.”

By the priest’s logic, Ian was also a “sinner who had abandoned the royal city.” So Ian simply went along with his version of the story.

Of course, Ian personally thought abandoning the city had been foolish. Why give up such an ideal defensive position?

Population mattered too. Whether it was a village, a kingdom, or a dungeon, prosperity depended on numbers. A bustling community raised morale, encouraged economic activity, and created the impression of a thriving, livable place.

Human psychology was heavily influenced by such things.

This game really made him care about the strangest details....

The priest clung to Ian’s robe and sobbed. Snot and tears smeared all over the fabric, much to Ian’s annoyance. But he could hardly kick away a grown man who was crying his heart out, so Ian settled for patting him on the shoulder.

Ding!

[‘Drunkard’ Yurian thinks of you as a benevolent ruler.]

‘When did your title change...?’

Ian remembered Yurian once having titles like ‘Priest’ or ‘Diligent.’ Now his reputation had fallen to a truly pitiful state. Ian felt a twinge of guilt.

It was definitely his fault.

“Well, well.... Now go do your job, will you?”

“Yes, yes! Lord Ian! I will!”

Priest Yurian hurried off toward the temple.

Keith, who had witnessed the entire scene, approached Ian with emotion welling in his chest. Bowing low, he kissed the hem of Ian’s robe.

“A man who performs the miracles of God....”

“What are you babbling about...?”

“.......”

Keith /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ pretended not to hear Ian’s dismissal.

“You build structures, forgive priests, and save people. Are you not carrying out the mission bestowed upon you by God, even if you yourself remain unaware of it?”

“Hmm... maybe? No, not really.”

“You will understand soon enough. You are walking the path He prepared.”

Keith mentally shut out Ian’s denial.

“Sure, sure.”

‘Keep talking.’

Ian was already lost in thought, staring into empty air as he considered which structure to build next. He had no time to listen to a zealot’s ramblings.

“.......”

Watching him, Keith felt a rare surge of frustration.

People usually hung on his every word. They found his presence solemn and inspiring. Ian was the first person to dismiss him so completely. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Keith did not even understand the emotions now rising inside him.

“Kyah!”

At that moment, one of the children playing with Momisia bumped into Keith. Keith deliberately absorbed the impact so the child would not fall.

On his rare days off, Keith often volunteered at orphanages. He was used to dealing with children, so he comforted the child gently and scolded them with practiced ease.

“Watch where you’re going. It’s crowded here, so it’s easy to trip.”

“I’m sorry....”

“All right. Be more careful next time.”

He patted the child on the head and sent them off. Ian stared at him with a curious expression.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I can’t tell whether you’re sensible or not.”

‘......?’

Was this man really one to talk?

Keith felt exactly the same way about Ian. How could someone perform such blatant miracles and still deny being God’s messenger?

And yet Ian continued to stare at him, as if pondering something profound.

‘What holy... bizarre thought is he having now?’

Keith held Ian’s gaze without looking away.

Truthfully, Ian possessed a strange magnetism.

His beauty was undeniable, but that was not what drew Keith in. Ian’s pale, fragile appearance was not the sort of thing that would usually catch Keith’s interest. Besides, Keith was not the kind of person who judged others by their looks.

What made Ian stand out was his resolute mouth and piercing eyes. His expression carried a powerful conviction that naturally commanded attention.

Only someone truly certain of himself could wear such a look.

Since their first meeting, Ian had looked at him with that same unwavering gaze. That was why Keith had never expected him to be so physically weak.

Then Ian suddenly sighed and smiled at Keith, his face unexpectedly delicate.

“Look. I’m not God’s messenger, but I do have a lot on my mind. This world is overflowing with demonic energy.”

“Yes....”

Keith felt uneasy.

“The reason people can’t venture deep into the forest is because of that energy, right? It’s also why so many people collapse before they ever reach the dungeon. For their sake, we need to do something about it.”

For some reason, Ian’s words sounded like excuses to Keith.

“I’ve come to believe that this whole ruined state of the world ultimately comes down to the Demon King.”

Keith straightened in alarm.

“Are you going to slay the Demon King?”

Ian was just as startled.

“No?”

“......?”

“I’m talking about destroying the Demon King’s life vessels. Just reducing the demonic energy in the world. It would make things safer for us, expand the dungeon, raise the World Tree’s level....”

Keith could no longer follow the latter half of Ian’s muttering.

But was destroying the Demon King’s life vessels not essentially the same thing as killing the Demon King?

Heroes had failed to kill the current Demon King because of those vessels. The Demon King had divided his life force among several vessels scattered across various locations. Unless every one of them was destroyed, killing the Demon King was meaningless; he would simply resurrect from one of them.

To Ian, however, the two matters were entirely different.

From the moment the dungeon reached Level 20, impatience had been eating at him.

‘I really want to raise the World Tree’s level.’

If leveling it was possible, then why not do it?

The dungeon’s level increase had removed the cap on the World Tree’s growth. Naturally, evolving the World Tree was the next logical step.

That was Ian’s reasoning.