Reverse Dungeon

However, Ian had no time to question Keith about it. Keith seemed unusually dejected.

During the entire ride, both of them wearing their demon masks, Keith said nothing. He only finally spoke after they stopped to rest beneath a large tree, set up a makeshift shelter, and lit a fire.

Keith expertly coaxed the fire to life with a few twigs, then held some dried jerky over the flames until it softened.

He handed the roasted jerky to Ian. Ian accepted a piece and chewed it thoughtfully.

Then Keith broke the silence.

“I raised that boy. Perhaps I taught him wrong. Or perhaps... my entire life has been spent walking the wrong road.”

By “that boy,” he obviously meant his squire, Maverick. Apparently, Keith had been thinking about it throughout the whole ride, which left Ian baffled.

Where is this coming from?

“Is he your son or something? No, even parents don’t think like that about their kids.”

Then, realizing he was hardly an authority on the matter, Ian changed his tone.

“You didn’t choose his life for him. His life is his own. Let him live it.”

Besides, Keith had not done anything particularly extreme to Maverick. All he had done was lock him in a room at the Vatican and order that he only be released when monsters attacked, since Maverick’s combat strength was too valuable to waste.

“You cannot say you are so different, can you?” Keith said. “You are responsible for the people you protect. I have heard how much they mean to you. Did you not even destroy the Coliseum for your mage’s sake, knowing what it was?”

Keith looked at Ian with a warm expression.

Feeling very misunderstood, Ian immediately corrected him.

“First of all, the demons destroyed the Coliseum. Second, I didn’t save Sema because he’s precious or anything. I saved him because things would’ve gotten annoying for me without him.”

“I think I’m beginning to understand how you speak. Then does that apply to me as well?”

Keith still wore that faint smile as he asked.

The question was obvious.

Had Ian saved him out of necessity too?

“You? You’re the most necessary of all.”

Who in their right mind would let a five-star character die?

Ian stopped chewing his jerky.

Wait. Wasn’t that kind of a terrible thing to say?

Keith already seemed to be having doubts about Ian being some “Savior.” If Ian gave him the impression that he simply used people, things would only get worse.

Ian quickly rephrased, pasting on a bright smile.

“Of course, I saved you because I save everyone. That’s just what I do. There’s nothing more to it.”

“Haha!”

Keith suddenly burst into laughter, leaving Ian staring at him in shock.

It was the first time Ian had ever heard him laugh so openly.

With that radiant smile, Keith looked almost like a carefree boy. Ian found himself wondering how old Keith was again. He vaguely remembered that Keith was younger than him, but the exact age escaped him.

He had never bothered memorizing trivial details like a character’s age. His mind was far too occupied with efficient growth routes and skill builds.

But now that he thought about it, Keith was not merely younger. Compared to Ian, he was practically a kid. He only seemed older because he kept himself so rigidly controlled.

“You really are strange,” Keith said, still smiling.

You’re the strange one, Ian thought.

He had been called an orphan, a creep, even unpleasant—but this was the first time anyone had called him strange as though it were a compliment.

Ian shrugged and poked at the fire.

The little flame was warm. Its flickering light made Keith’s handsome face look even more striking. Seeing him smile like that gave Ian an oddly indescribable feeling.

Keith felt much the same.

Strange indeed.

He meant it sincerely.

He had been gloomy the entire way here, and yet a single remark from Ian had made him laugh. Now Ian was simply fiddling with the fire as if he had done nothing at all.

Every time Keith studied him closely, Ian surprised him all over again.

So small, pale, and fragile.

And yet his presence was overwhelming.

Overwhelming enough to appear in Keith’s dreams.

Dreams?

Keith frowned.

He did not usually dream. Even when he did, he rarely remembered them. His gaze had always been fixed on the heavens above, leaving little room for anything else.

And yet he had dreamed of someone.

Someone he had stared at with clenched fists, desperately holding himself back from touching.

Because touching would have been a mistake.

Because if he started, he would not be able to stop.

Keith shook his head, forcing away those strange thoughts.

Strange man.

It was becoming harder and harder to see Ian as a sacred figure.

He knew he should not think that way.

But that was all it was.

A thought.

How could someone so ridiculous and... endearing be divine?

The curse of Belial flowing through Keith’s veins whispered to his heart, though Keith himself remained unaware.

For now, it was only a small, harmless desire.

Thinking someone was endearing was not a sin.

Was it?

After a long journey, they finally arrived at the Eastern Docks.

The mamool found it amusing to see two demons riding horses, but wisely kept their distance.

Demons were a cruel and selfish race, and none of the mamool wanted to risk becoming mounts themselves.

Thanks to that, Ian and Keith traveled without interruption. Ian had memorized every boundary of mamool territory, so he navigated the region without difficulty.

The docks were quiet.

Mamool had no interest in sailing, so the harbor was mostly used by a sinister clan of white dwarves. They lived off seafood, which meant their work naturally revolved around boats—but that did not mean they ventured far out to sea.

Ian finished his explanation.

“So, no boats are heading where we need to go.”

“What will you do?” Keith asked.

“What do we have on us right now?”

Keith reluctantly touched his mask. “The demon masks?”

“Exactly. We’re demons, so we’ll handle this the demon way.”

“...?”

Ignoring Keith’s suspicious glance, Ian grabbed a passing boatman.

The white dwarf, Joty, flinched when the demon addressed him arrogantly.

“Yes, sir? What do you need?”

“You. You have a boat, don’t you?”

Joty wanted to lie, but he was afraid the demon would kill him if he did. In the end, he answered honestly.

“Yes, sir. I own a small, humble boat, unworthy of someone like you.”

“Of course your boat is unworthy. But I’ll grant you the honor of steering it for me.”

At the demon’s haughty tone, Joty ground his teeth inwardly.

“...It is an honor, sir. But where are you headed?”

“That is none of your concern.”

“Of course, sir. I’ll prepare the boat at once.”

Ian nodded triumphantly and turned to Keith, who was shaking his head while barely suppressing a laugh.

“You seem oddly used to this,” Keith remarked.

“Used to it? No way.”

Ian prided himself on being a kind person.

Blackmail was not exactly second nature to him.

“Right.”

Keith’s tone was dry, but Ian did not press the issue.

“Just don’t act too nice on the boat,” Ian warned.

“Too nice?”

“Yeah. Don’t pretend you don’t understand me. Demons don’t act like you. If you don’t want unnecessary trouble, act the part.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Keith agreed, but Ian still had his doubts.

Those doubts were confirmed when the boat struck rough waves and Keith pulled out a rosary to pray.

Is he insane?

Ian was too dumbfounded to stop him.

“What are you?!”

The boat rocked violently, and Joty drew his sword, lunging at them.

There was no way a demon would hold a rosary and pray.

Demons were supposed to loathe the divine and defile it.

Joty had already been suspicious of Keith’s excessively polite demeanor. Now, he finally snapped. There was no high-ranking demon named Ian in the eastern regions either.

Before Ian could react, Keith blocked the attack and threw Joty overboard.

“Ah.” 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Keith grimaced, realizing too late what he had done.

SPLOOSH!

The only person who knew how to steer the boat sank into the sea.

“...So what now? Are you steering the boat?”

“Where should I steer it?”

“Do I look like I know?!”

Despite his protests, Ian did know the way. He had spent hours mastering navigation back when he played the game.

As Ian angrily gave directions, Keith gripped the tiller and muttered irritably, “Could you stop snapping at me? You’ll run out of energy if you keep this up.”

“I’m snapping because of you! What else am I supposed to do?”

“And do you think I enjoy being snapped at?”

“You’re supposed to. You’re God’s agent, aren’t you? No matter what I do, you should be happy!”

“Of course. Your face brings me joy, and your voice is divine music to my ears.”

“Don’t play along like that!”

“Then what do you want me to do?”

As they bickered, the boat finally reached the island.

Keith wondered why he became so childish whenever Ian was involved.