Reverse Dungeon

“Keep it dignified.”

Keith made up his mind. He would maintain his usual composure and refuse to be dragged along by Ian’s antics.

Ian, meanwhile, was stomping around the island, punching trees like a sulking child in the middle of a tantrum.

THUD!

The island was dry. Dead trees tangled together on every side, as if the entire forest had withered away. It looked like a single spark would be enough to turn the place into a blazing inferno.

And Ian was going around breaking those brittle trees one by one.

He looked exactly like a petulant child acting out.

Keith did not want to say anything, but the words slipped out before he could stop them.

“If you are angry with me, take it out on me. Why vent your anger on the trees?”

“I’m not venting! I’m looking for the fairies! Instead of standing there, why don’t you help me search?”

“...?”

Ian snapped back at him.

Keith could not tell whether Ian was teasing him or not.

Just then, Ian swung his hand, and something caught on his fingers before being flung into the air.

“Ouch!”

A fairy burst out from hiding.

The tiny fairy, no larger than a palm, had translucent wings that fluttered rapidly and the shape of a little girl. She wore a skirt woven from green leaves, and her brown hair was tied back in a simple knot. Her face was so small that it was almost surprising her eyes, nose, and mouth all fit. She stared at them with an expression of pure terror.

Keith was stunned.

“You weren’t lying?”

“Would a messenger of God lie?!”

Ian snapped indignantly.

Of course, Keith was the one who had every right to be indignant.

“But you lie all the time....”

“Pick a side already!”

“Then why don’t you stop lying with that pretty face of yours?”

“...?”

Keith gave up trying not to argue with Ian.

While the two of them bickered, the frightened fairy began rising into the air, trying to escape. Keith swiftly caught her in one hand.

“Where are you going?”

“It’s over! I’ve been caught by a demon! This is the end for me!”

The fairy burst into tears and struggled to bite Keith’s hand.

In response, Keith turned her upside down and held her by her tiny feet.

“Who is a demon?”

“Take off your mask.”

Ian offered the advice coolly.

Reluctantly, Keith removed his mask.

The fairy stared in astonishment at his dazzling golden hair.

“Your hair shines!”

“Yes. I am not a demon. Do you believe me now?”

“Fine, you’re not a demon! But you’re human! Being caught by humans is just as bad! I’m doomed!”

The fairy wriggled fiercely in protest.

“......”

How annoying.

Keith felt his illusions about fairies as mystical beings shatter on the spot.

He briefly considered shaking her until she quieted down, but Ian stepped in. Without his mask, Ian’s large, dark eyes gave him a youthful, gentle look. It was reassuring in a way even Keith’s unnervingly perfect face could not match.

“Don’t be scared. We came to solve the problem on this island. Can you take us to the Fairy Queen?”

The problem on this island?

Keith glanced around at the withered trees.

The island did, in fact, appear to have a serious problem.

“You’re going to fix this island? How could mere humans do that?” the fairy asked skeptically.

Ian pulled a small branch out of thin air as though performing magic.

“First, we brought a gift. It would be rude to visit the Queen empty-handed. What do you think of this?”

“The World Tree branch!”

The fairy recognized it at once.

She fluttered toward the branch, clearly entranced. Ian gave Keith a look, silently telling him to let her go, and Keith released her.

The fairy flew to the branch and circled it in awe before pressing her tiny forehead against it with a dreamy expression.

“Ah... it’s wonderful.... Humans! Fine, I’ll take you to the Queen. But I have one condition.”

“What is it?”

“Let me sit on this branch until we get there.”

“That’s easy.”

“Yay!”

The fairy hugged the branch and began wriggling and dancing on it in delight.

Ian turned to Keith with a triumphant look, as if to say, See?

Keith raised an eyebrow.

What a childish man....

Even so, Keith could not help letting out a small chuckle.

It was endearing, in its own way.

Ian was already chatting animatedly with the tiny fairy. Keith wondered what the two of them could possibly have to talk about.

Eventually, they reached the fairy village, a place that could never have been found without the fairy’s guidance.

The entrance was an enormous decaying tree. When the fairy touched the barrier, the inside of the tree lit up in iridescent colors.

They passed through and entered the fairy village.

The fairy called it a “kingdom,” but it was far too modest in scale for such a grand title.

“Wait here. If humans as big as you go inside, the village will collapse.”

“Alright.”

The fairy spun in the air, then darted into the branches.

Inside the barrier, living trees flourished, forming an ecosystem entirely different from the dead forest outside. Even so, the trees were small, closer to saplings or shrubs, and the tallest barely reached Keith’s chin.

After some time, the fairy returned.

“The Queen has agreed to meet you!”

“Where should we go?” Keith asked, expecting to be brought before the ruler.

The fairy stomped her tiny feet in midair.

“The Queen will come here! Obviously, we can’t let humans into our village! You should be honored!”

Just then, small fairies lined up on either side, forming a path. They drew out tiny trumpets and began playing a cheerful tune.

When the adorable fanfare ended, one fairy solemnly announced,

“Her Majesty, the Queen of the Great Gryus Kingdom, is arriving! Welcome the human envoys with reverence!”

“Long live Her Majesty! Long live Her Majesty!”

The fairies cheered.

Ian clapped enthusiastically, his eyes sparkling.

Why is he so excited...?

Keith, unsure what to make of it, clapped along.

Ian, of course, was thrilled.

It was like watching an in-game event unfold in real life. How could anyone not be excited? The Fairy Queen’s entrance was especially charming. It had been one of Ian’s favorite events.

The Queen appeared, flying gracefully into view, her golden curls arranged like a perfectly rolled pastry.

Ian nearly went dizzy from the sheer cuteness of her.

“Human envoys, I hear you have brought me a gift?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. We have come to present this to you.”

“Oh my...!”

The tiny Queen floated closer to Ian and circled the World Tree branch in delight. Her small body trembled with awe, and Ian was seized by an overwhelming urge to touch her.

How am I supposed to resist touching a living fairy?

Ian deeply regretted not being the one who had caught the fairy earlier.

He was unbearably jealous of Keith.

“This truly is a branch of the World Tree! How did you manage to obtain something so precious? You are generous guests indeed.”

But her cheerful expression soon darkened.

“However, you must have seen it on your way here. The Fairy Kingdom, once so full of ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) life, is now in decline. A masked stranger planted a demonic artifact in this kingdom, and from it arose a monster that drains all life from the trees. I raised a barrier as quickly as I could to protect the kingdom, but this one tree was all I managed to save. Now the entire kingdom survives on the vitality of a single ancient tree. It is all my fault....”

“No, Your Majesty. That isn’t true!”

“It’s the fault of that masked demon!”

The fairies clenched their tiny fists, bristling with outrage.

Ian felt faint all over again.

Why can’t fairies be tamed? Why aren’t they playable characters?

Of course, the developers were probably saving them for some overpriced DLC.

Just release it already, you greedy bastards.

The Fairy Queen gazed longingly at the World Tree branch, then reluctantly pulled herself away.

“If I plant this branch here, that monster will only drain its vitality again. I cannot allow such a precious gift to be wasted. As grateful as I am, we cannot accept it.”

“Your Majesty, we didn’t come only to give you this gift. We came to defeat that monster for you.”

“What? You will defeat the monster?”

The Queen blinked her large, sparkling eyes.

Ian resisted the urge to pet her and answered confidently.

“Yes. There used to be a World Tree here, correct? Please guide us to where its ‘roots’ once were.”

The Fairy Queen’s eyes widened in astonishment.