Reverse Dungeon

The fairies’ ability to cultivate a forest was no less impressive than that of elves. Since the two species had diverged from a common ancestor, their love of nature was equally deep, though their temperaments could not have been more different. Fairies were mischievous and chaotic, often more likely to fling dirt at one another than plant seeds, but once they truly set their minds to a task, they could finish it in an instant.

I really should take a few of them with me, Ian thought, imagining a farming legion of fairies.

The lack of freedom in certain parts of this game had always been frustrating.

Before leaving the island, they made their final preparations. One of those preparations was upgrading Ian’s swordsmanship skill.

Keith, who had once broken Ian’s arms during training, was far more cautious this time.

“Sparring doesn’t seem to suit you, Lord Ian.”

Ian agreed with him.

“So I thought I would demonstrate the movements first, then guide your posture directly.”

“Fine. Let’s do that.”

Keith quickly fashioned two wooden swords from nearby branches. He handed one to Ian and kept the other for himself.

Then he demonstrated the basic movements, cutting down from above, then sweeping from left to right.

“This is the basic form.”

Did he really think I needed a demonstration for that?

Ian was skeptical, but to his surprise, Keith apparently did.

Keith moved behind Ian, pressed his chest against Ian’s back, and wrapped his arms around Ian’s to guide his movements.

The closeness—close enough for Ian to hear Keith breathing—made Ian flinch despite himself. He immediately cursed his own reaction. When had he decided to start being so sensitive to everything Keith did?

Keith’s low voice cut through his thoughts.

“Why are you reacting like that?”

“...I’m not. I just thought you’d stopped avoiding me.”

“...Why would I avoid you, Lord Ian? You are the one I serve. I have no reason to avoid you.”

Keith said it as if it were perfectly obvious, then asked,

“Am I making you uncomfortable?”

“...No.”

If Ian were the kind of person who could answer “yes” to a question like that, his social life would have been much easier.

“Then let us continue the lesson.”

“...Sure.”

The lesson began with Keith holding Ian from behind and guiding his body through the movements. He adjusted Ian’s posture, showing him how to wield the sword properly.

“Relax your wrist.”

“Your shoulders are too tense.”

“Tighten your core.”

“Keep your legs loose...”

Every correction came with Keith’s hands—or some other part of him—brushing against Ian, who gritted his teeth in frustration.

Ian began to wonder whether swordsmanship lessons were supposed to involve this much physical contact.

Ding!

[Skill Acquired: ]

By the time Ian acquired the skill, he was completely drained.

“Do you have any other questions?” Keith asked.

“No.”

“Then we will end the lesson here. You followed along well, Lord Ian. It seems this method of instruction is effective.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“...”

“...”

They exchanged a few °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° meaningless words, but both of them were inexplicably exhausted. In the end, they decided to part ways and rest.

The next day, their journey to the northern region began.

The fairies came out of the village to see them off.

“Come back soon!”

“Don’t forget your promise!”

Ian waved them off halfheartedly.

The safe zone was now behind them.

Ahead lay the land of demons.

“Where are we heading this time?” Keith asked.

“To the underwater city in the north.”

“Underwater city...? Such a place exists?”

“It’s where the merfolk and fishfolk live. Just so you know, don’t pick any fights with them.”

“How could you think so poorly of me? Didn’t I get along well with the fairies?”

Keith sounded indignant.

“You threw them around.”

“...”

Keith had no rebuttal.

The fairies had enjoyed it, but still.

This guy is going to cause trouble, isn’t he?

Ian gave Keith a wary look.

In Keith’s route, most non-human species were treated as adversaries. Keith did not see them as allies. For now, he was only refraining from hostility because Ian, as a divine figure, had ordered him to. But if push came to shove, Keith was probably fully prepared to call them filthy creatures and start a fight.

The underwater city is already tense enough without him stirring things up.

“Promise me you won’t throw any merfolk or fishfolk.”

“...I won’t throw them. Of course.”

“And don’t challenge anyone to a duel.”

“But Lord Ian, challenging someone to a duel is a knight’s way of preserving honor.”

“So you are planning to challenge them?”

Their bickering continued all the way to the northern port.

This region, known for freezing over in winter, was a place where quests had to be completed during the warmer seasons. Summer meant there would be no sudden freeze, but the northern winds were still brisk.

Disguised with demon masks, they passed through the port. White dwarves, expert sailors by trade, and black dwarves, who specialized in shipbuilding, bowed to them after mistaking them for demons.

The dwarves were one of the races that had sided with the demons when the Middle Realm opened. Unlike humans, they were not treated as slaves or food by the demons, but they were still considered lower-class beings.

Humans had once tried to unite against the demons, but the other races had refused to cooperate, which in many cases led to their own destruction. That refusal had planted deep distrust between humans and non-humans.

Keith’s contempt for non-humans as “not of God’s creation” stemmed from that history. Back then, God had prophesied that only by uniting could the races drive back evil.

The northern region had an industrial feel, centered around shipbuilding, with little to offer in the way of entertainment beyond nighttime taverns. On one side of the port, a massive casino and illegal gambling dens operated openly.

Keith, who had never ventured this far north before, looked around with faint displeasure.

People who have distanced themselves from God.

Ian did not care. He booked them passage on a cruise.

It was a leisurely voyage from the north to the southern continent, stopping at various islands along the way.

Go ahead and be as grumpy as you want.

Ian planned to lock Keith in their cabin once they boarded. Letting him wander freely would inevitably lead to trouble, especially if he challenged a demon to a duel.

“How would you like your room prepared? Our most popular package is—”

“Two rooms. Small ones are fine,” Ian said.

Keith interrupted him.

“No. One large room.”

“...?”

Ian furrowed his brow and turned to Keith, who leaned in and whispered,

“This cruise is used by demons and non-humans. It will be safer to share a room for protection.”

I can take care of myself, thank you.

Ian was about to argue when Keith asked, his expression blank,

“Are you uncomfortable with that?”

“...Of course not. One room, then.”

“Very well.”

After taking their tickets, Ian headed toward the cruise ship.

Is this guy messing with me?

Ian could not shake the feeling that he was being provoked.

Of course, Keith was not the type to do that. If Keith annoyed him, it was never intentional. He was too serious for that.

But how can someone that serious be so good at... less-than-innocent things?

Ian shook his head to drive the thought away.

Nothing had happened between them. There was no reason to dwell on anything improper. Keith’s irritating tendencies were an entirely separate matter.

Once aboard, they finally entered their assigned room and began to unwind. Ian rubbed his legs, trying to ease the exhaustion from the journey.

He was utterly drained, but he still had one task left.

“Keith, come here.”

“Yes, Lord Ian.”

“Let’s do the purification.”

They had been too busy lately to perform the ritual every day, so they needed to make up for lost time.

Keith hesitated at the word “purification,” and Ian flinched slightly as well.

But both of them quickly composed themselves and sat facing each other on the bed.

After all, there was nothing awkward between them.

Nothing at all.