Reverse Dungeon

There were several intermediate quests in between, but those weren't important.

And the completion conditions for Linked Quest 2, The Masterless Castle, were as follows.

Incidentally, The Masterless Castle could only be obtained if the player visited the Archduke's castle after already killing the Demon Archduke.

Since Ian had fulfilled that condition all the way back in the prologue, obtaining the quest had been easy.

The problem was that both were linked quests.

Difficult linked quests.

Ian's plan of rapidly leveling while traveling had one minor flaw.

Linked quests absolutely guaranteed growth, but since they were linked, every connected quest in the chain had to be completed, which consumed a fair amount of time.

A linked quest leading into another linked quest?

'Time flies.'

Unfortunately, Ian's party didn't have that kind of time to waste.

So what was the solution?

'Clear both at the same time.'

Ian knew exactly how.

These two quest lines had always been capable of being intertwined.

"Rescuing slaves and killing a demon who's living comfortably in the Archduke's castle...?"

Sema still looked unconvinced.

Ian didn't bother explaining.

There was no need.

"So you're not going to save the prisoners?"

"N-no, we should save them."

"Good. Follow me."

Ian rapidly completed a series of intermediate quests:

Find the prison's location.

Deal with the monster serving as the administrator's jailer.

He already knew where the prison was.

And on the way there, he stole the rice cakes needed as bait for the monster.

Normally, simply feeding the rice cakes to the monster and putting it to sleep would complete the quest.

But considering future complications, Ian cleanly separated its head from its body instead.

Thus they entered the slave holding area.

The handsome young man and woman inside recoiled in shock when they saw them.

"W-who are you?"

"We've come to rescue you."

Keith cut through their iron shackles.

The metal restraints split in two as though they were paper.

The pair stared blankly at the display of overwhelming strength.

Turning dazed people into loyal followers was effortless for Keith.

His devout appearance and voice inspired limitless trust simply by being seen and heard.

"Do you know how to ride a horse?"

"N-no. We've never ridden such valuable animals..."

"Then you'll have to run. It will be difficult, but I hope you'll endure it. Your families are desperately waiting for you."

The man and woman, who had been filled with fear and suspicion after their abduction, nodded as if entranced by the white-clad holy knight.

"A difficult journey? Could anything be worse than what we've experienced here?"

"Thank you for freeing us!"

"We have little to offer, but... please accept this, benefactor."

The woman removed the ribbon tying her hair and offered it to Keith.

Keith instinctively began to refuse.

Then he saw Ian and shut his mouth.

Take it and stop talking.

Ian was issuing the order with his eyes.

Remarkably, Keith seemed to have mastered mind reading at some point, because he quietly accepted the ribbon and tucked it away.

'Good.'

Ian stepped forward.

Trust had been established.

Now came the explanation.

"Right now, security in the castle is too tight to escape."

"Then...?!"

"There'll be a disturbance at midnight. I'll give you a signal. When that happens, leave through the small gate."

The two captives held their breath.

"Head straight back to the residential district you came from. For now, it'll be the safest place."

"If we go back there, the administrator won't leave us alone!"

The man began to panic.

Ian promptly repaired his shattered mental state.

"He'll have to."

"...?!"

"If he's dead, what exactly is he going to do?"

"...!"

The woman, who was somewhat calmer, cautiously raised her hand.

"Um... when you say 'for now'..."

"You won't be trapped there long. Endure it a little longer. Tell your friends the same thing."

'Let's raise morale.'

There was no reason to let the village he had worked so hard to save collapse into internal conflict.

Ian spoke as kindly as possible.

Unfortunately, he wasn't Keith.

His face alone couldn't earn people's trust.

The woman still looked uneasy.

"H-how...?"

"Because we're going to kill the Demon King."

"...!"

Shock flashed across both captives' faces.

'Done everything necessary.'

This quest was practically finished.

All that remained was causing the "disturbance" at midnight.

It would clear automatically afterward.

Without wasting any more time, Ian prepared to leave.

"Wait...! Benefactors! Please tell us your names! We swear we'll repay this kindness!"

A reputation event.

'Do I really need this?'

Ian didn't need any more reputation.

He had already squeezed every benefit possible from fame.

And already caused more than enough chaos with it.

But Keith answered first.

"We are followers of Ian."

"Gasp...! Hero Ian and Sir Keith the Holy Knight?!"

"The rumors were true?"

"Hero Ian is really going to slay the Demon King...!"

Ding!

[Ennis trembles at your heroic deeds.]

Ding!

[Mohan is deeply moved by your heroic deeds!]

'Well...'

He hadn't exactly been trying to act heroic.

Still, it didn't feel bad.

In reality, this was closer to cleaning up a disaster he had personally created.

The moment they exited the building, Ian turned to Keith.

"Why did you do that?"

"Because they do not know what sacrifices you make."

"...?"

What was that supposed to mean?

"They know only that you do what is right. Even if I alone understood that, you would likely be satisfied."

Keith smiled bitterly.

"No. Even if I didn't understand it either, you probably wouldn't care."

"..."

"I dislike that."

'Well...'

"You deserve proper recognition."

Then Keith added, with visible hesitation,

"Did my personal decision interfere with your plans?" freeweɓnøvel.com

"...No."

At this point, rumors that Ian was heading toward the Demon King's castle weren't a problem.

If anything, it would be beneficial if some of the monsters currently lined up outside the dungeon like customers waiting for a famous restaurant decided to leave and come after him instead.

Of course, that would make the journey more dangerous.

'So it balances out.'

Besides, the fact that Keith was asking for permission after the fact earned points.

Granted, it was post-facto permission.

'...Did he actually ask?'

Ian felt slightly uneasy.

But he decided to overlook that minor detail.

The intention was commendable.

Granted, that commendable intention had also destroyed an artifact.

Still, getting angry again now would be uncool.

Ian lightly bumped Keith's elbow.

"Good job."

"...!"

'Has he forgiven me?'

Keith savored the lingering sensation of the touch that had reassured him.

Then he lowered his head.

Do not become arrogant.

It was a warning to himself.

His own poor judgment had nearly caused an unforgivable mistake.

Wanting to protect Ian in a safe place had sounded reasonable.

But the dungeon had never been safe.

And Keith's desire to personally slay the Demon King had been nothing more than stubborn pride.

Ian has forgiven my mistake because he is generous. But I must not forgive myself.

Wouldn't anything else be shameless?

From now on, Keith would move only according to Ian's commands.

He would not make decisions himself.

...

Unfortunately, his thoughts still wandered.

Ian was simply too exceptional.

His plans were never things ordinary people could understand.

What exactly is he trying to do?

Ian spoke seriously.

"Alright. Everyone put your masks on."

Another infiltration?

The masks could only be the demon masks Momisia had created.

Keith obediently put his on.

"From this point forward, you're demons. Wandering demons who came here looking to settle down."

"Oh..."

"...I see."

Ian ignored their lukewarm reactions.

"Good. Let's go."

They boldly crossed the inner castle grounds and entered a black stone building.

Several lesser demons glanced at the unfamiliar newcomers, but none stopped them.

Countless demons lived within the castle.

Why would they care?

Without interference, Ian arrived at his destination.

He knocked on the door.

Bang! Bang!

"Who is it?"

"We've come to see the mighty and noble Lord Pilati."

"Hm? I am the mighty and noble Pilati."

The door opened.

A heavily muscled demon resembling a troll stepped outside.

Without hesitation, Ian dropped to one knee and presented a box with both hands.

"Ah! Noble Lord Pilati. I am overwhelmed to meet you. Please accept this humble gift."

"What? A masterless demon? This brat... you've got good instincts for a newcomer."

Pilati happily accepted the bribe offered by a demon seeking his favor.

Desire was fundamental to demon nature.

A race that loved blood and power would never reject flattery and gifts.

He opened the jeweled box.

Inside was this:

Ding!

[Isiter's Horn (S)]

The horn of Isiter, Southern Demon Archduke.

Consumption grants a curse, but also tremendous power.

Dignity: +200%

Demonic Energy: +100%

"Th-the Archduke's horn?!"

Pilati's eyes widened in shock.

While presenting an item that had already proven extremely useful once before, Ian thought:

'First, we'll publicly announce that the Demon Archduke is dead.'

After all, wasn't it obviously easier to assassinate a single demon in a castle where everyone was effectively at war with everyone else than to fight a life-or-death battle against an entire team of demons working together?