Reverse Dungeon

‘No matter how random the spawn logic was, how was this fair?’

Ian stared in disbelief.

Why was the necromancer sitting up there?

Sure, the necromancer’s spawn point was randomized, so occasionally they appeared in strange places, but...

On top of the boss monster’s head? That crossed the line from random into absurd. Besides, hadn’t the necromancer originally been sealed inside the jar?

‘Were they standing on it or something?’

There was no time to think about it further. The necromancer waved their staff, directing the skeleton horde forward. With Ian out of sight, their target was obvious—Keith, who was currently fighting Kyarakus head-on.

The necromancer knew the skeleton horde couldn’t kill Keith outright. Individually, the undead were weak. What made them terrifying was attrition. ƒгeewebnovёl.com

No matter how many fell, more kept rising. They wore enemies down little by little until resistance finally broke.

But Ian had no intention of letting Keith die like that.

“Just hold on for one second!”

If he could buy even a little time—

Ian shouted, unsure whether Keith could hear him.

But Keith’s hearing bordered on supernatural. If he heard Ian’s voice, he would answer.

After all, Keith might have been a lunatic zealot, but he was also the most dependable knight Ian knew.

And sure enough, Keith responded.

Blue light erupted from his body. Normally, <Enhance> was used on weapons, but Keith applied it directly to himself. Only a Holy Knight with monstrous endurance would even attempt something so reckless.

Then he abandoned defense entirely and drove Kyarakus back with overwhelming aggression.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Every impact between Keith’s sword and Kyarakus’s scales shook the air itself. The explosions of force were deafening.

Kyaaaaaaah!

Kyarakus roared as it sensed the sudden shift in its opponent. The monster braced itself with its legs and tail before lunging at Keith with terrifying force.

BOOM!

The instant they collided, neither side gave ground.

An <Enhanced> Holy Knight possessed the strength of an army. The skill’s duration was short, but for a ranged attacker, a few seconds was enough.

Ian drew his bow.

His muscles trembled from the tension as he compressed <Purification> into a single point.

Whoosh!

A violent gust swept through the battlefield, tossing Ian’s hair wildly.

The necromancer, focused entirely on directing the skeleton horde against Keith, never noticed the threat behind them.

‘Now.’

Ian released the string.

Thwip!

The arrow cut through the air almost silently before piercing the necromancer’s skull with perfect precision. The robed figure toppled from Kyarakus’s head.

Thud!

‘Got them!’

But the relief lasted only a moment.

The instant the necromancer fell, Kyarakus’s head snapped toward Ian.

The ancient monster’s survival instincts immediately locked onto the easier prey.

A distant enemy was difficult to catch—but Kyarakus possessed the perfect weapon for hunting them down.

KRRRRRRAAAAAAH!

Flames erupted from the monster’s jaws.

“...!”

Before Ian could react, Keith threw himself directly into the torrent of fire without a moment’s hesitation.

Service to God defined every part of his existence. If protecting God’s agent required his life, he would offer it willingly.

But his body alone wasn’t enough to stop the flames. Fire spilled around him, surging dangerously close to Ian.

Keith charged straight into the inferno with sword in hand.

His armor melted.

His flesh blackened.

Even then, he refused to close his eyes. Before <Enhance> faded, he had to stop the flames at their source.

Kyaaaaaaaaah!

Kyarakus let out a horrifying scream as Keith’s sword plunged into its throat.

‘What the hell?!’

Ding!

[Keith has fallen into the ‘Severe Burn’ state!]

Ding!

[Keith has fallen into the ‘Despair’ state!]

Ian didn’t need to check Keith’s HP.

Watching it fall felt like watching his own life drain away.

But Keith’s sacrifice had created an opening.

‘He’s not going to die.’

Ian repeated it to himself like a prayer, though sweat—or maybe something else—blurred his vision.

Keith wouldn’t die here.

Not because he still had Ian to protect, but because a mere field boss could never kill someone like him.

No.

You’d need a Demon King for that.

Ian steadied his breathing.

The trembling in his arm disappeared, and the targeting point narrowed.

An arrow rested against the string, but the tip was anything but ordinary.

[Fairy Hero’s Blade (S)]

A blade forged by the fairies from morning sunlight and dew so the hero might slay demons.

Attack Power: +5%

Critical Rate: +5%

Divine Power: +100%

Instead of a normal arrowhead, Ian had attached the weapon gifted to him by the Fairy Queen.

‘<Purification>!’

Divine energy surged into the arrow.

At Level 7, boosted by +100% Divine Power, <Purification> became devastating.

The arrowhead blazed brilliantly, driving back the surrounding miasma. A sacred wind seemed to whirl around Ian himself.

Even Kyarakus, writhing in pain, sensed the danger and turned toward him.

Ian released the arrow.

It tore through the air like a storm.

BOOM!

The impact blew away half of Kyarakus’s face.

Blood and flesh exploded outward, exposing shattered teeth and the inside of its ruined jaw.

“Keith, get out of there!”

Ian jumped from the volcano’s summit /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ as Kyarakus charged toward the place where he had stood only moments earlier.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM...

Keith thought he had died.

He had always known he would one day fall in battle against a monster. To die protecting God’s agent would have been an honorable end.

And yet—

Ding!

[Keith has fallen into the ‘Severe Burn’ state!]

Ding!

[Keith has fallen into the ‘Despair’ state!]

‘Did I save him?’

Keith couldn’t tell.

He thought he had seen Ian swallowed by the flames. He had failed again.

Once more, he had been powerless.

And once again, God had been cruel.

‘Does God even exist?’

The question he had buried ever since meeting Ian resurfaced from the depths of his heart.

If God truly existed, how could He abandon His own agent so mercilessly?

Ian was the perfect servant of God.

He had shown compassion even to cowards who fled the war against demons. He had accepted those on the verge of becoming monsters, so long as they still possessed reason and justice.

And Keith still couldn’t protect him.

Darkness swallowed his thoughts.

What had he ever managed to protect?

Not his family.

Not his friends.

Not the people of the Vatican.

Not even his squires.

Everywhere he went, death followed.

Did he even deserve to live?

No.

Keith’s thoughts became unnaturally calm.

This was the only logical conclusion.

He tightened his grip on the sword buried in the ground, preparing to end his own life.

“Keith!” ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

A voice called out.

Ian’s voice.

He was alive.

Ding!

[‘Despair’ state has been lifted.]

Keith felt like a drowning man dragged back to the surface.

...What had he been thinking?

“Get out of there right now! What, you want the archer taking the front line?!”

“No.”

Keith muttered quietly.

Of course not.

Ian’s judgment was exceptional, but his body was fragile. Even with his talent for swordsmanship, he was barely stronger than a squire in training.

Keith had always believed Ian either needed overwhelming strength or absolute protection.

Yet somehow, Ian was out here fighting monsters with his own body.

How was that even possible?

Keith shuddered.

He forced his eyes open and began healing himself inside the charred remains of his armor. Burned flesh peeled away and regenerated, the agony dragging his mind back to clarity.

He assessed the situation.

Kyarakus’s head had been nearly destroyed, exposing the inside of its shattered jaw. Ash-filled wind blurred Keith’s vision.

‘What happened?’

No.

He already knew.

Ian had done this.

Once again, God’s agent had performed a miracle.

Keith realized he was standing inside Kyarakus’s mouth.

And above him—

Ian.

Ian barely avoided Kyarakus’s attacks. Blood streamed from cuts across his face and jaw, soaking the collar of his archer’s robe. His torn lips were stained red.

‘Ah.’

The sight struck Keith harder than his own wounds.

Without hesitation, he leapt from Kyarakus’s mouth and rushed toward Ian.

“Keith!”

Their eyes met.

Relief flashed across Ian’s face before confusion quickly replaced it.

That voice had pulled Keith back from darkness.

Given him life again.

Once again, Ian had saved him.

Keith crossed the distance between them and kissed him.

“...?!”

The kiss lasted only a moment before Keith pulled away.

Ian’s blood stained Keith’s lips as <Healing> activated, restoring Ian’s torn mouth and wounded face.

Ian stared at him in stunned silence.

Keith, however, felt no confusion.

At last, he understood.

This was devotion.

Just as he served God, he served Ian.

Ian’s words had become the only light he trusted.

For so long, Keith had mistaken his dreams of Ian for temptation—a sinful desire sent to corrupt him.

But now he understood.

He worshipped Ian.

Before meeting Ian, his heart had always belonged to God.

Now it belonged to Ian as well.

To Keith, loving Ian and serving God no longer felt different.

With reverent sincerity, Keith spoke.

“I will kiss your feet after the battle. Please allow me that honor.”

“What the hell are you talking about?!”