Reverse Dungeon

“......?”

Keith’s hand moved instinctively to the hilt of his sword.

Who did these vermin think they were talking to?

Before the men could spew another insult at his esteemed companion, Keith was fully prepared to ensure they never spoke again.

But Ian, seemingly unbothered, answered with complete calm.

“Sure.”

“......?”

This time, even the elf turned to stare at him.

“Well, well. Looks like we found someone reasonable.”

“Pretty boy seems confident in what he’s got.”

The men snickered as they closed in on Ian.

Keith tried to remember Ian’s order to stay his hand, but in the end, he couldn’t tolerate it any longer. Stepping in front of Ian, he reached into his pouch and pulled something out.

“I’ll pay. Move aside.”

“What?” The taller man scowled threateningly, only to falter when he realized Keith stood a head taller than him. Meanwhile, the shorter one gasped.

“It’s real gold!”

“What?”

“I’m serious—it’s gold! At least 30,000 gold!”

“Are you insane? Who carries that much money around a place like this—”

The taller man’s scoff died instantly when he noticed the bracelet in the other man’s hands: gold set with rubies and pearls. Even at a glance, it was worth far more than 30,000 gold.

“What if it’s fake?”

“Look at that noble-looking face. Do you really think someone like him would carry a fake?”

“How the hell would you know? Bite it and check!”

“And if you leave teeth marks in it, are you paying for the damage?”

Looking visibly disgusted to even be standing near them, Keith guided Ian a step back and spoke with impeccable courtesy.

“Please, go ahead.”

“Wait! How do we even know it’s real—?”

“Just look at what they’re wearing. The cloak’s worn out, sure, but the fabric’s expensive. And that sword hilt...”

“Hm.”

The taller man grunted in reluctant agreement.

Without sparing them another glance, Keith ushered Ian away.

Once they were out of sight, Keith turned sharply toward him.

“What were you thinking, agreeing to that?”

‘Why’s he angry?’

Ian lifted a brow.

At some point, he had grown strangely accustomed to Keith’s subtle, expressionless face. But this wasn’t mere stoicism anymore.

Keith was genuinely upset.

“Being a mercenary isn’t that bad, though, is it? With our abilities, we could clear any request easily.”

“......?”

Keith fell silent.

Ian, meanwhile, had plenty to say.

“And why did you actually pay them? Are you made of money? Do you seriously think they asked for 10,000 gold because they expected someone to hand it over?”

“It is my wealth, and how I spend it is my concern. But that is beside the point. If they truly meant mercenary work, they would have said so differently. Their intentions were clearly otherwise.”

“What exactly do you think they meant?!”

Ian stared at him in disbelief.

Wasn’t Keith practically born yesterday? How was he jumping to conclusions like that?

Keith’s ears reddened faintly.

“You need to understand your own value, Lord Ian.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m the most precious person in the world. Which is exactly why you’re supposed to protect me with your life. You’re the one thinking weird things here!”

A holy knight, of all people, abandoning vows of chastity?

Wasn’t Keith supposed to be the type who wouldn’t even understand a dirty joke?

Ian suddenly regretted not spending more time on Keith’s route. The man’s personality was completely different from what he remembered.

“When did I ever—?” Keith faltered uncharacteristically, flushing crimson.

Then the elf casually ruined the moment.

“Huh. You two really don’t get along, do you? I think I get it now. This is what people call ‘polar opposites,’ right?”

“That’s something better said about you and your profession,” Ian shot back.

“Indeed,” Keith added coldly. “What gives you the impression you are qualified to judge me?”

“Uh...”

“I exist to assist Lord Ian and follow the path he chooses. However, he was raised in comfort and lacks experience with the ways of the world. His emotional impulsiveness is my only concern.”

“Well, considering the elf who claims to be several hundred years old has no concept of money either, I can’t be that hopeless.”

“You see?” Keith said immediately. “Lord Ian even possesses the talent to make complete nonsense sound convincing. Unlike you.”

“Wow...”

The elf realized, belatedly, that involving himself in arguments between these two never ended well. Somehow, despite them fighting each other, he always walked away feeling like the one being reprimanded.

Thanks to the elf’s uncanny ability to irritate both of them simultaneously, the argument eventually fizzled out.

As Ian led the way, he compared the game’s map graphics against the real landscape before him.

The foreign travelers—with their unblemished skin and unfamiliar clothing—drew wary attention everywhere they went. Ignoring the stares, Ian confidently turned into a narrow alley.

‘Found it.’

They stopped before a two-story house with a wooden roof. A large fence enclosed the property, making it the biggest residence they had seen so far.

The village chief’s house.

Technically, they could have stayed elsewhere, but the “Desert Tower” questline began most cleanly here.

Ian knocked.

Knock, knock.

Shuffling came from inside, followed by a long silence before a voice finally called out.

“Who is it?”

“We’re travelers. Would it be possible for us to stay here for a few days?”

“Travelers?”

The door creaked open, revealing a broad-shouldered man with sun-darkened skin. Heavy-lidded eyes swept across the three of them.

“There’s an empty room. But what about payment?”

He rubbed his thumb against his forefinger.

“How would you like us to pay?”

“10,000 gold per person.”

“We’re strong.”

Ian skipped straight past the scripted dialogue option.

“Don’t look it.”

“Well, maybe not strong. But hardworking.”

“Hmm... We’re short on firewood.” The man stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“I’ll gather some immediately.”

Ian flashed his most professional smile.

“Be back before sunset. Even locals lose their way after dark.”

“Understood.”

The door shut again.

“Lose their way after dark?” the elf asked, puzzled. “We’ve been traveling at night this whole time.”

“It’s the guidance of the gods,” Ian replied automatically—before realizing what he’d just said.

‘Right. I don’t need to build up my savior reputation around him.’

But when Ian glanced toward Keith, he was met with an expression that practically screamed, Exactly as expected...

Why did Keith always react like this whenever Ian praised the gods?

Deciding to change the subject, Ian spoke quickly.

“See? Not everyone jumps to weird conclusions like you. ‘Paying with your body’ means manual labor like this.”

“I see... Have you been here before?”

‘Countless times.’

Ian blinked.

“Nope.”

Keith didn’t press the issue.

“Then where are we supposed to find firewood? I didn’t see any vegetation nearby. Are there even trees here?”

“We don’t need actual wood. The region’s been dry for ages. If we head this way, we’ll find the Sand Mole habitat. Kill one, drain the blood, and the body dries out immediately. Chop it up, and it burns just fine.”

“How do you know that?”

Keith looked at him like the answer was obvious.

Feeling awkward, Ian stubbornly maintained character.

“Divine guidance, obviously.”

“Of course...”

“The gods really are convenient,” the elf muttered in ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) admiration.

“Watch your tongue,” Keith said sharply.

“Exactly. Show gratitude for their grace and pray every day.”

“Understood... I’ll pray...”

Ian even tried proselytizing a little, yet Keith’s reaction remained strangely lukewarm.

What exactly did this man want from him?

Ian genuinely couldn’t tell.

‘Should I sing a hymn or something?’

Unfortunately, he didn’t know any hymns from this world.

They guided their camels in the direction Ian indicated.

The Sand Mole was a gigantic mole-like monster nearly five meters long. It lurked beneath the dunes, waiting to ambush prey and swallow it alive.

After witnessing the elf’s agility during the battle with Kyarakus, Ian sent him ahead as bait.

Dripping with sweat beneath the blazing sun, the elf shouted from the distance,

“How long am I supposed to keep running?!”

“Until the monster appears.”

“Wow.”

“We paid your entrance fee to the village. Earn your keep.”

Ian lounged comfortably in the shade of a boulder while watching him.

“My first customer never paid a thing, if I remember correctly! Why is it suddenly ‘we’?!”

“You seem energetic enough to complain this much. Stop whining and find the monster already. The sun’s going down.”

“Wow... Either your god is a sadist, or the exact opposite. Either way, whoever chooses apostles has terrible judgment.”

“Cease your blasphemy.” ƒreewebɳovel.com

Keith, who had been fanning Ian from beside him, spoke coldly.

At that exact moment, the sand beneath the elf exploded upward.

The Sand Mole burst from the ground beneath his feet.