RD | Chapter 44

Anyway, Ian opened the building menu. Seeing the new structures he could construct, he couldn’t help but grin.

[Constructing a new building.]

‘Start with military facilities.’

Ding!
[Weapon Storage]
Stores military equipment.

[Training Ground]
Trains soldiers.

[Soldier Resting Facility]
Provides soldiers a place to rest.

Ding!
[‘Barracks’ is under construction.]
[Barracks]
Produces soldiers.

“……!”

Keith’s eyes widened as he watched miracles unfold wherever Ian focused his gaze.

The ground split, and buildings rose. Pillars stretched from the dungeon ceiling, forming grand three-story structures with intricate designs.

“What in the world…!”

“They say it’s Lord Ian’s ability. Isn’t it amazing? It seems similar to how wizards create workshops. In Lord Ian’s domain, he can construct buildings and even relay commands to anyone within it,” Sema explained innocently.

Keith couldn’t believe how casually Sema spoke about such phenomena. How could he treat it as something so mundane?

Keith had seen similar divine acts before—from the Pope.

The Pope could heal the dying within the Vatican and communicate his words to everyone. Ian’s abilities seemed comparable, if not greater.

His powers seemed less about governing and more about… creating worlds.

Keith’s chest tightened.

While they talked, Ian was already building a temple for the priests and a hospital for treating the sick.

White buildings rose perfectly, catching the attention of several people who stopped what they were doing to watch. Ian gave them a command, and soon they brought over a priest who had passed out drunk. Ian placed a hand on the priest’s head, and a halo appeared above the priest’s round head.

The priest opened his eyes, looking bewildered. Keith recognized him as someone he had once saved—a man who had been consumed by guilt and later taken in by Ian, drowning his days in alcohol.

Ian blessed the priest and said something to him. The priest burst into tears, kissing Ian’s robe repeatedly.

Using his skill, now at Level 7, Ian healed the priest’s status conditions and entrusted him with the new temple.

“Is it really okay for me to take on such an important role?” the priest asked, still weighed down by guilt.

To Ian, the priest’s self-doubt only confirmed his goodness. Most people shield themselves with self-justifications, but this priest’s weak defenses led to deep remorse.

“Do you plan to keep shirking your duties, drunk? You’ve got two choices: stay wasted or walk into that building and help the people here.”

“Are you forgiving me?” the priest asked, crying.

“How could I forgive you? I’m a sinner, just like you. We’ll work off our sins together.”

By the priest’s logic, Ian was also a “sinner who abandoned the royal city.” So Ian played along with his narrative.

Of course, Ian thought abandoning the city had been foolish. Why leave such an ideal defensive location?

Population mattered too. Be it a village, kingdom, or dungeon, prosperity relied on numbers. A bustling community boosted morale, fostered economic activity, and created the semblance of a thriving, livable space.

Human psychology responded strongly to such factors.

This game really made him care about the strangest details….

The priest clung to Ian’s robe, bawling. Snot and tears smeared all over it, much to Ian’s annoyance. But kicking a crying man away wasn’t exactly an option, so he patted the priest’s shoulder instead.

Ding!
[‘Drunkard’ Yurian thinks of you as a benevolent ruler.]

‘When did your title change…?’

Ian recalled Yurian once held titles like ‘Priest’ or ‘Diligent.’ Now his reputation was pitifully low. Ian felt a twinge of guilt—it was definitely his fault.

“Well, well…. Now go do your job, will you?”

“Yes, yes! Lord Ian! I will!”

Priest Yurian hurried off to the temple.

Keith, having witnessed the entire scene, approached Ian, overwhelmed with emotion. Bowing low, he kissed Ian’s robe.

“A man who performs miracles of God….”

“What are you babbling about…?”

“…….”

Keith pretended not to hear Ian’s dismissal.

“You build structures, forgive priests, and save people. Are you not carrying out the mission bestowed upon you by God, even if you are unaware?”

“Hmm… maybe? No, not really.”

“You’ll understand soon enough. You’re walking the path He prepared.” Keith mentally blocked Ian’s denial.

“Sure, sure.”

‘Keep talking.’

Ian was already lost in thought, gazing at the air, considering what other structures he should build next. He had no time for a zealot’s ramblings.

“…….”

Keith, watching Ian, felt a rare surge of frustration.

People usually hung on his every word, finding his presence solemn and inspiring. Ian was the first to dismiss him so thoroughly. Keith didn’t even understand the emotions welling up inside him.

“Kyah!”

At that moment, the children playing with Momisia bumped into Keith. He deliberately let himself take the impact to prevent the child from falling.

On his rare days off, Keith often volunteered at orphanages. He was used to handling children, so he gently comforted the child and scolded them skillfully.

“Watch where you’re going. It’s crowded here, easy to trip.”

“I’m sorry….”

“Alright. Be careful next time.”

He patted the child’s head and sent them off. Ian stared at him with a curious expression.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I can’t tell if you’re sensible or not.”

‘……?’

Is this man one to talk?

Keith felt the same way about Ian. How could someone perform such blatant miracles and still deny being God’s messenger?

And yet Ian stared at him, as if pondering something profound.

‘What holy… bizarre thoughts is he having now?’

Keith held Ian’s gaze without looking away.

Truthfully, Ian was strangely captivating.

His beauty was undeniable, but that wasn’t what drew Keith in. Ian’s pale, fragile appearance wasn’t something that would usually pique Keith’s interest. Besides, Keith wasn’t the type to evaluate others’ looks.

What made Ian stand out was his resolute mouth and piercing eyes. His expression carried a powerful conviction that drew attention.

Only someone truly sure of themselves could wear such an expression.

Since their first meeting, Ian had looked at him with that same unwavering gaze, which was why Keith hadn’t expected him to be so physically weak.

Then, suddenly, Ian sighed and smiled at Keith, his face unexpectedly delicate.

“Look, I’m not God’s messenger, but I’ve got a lot on my mind. This world is overflowing with demonic energy.”

“Yes….”

Keith felt uneasy.

“The reason people can’t venture deep into the forest is because of this energy, right? It’s also why many collapses before reaching the dungeon. For their sake, we need to deal with it somehow.”

For some reason, Ian’s words sounded like excuses to Keith.

“I’ve come to believe that this mess of a world is ultimately because of the Demon King.”

Keith straightened up, startled.

“Are you going to slay the Demon King?”

Ian was equally shocked.

“No?”

“……?”

“I’m talking about destroying the Demon King’s life vessels. Just reducing the demonic energy in the world. It’d be safer for us, expand the dungeon, and raise the World Tree’s level….”

Keith couldn’t follow the latter half of Ian’s muttering. But wasn’t destroying the Demon King’s life vessels essentially the same as killing the Demon King?

Heroes had failed to kill the current Demon King because of these vessels. The Demon King had distributed his life force across multiple vessels in various locations. Without destroying all of them, killing the Demon King was useless, as he would simply resurrect from one.

To Ian, however, the two were entirely different matters.

From the moment the dungeon level reached 20, Ian had been itching with impatience.

‘I really want to raise the World Tree’s level.’

If leveling up was possible, why not do it?

The dungeon’s level increase had unlocked the World Tree’s growth cap. Naturally, evolving the World Tree was the next logical step.

That was Ian’s reasoning.