Hell Mode: Volume 6, page 3
“So tell me, why are you sticking your nose in my country’s business?”
“As I said before, I was looking into the Union.”
“I see. Yet you say that our country is somehow involved with it, and indeed, you have made attempts to question my citizens about circumstances within my kingdom. What is your reason for looking into the matter?”
Zeu seemed to have relaxed somewhat after drinking his ale, causing him to realize that he still had not properly thanked Allen for his past deeds. With that, he took on a slightly politer demeanor. However...
“Just to make sure I’m clear, I take it that we’re here to exchange information, yes?”
“Watch your mouth, you little upstart!”
Just as Zeu was about to offer Allen his gratitude for saving the beastkin, Allen’s remark once again sent him into a rage. Allen casually judged by the way his fur stood on end that all of his muscles must have tensed up.
“It’s only fair, right?” Allen pressed. “Both you and I want information, which means this is a transaction. Why would you think that only one side should be entitled to answers, especially with the future queen of Rohzenheim and the great Hero Helmios here with us?”
“Ngh, but... B-But I...”
Allen glanced toward Sophie and Helmios. Considering that the Beast Prince was not the crown prince, Sophie outranked him in terms of royal status. Helmios’s party members, meanwhile, were far stronger than Zeu’s men.
“Now, now, Allen. Let’s hold it right there.” Helmios then addressed Zeu in a calm, polite tone. “Sire, please. I don’t yet know what it is that Allen here wants to discuss, but I believe the information will be beneficial to all parties involved. All I humbly ask is that you would consider speaking with us.”
“Hmph, would it really be beneficial to me?”
“Of course,” Helmios continued. “If you would kindly agree to join us in conversation, we would be happy to discuss the matter. If Your Highness deems that the information is of no value to you, then you are welcome to end the conversation. How does that sound?”
“Hm, so I can call it off at any time? Fine, then. If the great Hero of the Central Continent says as much, I suppose it’s worth hearing you out. Men, go find a table and get yourselves something to drink.”
“Yes, sir!”
With that, Zeu dismissed his beastkin entourage.
“Well then, Allen, let’s hear it.”
“Of course, Helmios.”
Allen was impressed by the flawless way Helmios handled the situation.
So that’s what it means to be a hero, huh. He got things under control better than I could’ve, all while allowing Zeu to save face.
Allen went on to explain the full story to Zeu, from when they discovered the orichalcum, to Freyja’s divine vessel being stolen, to Allen’s assumptions about what was coming next. He left nothing out. As he spoke, he glanced over at Rohzen from time to time, but the elven deity merely stood by and watched intently as the situation unfolded. The Spirit God made no attempt to either stop or add to Allen’s story.
Zeu himself looked quite surprised at several points throughout the conversation. However, he patiently waited until the end before speaking.
“I see. You tell quite the incredible story, but I suppose it must be as you say. However, is it permissible for you to share all this with me?”
At present, the Country of Beastkin considered the Central Continent a potential enemy. While the Five Continent Alliance was intertwined militarily speaking, that only went as far as matters concerning the Demon Lord Army. Behind the scenes, the Country of Beastkin was waiting for just the right time to invade the Central Continent. And yet now he was hearing that the Empire of Giamut, which was in direct conflict with the Demon Lord Army, was facing a crushing defeat due to the loss of the divine vessel.
“Of course. A class promotion system is also about to be established, you see.”
“‘Class promotion’?”
Allen went on to explain the concept of class promotions. Though still a work in progress, the system was slated to release during the following year as part of the ongoing strategy to oppose the Demon Lord Army.
“That is quite valuable information, if true. But what does any of this have to do with the Country of Beastkin?” Zeu was at a loss as to how the stories about the divine vessel being stolen and the class promotion system had anything to do with his people.
“As I mentioned before, it’s about the Union. Actually, this is related to the matter of removing the Pontiff of Daemonism from the Union, a matter which the Country of Beastkin is involved in.”
“Hmm, I see. You have a point there. And is that why you were investigating Shia?”
Over the past few months, Allen had heard various stories about the Country of Beastkin from Uru, one of which involved information about succession to the throne in Albahal. Allen needed to know who was next in line to be king and whether it was possible to change the line of succession from Beast Crown Prince Beku to another.
In Albahal, tradition held that the first child would be the king’s successor. However, it was not uncommon for an even more talented child to be born after the first. In such cases, these other children would be put through a trial and, were they to overcome it, they would succeed the throne despite not being the firstborn. Zeu’s trial was to become the first to clear the Rank S dungeon.
It was not just Zeu who had a trial to overcome, though. His sister, Shia—the youngest of the litter and known as the War Princess due to her personality and prowess on the battlefield—had a trial of her own for becoming the next in line for succession. Hers was to take down the Pontiff of Daemonism.
Daemonism was a religion founded several decades prior in one of the Union’s member states. They proclaimed that worshipping the Demon Lord Army would keep them from invading. Coincidentally, the Demon Lord Army had never reached the Union’s shores.
Thanks to that fact, worshippers of Daemonism were steadily on the rise. The religion had begun to spread to neighboring countries as well, even crossing the seas several years prior to find a hold in Albahal. As the Country of Beastkin maintained commercial trade with the Union, apparently some Daemonism adherents had made it over along with the other shipments.
Upon hearing that the number of Daemonism believers was steadily growing within his own territory, the Beast King became incensed. Garm, the God of Beasts, was the only deity worshipped within Albahal. There was no way that the Beast King would allow a brand-new, completely unauthorized religion without a clear foundation behind it to spread within his country. This was how his youngest child, the Beast Princess, came to be ordered to subdue the Pontiff of Daemonism. From what Allen heard, the Union was also supportive of this task.
“Right. I suspect that this Daemonism religion is somehow involved in the theft of the Fire Goddess’s divine vessel,” Allen said.
The Demon Lord Army was constantly plotting and playing the long game, which could only mean that they possessed a plan for how to use the divine vessel once they got their hands on it. With that in mind, Allen spent several days mulling over how the divine vessel could be used until he hit on it: that Daemonism religion Uru once spoke of.
According to his memories about a game from his past life, there was an enemy known as the Daemonists—whether they chose that name themselves or it was a name given to them by players, Allen could not recall—that needed stopping. Naturally, this memory prejudiced his outlook on the Pontiff of Daemonism here in this world as well. Given this, he decided that they, much like the Demon Lord himself, must be destroyed.
As he was thinking about where the divine vessel could have gone, he had stumbled across the possibility that the Pontiff of Daemonism whom Shia was going after could have gotten their hands on one and been growing their following. Whatever they were planning, it was bad.
“I see. But that can’t be right,” Zeu replied.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
How can you be so sure?
It was now Allen’s turn to be taken by surprise.
“Just the other day, I received a letter from Shia. She’s captured the Pontiff of Daemonism and handed them over to the Elmea Church. A religious trial should be held shortly.”
“Wha—? Really?”
Huh, so they’ve already been caught and are facing trial, then. Looks like the Elmea Church has a handle on things. But does that mean Beast Princess Shia is the heir apparent?
The Holy Land of Elmahl, where the head offices of the Elmea Church were located, was one of the Union’s member nations. Zeu explained to Allen that they were able to capture the Pontiff so quickly thanks to the full support of the Holy Land.
I guess that means I was completely off the mark, then. I was pretty sure these were the guys we were looking for when I heard about Daemonists, but maybe they weren’t all that powerful if the Pontiff could be captured just like that. I guess they didn’t have the stolen divine vessel, then.
It was also possible that the name itself, Daemonism, was simply due to a negative bias placed on them by other religions. All in all, Allen felt quite embarrassed at having dived in headfirst with his assertion.
“The trial will determine what actions the Daemonists actually undertook. If the rumors are true, it’s likely that they will be found guilty and their followers put to death.” Apparently Zeu had heard of a number of horrific acts carried out in the name of Daemonism.
With that out of the way, they then discussed several matters concerning the dungeon and plans going forward. The stolen divine vessel had to be out there in the world, waiting to be used in some manner or another. The two parties agreed to share and follow up on any information that even sounded like it was related to the divine vessel in order to prevent such a thing from happening. Eventually, their conversation was finished.
Outside the bar, Zeu turned to Allen before parting ways.
“Next time you look into Shia, talk to me about it first. Got it?”
“Absolutely. Will do.”
Heh, sounds like a big brother looking out for his little sis.
From what Allen could tell, it was pretty apparent that Zeu worried deeply about his sister.
Chapter 3: A Coming-of-Age Ceremony at the Base
Massive, light-emitting magical devices stood on the roof of the immense temple located at the center of the Rank S dungeon’s first floor. They were lit brilliantly during the daytime and dimmed at night. The lights on both the second and third floors of the dungeon also adjusted themselves to correspond with the time of day thanks to the magical devices under Dygragni’s control.
Allen and his companions were gathered in the cafeteria just as the sun had begun to set.
The meals served in the dining room of the home base for both Allen’s No-life Gamers and Helmios’s Sacred—each high earners in their own right, though they were now working in tandem—were always feasts, but the cooks had really outdone themselves today. It looked like Helmios’s servants had thrown themselves all in for this meal, since today marked Allen’s birthday as well as the coming-of-age ceremony for the No-life Gamers.
October 10 marked not only Allen’s birthday, but with the exception of Volmaar, it also meant that all of the No-life Gamers had finally reached adulthood this year. Humans and dwarves were considered adults at fifteen, elves at thirty, and high elves at fifty years old. Even serfs celebrated their coming-of-age in this world.
Nobility would often invite influential movers and shakers to huge celebrations at inns or restaurants, while royalty typically held balls. From what Allen heard, apparently there were even countries that would hold parades that filled the streets of the capital with knights and marching bands.
Allen realized right around when they had started preparing to clear the dungeon that he and the rest of the party would soon be fifteen. Upon asking the rest of the No-life Gamers if they would like to hold a coming-of-age ceremony, the majority expressed interest in doing so. However, it would be increasingly troublesome for them to hold individual ceremonies, so Allen suggested that they hold a group ceremony on one person’s birthday instead. Considering that Allen was the leader of the party, the group decided to hold it on his.
Huh, can’t believe it’s been fifteen whole years since I came to this world.
He was rather impressed that he had been here in the world long enough to reach adulthood. On the other hand, outside of the time he spent playing his beloved games, his memories of his past life had grown hazy.
Allen settled into a plump sofa and called out to Zeu.
“Are you really sure you want to join us, Your Highness? You’ll miss out on the Dungeon Festival today.”
The Beast Prince reclined into the sofa and responded casually, “Hm? It’s fine.”
Earlier that morning, one of Zeu’s beastkin servants had come to Allen to invite them to dinner. After explaining that they were unable to make it, Allen received no further response until, without warning, the Beast Prince himself showed up hefting a barrel of liquor, with Uru and Sara in tow.
I only decided to let them join us because I didn’t have a good reason to send them on their way, but he’s basically just chilling out here.
“What’s the problem, Allen? After all, it’d be a shame for you to turn away such a gracious act like royalty coming to celebrate your coming-of-age with you.”
“But the whole town’s been in such a festive mood since yesterday.”
“Hm? You have nothing to worry about. I’ve been drinking with my comrades all morning.”
Allen had a hunch that the Beast Prince was already pretty drunk by the time he showed up. This just confirmed it.
This Dungeon Festival seemed to be something of a special event where all the dungeon challengers prayed to Dygragni. They would thank him for allowing them to travel safely through the dungeon thus far and ask for continued safe passage.
The first of October was also the day of the Harvest Festival back in Allen’s hometown. Apparently, similar festivals were held in other regions as well, although considering there were no fields here in the dungeon, they were slightly different kinds of festival. This year appeared to be particularly festive, with rows of stalls and merrymakers lining the main street all the way from the entrance to the temple.
Now that I think about it, I haven’t actually gone to any festivals since coming to this world.
Back in Allen’s past life, he never participated in any of the seasonal events held in-game. After all, it was not guaranteed that you would receive an item or experience just by joining in, and even if you did, it was usually just some item that changed your appearance. It made the whole thing rather unappealing to him.
Allen would often exclaim that he would rather his avatar go naked than bother with gear without any status effects. However, now that he was here with his friends and surrounded by well-wishers, he figured that maybe events like this were not so bad.
“Admiral Garara should be back any time now. Then again, he did say that he was going to slay the final floor boss.”
To commemorate the Dungeon Festival, Admiral Garara, a hero among the dwarves, had left in the morning to enter the dungeon and challenge the final floor boss. A large group of dwarves was gathered in front of the temple awaiting his return.
The fact that the sun was about to set with still no word about his return suggested that taking the boss down was not going according to plan. While Allen and the No-life Gamers were spending their time collecting equipment and increasing their levels, and the Beast Prince’s party was still struggling to get a proper group together, Garara had determined that his party had collected all the slates he needed. Figuring that they were already strong enough for the challenge, he decided to take on the final floor boss who supposedly lurked on Floor 5.
That’s unfortunate. I was really hoping we’d get the reward for being the first to clear the dungeon. Oh well, I guess it’s not too bad if this will help strengthen the Five Continent Alliance. In any case, I want to find out what kind of boss they went up against.
He did not know if Garara and his party would actually be able to clear the dungeon, but Allen hoped for their safe return nonetheless.
“Hey, Allen. Looks like we’re finally getting close to finishing the dungeon, huh?” It was almost as if Dogora had read Allen’s mind. The longer they spent together, the more often things like this happened.
“Sounds like it. At this rate, we should be able to clear it faster than I’d thought.”
After Helmios and Zeu offered up brief celebratory speeches, the coming-of-age ceremony finally kicked off. To Allen, it felt little different than any other time he had enjoyed a meal with his close friends.
“C’mon Allen, lighten up a bit and have a drink. It’s our coming-of-age celebration, after all.”
A glassy-eyed, drunken Cecil held a wooden stein up toward Allen’s face. He could not think of any good reason to refuse, so Allen took the stein and brought it to his lips. It had been quite a while since he last drank...and it was frankly disgusting. Sure, this was the first time he had actually drunk alcohol in this world, but apparently little had changed from his previous, sober life. Allen could not help but snicker to himself.
While sipping at the beverage, Allen called out to Zeu. There was something he needed to ask.
“Your Highness, I was wondering...”
“Yes? What is it?”
“You mentioned that Shia succeeded in taking down the Pontiff of Daemonism. Considering that means her trial is over, doesn’t that mean that you should be heading back home?”
“No, I will not return until I have completed the trial His Majesty bestowed upon me of clearing the Rank S dungeon.”
Huh? But wasn’t his trial to be the first to clear the dungeon?
Admiral Garara was liable to show up at any moment as the first to have cleared it.
“Your kindness knows no bounds, milord.” Uru, who had overheard the exchange, looked over toward Zeu with tears in his eyes.
