Hellmode ~A Hardcore Gamer Becomes Peerless in Another World with Retro Game Settings~

The sides of the pyramid were longer than 1 kilometer, so it was impossible to see all the way to the sides of the building. Shea continued walking forward with her usual confidence.

"Hm, there's someone there."

There was an entrance leading into the building, but two beasts standing on two legs were guarding it. Their faces looked like a tiger and a leopard.

Somehow she could tell that they were not spirits or Sacred Beasts.

They seemed more divine, though not the same level as Giran.

Shea had seen Sacred and Divine beasts before, so she knew those two were Beast Demigods.

That reminded her of the two Demigod Rank spirits Sophie had mentioned, which protected the Shrine of the Great Spirit God Easley.

'Stop, You must be Shea and Luvanka.'

'Stop, You must be Shea and Luvanka.'

"We are."

'That's us.'

Luvanka also replied, just in case.

One of the two Beast Demigods looked familiar though.

'Shea, I heard about you from Lord Giran. I knew a tiger beastman could overcome his trial.'

The familiar one spoke to Shea.

"You flatter me. But I'd like to know, are you Lord Liger?"

'That's me, as expected of someone with Barrio ancestry. We, Liger and Cougar, are the gatekeepers of Lord Garm's Shrine.'

Shea's eye twitched a little when she heard the word Barrio, but she did not let it show.

Since Liger was talking so directly to Shea, the leopard faced Cougar raised his voice.

'You, stop talking so intimately. The Beast Kingdom Barrio has no relevance here. There's no room for private matters here.'

'I know. So Luvanka, do you know no shame showing up here like this?'

'I still can't believe you trampled all over Lord Garm's kindness as he turned you into a Sacred Beast, and now you became this thing…'

The two gatekeepers glared at Luvanka.

'...It seems I'm not wanted here. Shea, I'm going back. Hm? Wait, no, I didn't come here to do that. Stop it, I'm not negotiating for you.'

Luvanka had no attachment to anything, not even his own life, so he turned around.

"What's wrong?"

'Hmph, Allen is telling me to negotiate to find a way in.'

Luvanka shook his head.

Allen wanted Luvanka to find a way to go inside together with Shea.

But Luvanka had no desire to go along with Allen's plan.

'What are you mumbling about there?'

'It seems you lack respect.'

'I'm sorry for that. I'll be leaving now. Take care of Shea.'

'You really don't get it, do you?'

'We're the ones who'll decide what you do, not you.'

The two gatekeepers began to amass divine power, being so overpowering that it was hard to believe this was a holy location.

"Hmm…"

Luvanka just glared at them and puffed his chest. If they had something to say he would listen.

Shea started to feel like she needed to do something, but then a voice came from behind the gates.

'Liger, Cougar, it's fine. I also want to talk with Luvanka. Let them in.'

'L-Lord Garm?!'

A hoarse voice came from behind the gate, and the two gatekeepers looked alarmed.

"...Garm."

That was the same voice Shea had heard when she left the royal family.

The two gatekeepers looked at each other, then turned around and opened the heavy gates.

A powerful gust of wind came from inside, as a long hallway was revealed.

'Go, Lord Garm is waiting for you.'

'Don't expect to come back alive though.'

They were probably trying to make sure they knew what they were getting into, but their words sounded really ominous.

"...Right."

Giving a short nod, She and Luvanka went inside.

The air inside smelled old and rancid, as it seemed no one had opened the doors in a long time.

The smell was the first thing Shea noticed, but then she realized something else. There were no torches or lamps illuminating the hallway, but the walls themselves seemed to glow.

Then she recalled that Allen described the pyramid where they found the Fragment of the Sun as being the same. That made her wonder if the Fragment of the Moon could also be near her.

After walking for a while, they reached a large hall, with a ceiling 100 meters taller than the hallway. There was also a stairway heading up further ahead, so they understood this was a building with many floors.

An elderly

The hall was hundreds of meters in size, and there was an elderly man sitting cross legged in the center.

'Get a bit closer.'

He spoke with a hoarse voice.

'Lord Garm…'

The Beast God Garm was there.

Shea and Luvanka looked at the elderly monkey in front of them, who was 120cm talls.

There were many types of monkey in Allen's past life, but that one looked the most like a chimpanzee. It also made him think of Planet of the Apes.

There were many different races in the Garresia Continent.

There were more than 300000000 beastment, and many millions of birdmen and dragonkin.

Together there was a population higher than 400000000.

They all had their own deities and Sacred Beasts, but overall they all venerated Garm.

That was the Beast God who had freed them from an oppressive rule.

The Beast Kings were his descendants, so there was even more faith in him.

'Thank you for coming, Shea of Albahar Kingdom, and the Sacred Beast Luvanka.'

"Here we are…"

'My apologies.'

Both of them were unsure of what to say. One had relinquished her position as inheritor of the throne, and the other had stopped being a Sacred Beast.

'There's something you want so much that you let go of all that, right?'

"Yes, that's correct."

'But what could that be… Before that, Luvanka, I let you in to say thanks.'

'Thanks?'

Luvanka's head tilted to the side.

'Elmea asked me for it, actually. He asked if I had someone strong to become a summon for someone called Allen. He seemed rather invested in that boy with black hair. Though I have to say I'm also interested in him.'

'And that's why…'

'Well, you made the choice in the end, but I also didn't stop you from making it.'

Garm's lips smiled, but his eyes remained serious.

Shea shuddered as she felt like she had witnessed a darkness deeper than the abyss within Garm.

'I don't regret that choice. But I haven't forgotten what I owe for becoming a Sacred Beast.'

In the end the decision had been convenient for everyone, but Luvanka still felt like it was his choice, and he did not regret it.

'Well, that's alright. So Shea, what is it you desire from me?'

"I want to defeat the Demon King and establish an empire of beastmen."

Shea replied right away. She was also very concise, as she had been ready to reply.

'Oh, so you relinquished your claim to Albahar's throne, but you still wish to rule?'

"I'll show that I can unite all Beast Kingdoms into one, and so I want to receive a suitable trial."

'Hmm, so you want a Divine Technique, Blessing, and Divine Artifact. All the power a Higher God like myself can grant you.'

He opened his eyes wide, revealing the profound darkness in them.

A sweat began to bead up in Shea's brow as she noticed the change in the room's air.

It was almost like she could feel her future being severed with each of Garm's words.

But she stared back at Garm's eyes, wanting to defy that with her own determination.

"I'll overcome any trial."

'...So either you're too naive to realize what you're saying, or… Hmm.'

Garm closed his eyes, and Shea began to wonder if she had made a mistake by demanding a trial so soon.

"U-umm…"

'Shut up.'

"I'm sorry."

Shea fell silent.

Somehow this situation felt familiar.

Then she realized that there were many times when she was made to wait like that as a princess. Having to sit in silence while waiting for a response was a bad memory for her.

'Did you remember something? You can only use the truth to speak in this Shrine.'

"I…I didn't say a single lie."

'Is that so? It just sounded like you were trying to convince yourself. It seems you still need to wait some time to understand.'

"Why wait…"

Shea could not understand why she had to wait, and for what.

But there was nothing she could do other than wait, and Luvanka did the same.

Time passed and continued to pass, and even by the time an hour passed, nothing happened.

Shea began to feel like Allen and the rest were already in the Earth Labyrinth when Garm spoke again.

'Hm? It seems everything is working out in a timely way… Hey! Liger! Cougar!!'

'Yessir!!'

The two gatekeepers ran in as soon as they were called.

'I already explained what to do yesterday!!'

Garm raised his arm, which looked like it was mostly bone and skin, while shouting angrily.

'I-I'm really sorry, we arranged for them to be here by now…'

'I'll go bring them right now!!'

"..."

'...'

For some reason Cougar tried to appease Garm, and then Cougar dashed out of the building.

Shea and Luvanka just looked at each other in silence.

'Hm? What is it? Do you have any complaints?'

"No, not at all."

Shea was finally reminded that she was dealing with Garm.

He was a strong influence over beastmen, but he did not have the most orderly or disciplined personality. He was rather prone to mood swings and playfulness.

That was both good and bad, as his influence was strong over the Beast Kings, and many believed that was the reason why Beast Kingdoms were not as stable as other countries.

Right now Garm was sitting with his back hunched over, so Shea really had to contain herself from asking him to take things more seriously.

30 more minutes passed after that.

Liger and Cougar returned, breathing heavily.