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

Allen brought out two more Spirit Crystal Stones he obtained from Demigod Rank ghosts.

(We have to go to the Spirit Paradise and the Paradise of Primordial Beasts after all.)

Sophie and Luck wanted to visit the Spirit Paradise, while Shea was related to Garm.

Allen had been hunting Demigod Rank ghosts during the 10 days they waited to get more Spirit Crystal Stones to use as leverage to visit those places.

There were many ghost swarms in the divine realm, and they just kept increasing in number.

The only difference was that only one had a powerful ghost like Nestiad.

While they waited for the audience, Allen had been hunting ghosts to obtain Talent Change Points, which he used so the rest of his party could gain more Talent Stars.

After Danies, he had defeated 7 other Demigod Rank Ghosts, and 21 Great Angel Rank ones.

That allowed Allen to spend 94 Talent Change Points to get his party, as well as Kasagoma and Larappa to undergo Talent Changes.

[Those who underwent Talent Changes (and the Points spent)]

-Cecile (10): Sorcerer King ★★★★ -> Sorcerer Emperor ★★★★★

-Kiel (10): Venerable ★★★★ -> Holy Sage ★★★★★

-Sophie (10): Great Spirit Master ★★★★ -> Spirit Sage ★★★★★

-Formar (10): Archer King ★★★★ -> Archer Emperor ★★★★★

-Merle (10): Magic Rock King ★★★★ -> Magic Rock Emperor ★★★★★

-Luck (3): Dark Enchanter ★★★ -> Disciple of Darkness ★★★★

-Rosalina (10): Singer King ★★★★ -> Singer Emperor ★★★★★

-Peromus (1): Wealthy Merchant ★★ -> Great Wealthy Merchant ★★★

-Kasagoma (10): Magic Master Craftsman ★★★★ -> Magic Sage Craftsman ★★★★★

-Larappa (10): Magic Genius ★★★★ -> Magic Sage ★★★★★

Luck had undergone a Talent Change half a month ago, but he underwent yet another one.

Hunting ghosts also raised Digragni, Haku, and Fabre's Faith to 10'000'000'000.

Digragni and Fabre went from being Demigods to Gods, but there was no change in Haku.

Maybe he was missing something else.

(Though the Levels I get from ghosts has gone down.)

Allen's Level went from 140 to 185. That increase was why he decided to challenge Nestiad.

But no matter how hard he tried, Nestiad was still too powerful.

When he reached Level 150, he started gaining fewer Levels with each ghost he defeated.

Great Angel Rank ghosts would only give Experience too.

He still got the same amount of Talent Change Points, but he could not just farm ghosts to inflate his Level.

[Number of Talent Change Points obtained]

-Great Angel Rank ghosts: 3 Points

-Demigod Rank ghosts: 10 Points

[Levels obtained before Allen hit Level 150]

-Great Angel Rank ghosts: 1 Level

-Demigod Angel Rank ghosts: 10 Levels

[Experience gained after Allen hit Level 150]

-Great Angel Rank ghosts: 10'000'000'000 Experience

-Demigod Angel Rank ghosts: 5 Levels

"Ohh, so you've brought me more Spirit Crystal Stones."

"I apologize for not informing you earlier. I'd like to travel to some places in the divine realm, so I prepared them ahead of time."

Allen spoke with exaggerated politeness while hiding his intentions on purpose.

But at least he had secured a trading permit for Peromus.

(I can't show all my Spirit Crystal Stones right away if I want to get everything I want anyway.)

The Heavenly King seemed to notice Allen wanted to negotiate further.

"This is more than what Lupto told me about."

"Y-yes, she made no mention of this…"

Someone who looked like the prime minister also agreed with the king.

"What did she mention?"

Allen tried to gain more information, realizing his arrival had been anticipated.

"Allen, pay attention. These are the words the First Angel Lupto entrusted us with."

"Yessir!"

Allen lowered his head to listen in silence as the king repeated Lupto's words.

"This is what she said: To Allen who seeks the Divine Realm. If you wish to visit the temples of Gods, then take the Divine Compass Lottery."

(That's is? And what is that compass thing?)

"I…see…"

He could not really understand what it all meant, so he looked up slightly.

"I see, so you can't understand it. Alright, bring it in."

"Yessir!"

The gates opened again and a cart entered, carrying what looked like a barrel small enough that it could be held within someone's arms. Allen looked at it wondering what it was.

"Let me explain. This barrel contains the Divine Compasses the First Angel made. You can take one out at random in exchange for a Spirit Crystal Stone."

The prime minister explained further. The Divine Compasses pointed at the temples of each of the many Gods, so affixing one to a ship would allow them to arrive at that specific temple.

(So that's why they're called compasses. From what I heard Shandar just spans 1% of the divine realm after all.)

Shandar was as large as the North American continent, but was small compared to the divine realm as a whole. Merus had already explained some of that before.

The divine realm was composed of enormous landmasses called Paradises, then slightly smaller ones called Gardens, Islands of various sizes, and then Temples dotted around.

Temples housed one major God, or Shrines for multiple smaller ones.

A Divine Compass for a certain God was needed to reach Temples aboard a ship.

(So was this the reason why they made me wait 10 days? I guess they were building this thing under Lupto's orders. There's like 200 gods I think?)

"Does that mean there's a compass for each God in the barrel?"

"Yes. That includes the God of Creation Elmea, the 3 Combat God Sisters, and the 8 Weapon Gods. You can take one in exchange for a Demigod Rank ghost."

[The types of Divine Compasses in the Lottery]

-1 for the God of Creation Elmea

-9 for Higher Gods (Beast God Garm, Great Spirit God, etc.)

-245 for Gods (Four Elemental Gods, God of Swords, etc.)

(Woohoo! Now I can finally find all the gods I had no leads to!!)

Allen had also wanted to visit the 8 Weapon Gods, since their abilities could help in the war.

"If there's multiple Shrines in a Temple, do I have to get all their Compasses then?"

"Not necessarily, you just have to get one, but whether the Gods will allow you in their Shrines or not depends on them."

The prime minister had been told how everything worked in great detail.

"Alright, I'll pull 3 then."

"What are you saying? You just asked for Peromus' trading permit instead."

(Urgh, he didn't forget about that. Oh wait, I need to ask something before I take something.)

"And I assume once I've taken a Compass it won't be available to be pulled again, right?"

If he was allowed to return ones he did not want, he would have way better chances.

"Hm? Hmm, did she mention something about that…"

(Oh, so that hasn't been decided yet?)

The prime minister took out a note and looked through it, but could not find anything so he just turned to look at the king.

"Well, isn't it alright? There's so many Gods, so it seems fair to allow that."

The king did not seem too bothered by that idea.

[Divine Compass Lottery details]

-A total of 255 Compasses, one can be taken for a Spirit Crystal Stone

-There's 1 Compass for Elmea, 9 for Higher Gods, 245 for the remaining Gods

-A Compass is necessary to travel to a Temple

-A Compass can be pulled with 1 Spirit Crystal Stone from a Demigod Rank ghost, 10 from Great Angel Rank ghosts, or 10 Compasses can be pulled with one from a God Rank ghost

-The same God's Divine Compass can not be pulled twice

-Once a God's Divine Compass has been pulled, their Temple is accessible

-A God can still add more conditions to enter their Shrine though

Allen took notes of everything.

"Thank you very much. I'll take 9 then."

Allen decided he did not need to negotiate more. He took the 7 Spirit Crystal Stones from Demigod Rank ghosts he had, and 20 from Great Angel Rank ghosts to get 9 pulls.

"Wha-?! There's so many Spirit Crystal Stones!!"

The prime minister fell back from shock.

"So Lupto was telling the truth when she said the next person to arrive from below would hunt all the ghosts of the divine realm."

The king shuddered seeing them, those ghosts had been too strong to be hunted in millenia.

(He's talking like it's just me who did everything, though maybe he's doing it on purpose.)

The First Angel Lupto had seemingly anticipated Allen's arrival.

"Alright, I'll pick the Compasses myself then. I've always been good at this."

"Hmph, I'll overlook your rudeness. Your own luck will determine your future here."

The king looked offended when Allen stood up saying that.

"Wait what? When have you been good at that, Allen!"

Cecile did not approve of Allen doing that. His luck had never been good when he opened chests in the Academy's Dungeon, or the S Rank Dungeon's hidden cubes.

"Huh? What do you mean? Stats never lie. Temi, you can help with your Skills too."

"Sure."

(I'm glad I brought all of this here.)

He started changing his equipment and summon cards to increase his Luck.

Temi also used her Skills that raised her Luck even further.

"Alright, time to do it."

Ignoring his party's distrust, Allen went and picked up the barrel.

That alone told him it was full of items, and there was a hole that fit one Compass on the top.

He turned the barrel upside down and a silvery rod fell from the hole.

It was multiple centimeters thick, and 30 centimeters tall.

"Th-this is the God of Trading Marne's."

The prime minister and Allen checked the Divine Compass that fell out.

"And he failed… He's supposed to get the Goddess of Magic Isiris' Divine Compass."

Cecile was clearly disappointed.

"Peromus is already here, so this is good. We should try to gain Marne's favor for him."

"Thank you, Allen."

Saying that, Allen gave the Divine Compass to Peromus. Then he shook the barrel again.

"Oh, this one says God of Music Sopra."

The next Divine Compass said God of Music Sopra.

"Huh? Really?!! I'll take that one!!"

Rosalina stood up and snatched the Divine Compass from Allen's hands.

"A dud again…"

"Not really? Rosalina looks really happy. Next…oh, this is the God of Divination Tarrot."

"Oh? I'll take that one then."

Temi held her hand out, as that God correlated with her Talent, and Allen gave it to her.

Cecile looked like she was about to snap. They had used 3 pulls, but they still had no way of going to the Spirit Paradise or Paradise of Primordial Beasts, or Isiris' Divine Compass.

"Next… Ohhh!!"

"Huh? Is it Isiris?!!"

Allen looked shocked at the next one. Cecile ran up to him wondering if it was Isiris' Divine Compass, but then saw the Divine Compass said "God of Comedy Manzai."

(Hmmm, that's not the best one though. Wait, Cecile?)

"I'm sorry, I'll get better ones right now."

Cecile was standing up, her gaze downcast while her shoulders shook violently.

"...Give it up."

"Huh?"

"We can't rely on you to have good luck. Everyone, restrain him!!"

"Got it. Surrender, Allen."

"We have no other choice, don't hold this against us."

Dogora and Shea also stood up. Everyone who was on Cecile's side also stood up and helped restrain Allen to take the barrel away from him.

"H-hey! I'm the leader! Cecile, are you turning against me!! This is a coup!!"

"Shut up! We've given you more than enough chances!!"

Shea and Dogora restrained Allen and he could not move a single muscle.

Meanwhile the Heavenly King's court watched in confusion, wondering just what they were doing in the king's presence.