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

Chapter 557: God of Trading Marne's Street Market

Allen's group continued traveling above the clouds of the divine realm.

As daylight appeared far in the east, they reached their destination.

"So that's the Temple of the God of Trading. It looks a lot like some sort of market."

"A market? There's a market in the divine realm?"

Allen used Kuwatoro's Special Skill [Thousand-mile Eyes].

The God of Trading Marne's island was the size of Hokkaido, so Allen could see all of it.

It was filled with many stores, which were visited by angels everywhere.

(I don't sense any hostility, so I guess it's safe.)

"We're disembarking, everyone."

"Okay."

Cecile quickly replied, and they stepped out onto the landing pad on one edge of the big island.

(The landing areas are always on the edges, huh. I don't see an angel receiving us though?)

Previously the Gods had placed an angel to receive them, but this was the second time after the Spirit Paradise that there was no one.

Allen turned to look at the pilot Piyon.

"I wonder if the God of Trading has anything against people setting foot here?"

Allen was planning on letting Peromus stay there while he went to the God of Swords' Temple, but he was also curious to know what they were selling there.

It was normal to check what was being sold in a new shop that became available.

"I don't think he does. Though this God doesn't really interact with us divine people much, so I don't know for sure… I'll stay here just in case."

"I see. I'll stay here too then, I want to check how the magic ship is doing."

(There has to be another reason why no angel came then, hmm…)

Feeling something was not right, Allen changed the cards in his Grimoire to Intelligence ones.

Piyon and Larappa would stay in the magic ship and make sure everything was in order.

Allen, Cecile, Peromus, and Fiona went to the market.

The market where Allen's group went looked like rugs placed on the ground, with a cube floating on top, and different items on top of the rugs.

Angels were walking around them, buying different items.

(I miss open air markets. I remember shouting as loud as I could to sell everything. The market is a game and I have to control it. Buy low and sell high.)

Allen was remembering things from his past life again. He never played as a merchant, but he would sell the loot from enemies he defeated in open air markets.

"Ohh, so angels also go shopping."

Cecile voiced her thoughts seeing the many angels walking around.

"...That's what you're thinking about?"

"Allen, I'm just saying what I thought."

It was Cecile's job to stop Allen from always just thinking about himself.

"Cecile…whether they're gods or angels, creating something from nothing is hard. That's probably why they're buying stuff here instead. I think I heard stories of money offerings being made to the God of Trading Marne too."

Allen said that while looking at what looked like a lantern being sold in the market.

He had not seen the inside of a God's Shrine yet, but he could imagine them.

A large stone building with nothing but large columns and walls would look boorish.

It would look much better with lanterns and other things to adorn them.

"Why don't they just buy from Rabul then? Many divine people have stores there."

Cecile felt like anyone would be more than willing to sell items to a God.

"I doubt they want to buy things from people, that's why they buy from the God of Trading instead."

Allen continued explaining his reasoning, mentioning how Gods would only perform miracles for people if they received something equal in return. Having to rely on people to buy items would make that harder to justify. The Gods had to make it clear they were different from people.

On top of that, Allen had heard that the God of Trading Marne would receive offerings of money from merchants that prayed to him.

(I guess he takes that money, buys from divine people, then resells it to other gods. It'd make sense since he's the God of Trading.)

Allen was uncovering the relationship between divine people, God of Trading, and other Gods.

"That sounds somewhat complicated. Allen, they have swords too."

"Oh? This is…mithril, huh."

One of the stores had swords. Allen picked one up and gave it to Peromus to Appraise it.

"Yes, Allen. This is a mithril sword. And it doesn't have any special properties."

As Allen continued holding the mithril sword, the cube in front of them started talking.

'A mithril sword costs 10000 gold coins, or 10000 faith points.'

(That's expensive. I guess everything in the divine realm is like that.)

"I'm sorry, I'm just looking around."

'Understood.'

"By the way, how do I pay with faith points?"

Allen put the mithril sword back and spoke to the cube.

'Just place your faith card against the magic device there.'

There was a device as tall as Allen's waist, with a card icon on top.

If he placed a faith card there, 10000 points would be drained.

"I don't understand any of that."

"I don't have a faith card, how do I obtain one?"

Allen ignored Cecile's confusion, focusing on talking to the cube.

'Issuing a faith card costs 10000 gold coins or 10000 faith points.'

(So I can pay with faith in advance. I wonder if it's like a debit card.)

"So that will fill it up with 10000 points already?"

'Yes.'

"I don't have any faith points though, so I'll have to wait to get that card."

Demigods and higher could gather faith, but no one in Allen's group could do that.

Cecile did not understand anything that was discussed.

"So what are we doing now? Are we going to the God of Trading Marne's Shrine?"

"Not really, I've already found a building that looks like the Shrine. I'll look for a sword instead."

Thanks to Kuwatoro's [Thousand-mile Eyes] he had spotted a large golden temple in the center.

"I see. So you'll search for a divine orichalcum sword here? I doubt they have any though."

"Maybe, but I'll check just in case."

(I also feel that way though. But knowing what kind of things the gods buy isn't so bad either.)

Allen had been looking for a better weapon after the fight in the Spirit Paradise, so he was hoping he would find something in this big market.

"There don't seem to be any enemies around here, so let's split up to look around. Tell me if you find anything interesting even if it isn't orichalcum."

Allen placed a Bird A summon on the shoulder of each of them.

That way he would be able to see whatever they found.

They spent half a day looking around the market, and then gathered to take a break and eat.

"Somehow I was expecting more. Even the training tower had better stuff."

Cecile ate a sandwich while complaining there was nothing good on sale.

There was better loot in the dungeons before the S Rank Dungeon.

"I know, even the capital was better."

Fiona, Cecile's childhood friend, also agreed while sipping on some tea.

(This reminds me of when we had picnics in the mansion's garden. They would always end up fighting though.)

Allen recalled his days as a servant, doing his best to split Fiona and Cecile apart when they fought.

"I guess magic devices are the only rare thing here. I guess divine people use them a lot too."

They were too expensive, but the magic devices here were even better than those at Rabul.

'Those were all bought from the God of Magic Isiris.'

Hearing that sudden voice, the three accompanying Allen turned around nervously.

"Are you an Angel?"

Allen had seen the chubby angel approaching through Kuwatoro though, so he spoke calmly.

'I'm the Angel Carne serving the God of Trading Marne. Sorry for the delay, but I'm here to take Peromus to be trained by the God of Trading.'

Allen felt like it was common for merchants and traders to be fat.

He also remembered the God of Trading Marne looking like a chubby child.

Apparently the past God of Trading had once gone overboard in the human realm though, and was judged. The current God of Trading had only existed for a short time, so he looked young.

Peromus was gaining some weight too, and it would not be long until he was actually round, and Allen could not wait for him to name his son Poporo.

"I see. Alright Peromus, let's work hard together and undergo the God of Trading's trials. I'm itching to hone my skills too."

Allen stood up and began cracking his neck and knuckles, almost in an exaggerated way.

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

'Huh?!!'

Everyone replied with confusion, as they had assumed only Peromus and Fiona would go.

The angel looked the most shocked though.

"The Spirit Paradise was hard, but we don't have much time so let's go and rush through it!"

Allen firmly held onto his sword and exclaimed with even more enthusiasm.

'I-I'm really sorry. The God of Trading said only Peromus…a-and Fiona, could go.'

(Hey, you just randomly included Fiona. You bastards, I'm sure you're the ones who leaked information to Epitany too. That was so uncalled for.)

Seeing the angel's reaction, Allen could guess a lot more things.

Then he activated his Bird F summon's Special Skill [Transmission], making his words only audible to the targets he selected.

'I think the God of Trading Marne is trying to use Peromus to increase his followers.'

He made sure the angel in front of them could not hear that.

"Wait, what are you talking about?"

'Just listen, I'll answer questions later.'

"A-alright."

Allen explained what he believed was happening. The God of Trading Marne had noticed they were trying to make 10000000 gold coins in the divine realm, so he decided to take advantage of that to gather more believers.

Peromus was trading on his own without Marne's help, so Marne told his follower Epitany about the human realm. The taxes were also enforced then, blocking Peromus from being able to make 100000000 gold coins.

That resulted in Peromus being forced to come to the God of Trading's Temple.

While Allen told them that, the angel spoke again.

'...Training as a merchant only involves that Talent, so it won't be dangerous. Everyone else please leave.'

"But there's ghosts here too. Fiona doesn't have any Talent, so I don't feel comfortable leaving her here without a bodyguard. It won't end like the Spirit Paradise so don't worry."

'Bgh?!'

The angel had a strong reaction hearing the Spirit Paradise being mentioned.

(Oh, so he knows what happened there. It's been some time so it makes sense, but Epitany didn't know about that. I guess that event is being kept secret.)

The Gods would never tell people about a human going wild in the divine realm and destroying the Shrine of a God. That would have a negative effect on the faith people had on them.

Then a bright flash appeared.

"That's so bright?!"

Someone fat appeared with a flash of light and interrupted their conversation.

It was so sudden that Peromus shielded his eyes and raised his voice.

'That's enough, hoi.'

The young chubby boy carrying a shiny golden bag spoke with a strange voice.

He had a red cloth draped from his neck which made him look like Kintaro, with Money-Grubber written on it with this world's letters.

Allen felt like Kiel would look good wearing that.

"Oh, God of Trading Marne, thank you for seeing us personally."

'Allen, that's enough scheming, hoi.'

The God of Trading Marne was like the incarnation of negotiations, so he could see through Allen.

"Scheming?"

Allen tried to play dumb.

'Let's not make this harder for both of us, hoi.'

"So you'll make it possible for us to gather 100000000 gold coins?"

'I can lend you that much, hoi. I believe you only need 50000000 gold coins now, hoi. You'll have to pay interests though, hoi.'

That told Allen everything he needed to know.

(He doesn't seem very liked in the divine realm after all. The Heavenly King didn't seem to like trading much either. I guess he was too enticed by the chance of trading with me and the Five Continents Alliance.)

The God of Trading Marne did not have much relevance in the divine realm, so he would not let an opportunity to trade go by without taking advantage of it.

So he threw roadblocks into Peromus' deal with Epitany, forcing him to come to the Temple.

Then when Peromus was stronger, he would spread faith in Marne throughout the divine realm and the human realm.

"Thank you so much for coming then, and I appreciate all the help you're offering to give us. We'll do our best once Peromus concludes his training."

'I can see you catch on fast, hoi. Let's discuss the details later then, hoi.'

Allen and the God of Trading intensely looked at each other. They had both accomplished their goals.

"I don't get anything that's happening today. It seems like we'll have a hard time, but at least there won't be any violence this time."

Cecile sighed, unable to comprehend why strange things kept happening in each Temple.

"I feel you, Cecile."

Fiona also sympathized with Cecile.