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

Chapter 574: The future in their hands

Allen's group arrived at Rabul, the capital city of the Heavenly Country of Shandar.

There he went to the palace's audience room, where the Heavenly King sat.

Allen knelt in front, with Cecile, Dogora, Kiel, Sophie, Ignomas, and Lepe behind.

The pregnant queen was not present.

This time the audience had been granted in 3 days, unlike the half month from the first time.

That first delay was likely because they were preparing the Divine Compass Lottery.

"It's been a while, and I see you've obtained a hefty number of Spirit Crystal Stones again. That's some admirable determination for someone coming from down there. I and all the Gods are grateful."

It seemed like the Heavenly King stood as a representative of the Gods.

"I appreciate those words very much!!"

(I really don't care about that though, I just want the lottery. At least it seems like he hasn't caught wind of the patriarch selling stone though. That's good considering I want to ramp that up a little.)

Allen pretended to appreciate what he was hearing, mentally mashing buttons to get through the dialogue.

"Well then, go take the Spirit Crystal Stones."

The king looked at the prime minister, who then gave a sign to the knights.

They carried a plate to Allen, where he placed the 6 Spirit Crystal Stones, and then they were brought to another elderly divine person who looked like an appraiser with a monocle.

"Yes, they're all pristine Spirit Crystal Stones. I believe they'll give birth to magnificent angels."

"I see, then I've fulfilled my duty as well. You did a good job, Allen."

Allen bowed more in silence. Spirit Crystal Stones were regarded highly by divine people, as giving one to the queen made her birth an angel.

(Merus and Lupto are twins, so I guess they needed two. Anyway, give me the lottery already.)

The Divine Compass Lottery was an important ritual for divine people too, so they wanted to bring it out with the necessary ceremony, which only unnerved Allen further.

"Bring in the Divine Compass Lottery then."

"Yessir!"

The prime minister ordered one of the nearby knights, who went to pull on a cart with a small barrel. That was the Divine Compass Lottery, which contained 30 centimeter long rods.

Those rods were Divine Compasses, which could be taken out through a hole on the barrel.

Before coming here Allen had been to various Temples, which were only accessible with their respective Divine Compasses. It was possible to find them with a magic ship too, but entry would not be permitted that way, and the Gods could get angered if Allen tried anyway.

There were a total of 255 Divine Compasses, and Allen had already obtained 9, leaving 246.

[Divine Compasses obtained by Allen so far]

-God of Trading Marne

-God of Music Sopra

-God of Divination Tarrot

-God of Comedy Manzai

-God of Earth Gaia

-God of Swords Sestavinus

-Beast God Giran

-God of Bows Korone

-Great Spirit God Easley

"Alright, you may pull out the Divine Compasses now. No need to be modest anymore."

"If you'll excuse me then."

The king had given them permission, so Allen stood up.

(I get 6 pulls now. I'll definitely get Isiris and Garm, then I'll get the axe and spear gods, and then…)

"Wait, Allen? Why are you standing up? This is the Divine Lottery, Kiel is going to do it."

"Huh? I'll do it too."

Allen could not understand why he was being stopped, even with his overwhelming Intelligence.

He had gathered those Spirit Crystal Stones because he wanted to do the lottery.

There was no specific God he wanted to meet himself, he simply had a passion for gacha.

And yet Cecile seemed enraged beyond measure.

"You'll never get the God of Magic, stand back. Kiel, come, you'll do it."

"D-don't involve me in your quarrel. I guess I knew it'd end like this though…"

"Of course. You'll get it, right? The God of Magic's Divine Compass is the only one you have to pull."

"S-sure."

Being pressured like that, Kiel stood up and walked to the cart in Allen's stead.

"Hey! What are you doing? I'm the party leader!!"

(I have to be clear here or it'll come back to bite me. I'm the leader!!)

The memory of Kurena and Dogora holding him back while he was at the Divine Compass Lottery the last time flashed in Allen's mind. He had wept into his pillow many times since then.

That time Allen had obtained the first 4 Divine Compasses, and Kiel the remaining 5.

It was only thanks to Kiel that they reached the God of Swords' Temple, and the Spirit Paradise where Sophie and Luck overcame their trial.

"Grrrrrr!!"

"Gyah?! Beast Mode!!"

Cecile lowered her stance while growling ferociously, which made Allen fear for his life as he leapt back and left Kiel alone.

"I struggle to comprehend the people from down there…"

"M-me neither."

The king looked at the prime minister, who replied with a shrug.

They could not understand what was happening in front of them.

"Alright, I'll do it then."

"Yes please."

Kiel picked up the barrel and turned it around, then a cylinder fell through the hole onto the cart.

Everyone gathered to see what was written on it.

"Let's see…it's a silver one."

"Nice! Wait, it's just the God of Spears Gaidark…that's a miss."

"Spears? Ugh."

(That's still one of the 8 Weapon Gods though.)

Dogora and Cecile voiced their dissatisfaction with the result, even if it was an important God.

"Ignomas can go train in the Divine Arena under the God of Spears now though."

Allen tried to sound like he respected the Gods a bit more, since the king was present.

"I see, so I'll also get to enter Extra Mode this way. I'm fired up!"

Ignomas looked happy.

"Kiel, try again."

"Right, again. Here!"

Kiel shook the barrel vigorously, and Cecile instantly snatched up the Divine Compass that fell.

"Silver…and it's the God of Medicine Poshon. What a miss."

"That's the God of Medicine serving the God of Harvest Mormor, huh."

(I think the God of Earth also serves the God of Harvest. Somehow the plants that grow are valued more so that generated more faith or something. Maybe Kiel can use this…)

Allen began thinking about the God of Medicine Poshon.

Mixing medicine required Talents in this world, which could also amplify their effects.

No one in Allen's party had the Doctor Talent, but many elves in Allen's Army did.

World Tree Fruits could be used in potions, so the elves living nearby got the Talent often.

The God of Medicine served the God of Harvest too, just like the God of Earth.

Usually the earth would be considered more important, but people valued more what helped them in their lives.

Allen was getting an idea though, the God of Earth had brought Habarak to Extra Mode, but Kiel was still in Normal Mode. Since he was a healer, maybe he would have luck there.

"Go again. We still have 4 left."

Cecile's order brought Allen back from his thoughts.

"Right, I got it. Here!"

(Urgh, he's really getting into it now.)

Kiel made a third pull, and it did not seem like Allen would get a single attempt.

The next rod to clunk down was golden.

"Oh! It's a golden one, from the priest of gold Kiel!"

"I don't know what you mean, Dogora. Wait, this says Beast God Garm."

"Ohh!! Really?!! I can meet Lord Garm then? You're amazing Kiel!!"

Lepe finally had a reason to raise his voice.

(So now we can definitely meet Garm, the Beast God leading over the other beast gods and sacred beasts.)

Allen had figured out 3 conditions for a God to become a Higher God.

[Conditions to become a Higher God (Allen's theory)]

-Having more than 100'000'000 unique worshippers

-Being a God governing over many things

-Being served by many other Gods and Demigods

There were only 10 of them in existence.

"Kiel, 3 more."

Cecile had absolutely no interest in the Beast God Garm.

"Leave it to me, I'll definitely get that one!"

"Yes, I have high hopes for you!!"

Cecile wanted the God of Magic Isiris' Divine Compass, but it had not appeared yet.

"Next! It's a silver one, the God of Wind Ninlil."

(Oh, I never met that one, not like I met the God of Earth or God of Water either. Wait, how is it that Kiel keeps getting the good ones?)

Kiel had obtained the Divine Compass of one of the Four Elemental Gods.

The God of Fire Freya had formed a pact with Dogora, the God of Water had been involved in Makris' story, and the God of Earth had built the dungeon where Merle and the dwarves were.

This was one of the first times the God of Wind had appeared.

"Two more…"

Cecile's body seemed like it was on fire, overwhelming Kiel.

"Y-yeah, leave it to me! Hyaaa!!"

Kiel was getting nervous, but he decided to focus on shaking the barrel as best he could.

"Silver…the God of Dance Izuno."

"Oh, this will buff Rosalina even more…"

Rosalina was training in the God of Music's Shrine, but now she would be able to enter the God of Dance Izuno's Shrine as well. That excited Allen, but he quickly calmed down seeing Cecile.

She slowly walked up to Kiel.

"Kiel, you'll do it, right?"

"Yeah, of course."

They started with 6 Spirit Crystal Stones and so far had pulled 5 Divine Compasses.

Only one pull was left, which made Cecile pressure Kiel even more.

"I know you will. You've always been the one leading us forward after all."

(When did Kiel become the party leader?)

Back in the Academy, as soon as Kiel joined their party the dungeon's loot became better.

He also obtained the necessary Stone Slabs for Merle to be able to call her golem.

Then in the divine realm he obtained many valuable Divine Compasses.

Kiel seemed to have a hidden buff that enhanced his luck by a lot.

Now Cecile was holding her hands together, praying to Kiel to get the God of Magic's Divine Compass.

(Oh right, she still wants to avenge her brother from the Demon King's Army.)

Allen knew Cecile had a past with the Demon King's Army, as her older brother died in the front lines. Now she wanted to get stronger to get revenge no matter what.

It was almost like her future hung on the God of Magic Isiris' Divine Compass.

She had clearly felt the limits of Normal Mode after reaching the divine realm.

"I'll definitely get it, just wait a bit."

Feeling the weight of Cecile's desire, Kiel took the barrel and shook it with everything he had.

"If anyone can do it it's you Kiel, get it no matter what."

Dogora got carried away by the atmosphere there, cheering on Cecile's wish as well

"Come!!"

Kiel shook the barrel with more emotion than ever before.

A single cylinder fell down onto the smoothly polished stone floor.

"Alright! It's a silver one!!"

Dogora shouted loudly seeing the Divine Compass' color.

"Silver! It has to be!!"

Cecile rushed in like a demon and snatched up the Divine Compass in an instant.

"Which one is it, Cecile?"

Allen asked Cecile, who stood there frozen. Everyone was looking at her now, even the king.

It seemed like Cecile was so shocked it took her a while to process the letters written there.

Then after some silence, she firmly grasped the Divine Compass and hoisted it high in the air as she shouted loudly.

"This is it! I got the God of Magic Isiris' Divine Compass! Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!"

Cecile was exploding with joy at obtaining that Divine Compass.

Her roaring voice echoed loudly in the large audience room.