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

Chapter 588: Beastmen history

An old male lion was in front of Allen's group, his body drooping from age and his majestic mane white.

(What about this one then?)

Allen brought out the Sacred Beast Stone and aimed it at the elderly lion.

'He can't be turned into a Beast S summon. Also, stop doing this with everyone you find just because they can't see the Grimoire!'

The Grimoire got angry at Allen. That was likely Lupto writing the messages.

After meeting in person, she had become a lot more direct with the messages.

(There's a lot of Sacred Beasts, Mythical Beasts and Divine Beasts here, but I guess not all of them can work as summons.)

Somehow Luvanka had been different. Allen wanted the strongest beast to become his Beast S summon, but it seemed like he could not just pick anyone for that.

Then again, Beast summons mostly dealt physical damage, so an elderly one was not ideal.

'...'

Albahar, the village chief, stared silently at Allen, who was looking at his Grimoire.

"Hey, Allen!"

Eventually Cecile tried to rouse him awake.

"...Thank you very much for receiving us here. I'm Allen."

'Oh, I thought you were shaking so much you couldn't talk. So why did you come here? Also don't just stand around like that, sit down.'

Albahar stared at them with intrigue, and told them to sit down.

(Well, I was just thinking things through.)

The lion was around 10 meters long, and Allen's group sat down the same distance away.

Once they were sitting, Albahar quickly asked them why they were there.

"Let me explain the reasons for our visit then. We want to aid our friend Shea, and also greet the Beast God. And I guess we're searching for something as well."

'Oh? A human helping a beastman. Has the human realm changed then?'

"We're fighting the Demon King Zeldias, so I believe we have a common enemy."

'Zeldias… Never utter that name in this village, beastmen will fight to the death for their honor.'

"I'll keep that in mind."

Allen had brought that name up to see how Albahar would react, but the village chief had seen through him.

(At least this tells me he knows what happens in the human realm to a certain extent.)

There was a long history between Zeldias and beastmen, 1000 years ago.

Back then Zeldias was Giamut's emperor, and successfully conquered the Central Continent.

His cruelty earned him the name of tyrant emperor, and that name was still known now.

Now each race was considered equal, but Zeldias believed anything non-human was inferior.

He did not treat them as citizens of his empire, so the dwarves fled to Baukis and the elves to Rosenheim, leaving beastmen to suffer the most at Zeldias' hands.

Given their animalistic features, they were treated as animals, chained and used to pull farming equipment, or hunted as wildlife.

In just a few decades Zeldias had halved the population of beastmen, which was a higher number of victims than all the lives claimed by him as Demon King in current times.

Back then, beastmen were forbidden from having names, and instead were referred to by two syllables or numbers.

(I wonder if I'd get treated like this in the Beast Kingdom of Albahar too.)

'I was told to be careful when dealing with you, so I'm a bit surprised to hear that response.'

"It shouldn't be so surprising. We humans are also fighting for our survival after all."

Allen made his stance against the Demon King Zeldias clear.

In a way, he was using that question as a litmus paper against Albahar.

(I've shown you my color, now you show me yours.)

Allen was there to cooperate, and he wanted to know Albahar's stance.

"..."

Cecile watched their conversation attentively, since it affected whether her quest would progress. Allen was using all his Intelligence to analyze Albahar's psychology.

Allen had to get access to more places, even if he ended up annoying Albahar in the process,

'Hmm, I see. So you're the reason why Shea is so tenacious as well. I was afraid my descendants were being swindled by humans, but I see…'

"I'll take that as a compliment."

'All the beastmen in this village were saved by Lord Garm 1000 years ago, as I was too weak to save everyone.'

(I see, and with time they forgot the differences between humans and elves too.)

Allen finally understood why they had not recognized Sophie as an elf.

"Did you also help the beastmen?"

'I had a child with one of the rescuees, who then went to the human realm. I never imagined he would never return, and found a country there instead.'

(Oh, I think Shea mentioned the founder of Albahar came from the divine realm before. Though it wasn't Albahar directly but his son.)

In Allen's past life there were many countries with myths about their foundation, where the royal family claimed to be Gods or descendants of Gods to justify ruling over people.

But in this world such stories were real.

(So Albahar's son founded that kingdom, and Shea is his descendant.)

Then Graham's consciousness spoke to Allen. He was not currently summoned, but still could communicate with Allen.

'I remember him being really strong. I was never able to lift a finger against him.'

(So you fought him?)

'Yes, and I can tell this is his father. Don't summon me in front of the beastmen here. Though I doubt they'll recognize me in this body.'

Graham had been a distinguished knight 1000 years ago, and had fought Albahar's son.

That had left a strong impression, and Graham still seemed to deeply respect Albahar's son.

(Got it. You should tell me things like that sooner though.)

'My apologies.'

After that Allen focused on Albahar again, and not Graham.

Everything Albahar had mentioned allowed Allen to piece together Shea's family history.

Shea had said that during the tyrant emperor's rule, the beastmen staged a revolution.

They were led by a lion beastman who called himself the son of Albahar, and saved many lives.

After the revolution, beastmen occupied the continent to the south of the Central Continent, where the Beast Kingdom of Albahar was founded.

Some time after that Graham rebelled against the tyrant emperor and murdered him.

Then various territories of Giamut also rebelled and split into different countries like Latash.

Giamut never forgot that though, so even now 1000 years later, they still resented Latash.

"I'd really appreciate it if you could help us then."

They seemed to be in agreement, so Allen tried to end the conversation in his favor.

Even if Allen was human, he was working with Shea to defeat a common enemy.

'Don't misunderstand. I won't stand in your way, but I also won't readily help you.'

"I see."

'I don't mind talking to you though. Exactly what is it you're searching for?'

Albahar would not get up and work with them, but he was willing to give them advice.

(Why take such an awkward stance? Just help us with everything already.)

That was not the response Allen wanted, but it was not the worst outcome either.

"There's quite a lot actually, but to start with, I'd like the Sacred Beast Luvanka to become my summon."

'What does that even mean?'

"I basically want him to become my power."

As an example, Allen summoned a Bird E.

'Hmm… I won't interfere with that, go talk to him as you wish.'

It would depend on Luvanka's decision.

"Thank you very much."

(He really isn't siding with me, but at least he's not opposed to it.)

'Would that be everything?'

"I'm also searching for shards of the sun and moon."

'Once again I have no idea what you're getting at. Are you trying to trifle with me?'

"Oh, not at all. The God of Magic requested we bring her something with that name."

'...I'm sorry, but I've never heard of such a thing.'

"That's a shame then. Also…"

'There's more…?'

While Albahar spoke, the door was slammed open.

(Hey, you'll break the door if you open it like that. Oh, Shea's back.)

Allen looked back wondering who was acting with such little measure over their power, and it was Shea.

The Ten Heroic Beasts were also behind her.

Allen had finally reunited with Shea.

"