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

Larappa looked like she had been itching to tell them.

"Yes, the God of Magic is researching really old magic that no one uses anymore."

"I see, and that's what she's been writing down on all these papers."

(I knew leaving Larappa here was a good idea. Also, I guess the key to the divine realm was stolen so easily because Isiris is such a scatterbrain.)

Because Isiris was so introverted, it was hard to talk or negotiate with her.

Allen had left Larappa as Isiris' assistant hoping to gain more insight into her plans, but it seemed like Larappa had worked even better than he expected.

There had once been an Archangel serving Isiris called Mara, who betrayed her and stole the key to the divine realm, though no one mentioned that had happened because of Isiris' negligence.

"Yes, she's been working on this for many years. Just look at all the papers filled with her research!"

Larappa had also read through the documents while cleaning up the office, since they could hold information for Allen, and had placed a pile of them on a table for him to read.

He took a page and looked at it.

"What's written here?"

Allen looked at the page, but he had not learned to read the writing of Gods in the Academy, so he had no idea what was written on it.

"It's part of her research on how Ancient Magic and the birth of Gods are related."

All the documents on the table were related to Ancient Magic.

"I still haven't found out how Ancient Magic and the tail of the Beast God Garm are related though."

"Hmmm, it seems like she's trying to find the source of magic."

(So Isiris didn't create magic, but it existed since long before.)

"It seems so. Though apparently the Beast God is sometimes called the Ancient God as well, unlike the Gods of the New World."

Larappa agreed with Allen's assessment.

"Ancient God, huh. Merus mentioned something like that before too, that Garm is the oldest god."

Allen had asked Merus about the Gods and how long they had been in this world.

Merus had been an angel for 100'000 years, but the world had existed for much longer.

He did not know the age of the world, but he knew the Beast God Garm was the oldest God.

The Gods' actual ages were still secret, but there was a chance that Garm was even older than the God of Creation, which was why Elmea was sometimes lenient with Garm's actions.

"This is somehow different from what I expected. But what's an Ancient God?"

That was never taught in the Academy, so Cecile was still really confused.

"Merus said that something about this world changed a lot 1000'000 years ago, but the Ancient Gods existed before that."

The conversation was taking a different direction from giving Cecile a reward.

(I see, so she's trying to gather parts from an old god and a new one to see what's different. Magra is one of the most recent gods after all, other than Digragni, Rosen, or Fabre.)

Thanks to Allen, three entities had gathered enough Faith Points to become Gods.

But before them, the most recent God was the Dragon God Magra.

Now it seemed like Isiris was collecting parts of an Ancient God and a newer one for her research.

"Will the Beast God Garm's tail really help with recreating magic like that? I just want a powerful spell though…"

Cecile was a musclehead for magic, and was only interested in gaining powerful spells.

She did not care how magic and Gods were related.

(That's true. Though well, I remember scientists using pieces of asteroids to try figuring out the beginning of the universe too. I guess that's why she wants shards of the sun and moon.)

Allen felt like he had once watched a movie about that in his past life.

It was a documentary about an expedition to an asteroid, and even though the crew lost signal halfway through, they were able to safely complete their mission.

Somehow by examining those pieces with an electronic microscope they were able to extract the history of space.

Scientists then mentioned that would soon unravel how life started on Earth too, which left a strong impression on Allen.

"I feel like the materials we'll be gathering should help unravel the requirements to use Ancient Magic, or something like that."

Allen replied and looked at Larappa.

"That's likely it. I'll keep researching though."

Larappa had been Isiris' assistant for just a few days, so she could not fully confirm Allen's idea.

"Thanks. Anyway, I guess Cecile will obtain [Ancient Magic] then. That's a common trope too."

"What's common about that?"

"Isn't it obvious? The strongest type of magic is always Ancient Magic."

Allen remembered characters that obtained Ancient Magic were always the strongest.

"I've never heard of that."

There was a stark difference between Allen's convinced response and Cecile's confusion.

Then Allen looked away from Larappa and towards the cube device.

"Anyway, time to get the ring. Excuse me, I'd like to exchange my Faith Points."

'You'd like to exchange your Faith Points? How many?'

Allen spoke to the cube, and in response a floating screen appeared.

[Trade rates for Faith Points with the God of Magic]

-1000000: Potion for full Spiritual Power recovery (Single target)

-100000000: Potion for full Spiritual Power recovery (Entire party)

-1000000000: Spiritual Power consumption reduction ring (10% reduced costs)

-5000000000: Spiritual Power regeneration ring (1% each second)

-10000000000: Spiritual Power consumption reduction and regeneration ring (5% regeneration per second, 50% reduced costs)

"I'd like 2 Spiritual Power regeneration rings."

'Please place your Faith Card there to transfer your Faith Points.'

A card icon lit up on a waist height pole, and Allen held the card on top of it.

After a bit, there was a short chime and 2 rings appeared in mid-air and fell to the floor.

Allen picked them up silently, but mentally grumbled about how carelessly they were treated.

"Huh? You aren't taking the Spiritual Power consumption reduction and regeneration ring?"

"I'm good for now, and I want two so I can give Kiel one of them."

"That's even stranger."

"Don't be rude. It's not like I have enough Spirit Stones to keep up, and I'll be wasting a lot if I only get 50% Skill Experience."

Cecile was sure Allen would pick the most expensive item instead, but she was wrong.

Allen felt like having just one ring for himself was more than enough.

He was not getting a bunch of Magic Stones from adventurers like in the human realm.

He felt like having 1% of Spiritual Power regenerate every second was enough for now.

Once Somei and Abigayle united the 9 dragonkin clans he might get enough Spirit Stones to justify getting a second Spiritual Power regeneration ring for himself.

(Maybe I can try ordering those too though. Merle's efforts will bring me a lot of Faith Points.)

"Excuse me, do you have anything to turn Magic Stones and Mana into Spirit Stones or Spiritual Power?"

Allen spoke to the cube device.

'There's nothing like that, but please wait for a while, it can be arranged for.'

"Thank you."

Allen felt thankful he gave that a try. Then he told Larappa to keep researching into Ancient Magic, and left that place, teleporting into the magic ship on the Paradise of Primordial Beasts' landing pad.

There they went down the magic ship's ramp to enter the Paradise of Primordial Beasts.

Allen spoke to Dogora and Kiel, who stood on the magic ship's ramp.

"Are you sure about giving us so many healing items? Though the ring will be a big help…"

Allen had given Kiel a large amount of Heaven's Blessings, Life Leaves, Mana Seeds, Aromatic Vegetables, and one of the Spiritual Power regeneration rings he had obtained.

"Yeah, take it. Overcome your trial no matter what, and as quickly as possible. It might be a harsh battle though."

"Sure thing. I'll do it as fast as I can."

"You too, Dogora. Learn how to use your Divine Technique best, I'll be expecting great things."

"Right, I'll do my best."

"We have to be ready to get the Beast God Garm's tail and Nestiad's heart after all."

"I see, so we do need to get stronger."

Dogora and Kiel looked slightly nervous. They knew first hand how terrifying Nestiad was.

(The plan is to wait for Kiel's training to end, then I catch the Dragon God Magra, and then we go against Nestiad and Garm. Hopefully Rosalina is also done training by then.)

Kiel had to get stronger in the shortest time possible.

The letter said he should go with a frontliner, so he would be traveling with Dogora to the God of Medicine's Shrine, while Allen stayed in the Paradise of Primordial Beasts.

Kiel and Dogora went back into the magic ship, the ramp retracted, and the magic ship took off.

"Nestiad aside, you won't just try to attack the Beast God Garm straight away, right?"

Everyone looked worried since Allen kept talking about cutting off Garm's tail.

It was not too long ago that he was utterly defeated by the God of Swords Sestavinus, who was also a Higher God like Garm.

"That depends on how he responds."

(I won't do anything to him if he just calmly gives me his tail.)

"You never learn, do you… And no one is coming to pick us up."

Allen did not seem worried at all, even after his experience with the God of Swords.

"Looks like it. I think Shea was taken in that direction."

Allen's group turned around, ready to face the challenges of going through the Paradise of Primordial Beasts.