Hellmode ~Gamer Who Likes to Speedrun Becomes Peerless in a Parallel World with Obsolete Setting~

Allen tried to say something, but Rosetta interrupted him.

"You're always so strong handed! But since you dragged me here, I'll just sit next to you then."

They all sat around the campfire, and Rosetta sat next to Allen.

"Wha?! Hey!!"

Cecile stared in shock at Rosetta sitting next to Allen and holding onto his arm. In a way she had a reason to make demands though, as she was supposed to be training at the Divine Arena. But her Skills would be useful in the Earth Labyrinth.

"Do you want to return to the Divine Arena and train for earnest then?"

Allen asked her if she wanted to go back then.

"Huh? No way~ This looks a lot more fun."

Rosetta quickly let it go.

"Allen, make sure you explain what's going on after the prayer."

After Allen brushed Rosetta's arm away, Kiel said he would pray before eating like always.

"Yes! It's an honor to be in your presence, Pope Apprentice Kiel."

"..."

The Venerable Tabatha said that, which made Kiel stay silent for a bit, but then did the prayer.

"Alright! Now I can finally eat."

(You've been eating this entire time, Dogora.)

Dogora had been eating while waiting already, but had to stop for a bit when Allen arrived.

"So what are you planning on doing now, Master Allen? Are we focusing on getting through the Earth Labyrinth then?"

He had brought Luck and Rosetta there, who were already training somewhere else. Then he even asked Sophie to borrow Gatoruga from Rosenheim.

"Yes, Sophie. The Dragon God Magra is inside the dungeon. And it's not like we can go fight Nestiad or Garm yet…"

Allen told them their plans. He had to gather 4 materials for Isiris, which included Nestiad's heart, making even the members of Helmios' party shudder.

"Wait, we aren't just fighting Nestiad but a Higher God too?"

Everyone felt like obtaining Garm's tail could only be accomplished through a fight.

"We don't know yet, but we know we can't talk Nestiad into it."

"I don't think we can talk to or fight that thing."

They had tried fighting Nestiad together with Rosen, but even he was outmatched.

"Fighting Nestiad will be difficult, so it's best we follow a proper order. We'll start by finding the Dragon God Magra, and completing the entire dungeon."

"So we'll try to reach the 99th floor at the same time."

Merle was starting to understand why it was important to go through the Earth Labyrinth.

(So the Earth Labyrinth was not just a jail for bad ghosts. There has to be a proper route through it.)

Fighting Nestiad or Garm would be too difficult at this time, though it was necessary for Cecile's new Divine Techniques. Nestiad seemed to be just as powerful as a Higher God. Garm was also one of the 10 Higher Gods, so obtaining his tail would be hard. The easiest starting point was obtaining a horn from the Dragon God Magra, and Allen believed that was the first step to properly complete that quest.

'So Magra is somewhere within this place… I see, there was still something for me to do.'

The Dragon King looked pensive. Magra had given the dragonkin power in the human realm, eventually becoming a Dragon God and reaching the divine realm, and then tried taking over the human realm, but now was within the Earth Labyrinth.

The Gods had also changed the name of the dragonkin's village, as Magra's name was sullied. It was also Magra's fault that dragonkin were treated so poorly in the divine realm.

Thousands of years ago, after the hero Astel died, the Dragon King Matildora was tasked with guarding the Gate of Judgement.

'Gyau… Mama…'

Haku looked lonely being separated from Kurena.

"So we'll fight the Dragon God Magra, I can't wait."

Dogora was done eating, and now was thinking of that fight.

"You'll be coming with me, Dogora. We'll leave this to Merle, and we'll go to the Paradise of Primordial Beasts."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I don't think you'll help a lot with this dungeon. You and Kiel will come with me."

(They have more than enough healers after all. Also, what happened to bringing Kiel to the God of Medicine Poshon? I have to pick up the pace a little here.)

"What?!!"

Dogora's face reddened, but Allen ignored that as he explained who would go where.

[The 42 going to the Earth Labyrinth] -Merus, Kuwatoro, Makris, Bird A and E summons (13 in total) -Merle and Tam-Tam (2) -Galara and his party (15) -Dragon King Matildora (1) -Luck and a Great Spirit (2) -Haku (1) -Gatoruga and a Great Spirit (2) -Sacred party (5) -Habarak (1)

That used up 42 of the 48 allowed inside the Earth Labyrinth. Once Luck and Gatoruga manifested more spirits, they would use up more of the slots.

"Also, try to not defeat the Dragon God right away."

"I see, Allen. Are you trying to make him your summon then?"

"That's it, Kiel. I'll finally get a summon that can be my main attacking force."

Allen wanted to turn Magra into his Dragon S summon. The Earth Labyrinth had a lot of things he wanted.

[Things Allen wanted from the Earth Labyrinth] -The Dragon God Magra's horn -Making the Dragon God Magra into his Dragon S summon -Hunting at least 2 Demigod Rank ghosts to buy the Spiritual Power regeneration ring -Hunting more Demigod Rank ghosts to raise Allen's Level -Strengthening Habarak so he could craft more weapons -Reaching the 99th floor and asking the God of Earth for a sword that would not break

"There's a lot to get from the Earth Labyrinth, huh."

Merle was quickly getting filled with motivation.

"So your wish for the 99th floor is really going to be a weapon."

"Yes, Cecile. After negotiating with Isiris I need an unbreakable sword even more."

A weak weapon would not be enough for them to obtain Nestiad's heart. Going through the Earth Labyrinth was the first step to obtain the other materials. That was why Allen wanted to focus more on getting through the Earth Labyrinth.

"What, so I won't get to fight in the Earth Labyrinth?"

"Hmm… Piyon will take a while longer to arrive at the Paradise of Primordial Beasts, so you'll get two runs before that."

(I guess it's fine to let him experience more things.)

"Huh? It doesn't sound like you're expecting a lot from me. I'll show you what I can do."

Dogora quickly fell for Allen's soft provocation, and Cecile just sighed watching them. And so his explanation was over, and everyone ate and slept in preparation for the next day.

＊＊＊

Cecile walked through the magic tent's corridor, wondering how many hours had passed.

"Huh? Allen?"

There was still a light outside, so she knew there was someone out there. Allen was using Generation to gather Skill Experience late into the night as always. Merus had gone to rest though, as he was tired from the Earth Labyrinth run from earlier.

"Hm? Cecile?"

Allen could know who had approached him from their footsteps.

"It's already late, Allen. And we have to wake up early tomorrow. We should sleep."

Cecile sat next to Allen, placing the pile of Seasonal Taste into the Grimoire.

"Mm…I've almost completed my quota. I have to keep my daily streak, otherwise I can't end a day by half-assing things."

Daily streaks were something to protect with one's life.

"You're saying weird things again… You haven't changed a bit. I'll help you then."

"Thanks. You can store these ones here."

Cecile knew how hard Allen had begged Isiris to obtain those trials, though she was still curious about it.

"Still, I wonder what the God of Magic needs Nestiad's heart or that tail for."

Isiris had come up with those items almost instantly, so she likely had wanted them for a while. Maybe Allen had been too focused on getting the quest that he forgot to investigate further.

"Yeah, I'm curious too. Though I'll be pissed if it turns out to be some sort of teleporting magic."

"Why? Teleportation is an amazing spell."

There were very few magicians who could use teleportation magic, but in Allen's past life it was usually a beginner spell, and he knew it would be of little use against the Demon King.

"But don't worry about that. That's why Larappa is there."

"Is that why you told her to help the God of Magic?"

"I asked her to check what the research is about."

"When? Ahh, right before we left. You really should tell me things like that earlier."

"Sorry for that. But well, I'm looking forward to seeing what she found out next time we talk."

"That's true… By the way, Allen…"

"Hm?"

"Thanks."

"You still have to avenge Mihai after all."

"Right. I need as much power as I can get."

Cecile looked at the waning embers from the campfire, her eyes full of determination.

"Though that wasn't the only reason."

"Huh? What else was there?"

Cecile's face reddened, thinking of what other reason Allen could have.

"You're part of the party. So you also need to get stronger like the rest."

"Right… How much longer until your quota is complete?"

Cecile smiled a little hearing that, but she tried to maintain a calm face.

"100."

"Just a bit more then."

They remained in front of the waning light until Allen was done using Generation.