Hellmode ~A Hardcore Gamer Becomes Peerless in Another World with Retro Game Settings~ Chapter 376

The Beast King fully opposed Shea's participation in Allen's Army.

And then he told her to come back with him to Albahar.
Prince Zew was shocked seeing that, standing up in disbelief.

Irrelevant of the support all the other countries were showing, the Beast King refused to accept any decision that was not his.
The room fell silent as they watched the scene unfold.

“I'm already an adult. I'll decide how I live my own life.”

Shea would not relent either.

“Oh, so the little girl playing knight is trying to grow up? You've really gotten cheeky after overcoming Temi's trial. So, how are you going to show me your determination then?”

There was no one who could interrupt them anymore.
Giamut's emperor was also silent, trying to calm himself after Allen's attitude riled him up.

(Even Giamut's emperor is afraid of saying anything now. Then again, he seems to be a ruler that is easily angered.)

No one wanted to raise their voice against the Beast King, not after he had beaten the hero Helmios to a pulp in front of everyone.

“I challenge you to a duel. Will that convince you?”

Shea had already been ready for that.

(So Shea knew it would come to this then. Though well, they're father and daughter, I feel like that happens all the time in families here.)

Shea had looked the most intense when preparing for the Five Continents' Alliance meeting.
That was because she knew her father's personality the best.

Allen had also heard about the Beast King from her.
Whenever one of his subjects did something the Beast King did not approve of, he would always turn on them.
No matter how much they tried to change his opinion, he would remain stubborn.
The only way to convince him was through duels.

If someone was willing to challenge the king, he felt they were worth listening to.
There had been many such duels between the Beast King and his subjects throughout the years.
And Shea also mentioned that many of those subjects had been buried shortly after the duel.

“Interesting. Emperor of Giamut, we'll borrow your training spot for a bit.”

(Training spot? Ah, that place nearby.)

While Allen was disembarking from the flying ship, he had noticed a square establishment next to the palace, which looked like some training facility.
Now he understood what it was.

“Wh?! Right now?”

The emperor was shocked that the Beast King was willing to fight his daughter right away.

“Yes, we're done talking with that Allen boy, aren't we?”

The Beast King stood up, standing two heads taller than Allen. He was also bigger than Dogora, both vertically and horizontally.
The meeting was done talking about Allen's Army, but there were still other topics they had to discuss. But the Beast King ignored the emperor's reply and left the room.

“I don't think she can win. Actually, she might not even survive. You should try to stop her.”

Helmios had fought the Beast King before, and he was worried about Shea's safety.

“Is he that strong?”

“He is.”

Allen asked back, and Helmios replied instantly.
Allen knew the Beast King and Helmios had fought in front of the Five Continents' Alliance before, but he did not know the Beast King was so strong.

Shea followed after her father and left the room.

“…We should go watch as well, this might decide the future of Albahar.”

Rosenheim's queen stood up while saying that with a calm voice.
The Beast King opposed Shea and the beastmen's participation in Allen's Army.
So now the rest of the Alliance had to see what the future held for Albahar.
How the duel would end could decide how much Albahar would help when fighting the Demon King's Army in the future.

Helmios guided everyone out of the palace and towards the training facility.
Shea was already standing ready, punching air a little to confirm her body was reacting well.
She had watched her father fight since she was small.

“I'm sorry things ended like this, Allen. I should've told you earlier.”

“Don't worry, this is a family discussion. I have no right to stop you or get in the way.”

“If you say so, I'll take your word for it.”

Shea had foreseen things would get like this from the start.
But she felt like it would lose its point if she told anyone.

(So the Beast King isn't wearing any equipment.)

The Beast King stood in the center of the arena, no longer wearing his red and gold cape, his upper body naked and without any equipment.
Allen used a Bird E summon to verify that, and in fact he had no weapons or armor.
He also wore no accessories like rings or bracelets.
The Beast King intended to fight Shea with only his raw stats.

(I think I heard the Beast Royal Family consistently produces powerful warriors. And whoever becomes Beast King inherits even more power.)

Shea was fully aware that she might not be able to do anything in the fight.

“Kurena, lend her your Sacred Bead.”

“Okay.”

Allen always prioritized winning above honor or determination.
He told Kurena to lend Shea the Sacred Bead they took from Basque.

“I'm good. My opponent isn't wearing anything either.”

Shea refused to take the Sacred Bead.
This was merely a show of determination, the results were not determined by who won.

Shea entered the arena without any defensive equipment or rings to raise her stats.

While Allen and Shea were talking, the other representatives and kings all took a seat around the arena.
They all waited to see what Albahar's ruler would decide in the end.

“Did they come to say goodbye?”

Not caring that he was being made to wait, the Beast King asked Shea, seeing her talk with Allen.

“It's not time for that yet.”

Shea had no intention of saying goodbye yet.

“What?”

“I'll become the first beastmen emperor. I'm going with Allen to accomplish that. That's my decision, and the only person I'll say goodbye to is you, father.”

Shea had lived her entire life under the orders of the Beast King.
He gave her the duty of capturing the leader of the Evil Cult.
But now she wanted to live on her own terms, and she announced that to her father.

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The Beast King looked slightly desolate for a moment, but then shook that off with determination.

“So you're still living with such delusions in your mind. I'll drag you back home if I have to.”

He said that, but stood with a relaxed stance.
He was telling Shea to give it her best shot.
If she really wanted to live on her own, she would need to defeat the Beast King.

There was no referee for the duel, just the father and daughter facing off.
It was time for Shea to show her determination.

There was a sharp glint in Shea's eyes as she dashed forward and punched the Beast King's stomach.

Thunk!

There was a sound like she had punched something hard.
Nothing stopped her fist from reaching her target.

“Wh!”

The Beast King did not move, taking Shea's punch with a relaxed stance.
Shea looked in terror, the Beast King did not feel the need to evade her attack.

“I knew it, even your determination is half baked. I can't feel your spirit in your fist!!”

“Ghah!!”

The Beast King kicked Shea into the air.

Shea tried to block the kick with her arms crossed, but could not absorb the impact and was sent flying in a straight line.
While in the air, she carefully twisted and turned her body to land on her feet, then ran toward the Beast King again.
She swallowed the pain, ready to demonstrate her resolve.

But the Beast King only allowed her to get the first hit.
He dodged everything after that, without breaking a sweat.
The fight had become one-sided, in favor of the Beast King.

“What happened with your determination? I knew I should've stopped you when all you did was play games!!”

Having been kicked multiple times, Shea struggled to properly stand back up, and the Beast King shouted at her.
He had told Lud, one of his servants, to train Shea. Eventually she made Lud her commander and began gathering her own army.
She allowed anyone she liked into her army, be it mercenaries or adventurers, and eventually their number grew larger than a thousand.
Soon after she became known as the Warring Princess in other countries.

There should have been a time when the Beast King could have stopped Shea before things went out of control.
But he let her do what she wanted, thinking she was simply playing a game pretending to be a knight, and before he knew it she started claiming she would become an emperor and joined the army of some shady person.

The Beast King thought aloud, mentioning how he should have gotten his hands dirty earlier and put a stop to it all.

Shea was not wearing a single piece of equipment, but her Levels and Skill Levels were maxed out.
Fighting the Evil Cult had given her plenty of real-world experience as well.
She was certainly not weak, but there was still a large gap between her and her father.

“Nghuh?!”

The Beast King's fist dug itself deep into Shea's stomach, and a moment later she was sent flying into the edges of the arena.

“Shea, give up already! Just apologize to the Beast King and end this!!”

Seeing Shea be sent flying for so many times, Prince Zew could not contain his voice anymore.
He was worried for his sister.

“Hmph. Wouldn't it be better for you if Shea was gone, Zew?”

“Not at all. Please forgive my sister.”

Saying that, Zew apologized for Shea, bowing deeply.

“Hmph, so you're worried for your sister. You're so naive, weak! Zew, do you really think you can become Beast King being so soft? We're proud beastmen warriors, and we've survived this far by battling. I won't allow anyone to be so naive!!”

(I see. So that's why he suggested Bek should become the next ruler. Being Beast King is a really tough position.)

Bek was even considering an incursion into the Central Continent, so his personality was more suited to become the next Beast King.
He had no lofty ideals, focusing solely on the future of the kingdom and only that.
Bek had no qualms of drawing beastmen blood if that meant Albahar would flourish.
Unlike Prince Zew who was more kind, or Shea who always dreamed, Bek had a more realistic outlook and was better suited for the throne.

But at the same time, both Zew and Shea had accomplished their duties.
Allen could not really understand how that brought them a step closer to being the next Beast King though.

“T-that might be true, but…”

“Hmph. I think you're misunderstanding the kindness of Baukis and the Central Continent now.”

Prince Zew had garnered a name for himself for clearing the S Rank Dungeon, and his work holding back the Demon King's Army with the Ten Heroic Beasts in the Central Continent had been recognized by Giamut, so he was invited to the meeting in appreciation.
But now the Beast King felt like Zew was misunderstanding that as him being put on the same level as the Beast King.

The Ten Heroic Beasts had heard the commotion happening in the palace, so they had come to watch what was happening as well.

“No, that wasn't my intention…”

“If you really think so then get in here in her stead.”

Saying that, the Beast King picked up Shea from the ground by her neck and held her high in the air. He would forgive Shea if Zew fought for her.

“Wh?! Me?”

“Yes, you. Show me you have what it takes to beat me and take the throne for yourself!!”

The arena was fully in the Beast King's control now, but he was still willing to give Shea a chance if Zew could defeat him.
Allen felt like the Beast King's demand to be defeated was almost like a desire though.

“No! This is my fight!”

Shea had been kicked countless times, and her consciousness was starting to wane, but Shea insisted in punching the Beast King's face.
But her fists had no effect, the Beast King's countenance unbothered.
She was only upright because the Beast King was holding her by the neck, her legs had no strength left and dangled limp.
Having been beaten for so long, Shea could not muster any strength anymore.

“Are you sure? So what will it be! Zew, will you fight! Or will Shea continue here!!”

He continued holding Shea with one arm, while winding back his free arm.
Even after all the abuse Shea had suffered, he had no intention of stopping.
Any more and her life could be in real danger.
But the Beast King had no intention of limiting the force in his arm.

“Nghuh…let…let me go!!”

Shea's determination alone was keeping her awake.
But the difference in strength between the two was staggering.

“O-okay, I…”

Mustering all his power, Zew decided he had to step in.
But then something else happened.
Allen was watching carefully, ready to step in with a summon if necessary.
That was not necessary. Dogora's potato face was red with anger, and he shouted so loud that all the representatives in the audience could hear him.

“You bastard! Let go of Shea!!”

“Hm? Who was that?”

“I'm telling you to let her go. I'll fight!!”

Dogora's eyes were bloodshot, and his body was overtaken with rage as he stepped into the arena.

Chapter end