Vol. 13 - Chapter 781 - Preparation for Conquer Day #4 - Those who stayed, and those who set out for one last visit.

It was now noon of the 5th day. Allen was visiting the temple of Beast God Garm at the Primordial Beast's Forest.

( Heh, now this place is just as much basking in the abundance of nature. And it hasn't been even ten days since the reservoir was built. The effect of drops of life is truly spectacular.)

The whiff of young nature, and vaguely damp winds struck Allen.

It was the same barren wasteland, with fissure running on the ground, and water sources dried up, where Allen had guided beastkin to dig up the land for a lake, and helped in filling it with the «Drops of Life» he had acquired from Great Spirit God Easley. The same place was now overgrown with trees.

At present, saving Temi, Shea and Ten Heroic Beasts had been having their training in this land. Allen walked past the statue left by the past beast gods, and opened the front door.

*Creak*

The entrance leads to a passageway, and then towards the vast space in the depth of the temple. The place seemed to be occupied with beastkins already; some could be seen kicking the ground, while others leapt on the walls. It was as if they'd been performing some sort of dance, covering the vast space with their dynamic movements.

The beastkins—there were tens of them—bared their canines, and were in their liberated beast incarnations as they targeted an elderly looking Chimpanzee—the Beast God Garm.

«Aaargh?!»

«Guh!?»

Through his dynamic vission—it relied on user's agility stats to capture the relative motion—Allen was accurately managed to trace the movement pattern of Ten Heroic Beasts.

Just then, the Claw Beast Emperor Pazz, a honey badger beastkin, and Twin-Sword Beast Emperor Sene, a leopard beastkin, broke into a sprint and jumped at the Beast God in the air, trying to catch him in a two-pronged attack. However, with a flick of his tail, Beast God Garm blew them away in the same direction they'd covered.

(Nice! They're all giving their best!! Heh, Beast God also has the tail grown back huh, after we had obtained it for Cecil.)

Allen was genuinely delighted at the effort Shea and other beastkin had been putting up. He had often dispatched Leon to visit this temple, and he would find them training all the time.

He also noticed Beast God Garm had regrown his tail that Shea had torn off. The tail had been a must have item for Cecil's ancient magic quest, and was later delivered to Magic God Isiris. Regardless of Allen's presence, neither Shea nor Ten Heroic Beasts stopped even once as they continued their charge.

«Gen, follow after me! Haaaaaaa!!»

«You got me!!»

Exploiting the opening Pazz and Sene had created, the Sledgehammer Beast Emperor, Marshal Ober, made a leap with his massive physique as a spirit shout escaped him. And, with Ober's cue, Bow Beast Emperor readied his bow and shot two arrows, each aiming for either of Beast God's eyes.

The battle saw no hands-off action, each with an intention to bring down the opponent at all cost. It would've made one surprised to see the Beast God they extolled being subjected to such treatment, but of course, this was well within the situation.

«Aye, blimey. How can you call it a surprise attack by selling your entire plan so openly...»

While performing a series of actions, Gram exhaled a sigh in the air when he heard Ober calling out to Gen.

As easily as the father playing catchball with his children, Beast God merely used his right hand, and with one swift option, the arrows were gripped within his fingers. Meanwhile, his left hand delivered a flick against the striking part of Ober's Sledgehammer.

*BOOOM!*

It was just a flick. And yet, it dispersed all the air from the resultant pressure, creating a vacuum, causing a shockwave to erupt as if someone had thrown a hand grenade.

«Gaahhh!»

Ober desperately tried to hold his sledgehammer from toppling backward, but he failed, and was blown tens of metres behind.

But, it appeared this was all a pre-planned chaos to draw Gram's attention by Shea.

Sene and Ober were the 2nd, or 3rd in the coordinate attack chain. And then, just as Gram had flicked Ober's sledgehammer, Shea jumped out from behind him, taking the incarnation of humanoid beast form.

«Trivial!!»

She jumped at Gram, her knuckle unmistakenly aimed at his face square. The way she grit her jaw was clearly an example of how much strength she had instilled in this move. In mere seconds, the knuckle would smash on Gram's face.

Allen had noticed Shea's pursuit, her action playing slow-mo due to his dynamic vision. However, Gram was as composed as ever.

«Uh-huh, you truly have a long way to go. Hee-ho.»

«Aargh?!»

Seemingly implying he wasn't feeling threatened at all, Gram once again curled his fingers, and went for a flick.

Allen figured the spot Shea would be flicked to, and teleported to that location.

"Whoa. You're doing great."

«Mhm? It's you, Allen.»

Seeing Allen covering her crash, Shea finally took notice of him.

«Heh, so you have come in flesh today, Allen. I must say, you'd me by commanding Axilion-sama as some sort of errand boy. Alright, take a break for now, everyone.»

Gram announced a break after eyeing the Ten Heroic Beasts's chest moving up and down for a mouthful of air, and walked up to where Allen and Sea were. The Ten Heroic Beasts followed him and gathered around.

"Great work, everyone. Here's the water."

"Ah, thank you, really."

Allen brought out water leather bags, each with a capacity of nearly two litres, from Grimorie's storage, and began distributing them to the members. The leader's bags had been filled with fruit water. She released her beast incarnation form.

In one breath, Shea and Ten Heroic Beasts emptied the contents of the leather bag.

(Hmm, so Wind God Wiz and Beast God Giran have been showing up in the temple too. Now that Shea is undoubtedly the successor to the Beast KIng Incarnation, Albahar Kingdom has been actively taking the lead, huh.)

Stepping further into the depth of the Temple, there were Beast God Giran—who had been revered in the Brisen Kingdom—and Wind God Wiz, who served God of Light Amenty.

Today, Beast God Gram had personally taken over to train the others, but typically, whenever Leon had come to visit, the two pillars of god could be seen training them.

«You have my appreciation.»

"Please, this is barely an effort. Feel free to have more."

Like others, Allen also offered the fruit war to Beast God, the latter showing an appreciated look.

(It’s like I am looking at one of those smart chimpanzee live.)

Seeing as how nimbly Beast God accepted the leather bag, Allen was inevitably reminded of the japanese macaque or common chimpanzees he had seen in the TV.

«You. You just came up with something discourteous, didn't you?»

"Heavens, please don't slander this innocent."

Beast God figured he must be thinking something unnecessary and took a jab at Allen.

«And so, what brought you here today?»

"I have some business with Shea, and you," and that's why he came in person. Allen explained. "Well, for Shea, it's mainly Beast King Zeu who is seeking her."

"Huh, Zeu-sama?"

Allen was about to first explain the purpose he had with Garm—after all, he was the Beast God, and in terms of decorum, it would be rude to keep him waiting—but with how Shea was keenly listening to the conversation, he decided to explain her part first.

An immediate reaction came from Marshal Ober, the Captain of Beast King's Imperial Order.

Incidentally, when a new king was enthroned, the general custom was to dissolve the former king's Imperial Order—they're the Beast King's direct associative and vessels—before re-creating a new one under direction of the current king.

At present, Marshal Ober and Vice-Captain Hachi, the dog beastkin and also the Sword Beast Emperor of Ten Heroic Beasts were a member of the new Imperial Order. There were also other candidates, like fellow adventurers, in talks for the position now that Zeu has become king, saving Temi who already is a counselor.

The fox beastkin Repa, the Merry Beast Emperor, however had fast declined, citing the need of freedom.

"He hopes to know when you will be coming to see him. It's probably about the consecration ceremony for the upcoming Demon King Subjugation."

(We're already halfway to the deadline. And 10th day is where we effectively began our campaign, so it's just 4 days technically.)

"When, he asks?"

"Yeah. You have yet to return to Albahar, right? This may not be to clear the bad blood between you and Albahar, but he does hope you can visit him once, and shows concern."

Allen explained in a loud voice, deliberately making sure everyone hears him.

Shea had been training with Luvanka in the Temple for nearly one month now. In between, the discussion between the two suddenly shifted about their childhood. Through Luvanka, Allen learned about the subjective treatment she had received alongside her mother, Miya, because she was from the Parion Beast Kingdom.

When Shea was 12, the former beast king, Muse, had imposed her a trial—she must capture Gushala, the founder of Evil God Doctrine, as divined by Temi. The trials condition entail she was to never return to Albahar Kingdom until she had slayed Gushala.

Despite the details of trial, not a single soul from the rows of prodigal Albahar royalties had stepped up to lend their strength, and she was expelled together with General Ludo, who was also the former captain of Imperial Legion.

They earned their living around the vicini of the royal capital at the beginning, and there she began rallying her own convoy of mercenaries and adventurers by professing her identity of royal progeny, and declaring her gauntlet for hegemony. They had managed to band together a subjugation group of 3000 people, and lead a charge against Gushala, emerging victorious.

Then, continuing from there, Shea once again slayed Gaushala, who would appear as archdemon serving Demon King, fought Demon King's Army at the undersea Prostea Empire, tackled the trial of Beast God Gram at Divine Realm. Though she had fulfilled the bestowed trial, she never returned back.

"Hmph, he must be fearing I would kick the bucket in the war. After all, I am the hero who overcame the trial of Beast God Garm head-on, and the only one to bear his blessing!"

«The last line would've been better left unsaid in front of me......»

Beast King Muse had snatched back the power of Beast King Transformation from Beck following the rebellion, and Zeu offered that power to Shea at the end of trial. In return, he sought to leave the throne race.

Now, they wouldn't be able to proclaim her as one of the royal lineage if she died in the war. After all, she was in exile now, so they would miss the chance to share the honor. She remarked with a toothy, but sarcastic grin.

(Well, she did have so many chances to visit Albahar, but she never went back. Perhaps, she didn't have any reason? Hmm, there needs to be a stronger reason then.)

"...So, should I just inform Zeu that you don't have any desire to return back after they expelled you through that farce, and still can't settle your feelings for what they've done? And that he should prepare the banquet for your triumphant return after the subjugation of the Demon King."

"What nonsense?!"

Allen saw what was going inside Shea's mind, and put them into words. Immediately, someone's snarl followed right by his side.

Ober, having listened to their conversation, shut his eyes after guzzling the last bit of fruit bag. A sigh clung to his face, as if to say he understood her.

"I will reply the same. Nevertheless, Shea, now that war is just around the corner, I would suggest you go over it, and decide for one last time what type of hope you re-think over your stance against Albahar one last time. Either way, we also have some people who have already declined to return, like Ignomas."

"Hey, but that's his punishment, isn't it? Unlike me, he has the motive to defeat Demon King if anything. So, can you not lump us together like we're two peas in a pod?"

(I guess, Zeu-san should have known she's not going to return immediately when his message is passed.)

After noting down Shea's attitude over the situation, it was clear the strained relation wasn't something that would improve anyhow in mere five days, so Allen didn't speak further. He also feared if he push more on her, it would only enrage her, so instead he shifted the discussion over Ignomas.

Ignomas was banished over the crime of killing the former emperor of Prostea Empire, and causing rebellion. He was not to have even a single droplet of Prostea Empire's undersea in him until he slayed Demon King.

(I did check if Rapunnir could meet him following Ignomas's request, but a pity, she turned it down.)

Ignomas was still the Commander of the Imperial Guard, and General of Prostea's army when he gave himself to the demon's scheme. He had some feelings for Empress Rapunnir, and it seemed demons had taken advantage of this to manipulate him. Ignomas didn't outright say it, but this was quite apparent.

The war guaranteed no one's life, and with the promised date approaching faster, Ignomas displayed his desire to meet Rapunnir at least once. Allen played as the mediator and delivered his words as it is. But the Empress decisively turned down that request.

Allen might have had the support of the Prostea Empire for the war, however the rejection was a firm stance of their state.

(Well, it didn't seem like she hates Ignomas to his guts, atleast.)

Allen's Army also had Merfolk soldiers, and from what he had heard from the generals, the romance between Ignomas and Rapunnir was already making rumours inside the palace of Prostea Empire.

"Man, I am so glad I do not have any hard situation with my hometown."

"You know you just said it out loud. Anyway, is this all the reason you are visiting in-person, instead of Leon?"

"Ah, right. I also have some business with Lord Gram."

«Mhn? So you are finally coming to me.»

Allen then shifted the topic, and brought his purpose just as Beast God returned the leather bag to him, having emptied its content.