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

Dogora's attack turned Digragni over onto his back.

(Maybe he got bored with the long fight, or he just wanted to show his power for a bit.)

Allen was suspecting that Digragni's concentration fell as the fight dragged on.

There had been plenty of transformations while he fought too, some feeling needless.

He also felt like Digragni was not used to fighting considering he fell for such a simple plan.

Digragni's Grand Laser had a lot of power, but also left him wide open to attack.

Not to mention that the healing Pentapods were all gathered in a single location for it.

"Don't break formation yet."

Allen kept his eyes on the Grimoire's logs, telling his allies to not lower their guard.

The fight had been going on for six hours.

Digragni was keeping still, but there was always a chance he would attack again.

Everyone waited nervously until finally a new entry was logged on the Grimoire.

'You've defeated 1 Dungeon Master Digragni.'

(Huh? That's it? You aren't even the last boss, give me some experience.)

A new type of anger welled up in Allen as he saw that.

He felt like only the last boss of a game had no need of granting experience on defeat.

The last boss marked the end of the game, so experience was meaningless after that.

He was promised 100 Levels if he defeated the Evil God, so that could not be the last boss.

Just in case, he would check every day if the quest given by Aqua was still active.

So far it had not been retracted yet.

"Alright, the fight is over everyone. We won."

Allen suppressed his anger and told his friends that Digragni had been defeated.

"So it's finally over. That was a magnificent strategy, Master Allen."

Sophie sighed, the Spirit God Rosen riding on her head.

Rosen seemed to be tired, sound asleep.

(Sophie had to do a lot during that fight after all.)

Sophie had been using all her Mana through her spirits.

Commanding spirits took a lot of focus, so it made sense she was exhausted.

But that was another reason why they were fighting there. After the Demon King's Army started sending out Demon Great Generals, Sophie and Cecile were struggling to be of much use.

They were starting to fall behind the enemy's strength, and the enemy was only getting stronger.

The Evil God had been eaten, and there were still the Six Fallen Angels.

Allen decided that defeating Digragni and obtaining his reward was the play.

"It was hard, but this is an important victory."

Allen said, trying to ease Sophie's stress.

"Ah…right. Thanks everyone."

In a way, the fight was all to make Merle stronger.

"Hey Dogora, when I go in like that…"

"Ahh, yeah, I'll have to move that way then."

"Hmhmm."

Ignomas gathered with Dogora and Kurena to discuss how they coordinated their attacks.

Some of them had already taken out dried meat from their magic bags and started eating.

Ignomas had adapted to the party's fighting style really quickly.

While they were all talking, a magic circle appeared around Digragni.

Slowly his body began to regenerate, but also got smaller. It was only 10 meters long now.

'Well, I guess I lost then. You're really strong.'

Digragni sat down and shook his head in frustration.

"Thank you for the match."

Allen spoke to him, representing the whole party. His anger could not be felt at all.

He had to make sure he obtained the biggest reward he could.

'I guess I lost. So uhh…right, your reward. What do you want? I can get you as many magic devices as you want.'

"You mentioned we can ask for anything, correct?"

'Of course, as long as it's something I can do. Also, no need to be so formal with me. You defeated me in battle after all.'

Digragni pointed at Allen and said that. He spoke casually as well, even though he was 5000 years old like Rosen.

"Alright, if you say so."

Since he was told that, Allen followed Digragni's wishes.

'And so, what do you want?'

Allen looked at Digragni's chest crystal. In golems, that was where the pilot entered.

(Is Digragni a golem too then? No, the golem pilots simply based their golems off him.)

"Well, Digragni, we're fighting the Demon King, so give us your body. Become Merle's golem."

'Huh? My body?'

"Yes. Merle will be your pilot."

Allen directly asked for the way to strengthen Merle he had been thinking of for a while.

A demi-god's power would be enough to defeat the Demon Great Generals.

'Th-that's…a bit tricky.'

Digragni did not give a very favorable answer.

"Hm? Tricky?"

'See, I've already been tasked with renewing the Talent Change Dungeon. I just finished building it last year, but they already want an upgrade!'

(Oh, I think his true emotions are finally showing through.)

Digragni covered his face with his hands as he complained about his workload.

The Spirit God was right, the Talent Change Dungeon was being updated in April.

"That's alright. I understand the Divine Realm has tasked you with many things as Dungeon Master. You can continue working on your duties, and help us in your spare time."

'My spare time? What do you mean?'

Digragni said no at first, but that was just the start for Allen to negotiate.

Usually the fights with the Demon King's Army were localized to a certain time and location.

Digragni could continue being the Dungeon Master whenever he was not needed there.

He would be called if his strength was needed, and otherwise he could just continue his work.

The rest listened to them negotiate, Merus frowning a bit. He knew what awaited Digragni.

"That's the reward I've been thinking of. What do you say?"

'Hm hmmm… Well, if you put it that way…'

Digragni still did not sound fully convinced.

"What's the problem?"

'I still can't finish the Talent Change Dungeon. Isiris is busy too, so I can't ask for her advice.'

He had been suddenly tasked with planning the Talent Change Dungeon last month.

The entrance conditions and rewards were being decided in the Divine Realm.

But the Goddess of Magic Isiris tasked him to think of various penalties.

Last year he had thought of things like trapping adventurers, or spawning enemies.

Now he had been given very little time to think of something new.

(Somehow it feels like he can only think of one thing at a time. But Isiris huh…)

Digragni seemed to have a rather simplistic personality. Though Allen was still impressed with the work he had done as Dungeon Master so far.

Especially the S Rank Dungeon and its countless floors.

Maybe it was built so well thanks to Digragni being able to focus on only that.

Merus had once said that Digragni was a construct given life by Isiris.

Isiris was the deity governing over magic spells, equipment, and devices.

Magic Engineers and Magic Crafters had similar names because of that as well.

But she relegated magic devices to Digragni so she would have less things to worry about.

"I'll think of a new punishment for those who fail then. It just has to be something new, right?"

'R-really? But yes, do you have something good in mind?'

Digragni went closer to Allen, extremely curious.

"The new Talent Change Dungeon should offer unprecedented value. While risking one's life is a type of punishment, there's also other things that can be changed."

'Yes yes, I know that. Don't delay things like this please.'

Digragni also seemed to be a bit impatient.

He had been worrying about that for an entire month, so he wanted Allen to hurry.

"How about resetting one's God's Trails?"

"Huh?"

"You need to have completed all of your God's Trials to undergo a Talent Change, so just take that away."

Allen explained further. If someone failed the dungeon, their Levels would be reset.

Though whether that meant going down to Level 1, or 10, or taking away Talent Stars, depended all on the tasks' difficulty. That was a risk adventurers would need to face.

Allen explained that taking away one's right to enter the dungeon was a good penalty.

'Hmm, you're suggesting lowering one's Talent even.'

"Just like how there's big and small rewards, punishments should also be small and big. You can figure out how to properly balance that on your own."

Hearing that, Digragni suddenly stood still, not moving at all.

(Hm? Is he thinking about it? Wait no, I seem to remember this.)

Allen felt like he had seen that before. Rosen also did that when talking to the Divine Realm.

"Hey, why are you talking like you know everything about dungeons!"

Rosalina sounded distressed after hearing Allen talk with Digragni.

Allen was directly affecting the future of adventurers with what he said.

"He's always like that. He might like dungeons even more than the Dungeon Master actually. He knows a stupid amount of things about them."

Cecile recalled wondering if Allen had gone to the Academy to study, or to enter dungeons.

Allen had always liked dungeons, though Rosalina still sounded confused by that.

'Isiris praised me saying that was genius!! I think it'll work out then!!'

Digragni jumped in happiness, making the ground tremble.

"Alright, then you'll be our reward."

'Yeah, I don't mind.'

"Though hmmm…"

Allen crossed his arms and started to think.

'What, you need something else?'

"It's just that I know you're busy a lot, and I helped you with the dungeon so…"

Allen claimed the reward was too little for his effort. He felt Digragni had to thank him more for his help building the new dungeon.

Allen's friends felt like they knew what was about to happen.

Rosen had gone through that before as well, when he offered to upgrade their Talents.

'Seriously? Hmm, alright, I'll put the attacks I used in the fight into Stone Slabs. Do with them whatever you want.'

Digragni fumbled around to make Stone Slabs.

The countless Stone Slabs contained the Skills Digragni had used.

"Nice. Merle, this is for you."

"Mm, thank you…"

(Hm? Merle?)

Allen noticed Merle seemed to be in deep thought.

He had been too busy negotiating with Digragni to notice earlier.

"What's wrong Merle? Did you want something else?"

"Y-yeah…"

Everyone there finally understood. Allen had taken over negotiating the reward, but it seemed like Merle had her own wish.

"I'm sorry Digragni, we might need to change the reward."

'Hm? Sure, I don't mind. Your name is Merle, right? What's your wish?'

Digragni also seemed to understand the situation. Merle was the only golem pilot there.

It made sense to prioritize her wishes for the reward.

"Umm…Digragni."

'Yes?'

"Could you give Tam-Tam a heart? Or a soul I guess?"

'A soul?'

"Yes. Just like Allen's summons, or you Digragni."

(Hm? Was Merle thinking about that the entire time?)

Merle had always been watching Allen interact with his summons.

Now she was seeing Digragni moving on his own and talking with them.

She wanted her own Golem to become sentient.

'I see, so my defeat was indispensable for you. That's fun. I'll add that wish on top then.'

Digragni seemed pleased with Merle's wish.

"On top?"

'Yeah, I'll add it to the other reward. Merle, bring me your Magic Board.'

Digragni would honor both the reward Allen wanted and Merle's.

"O-okay. Huh?"

Merle had her Magic Board fastened like a necklace, but the chain broke off on its own.

Digragni held his hand out and the Magic Board began to spin in mid-air.

Whiirrrrrr!!

'...'

Digragni looked like a golem, but it was clear he was focusing on something.

Click clack!!

Once the spinning reached a certain speed, there was a sound effect as the board fell apart.

The fragments started to change form, assembling into something else Allen knew well.

"Is this a cube device?"

The Magic Board had transformed to look more like the magic devices in dungeons.

'I AM TAM-TAM. MASTER MERLE'S GOLEM.'

"Ohh, Tam-Tam! It's Tam-Tam!!"

The cube began to flicker as it spoke with a robotic voice.

Merle clenched her fist full of emotion hearing Tam-Tam's first words.