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

Shea and Lud were wearing rags as they were brought to the Beast King.

"To think they would do that after we accepted them into our country." "All those lives lost… They need to pay for our children's lives!" "Look at their faces, it's like they're pretending to feel guilty. Even though Shea must've been in on all of that from the beginning."

The nobles in the audience hall began insulting Shea.

The third son of Viscount Sislack and the 4 royal knights stepped back after fulfilling their duty. Their eyes were filled with disdain, feeling no respect whatsoever for Shea.

After the prime minister's words, the Beast King Muza spoke.

"I'm sorry for what happened with Mea. Maybe I could have avoided this whole insurrection if I had acted sooner."

Hearing that, the nobles began crying. Many of their children were part of the knights.

"May I say something?"

Shea asked that while kneeling.

"Of course, but mind your words. Remember you're here facing judgment."

Seeing that, Luvanka felt the need to comment.

'Judgment? This looks more like you're being prepared to be executed.'

'That's exactly what's happening. Just look how the nobles are glaring at us. Not even Barrio would be able to help us from there.'

'But you look calm.'

'I just recalled my initial resolution.'

Shea's mother had jumped off a window not too long ago, but she was watching calmly. But she was not the only one calm there.

"Tell me, Beast King, did you know about the situation before it went out of control? Did you let it happen so that you could get rid of my mother's faction all at once?"

Shea only mentioned what she needed to mention, knowing that there had been many innocent casualties.

"Are you saying you didn't know?"

Clenching his fists, he asked back.

"Of course not. To me it sounds like that coup was merely an excuse someone came up with."

"Really? So you're saying it was my fault?"

"Of course. My mother had only 2 wishes. Neither of which involved a coup."

Shea began to argue for Mea's innocence. Meanwhile Lud remained silent, knowing how much this meant for Shea.

"Two?"

"One was for me to become Beast King."

"What about that?"

"She wanted me to get rid of the Evil Cult that has been infiltrating Albahar, and was preparing for that."

Shea did not specify what those preparations were.

"So you think that's why she was obtaining weapons? And what was the other wish."

"For Albahar to be a prosperous country."

Saying that, she glared at the Beast King with crazed eyes. She really wanted to yell demanding to know who was responsible for her mother's death.

"Watch your attitude, Shea. Your right to the throne is on hold as you're suspected of treason. Showing contempt against the Beast King is punishable with death."

Even though Shea was the daughter of the Beast King, the prime minister was treating her as a common criminal.

"I apologize for that, prime minister. I'm just wondering if there's anything I can do to clear my mother's name, who only wished the best for this country but is being treated as a traitor."

"Then speak. You have a plan to clear your mother's name, don't you?"

"Yes. Please give me a trial so I can become Beast King."

"A trial! She really is Mea's child, she's crazy!!" "So now she's trying to use her mother's death for her own benefit!" "She's supposed to be judged here!"

"Silence. And bring Temi here."

"Huh? Temi?"

"Yes. Hurry up, prime minister."

The Beast King made everyone silent, and then told the prime minister to bring Astrologer Temi.

After some time, Temi arrived.

"What is it? Don't go calling me for every little thing."

"I'm sorry. But could you read Shea's fortunes?"

"Hm?"

"Let me explain, Lady Temi. Currently…"

The prime minister explained what was happening, and then Temi's body became blurry like a heat haze.

"I see, so this is why the stars were restless… Star Destiny."

Activating her Extra Skill [Star Destiny], she scattered various shiny stones on the floor.

"...The stars want Shea to receive a trial. She has the makings of a great ruler."

The whole audience hall was shocked. Even Bek, Zew, and their mother were surprised.

"What trial should I give her?"

"I'll mention the conditions. She has to gather 3000 men within 1 year. Then within 3 years she has to defeat the Evil Cult. She can't set foot in the palace until that's done…"

"Yes! I'll accept this trial!!"

After Temi was done, Shea immediately agreed.

It was so sudden that the Beast King's bodyguards could not react in time to stop her.

"I see. All the scouts I've sent to investigate Gushara's followers never returned alive. So gather strong men."

"Thank you for the information. By the way, can I have a few days before I leave the palace? I'd like to clean up Lady Mea's belongings."

"Hm? Well, that sounds fair. Shea, I don't expect you to leave right away, but try to not linger for too long."

"I can't thank you enough. Is there anyone here who wants to help me defeat the Evil Cult?! I'll become the emperor to unite Garresia!!"

Shea was wearing rags as she stood up and shouted proudly. But none of the nobles raised their hand, as they did not believe she could do it.

"Lady Shea! I, Lud, will follow you wherever you go!!"

"Hmph! I'll lead the best army!! I expect nothing but perfection from you!!"

Lud also stood up and declared loudly, and then the two left the audition hall. No one stopped them, and no one tried talking to them.

"Are we picking up Mea's belongings first then?"

"What do you mean? We need weapons and armor first. And there's someone I want to talk with before I leave."

The view of Shea and Luvanka scrolled by, skipping ahead to the two in new equipment and heading to the area of the palace where Zew lived.

"I…I can't allow that!!"

"Don't be like that, she's there, isn't she? I'm being chased out of the palace, so I figured I'd say goodbye."

Shea grinned showing her canine teeth, trying to convince the wolf beastman guarding the room. Eventually he went inside to ask for permission.

Once they were let in, Princess Rena from Rapsonile was sitting at a table. Rena was Zew's wife, and she had not been in the audience hall, so she received them in full equipment.

"I was told I had some unexpected guests. I'm sure you must be thirsty from sitting in jail. You can have some tea and then leave."

"Oh, excuse me then."

Shea went and sat in front of Rena.

After a short wait a wolf maid arrived with a tray with a teacup. She placed it in front of Shea, and then it remained there.

"What's wrong? It'll get cold."

"I'm sorry, it's just that there's no one who can taste it for poison here. I'll have to pass on this tea."

"What?! Why would you say something so rude to Princess Rena!!"

Hearing that, the maid replied enraged and reached for a dagger she had concealed, but Lud interrupted her.

"Stop. We aren't here to fight."

The maid froze in place hearing that.

"What do you want then?"

"Well, sleeping on top of cold stone for a few days has helped me think about things more clearly. And I think I've figured out who incited everything that happened."

"It was obviously your mother. Barrio is so weak they couldn't find a way to gain more authority. It's already obvious that Zew will be the one becoming Beast King, so she staged a coup to change that. That's all"

"So that's what drove you to kill my mother. Only Zew knew on which days we were out training."

The timing was too suspicious.

After Shea was given the right to compete for the throne, she received endless requests from nobles who wanted to join her. They were so numerous that they intruded on their training.

That was too cumbersome, so they started leaving to train in secret. But that could be seen as suspicious, so Shea gave Zew her training schedule.

'So Rena plotted it all?' 'Probably. Bek and Zew did not think much of me, but Rena was as ambitious as my mother.'

Princess Rena had been sent from Brysen to marry Zew as a sign of friendship.

At first Rena did not have a need to kill Mea, but if the weapons she was gathering helped Shea defeat the Evil Cult, it would affect Zew's standing the most, as Shea would stand on top.

"You're imagining things. And you're trying to kill me for that? Is that why you're hiding that weapon?"

"Not at all. I just got freed, I don't want to go back there. Really, I just wanted to talk to whoever was behind everything before I leave the palace, so they know to watch their back."

Saying that, Shea bared her fangs with killing intent.

"I see. Then just hurry and leave. Though I doubt any nobles will want to go with you."

"I'll make sure to find men on my own. It takes some time to prepare an assassination after all."

Saying that, Shea stood up and left with Lud.

'Apparently this is what made Rena push Zew to get a trial as well.'

'I see. Wouldn't it have been better to remain quiet then?'

Rena was so intimidated by Shea that she pushed Zew to get a trial, which was to go to the S Rank Dungeon.

'I was still a child back then. But I mostly just wanted her to feel paranoid for the rest of her life.'

Shea grinned as she replied.

'I can see why Bek and Zew would also treat you differently after that. Hm? It's morning already.'

'It seems so. Let's get to the next floor today.'

'Yes, we need to get through our own trial…'

Shea felt like she was slowly losing consciousness. That always happened before they woke up. As Luvanka faded away, Shea thought about everything that happened.

'What's my dream?' 'I want a strong and beautiful Beast Kingdom of Albahar.' 'A descendant of the Beast God Garm.' 'A descendant of Albahar.' 'Part of Barrio's royal family.' 'I never could understand who I am.' 'Or where my desires came from.' 'Exactly what is it that I want?' 'I rejected the throne, but that's come back to test my determination.' 'I'll destroy everything that caused this.' '...I'll become the Beast Emperor.'

Shea recalled her initial motivation, and then focused on fighting the Wind God Vess.