The resurrection of "Storm Dragon Veldora."
Even within the Western Holy Church, which had announced this fact, great turmoil was erupting.
The loss of contact with those who had participated in the subjugation had been swiftly detected.
Scheduled reports were absolute, and the failure to deliver one meant that some kind of problem had arisen.
Upon receiving the report, Hinata immediately decided to dispatch forces to Tempest.
But what arrived alongside that decision was the shocking intelligence of "Storm Dragon Veldora's" resurrection.
As Hinata prepared to deploy, she was summoned by the supreme executives of the Holy Papal Kingdom of Lubelius.
The Great Sages known as the "Seven Stars' Masters."
Each one was said to be an extraordinary existence on par with a Hero, legendary figures who also took on the duty of training Heroes.
Their existence was kept in perfect secrecy—they never appeared in public.
They existed only as legends, spoken of in fairy tales and stories.
And Hinata never spoke of the "Seven Stars' Masters" to anyone.
This was only natural— even the Holy Knights had no knowledge of their existence.
The reason Hinata knew of them was because she was...
The last disciple of the "Seven Stars' Masters"—that was Hinata.
It was said that each of the Seven Stars' Masters was cultivating their own successor, and when the succession took place was unknown even to the others.
That was precisely why it was extraordinary for all of them to share a single disciple.
Hinata was outstanding.
With her exceptional abilities, she had mastered every technique and combat art taught by the "Seven Stars' Masters."
In a sense, Hinata could be called a completed work of art.
Within the Holy Papal Kingdom of Lubelius, very few people had the authority to issue orders to Hinata.
Conversely, one could say that all power was concentrated in Hinata.
She had been reigning at the summit of this country ever since she had inherited the position from her predecessor.
The only people who could give orders to someone like Hinata...
Were the current Pope and the "Seven Stars' Masters."
Only the "Seven Stars' Masters" were granted direct audience with the Pope— even Hinata had never met him directly.
She had never so much as heard his voice.
That was precisely why the only beings who could directly intervene in Hinata's affairs and issue her commands were the "Seven Stars' Masters."
This time, a direct mental transmission ordering her to appear had come from one of those "Seven Stars' Masters."
And what was conveyed to her was the resurrection of "Storm Dragon Veldora."
Hinata, who had been preparing her forces for the assault on Tempest, placed that order on hold.
As a result, the situation in which Hinata would attack Tempest during Rimuru's absence was avoided.
That was fortunate.
If we were to speak hypothetically—if Tempest's monsters and the Holy Knights led by Hinata had clashed while Rimuru was absent, there was a high probability it would have ended in Hinata's victory.
In any case, the monster nation of "Tempest" had escaped by the skin of its teeth.
But whether that counted as a failure for Hinata was another matter entirely.
What arrived was not merely information.
Raheim—the envoy who had been sent to the monster nation of "Tempest"—had returned.
But his appearance had completely changed. He was filthy, his body covered in tattered rags.
His eyes darted around in fear, twitching erratically.
It was clear he had experienced some profound terror.
Raheim had come all the way to the grand cathedral where a hundred Holy Knights were stationed.
Cardinal Nicolaus also appeared in the cathedral, waiting to hear Raheim's report.
Brought into the cathedral, Raheim remained in his filthy state. He had been told to change clothes, but he flatly refused.
He insisted that he had something urgent to convey.
The Holy Church, rising in the center of the Holy Papal Kingdom of Lubelius.
At its heart lay the grand cathedral.
This was, within the Holy Papal Kingdom of Lubelius, the most sacred and inviolable place, leading to the Pope's chamber.
In that sacred chamber, Raheim knelt.
Then, with a trembling expression, he raised his face and confirmed Hinata's presence.
A flicker of relief. But with far more despair etched onto his features, he rose to his feet.
Raheim stripped off his tattered rags.
Seeing what lay beneath, the Holy Knights grimaced.
Hinata narrowed her eyes, an annoyed expression crossing her face.
Raheim's body, previously hidden beneath the filthy rags, was now exposed to all eyes.
Embedded across his body were countless faces.
Some were still alive, moaning in pain. Others had given up, continuing to pray with expressions of despair. Some had gone mad, cackling with drool streaming from their mouths...
He had become a horrifying sight, as though defiling this sacred chamber itself.
"First... please look at this. This is the price of provoking the rage of the Monster King.
I was foolish. I faced someone too terrifying, far too terrifying.
That is a Demon Lord.
We ourselves have birthed a new Demon Lord!"
His emotions surging, Raheim's eyes became bloodshot as he began to shout his account at the top of his voice.
The full story of how a fearsome Demon Lord came into being.
He reported even his own atrocities without concealing anything.
This was not because he had been ordered to do so. He was compelled by a forceful sense that he had to.
In order to be released, even slightly, from his suffering and to receive God's forgiveness.
He must have felt the need to confess his own sins. But... it was unlikely that anything of that degree would earn him forgiveness...
As they listened to the explanation of the Demon Lord's birth, agitation ran through the Holy Knights.
They could not suppress their astonishment at the sheer, absurd level of combat power described.
An attack of light that rendered not only anti-demon barriers and defensive barriers designed for large-scale area magic useless, but even holy barriers.
They had never heard of such magic.
If that attack, capable of piercing through even barriers, were directed at them, there was a real possibility they would be unable to counter it.
But Hinata showed no sign of agitation.
From Raheim's report, she deduced that it was likely an attack produced by converging sunlight.
Once the nature of the technique was identified, countermeasures were simple.
Noticing Hinata's composure out of the corner of their eyes, the Holy Knights gradually regained their calm.
If their commander,
That unwavering trust bolstered the Holy Knights' confidence.
The explanation continued.
When they heard that even an Upper Rank Demon General had appeared, murmuring broke out once more.
It could no longer be ignored.
The existence of an Upper Rank Demon General—one harboring the seed of a Demon Lord—needed to be plucked out the moment it was discovered.
If it was a newly born Upper Rank Demon General reliant on innate abilities, then even three Holy Knights would be sufficient to achieve victory.
To be safe, five should more than guarantee they wouldn't lose.
But one who had accumulated experience over many long years would become a different matter entirely.
Strike before they grow. This had become the iron rule whenever an Upper Rank Demon General appeared.
"Hinata-dono, this is a grave matter. Allow my squad to carry out the subjugation!"
"If you'll have us, we'll go as well. Grant us permission to deploy!"
An elderly Holy Knight spoke, and a younger knight echoed the sentiment. Looking at the situation through their own understanding, none of the others objected.
After all, subjugating an Upper Rank Demon General was considered something to be done as quickly as possible.
But...
Raheim's story was not over.
There was more.
...Or rather, one might say that everything up to now had been the prelude.
The Holy Knights did not know this.
That was why they could speak of trivial things like subjugating an Upper Rank Demon General.
"Please wait.
An Upper Rank Demon General is irrelevant.
The light magic I mentioned earlier. I reported that we were annihilated by it.
However, that is not entirely accurate.
Our total forces amounted to fifteen thousand. This elite army was rendered completely helpless and wiped out by a single monster.
This is true in the most literal sense.
Not the military term for 'annihilated,' but literally...
We were all slaughtered. This is not a metaphor—it means exactly what it says..."
The sacred cathedral was enveloped in silence.
In the solemn atmosphere, not a single person uttered a word.
A monster capable of slaughtering fifteen thousand people single-handedly. And that recalled a certain legend.
The legends of monsters who had, alone, destroyed entire cities and become Demon Lords.
In the truest and most literal sense—a "Demon Lord." One who had caused great destruction.
The existence beyond humanity's capability to handle, the Special S-Class monsters, were said to be limited to the "
Currently, only three remained, and one of those had been sealed until just moments ago.
Those three were officially designated as Special S-Class.
But in truth, two of the Demon Lords who were at the upper echelon among their kind would not be surprising if designated Special S-Class as well.
The reason they hadn't been was simple.
They had been running rampant before the Church's founding, and were not currently active, so no damage had been confirmed.
In other words, if any of them were to become active in the present day, they would be certified as Special S-Class.
At the confirmed strength levels, they were opponents that no human hand could defeat. That was what Special S-Class meant.
The predecessor of the Holy Church was said to have been established over a thousand years ago.
If one traced the legitimate lineage, it went back twelve hundred years.
At that time, "Dark Emperor"
There were likely other Demon Lords who had awakened to their true nature, but none had caused large-scale destruction in a public manner.
That was precisely why, to avoid unnecessarily stirring public anxiety, all Demon Lords were officially designated as S-Class.
The category meant that if humanity pooled its strength, they could be dealt with.
In an era without a Hero, they could not very well declare that these beings were beyond humanity's power to handle.
And yet, this time, the monster in question...
It appeared that for the first time among Demon Lords, an official Special S-Class designation might actually be necessary.
The heavy silence continued.
It was born from a reluctance to acknowledge the true birth of a Demon Lord.
There was an overwhelming gulf between a mere "Demon Lord seed" and a "True Demon Lord."
But...
"Hmm, there's no point in remaining silent forever.
So, Raheim. In your judgment, do you think that one has awakened?"
Hinata broke the silence with her question.
Raheim's answer was unambiguous: "Yes. I believe the offering to become a Demon Lord has been fulfilled with the lives of fifteen thousand."
There was no mistaking its clarity.
"I see..."
Hinata murmured, and began to think.
It had been fortunate that she had avoided deploying to subjugate the monster nation of "Tempest" without understanding the situation.
If the opponent had awakened and evolved into a "True Demon Lord," then the number of troops would be meaningless.
Even if they were elite soldiers, anyone below a certain threshold of power would be useless.
The devastation of the subjugation force proved as much.
Even considering they were likely in an unawakened state, they had been defeated by a single being.
Since ancient times, it was established that defeating a Demon Lord required a handpicked Hero and their party of companions.
If that was the case...
"I suppose I have no choice but to go myself," she murmured.
If the opponent was a Demon Lord, she would have to take the field personally.
Bringing ordinary soldiers would only increase casualties—it would serve no purpose.
A small elite force.
Or perhaps committing only the hundred Holy Knights would give them the highest probability of victory.
Hinata accelerated her thinking further.
Three steps ahead, three steps beyond that.
Complete victory— that was what truly mattered.
Just then, as if to disrupt Hinata's thoughts, Raheim suddenly began convulsing in agony.
And the face that had sprouted from Raheim's chest suddenly began to speak.
An expression of anguish gradually subsided into composure...
"Ah-ah, testing, testing, testing. Can you hear me?
(We're already connected!)
(Eh? We're connected? Seriously?)
...Well, whatever.
Ahem.
I guess this is our first time meeting? I'm the lord of the monster nation, Rimuru.
Let me say this upfront—this is a message. Talking to this messenger won't reach me, so keep that in mind."
The words spilled out just like that.
The knights who had been drawing their swords against Raheim choked on their own words.
If they hadn't been pointed out, they would have started talking to him directly.
The Holy Knights froze in shock.
Hinata, her expression unchanged, decided to wait for the rest of the message.
Inwardly, she was evaluating numerous possibilities. But not a single one showed on her face.
With an astonishing degree of self-control, she dominated even the movements of her heart.
"This messenger—did he appeal to your taste?
Quite the handiwork, right? Just to be clear, this isn't my hobby.
Don't get the wrong idea.
(Um, this isn't my hobby either...)
(Shut up. Be quiet! They might be able to hear you too!)
(You're right. That was close.)
The matter of hobbies was irrelevant.
He moved to the main topic. He wanted to know how they intended to settle this matter.
Let me say this upfront—your side made the first move.
There are witnesses, so that can't be denied. What do you intend to do about it?
From my perspective, if your side acknowledges your fault and offers an apology, I'm willing to let this matter go.
But if you insist on hating monsters and continue to view us as enemies, then I'll deal with you with everything I have.
I'll face you with the spirit of never yielding, never fawning, and never looking back.
(Eh? Shouldn't you sometimes look back and reflect?)
(That's why I said shut up! What if they hear you? It'll destroy my dignity!)
So there you have it. Think it over carefully.
Also, changing the subject—Hinata, you're there, aren't you?
This message works by detecting your waveform and transmitting accordingly.
That's fine. What I want to say is this.
How dare you launch an unprovoked attack without even listening to what I had to say last time!
I nearly died! But unfortunately for you, I survived.
If you come at me without discussion again next time, I'll deal with you in earnest.
But... I'd like to have a serious conversation, at least once.
Consider it.
If we find that we truly can't see eye to eye, then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Send your reply through this messenger.
These living heads embedded in his body are called Blood Shadow Berserkers.
These bastards slaughtered my companions. I will not forgive them.
So I've already killed them and embedded their heads here.
This messenger is also already dead. I've granted him immortality so that he can only experience suffering.
If he brings my message back to me, I'll put him out of his misery.
If you handle it yourselves, I'll use Spirit Particle Annihilation to erase him.
If you try to kill him halfway, it'll only make him suffer more, so keep that in mind.
Either way, I'm heading to the Banquet of Demon Lords now.
Whether it's a negotiation or a final settlement, that's a discussion for after I return alive.
It'll probably be about a week, so think it over and send me your answer by then.
Well then. I'm looking forward to a good reply."
With that one-sided declaration, the message ended.
The Holy Knights, speechless, directed their gazes toward Hinata, in whom they placed their trust.
Receiving those stares, Hinata did not flinch.
She was busy organizing the information she had just received.
There had been parts that felt like an ongoing conversation, but she set that aside.
His attitude might be frivolous, but the content was no laughing matter.
The most critical point was the possibility that his trump card—Spirit Particle Annihilation—had been analyzed.
If it came to a fight, there was a high probability it would not work on the opponent.
It might have been a bluff meant to create exactly that impression, but it would be unwise to be optimistic.
The greatest failure in the last battle had been not noticing that she had survived.
For Hinata, it was rare, but a sense of regret stirred within her.
Another important point was that he had investigated their information.
His knowledge of the matter concerning befriending monsters clearly suggested he knew the Church's doctrine.
And yet, he still intended to explore the possibility of cooperation.
From Hinata's perspective, that was an undeniably naive way of thinking.
And finally.
The monster named Rimuru—he was undoubtedly not lying.
What he had said during their previous encounter—that he had come from the same world and been reincarnated as a monster.
That was... almost certainly true.
His choice of words had been far too natural.
That nuance was unmistakably that of a familiar, nostalgic Japan.
Hinata, whose eyes had closed at some point, opened them.
And without hesitation, she used Spirit Particle Annihilation to erase Raheim.
If Rimuru's words were true, then granting him a swift death was the greatest mercy she could offer Raheim.
Then, she declared to the Holy Knights: "Do not be swayed. The doctrine is absolute. There is no need to listen to the words of monsters!"
Though she felt a contradiction in her own words, she made sure not to let it show.
If she were truly dismissing the monster's words, there would have been no need to use Spirit Particle Annihilation on Raheim.
She had done it because she believed him, and had acted accordingly—but the Holy Knights did not notice.
She was the "Chief Knight of the Papal Imperial Guard Division," the one who guided the Holy Knights.
As commander of the Holy Knights, she had to set an example for them.
With a resolute bearing, she commanded the Holy Knights and turned to deliberating on the matter at hand.
(Now then, what to do about this...)
For the first time, she lacked the certainty of victory.
Hinata sank into a somber mood, but her convictions did not waver.
It was a difficult problem.
But for Hinata, it was simply a matter of calculating dispassionately as she always did, and arriving at the answer.