Chapter 120 (1/2)

Setting Off

Hinata returned from her attack on Tempest–which would later be called the “Te defeat

Without a single apology or excuse, Hinata resigned as the head of the iuard and cut all ties with the Holy Empire Ruberion

As such, even the Ees could not punish her Therefore, they si the situation

The Western Saint’s Church, however, could not stay silent

She selfishly went off on her own and even lost Losing to monsters is a problem in itself, but she even dared to return alive And even confir in Tempest were alive and well

In other worlds, they came as assassins but were defeated fair and square That’s not a mistake one can easily recover from

In fact, had they all died, the Church could have attributed it to monsters’ wicked and cruel nature, rile up all of humanity, and…

For the Church, this is by far the worst outcome

Even then, Nicholas was happy that Hinata returned

But that’s a different matter The problem remains

And then, to Nicholas, as holding his head, Hinata so said:

「Just say that I acted on hts and acted without the Church’s approval

Though it will contradict the Church’s dogma that all monsters are evil, but at least it won’t subvert all of it

After all, the weak need the Church

We can’t go around losing an organization that is willing to extend the weak a hand, now can we?」

Without any hesitation she proposed to Nicholas

Just as before, as if looking down upon the world she presented the ical conclusion

If necessary, cut away one to save the whole–perfectly pragmatic

Even if the one to be cut away is she herself, she would not hesitate

But still, she seeer are her eyes filled with blind devotion to the creed

Her face instead carries a smile of nearly divine kindness

And this was a proposal Nicholas could not refuse

Though her face now expresses heartfelt kindness, it did not change her nature Her proposal is well thought out and the Church would suffer e as the result Nicholas understood that too well

「Hinata, did you change a bit…?」

「Have I? Can’t know yourself, now can you? But I do think that I was in too ht I don’t think I rong to sacrifice the few to save the ht for what I believed in But… I also don’t think it’s wrong to try to save everyone I think I was too focused on the big picture and lost so important I don’t want to save just the h if you think it ie it with my own eyes, and pick the path I truly believe in」

「Is that what the Deht you?」

「No, not really A beloved teacher adnized the existence of a demon lord」

「Recognized… a demon lord?」

「Yeah It was not pure evil Just another soul living quite selfishly」

「Is that so… Well then, I will believe in you Hinata-sama And the Demon Lord whom you believed in」

For Nicholas, Hinata is and was everything

Even if she lost, he could not complain if she returned alive

If the Empire decided to punish Hinata, he fully intended to use the West Saint’s Church to defend her

This time, however, it was unnecessary because Hinata herself decided to resign from her post

And disposing of the whole affair as the “Templar Captain’s Revolt,” Hinata became a stray adventurer

One who gives hope to the weak–a Hero

The knight who lived by the creed was dead, and instead the hope of the people was born Nicholas understood this as well

Thus, he did not oppose her actions Later, he would coret it

Hinata then assembled the Templars and the Blood Shadows and declared that she steps down from her post

The Templars were content but the shadows opposed her declaration

「Hinata-sama has been corrupted! She has become weak from her defeat Actually, the demon lord must have seduced her We need to open her eyes!」

And various other things the shadows said, troubling Hinata

To them,

「In that case, that country’s deeon

If you clear it you get an audience with the demon lord

So if you want to “open o clear it first」

Hinata said, and the Blood Shadows, as if having received their orders, departed

「Is it fine?」

Nicholas asked,

「Probably No one dies in that dungeon

The Dees it for fun

But it just ood practice for them

Maybe they’ll go e their spirits」

She said without thinking

Having faced Demon Lord Rimuru once before she has some trust in him

There’s also the fact that Arnaud is there and has related enough for her to make her own conjectures

She also has a good idea as to how to clear that dungeon

Besides, perhaps only Hinata could, but those shadoould be unable to clear the dungeon

Blood crazed and seeing nothing but dogma, the labyrinth may only break their spirits

In fact, later on this beca your spirit

You would challenge that hell again and again, as long as your spirit doesn’t break

As Hinata said, it becath

And the re Blood Shadows returned to the Holy Empire of Ruberion

Since they were affiliated with the Empire anyways, they simply swore loyalty to the Emperor

And upon seeing these ain, Hinata

「Who would’ve thought…」

She lamented

Their presence stank of blood

That she noticed one ti a matter at the Empire

She concluded that their journey to the dungeon was the reason for their much to mechanical and artificial movement

But back to present time,

Excusing herself before the Seven Celestial Sages was a trial in itself

If she fought would she win or lose? The thing is, they gave offof humans

Why she had not noticed it was a mystery in itself