Arthur's power surge, felt across dimensions, didn't just register with the Empire; it resonated within the sanctified halls of the Western Holy Church.
Hinata Sakaguchi, the absolute champion of humanity, felt the surge and, rather than being fearful, felt a terrible sense of finality.
She realized her time to act was running out.
Consumed by the desire for revenge for her mentor Shizuka Izawa and fueled by the Church's dogma that all monsters were evil,
Hinata launched her solitary, personal mission.
She arrived at the borders of the Jura Tempest Federation not as a military leader, but as a desperate pilgrim of faith.
Hinata's confusion began before she reached the city.
She intercepted a squad of high-ranking Temple Knights who were preparing to launch a small, unauthorized raid on the Farmus border.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Hinata demanded, her voice cold with authority.
"The Church has not sanctioned any aggression."
"Lady Hinata,"
The Captain stammered, fear mingling with fanaticism.
"We received a direct Divine Message from the Goddess Luminous herself! She commanded us to strike at the heart of the evil monster before it could spread!"
Hinata froze. Luminous. The Goddess of the Western Holy Church.
This was not the first time the actions of the Church's administration seemed disconnected from the 'divine messages' she received.
She knew the Church was merely an organization worshipping the Demon Lord Luminous Valentine, but the internal corruption, veiled by the Goddess's name, had always troubled her.
Hinata used her authority to disband the raid, but the encounter left a seed of doubt: Was the true corruption in the dogma, or the people enforcing it?
Hinata arrived at Tempest ready for battle, but Rimuru met her with diplomacy, not swords.
Veldora and Milim were present, but Rimuru had them strictly confined to a "spectator's box"—a clear message that this was a political, not military, encounter.
"Welcome, Hinata Sakaguchi,"
Rimuru greeted the champion calmly.
"If you wish to duel, Arthur is not here. If you wish to fight, my army is waiting. But I sense you came here for answers."
"The answer is simple,"
Hinata asserted, drawing her Holy sword slightly, its magic shimmering with deadly power.
"You are a Demon Lord, a source of chaos. Your Dragon Guardian's power is an abomination. You destroy kingdoms and tempt the faithful. Your existence contradicts the will of the Goddess Luminous, who seeks the ordered salvation of humanity."
"But do your actions truly align with Luminous's desire for order? You attack a stable nation, bringing chaos back to the human world. Look at Farmus! We installed peace. Your people, the Temple Knights, were planning an unauthorized raid that would have destroyed that peace today."
Rimuru then pointed to a delegation of newly appointed human officials from Farmus, who were observing the exchange under the protection of Benimaru's forces.
"Those are humans, Hinata. They are governing their own people peacefully under our protection. Is the 'monster evil' truly the monster who brings stability, or the dogma that insists on endless, self-destructive war?"
Hinata faltered. She had seen the reports.
The Farmus region was flourishing, something the Church's administration was actively trying to sabotage through propaganda.
The stability of Tempest contradicted every article of her faith.
Seeing Hinata's profound inner conflict, Veldora, who was supposed to be quiet, seized the moment.
He stood up from his seat, towering over the room.
"She speaks the truth, little Knight,"
Veldora boomed, his voice echoing with ancient amusement.
"And let me tell you a secret that will shatter your 'faith.' The Goddess you worship, Luminous Valentine, is not some pristine being of light."
Milim clapped her hands, grinning.
"She's a Demon Lord!"
Hinata stared, aghast.
"Blasphemy! The Goddess of the West is a benevolent force!"
"She is a Demon Lord who uses human faith as her shield and her political tool. She is powerful, yes, but her ideology is a lie sold to your organization by manipulative human hands."
"Arthur deduced this long ago. The Church is a beautiful façade, Hinata, but it is led by humans who twist Luminous's divine will for their own power. Your organization is the true source of your world's instability, constantly pushing for war to maintain fear and control."
Rimuru's final words were the knife twist.
"If you want to serve the will of true justice, then use your strength to purge the corruption in the Church, not the stability of my nation."
Hinata realized the truth in Rimuru's statement.
Her internal struggle—the disconnect between the Goddess's pure ideal and the Church's cruel actions—snapped into clarity.
The monsters weren't evil; the corrupt system that served as Luminous's proxy was.
Hinata sheathed her sword.
"You have not defeated me, Demon Lord,"
She said, her voice shaking with contained turmoil.
"But you have given me a new enemy. My pilgrimage is over. I will return to the Church, but I will no longer serve its lies."
Hinata left, but she did not retreat; she was moving to launch a revolution against her own organization.
Rimuru, without lifting a finger, had won an ideological war and gained a powerful, unexpected asset in the highest echelons of the human world.
Little Spoiler: The end of Danmachi Arc is near.
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