"I have fulfilled my mission, Rin-sama."
Unbeknownst to others, Hinata, who had already returned to Monster Nation, reported the operation to Rin.
"As requested by Violet, I have forced Yuki into Eastern Empire."
Not only that, Hinata also cut off one of Yuki's arms as punishment for using her and harming Shizue.
"Hmm, you did very well, Hinata."
"You no longer need to concern yourself with Yuki."
"Do not worry, he will appear before you soon," Rin said. "At that time, I will personally judge him."
"Yes!"
Hinata knew that from this moment on, she had officially joined Monster Nation.
Rin would no longer pursue the matter of her previously leading an army to attack, and she could now peacefully go to find Shizue and the children.
"Then, what should I do next?"
"Return to Holy Empire of Lubelius."
"Also bring Holy Knights with you there. I need you to stabilize the situation on Cardinal World."
The members of Temple Knights had already been transformed into the Saint Spirit race, a higher-ranking race of Heroic Spirits, through Artoria.
Humans are not monsters, and Saint Spirits are not monsters either.
But just as humans have classifications such as Heroes and Saints, they also possess the possibility of breaking through to higher levels.
However, this kind of breakthrough is unrelated to the simple evolution of monsters.
Simply put, humans are material life forms.
If they maintain their purity, the human race cannot truly achieve an increase in magicules.
Unless they obtain a class similar to that of a Hero or Saint like Hinata.
This process transforms them from purely material life forms into semi-material and semi-spiritual life forms.
What Artoria did was precisely this.
Saint Spirits and Heroic Spirits are simply names given to humans after they gain the attributes of spiritual bodies.
In essence, they still belong to the human race.
Similarly, Awakened Saints and Awakened Heroes follow the same principle.
The "Saint" in "Transcending Mortality to Sainthood" actually represents a dual sublimation of consciousness and soul, reaching the state of unity between heaven and man from a mortal body.
"I understand."
"Are there any other instructions?"
"As for other matters..."
Rin thought for a moment and said, "Tell them to take it easy."
"Take it easy?"
Hinata was initially startled, but she quickly understood the meaning behind Rin's words.
"Are you asking me to restrain Litus and the others?"
"Yes."
"You have received my gifts, and your strength has greatly increased."
More than one hundred Temple Knights now possessed average strength comparable to the former Ten Great Saints, meaning their average magicules exceeded 400,000.
What does this mean?
Even Clayman, who was at the bottom among Ten Great Demon Lords, only possessed this level of magicules.
In other words, more than one hundred Claymans had returned to Holy Empire of Lubelius.
Just thinking about it was terrifying.
Not to mention the Six Great Saints.
Originally they were only Demon Lord level, but now each had reached the standard of an Awakened Demon Lord, which is 1,000,000 magicules.
Even if they had not fully awakened and had not acquired an Ultimate Skill.
Still, the strength of any one of them could rival the former Hinata.
Leaving aside who would win, at least both sides now stood on the same level.
If the six of them joined forces.
Let alone the previous Hinata, even the previous Luminous would likely have been jointly slain by them.
"With such a force suddenly falling into the hands of Holy Empire of Lubelius, I think you, Hinata, understand what this means."
"I will restrain them properly."
Hinata spoke earnestly.
"You need stability in Cardinal World, which is also beneficial for humanity."
Rin did not completely favor monsters. He treated the humans of Cardinal World with equal tolerance.
Hinata represents humanity.
Holy Knights represent humanity as well.
If they returned and vigorously expanded Holy Empire of Lubelius while attempting to unify humanity.
Had they forgotten who granted them this power?
"Do not worry. You are not betraying humanity."
"On the contrary, everything we are doing is for humanity."
According to Rin's plan, the eastern and western regions of Cardinal World would form a relative balance.
He would conquer Empire and, together with Great Jura Forest and the territories of former Demon Lords, establish Monster Nation.
As for the human nations in the west, Rin did not intend to completely destroy them.
Well, Kingdom of Falmuth is an exception.
Artoria would become the new king of Falmuth. Together with Luminous and Holy Empire of Lubelius led by Hinata, they would help Rin manage the human race.
"I understand."
Hinata said calmly.
"Ever since the day I reached an agreement with Luminous, I abandoned that naivety."
The situation of Holy Empire of Lubelius was, simply put, a beautiful illusion.
The tens of millions of people there regularly contributed blood to Vampires in exchange for a happy and prosperous life.
As long as Luminous did not break the agreement, Hinata would do everything possible to protect this illusion.
Perhaps some might think this was no different from being livestock.
But for the people of Holy Empire of Lubelius, what difference did it make whether Vampires or nobles were sucking blood above their heads?
At least this nation had no oppression and no exploitation by nobles.
They could receive education, eat and dress warmly, and enjoy care in old age and protection in childhood.
That is why Hinata acknowledged Luminous as a god.
If the upper Vampires were removed and everything was simplified into the existence of a single god.
Then in such a world, was Luminous not truly a god?
In other worlds that genuinely possessed gods, the nations governed by those gods were not necessarily any happier.
Not to mention that in most fantasy worlds, humans are merely seedbeds from which gods harvest faith.
Gods consume faith, Vampires require blood.
It was precisely because Hinata understood this that she chose to join Luminous's faction and help conceal this lie.
Of course, the most important factor was the difference between Vampires of this world and those of other worlds.
Luminous's Vampire Clan had extremely strict requirements for blood.
What they wanted was not virgin blood or pure blood, but happy blood.
Only when humans lived happily, contentedly, and even willingly offered their blood would the Vampire Clan find it delicious.
Otherwise, the blood of people living in suffering was difficult to swallow.
The blood of high-ranking nobles was even worse, like a chaotic stew mixed with countless seasonings, completely disgusting.
In a certain sense, the Vampires of Cardinal World were more like symbionts of humanity.
Since ancient times, Vampire Clan had protected humanity and helped them establish a foothold on Cardinal World.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)