It was a hot day in June but the two girls ignored the blistering heat. Their expression merry as they shopped for dresses and shoes. After all, one of them was looking forward to her wedding. Though the date had not been set yet, she was proposed to and accepted.
ăNee-chan, howâs this one. Do you think Yojiro will like it?ă
One asked the other, with upturned eyes. She could not have been called a stunning beauty, but was certainly above average.
ăAiko, seriously, Miyaguchi-san will love it no matter what you wear!ă
Her twin sister, albeit older by a few minutes, replied.
ăTeehee, I guess⌠Oh, did I tell you? Iâm heading off to party with him tonight. He said that you can come if you want, will you?ă
ăHmm⌠no, Iâm going back to the hospital. I told you about the patient in my care, right? The one with the stab wound? He was desperately trying to tell me something so Iâm going to go check how heâs doing.ă
ăEh? He was probably delusional from blood loss! What, did he call you his goddess or something?ă
ăGeez, Aiko. Even if youâre marrying the hospital headâs son, you really should take your job seriously!ă
Yuuko admonished her sister. She loved to assume the older-sister role, though she hardly fit the part. Yuuko was a bright and cheerful person but she took her job seriously. And she deeply cared for her sister.
ăWell, then. Iâll let you know how the party went later tonight, then!ă
Aiko said smiling.
But she never returned.
.
.
Saint Demon Confrontation Arc
087. The Holy City
A city enveloped in a tranquil light.
A holy city protected by a holy barrier.
This was a high level defense barrier developed through many years of arduous study.
This barrier prevented uninvited outsiders from entry and protected the city for over a thousand years.
It is truly the embodiment of the citizensâ prayers.
It can even block sunlight allowing the cityâs natural light to be regulated. It is thus brighter in the afternoon and darker at night.
The temperature inside the barrier is mostly fixed throughout the year creating pleasantly cool summers and warm winters.
And thanks to the isolated farmlands, they are able to harvest any seasonâs crop throughout the year.
A paradise where no one starves.
Every child receives equal education and every citizen is employed.
A paradise of law and harmony.
Such is the Holy City Ruberius of the Holy Empire Ruberion.
Hinata walked down the path leading to the Great Holy Chamber.
The gentle warmth that enveloped her seemed to sooth her heavy heart.
This country is wealthy.
No one hungers or sleeps in the streets.
Everyone is given a role that they respect.
They wake up at the sound of the morning bell and fall asleep at sunset.
Those with superior abilities help those with inferior ones. And this harmony ensures that the citizensâ happy life continues.
A land of equality under god. This reality called the Holy City unfolded before her.
Hinata looked at the faces of nearby citizens.
They all had a tranquil smile on their face.
But, she couldnât help feel that something was wrong whenever she was in the city.
She could transfer from the Grand Cathedral in the Holy City Ruberius to the Ingracia Kingdomâs Western Saintâs Church in a split second.
These two cities were connected via a grand magic circuit.
Ingraciaâs capital was the most advanced city in the world and housed both the Council and the Freedom Association.
Thus, in order to spread the churchâs teachings there they prioritized the creation of a direct access into the city.
In fact, around six hundred years ago Ingracia Kingdom and the Holy Empire Ruberion exchanged barrier magic for transfer magic and decided to connect their cities.
As a result, rather than on this holy land, they gained the ability to establish the churchâs headquarters in the Ingracia Kingdom.
Hinata, however, found the holy city to be the ideal and sought to create a society that would not need to fight with neither Ingracia Kingdom nor any other state.
She sought a society where the weak was not devoured by the strong.
However, Ingracia Kingdom and the Holy Empire Ruberion were was too incompatible.
And that caused her to feel out of place.
The Free city Ingracia and the Harmonious city Ruberius; truly, they are polar opposites.
And her discomfort only intensified when looking at childrenâs faces.
She could hear childrenâs voices coming from the school built adjacent to the Great Holy Chamber.
Perhaps running late, a few children were desperately running towards the building.
Those who could run faster were grasping the hands of those who were slow.
A common scene that was hardly problematic. Yet Hinata found it uncomfortable.
What would happen in Ingracia?
There was a school next to the Church.
So she often saw children playing outside. What was it like?
At the crack of dawn, the belated children ran out the gates with a smile. Those too slow would not be able to learn.
At that time, those who were quick had the proud look as if they obtained what was naturally theirs.
What do you think would have happened to these children who would help others like the kids of Ruberius?
Certainly, none of them would make it to the lesson and be yelled by the teacher.
Of course, they only had to wake up earlier.
Yet this was a trivial difference.
But for some reason Hinataâs discomfort just wouldnât fade.
What was different?
Are those faster not kind? No, thatâs not it.
Though they ignored the slower kids, they did not make fun of them.
Moreover, the slow kids just sheepishly laughed.
They were having fun even while getting yelled at by the instructor.
In that case, what about here in Ruberius?
The kids all have the same facial expression.
A tranquil smile.
The same one as worn by the adultsâsatisfaction.
And somewhere within that expression was a sense of abandonment, hence the cause of Hinataâs displeasure.
She only started paying attention to this after the Slime Rimuru mentioned his anger regarding the children.
Though it must have been simple nonsense, Hinata unintentionally mulled over his words.
Hinata shrugged off these thoughts.
She couldnât possibly show such an unsightly appearance before the Seven Celestial Sages.
Last time, immediately after being told that Veldora was reborn, she received a report from the Monstersâ Country Tempest.
As a result, though the Sages had called for her, for some reason they werenât able to meet with her.
Thus, a week has passed.
That being said, that might have been the first time she had met them as the Seven Celestial Sages. And noticed something she hardly cared about.
Last time, when they were telling her about Veldora, was the first time she had seen them together.
Previously, she would study under each one and move onto the next one immediately ater finishing the training.
And, after graduating as a disciple, she had never met them while receiving her orders.
At most, no more than six had gathered at the same time.
Thatâs just how strange these people were.
Theyâve been probably running around the world for some unknown reason.
If thatâs the case, then Veldoraâs rebirth is an unimaginably important event.
Since Hinata had never personally endured Veldoraâs rampage she was not surprised at the news but could still judge its importance based on the response from the other nations.
So she was probably right in delaying the trip to Tempest.
But she couldnât just ignore a demon lord who was reigning so close to humans.
And the presence of dangerous monsters only underlined the urgent need to subjugate them all.
But, was this fellow Japanese who reincarnated as a monster truly a hindrance that needed to be removed?
According to their creed, he was undoubtedly a wicked demon.
So why does she feel so lost�
Moreover.
(I see, I feel lost, huhâŚ)
Hinata was self-reflecting.
Feeling uncertain was unlike her. Thus mocking herself she hardened her heart.
Right, even she could feel lost.
She lived in order to create a âAn equal world without struggleâ.
A world where children abandoned by their parents could live happily.
Perhaps that was an idealistic and impractical goal. But for Hinata, who was about to resign herself to this fact, the church appeared the embodiment of that ideal.
Since then, Hinata would never doubt the Churchâs Creed and systematically worked to propagate it.
Unlike her mother who clung to religion, she was at a position where she protected the creed.
And that was the source of Hinataâs confidence.
Though she didnât believe in god, she would recognize it as long as it was of use.
Achieving oneâs goal was more important.
Thus, she had never faltered since joining the Western Saintâs Church.
And now, for the first time ever, a conflict arose between her thoughts and the churchâs teachings.
So she decided to seek advice from her instructors.
Satisfied with this decision she found herself standing in front of the Great Holy Chamberâs doors.
Without faltering, she opened the door and entered.
Ahead sat her instructors the Seven Celestial Sages.
.
Upon passing through inner chamber she felt the air change.
She was now inside the empireâs absolute defense barrier.
This area was isolated from the outside by a barrier that would prevent anyone not invited from entering.
Hinata proceeded forward in confidence.
The path led along the mountain towards an estate. Thatâs where she would meet her instructors.
When Hinata arrived, four of them were already seated.
Four among the Seven Celestial Sages.
ăI apologize for the delay. I am truly grateful for meeting with me in spite of your busy schedulesă
Hinata greeted them.
She lifted her eyes to see the four calmly nodding.
Their faces hidden behind a mask, she couldnât read their expressions.
ăRelax. No need to sit so formallyă
ăThanks for coming, Hinata. Are you here about Veldora countermeasures?ă
ăWhat a dejected face! That dragon is a natural disaster. Not something we humans can opposeă
ăIs something worrying you?ă
They asked.
As always, she could not tell which one of them said what, perhaps a single one said every one of those lines.
Thatâs how strange they are.
Even the instructors said that itâs pointless to fight Veldora.
But does that not go against their creed?
When she asked, they responded thatăDragon Veldora is a monster and is also not a monsteră.
A dragon is actually a holy spirit and is thus a ball of energy.
Therefore they were nearly intangible beings.
And further, they added,
ăThat annoying dragon recently joined hands with a newborn demon lordă
ăRight. That demon lord massacred Farmasâ armyă
ăNever thought a single being was capable of such a feată
ăAn evil dragon and a demon lord joined hands⌠if we donât proceed carefully, humanity will fallă
Presently, they werenât in a state where they could offer resistance.
But that was not something they could permit.
They couldnât simply consent to an enemyâs rampage just because they were strong.
Hinata lifted her head and looked them in the eyes.
And,
ăPardon this interruption, but I will not run away.
Whether a dragon or a demon lord, I shall bring home victoryă
She declared.
She couldnât forgive herself for thinking that just because the demon lord was a compatriot she could speak to him once.
Perhaps they insisted that we couldnât handle them out of fear for the demon lord.
Human hearts are weak. Judgment is often clouded by fear.
Moreover,
She found it ridiculous to permit a rampaging being to continue existing.
They should immediately destroy him.
ăDonât be conceited, Hinata. Normal attacks will not hurt that evil dragonă
ăEven a hero could only seal him!ă
ăYour attacks could hardly cause it much damageă
ăAngering the opponent would lead to further problems. Do you still insist on trying to defeat him?ă
But Hinata would not waver.
If he needed to be defeated, then she would defeat him.
ăI have come with a request todayă
She replied to their questions.
Honestly, she had wanted to seek advice on how to treat her compatriot who was reborn as a monster, but listening to the report that he joined hands with Veldora and massacred Farmasâ army caused her to reconsider.
As she thought, humans and monsters cannot coexist. They need to be destroyed before they produce further casualties.
Her heart free of worry, she felt at peace.
And she continued quietly.
ăI have come seeking permission to use the spiritual weaponă
She quietly waited for their reply.
The Sagesâ movements stopped and the room was filled with silence.
Suddenly, boisterous laughter filled the room.
ăFufufu, fuhahahahahaha!!!ă
Hinata did no move.
She silently waited for their response.
ăSheâs seriousă
ăVery well, we have witnessed your resolveă
ăPerhaps you can defeat himă
ăIâll permit it, this generationâs âHeroâ Hinata. We will permit you to use the Spiritual Weapon!ă
Spiritual Weapon.
That was a weapon reserved only for heroes and developed in secret by the church as an anti-monster weapon.
As an anti-monster weapon it could only be used by someone loved by the spiritsâa hero.
Hinata is loved by the holy spirits.
But, having never sought this ultimate weapon she hadnât called herself a hero.
Her abilities overwhelmed her enemies so much that she hardly had need for the spiritual weaponsâŚ
But not this time.
For Hinata, a hero was something that her original instructor Izawa Shizue spoke of.
A being which was both overwhelmingly strong and overwhelmingly kind.
A being which could make peopleâs wishes come true.
Hinata understood.
She, whose face were a cruel expression could not become an instrument to fulfill other humanâs hopes.
But this time she decided.
She could not permit the existence of monsters.
Perhaps she could not become the peopleâs hero or grant their wishes⌠but she could become a sword that would destroy anyone that could do them harm
Even if that was a mistake, she could not allow monsters who would slaughter people without reason to continue existing.
Thus, Hinata called herself a hero.
And she drew a large sword.
One that was larger than she was used to. It was so heavy that a grown man probably couldnât swing it around.
Swinging it as a human would only harm oneself.
Even a professional weight lifter would not be able to lift this sword.
As someone who favored the rapier, Hinataâs muscles were not overly developed.
Hinata fought by beating her opponentâs speed.
No matter how specialized this weapon was for fighting monsters, it simply did not suit her.
But, with no hesitation, she approached the sword and lifted it with one hand.
With a carefree look on her face, she glanced over the sword.
She could easily swing the tip at the speed of sound and wield the sword as if it was her own body.
Her movements resembled a sword dance.
No problems.
But this was not due to her strength; perhaps a giant could wield it with strength alone.
Hinata was simply usingăWeight ManipulationăandăInertia Manipulationăat the same time.
So this hefty weapon weighed absolutely nothing to her.
And if she increased the weight the moment it made contact with her enemy, she could land a devastating blow.
Furthermore, no matter how fast her opponent, as long as she nullified their inertia she could deflect their blow.
Thanks to her flexible swordsmanship and these skills, Hinata boasted invincibility.
The extra skills included in her unique skillăUsurperăwere perfectly managed by the unique skillăMathematiciană.
That was her strengthâs secret.
Not because of the spiritual weapon.
The sword was the product of many years of the Celestial Sagesâ research on developing a weapon to counter VeldoraâŚ
And Hinata has long ago acquired it.
She did not need the Sagesâ permission to wear it; she was herself rejecting it.
She convinced herself to only use it when permitted by the Sages.
And they permitted it.
Hinata released her limiter and returned to her true form.
A thin membrane covered her body transforming into armor.
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That was the reason why she did not wear any. That is, she was always wearing it.
That was the hallowed equipment, Saint Armor âHolymailâ.
It was woven from high level spirit power and could only be worn by those who surpassed human powers.
Thus transformed clad in holymail, she had the appearance of a true hero.
Clad in the strongest holy armor, with the strongest anti-monster weapon in hand, she set off.