The Eden Accord hit the world like a thunderclap — sudden, powerful, and impossible to ignore. Across continent, leaders gathered in secret chambers, debating what this new alliance meant for their nations. How would the Angels react? What did it mean that Tempest , Dwargo , Blumund , and Sarion had all pledged themselves to a power no one truly understood?
Among them, the Western Holy Church was no exception.
In fact, they were terrified.
They knew what they'd done — how they'd manipulated events, framed Tempest, and sent Hinata after its leader. Now, with Eden's official arrival , they realized just how exposed they were.
And among them all, Hinata was the most tormented.
She had left the sanctuary of the Church behind, her heart heavy with resolve.
Meanwhile – Back at the Hot Springs
"Man, the hot springs here in Tempest are the best," I said, leaning back with a content sigh as I sipped my sake.
Rimuru, in his usual slime form, chuckled beside me. "Glad you like it."
I smirked, swirling the drink in my hand. "You're not wrong. Eden has its own baths—high-tech, climate-controlled, even with artificial starlight—but nothing beats natural hot spring water like this."
Rimuru tilted his head slightly, his golden eyes glinting with amusement. "So even someone like you appreciates the simple things."
I raised an eyebrow. "Of course. No matter how advanced we get, some experiences are irreplaceable. Like this." I gestured vaguely at the serene mountain view beyond the wooden bathhouse walls.
He nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah... there's something about nature you just can't fake. Even with all the tech in the world."
A comfortable silence settled between us, broken only by the soft bubbling of the spring and the distant chatter of visitors.
Then, after a beat, he added, "How's the development program going, by the way?"
I gave him a lazy grin. "Smoothly. We've already begun integrating Eden's infrastructure models with your urban planning data. Should be ready for phase two within the month."
He raised an eyebrow. "And yet you're over here relaxing like a tourist?"
I shrugged. "Even rulers need breaks. Besides—" I leaned back, closing my eyes, "—someone's gotta test the quality of Tempest's hospitality before we start building our own version."
He chuckled softly. "You always have an excuse."
The moment was interrupted as Souei appeared in a flicker of movement, his usual calm demeanor intact.
"Lord Rimuru," he said formally, bowing slightly. "I have a report."
Before Rimuru could respond, another voice cut through the air like steel.
"Permission to kill."
Everyone tensed.
Two figures shimmered into visibility — clad in sleek, black combat gear, their twin daggers mere inches from soueis neck.
"Denied," I said simply.
With a synchronized motion, the two operatives withdrew their blades and stepped back into formation, vanishing once more into invisibility.
I sighed, shaking my head. "Honestly... why are you even protecting me?"
One of the soldiers answered without hesitation. "We must always ensure Your Majesty's safety."
Rimuru and Souei, both visibly stunned by the sudden appearance and disappearance of the agents, finally found their voices.
"Um... Progenitor?" Rimuru asked slowly. "How come I couldn't sense them?"
I gave him a playful smirk. "Would it really be true invisibility if you could sense them? Now would it?"
Souei, still scanning the space where the two had stood, muttered under his breath, "They bypassed my perception entirely."
I waved a hand dismissively. "Now then, you two may go. Enjoy some time off."
They reappeared briefly near the door, kneeling in silent acknowledgment before turning to leave.
Just as they reached for the handle, I added casually, "And before you go—delete the pictures you took."
There was a pause.
"Aye, Your Majesty," one of them replied, voice tinged with something almost like regret.
As the door clicked shut behind them, Rimuru let out a slow breath.
"...Who were those guys?"
I leaned back, grinning. "My shadow guards. Eden's elite. They don't just protect me — they make sure no secrets ever slip through the cracks."
Souei narrowed his eyes. "That level of stealth... that discipline... You truly do operate on another level."
I winked. "Let's just say, when you're the ruler of a superstate, it pays to have a few tricks up your sleeve."
Rimuru groaned. "I'm starting to think I don't want to know what else you're hiding."
"Probably not," I agreed cheerfully. "But don't worry — you'll find out eventually."
Rimuru let out a tired sigh, shaking his head slightly before turning to Souei. "What is the report?"
Souei, ever composed, knelt respectfully beside us, his posture rigid with urgency. "It appears that Hinata Sakaguchi is on route to Tempest. She is accompanied by four others."
The name hit the air like a stone dropped into still water.
I raised an eyebrow, leaning back slightly. "Hinata, huh? That's... unexpected."
Rimuru stiffened. His golden eyes flickered with something unreadable. "Heading here?"
Souei shook his head. "Her group includes four high-ranking members of the Church."
I exhaled through my nose, folding my arms. "So the Church finally decided to make a move."
Rimuru frowned. "No matter. We must be ready for anything."
A short silence passed between us before I spoke again, tilting my head slightly. "Want me to send those two to deal with them?"
He shook his head almost immediately, his tone calm but firm. "No. I already sent her a message. I want to build peaceful relations. If that doesn't work... we'll deal with them accordingly."
I smirked, rising from my seat and draping a towel over my shoulder. "Alright then. But know this — those two are free for two more days. Make your choice by then."
With that, I turned and stepped out of the bathhouse, leaving Rimuru and Souei deep in thought behind me.
The warm night air greeted me like an old friend as I made my way down the stone path, the distant laughter of visitors and the soft bubbling of the springs fading into the background.
I glanced up at the moon, its pale light casting long shadows across the city.
"Now," I muttered under my breath, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of my lips, "to ask those two why they took pictures of me."
With a quiet pop , space bent around me. In an instant, the two shadow guards reappeared — yanked from wherever they were hiding and deposited right in front of me inside the narrow hallway of the bathhouse.
They both had toothpicks in their mouths like some kind of low-tier spies.
And judging by the way their faces paled when they saw me standing there, fully dressed but still radiating just enough pressure to make the air feel heavy, they were scared shitless.
"Now," I said smoothly, placing one hand gently on the wall between their heads — close enough to feel the heat of my presence, far enough that it was almost casual. "Why did you take pictures?"
They didn't even try to stand their ground. Both men dropped like sacks of flour, knees hitting the floor with twin thuds .
One of them, trembling but trying to keep his voice steady, spoke first:
"Your Majesty... pictures of you go for quite a sum on the black market..."
I blinked.
"...Market?"
My expression shifted from calm to mildly baffled.
'Wait, what?' I thought, my inner voice carrying a sharp edge of irritation.
'Eve, why wasn't I informed about this? I'm going to have words with Elysia when I get back.'
<< ...Master, I don't think this is her doing. >> Eve's voice chimed softly in my mind, tinged with amusement more than anger.
<< Though honestly, I can't say I'm surprised. You're a walking legend. Some people just can't help themselves. >>
I exhaled through my nose, shaking my head slightly as I looked down at the two operatives cowering before me.
"So let me get this straight," I said, folding my arms. "You risked my wrath — and by extension, Rimuru's wrath — just to sell some photos on the black market?"
The second agent found his voice, barely. "W-we weren't planning to sell them yet, Your Majesty! We only wanted to—"
"To what?" I interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "Collect blackmail material? Start a shrine? What exactly was the plan here?"
Their silence was answer enough.
I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "Alright. Listen up. You're dismissed for now — but I expect a full report on who else knows about this little 'market' of yours. And if I find out either of you so much as thinks about leaking anything again..."
I let the sentence hang, letting the weight of my presence settle over them like a storm cloud.
They scrambled to their feet, bowed deeply, and vanished faster than most teleportation spells could manage.
I leaned back against the wall, crossing my arms.
"Even in Eden, there's always something new to learn."
<< Well, at least they have good taste. >> Eve teased lightly.
<< That, or they're just really bad at self-preservation. >>
I chuckled. "Yeah. Something tells me this won't be the last time someone tries to make a profit off my face."
Then I turned and started walking down the hall, the night stretching ahead of me like a blank page.
Time to see what other surprises Hinata was bringing to Tempest.
Days passed.
And finally, she arrived.
Hinata stepped into Tempest like a storm rolling in — quiet on the outside, but carrying thunder within. Rimuru and I were already waiting, watching from the edge of the forest where the Yanegiri squad was fighting.
But our attention wasn't on them.
"You sure you don't want my help?" I asked casually, eyes flicking between Hinata and Rimuru.
Rimuru didn't take his eyes off her. "I'm sure. Now go enjoy the show or whatever."
I raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "Aw, you're no fun. Guess I'll just go play with that red-head Shion's fighting."
Before he could stop me — or even protest — I vanished.
Rimuru blinked at the empty space where I'd been, then sighed deeply.
"...And he's gone."
Meanwhile, I reappeared where Shion was..
I clapped my hands together once, drawing their attention.
"Hey there~! Mind if I cut in?"
Shion blinked. "Progenitor?!"
The red-haired fighter narrowed her eyes. "You got a death wish?"
I grinned.
"Oh, I love this part."
Before either could respond, I flicked my fingers. In an instant, I stood between them, one hand lightly resting on each of their shoulders.
"Now now," I said cheerfully. "No need to be so hostile. We're all friends here, right Gard?"
He stiffened at the mention of his name.
"How do you know me?" he growled, pulling back into a defensive stance.
Shion took the opportunity to retreat slightly, clearly recognizing that this wasn't just another random challenge.
I tilted my head, amused. "Let's just say I've been watching for a while. You've got potential — raw, undisciplined, but still there."
Gard bared his teeth like a cornered wolf. "Flattery won't save you."
I sighed, shaking my head. "You're not wrong. But it's not flattery if it's true."
With a sudden burst of speed, he lunged — he threw a punch aimed straight at my chest.
I didn't move.
The punch connected — or rather, it should have.
Instead, his fist stopped inches from my sternum, as though hitting an invisible wall.
I gave him a lazy smile. "trajectory prediction, pressure point recognition, and... hmm, you telegraph your strikes a little too much."
His eyes widened. He pulled back and tried again — a flurry of punches and kicks, each faster than the last.
And every single one stopped short.
Not blocked.
Stopped.
Mid-motion.
Like time had frozen just for his attacks.
He gritted his teeth. "What the hell are you?!"
I shrugged. "Someone who wants to help. If you're willing to learn."
Gard hesitated, breathing hard. "Help? With what?"
I smirked. "With becoming stronger than you ever thought possible. But first — we start with humility."
A flick of my wrist.
A pulse of [Gravitical Collapse].
Gravity twisted.
Gard dropped like a stone, knees slamming into the ground under the sudden weight of invisible pressure.
He grunted through clenched teeth, trying to rise — failing.
"You can't even stand under my aura," I said gently. "And yet you think you can fight me?"
He glared up at me, fire still burning in his eyes.
Good.
"I like that look," I mused. "It means you won't break easily."
I released the pressure.
He staggered to his feet, fists still clenched.
"Again," I said simply.
He charged without hesitation.
This time, I moved.
Not fast.
Just... perfectly.
Every strike avoided by a mere inch. Every kick redirected by the smallest shift of my body.
Then, after a dozen failed attacks, I stepped forward — into his guard — and tapped him lightly on the forehead.
He flew backward, skidding across the ground.
"Lesson One," I said, brushing imaginary dust off my sleeve. "Power means nothing if you can't control the battlefield."
He sat up slowly, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
As soon as he stood, I vanished again — only to reappear behind him, tapping his shoulder.
"Lesson Two: don't let your guard down after losing one round."
He spun around with a snarl, fists blazing hotter than before.
But now, something had changed.
He wasn't holding back.
The air around him shimmered with raw, unrefined power.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Now we're talking."
Our next clash sent shockwaves rippling through the training field. His punches were faster, heavier, fueled by sheer willpower alone.
Still, I danced around every attack — not dodging, not blocking, just... being where he wasn't.
Until finally, he roared in frustration.
"This isn't a fight! It's a damn joke!"
I paused mid-step, tilting my head. "What's wrong? Don't like getting toyed with?"
Gard wiped sweat from his brow, chest heaving. "You're not even trying. This is just some game to you."
I smiled faintly. "Everything's a game until someone wins."
He growled, charging again — but this time, I let him land a hit.
A solid punch to my jaw.
But I let it connect anyway.
I touched my cheek, then looked at him.
"Good. You landed a blow. That's progress."
He stared at me, disbelief in his eyes.
Then fury.
"You bastard!" he spat. "Stop treating me like a child!"
I chuckled. "I'm not treating you like anything. You're the one making assumptions."
He clenched his fists tighter, flames roaring around him like a second skin.
"Fine," he muttered. "No more games."
He launched himself at me with everything he had — no form, no strategy, just pure, unrestrained rage.
And I finally took a step back.
Just one.
Enough to show him that I was giving him space.
Enough to show him that I respected his strength — even if it wasn't enough.
Then—
I turned my head slightly.
Gard followed my gaze.
And then he saw her.
Hinata.
Approaching Rimuru.
And she was carrying a sword that pulsed with terrifying energy.
One he recognized instantly.
"Is that...?"
I nodded slowly.
"She's about to use it."
Gard's breath caught.
Suddenly, the fight between us didn't matter anymore.
Hinata raised her sword its blade glowing with an eerie, otherworldly light. The very air around her seemed to distort as she charged her ultimate technique.
There was no warning.
No hesitation.
She unleashed it straight at Rimuru.
The beam shot forward like a comet, searing through everything in its path.
And Rimuru?
He didn't move.
Didn't dodge.
Didn't flinch.
Instead, he activated [Belzebuth] .
The moment the attack made contact, a shockwave exploded outward.
When the dust settled, Rimuru stood untouched — human form flickering slightly, but otherwise unharmed.
Hinata, behind him, dropped to her knees — then collapsed onto her side, trembling.
But then...
She started laughing.
"Your incredible..." she gasped between breaths. "You took that attack head-on for me, didn't you?"
Rimuru, still standing, wavered slightly — then finally gave in, collapsing to one knee.
Inside my mind, I sighed.
'There goes Raphael — tricking Rimuru into taking an attack head-on for Datta.'
<
I rolled my eyes internally.
'Yeah, yeah. You did something similar 20,000 years ago — and that attack was never used on me again. So thanks for the Datta.'
<> she retorted, still sulking.
Before I could respond, something strange happened.
The sword Hinata had brought with her began to rise from the ground.
Floating.
Glowing.
Then, without warning, it fired.
Straight at Hinata .
The beam struck her square in the chest.
She let out a strangled cry, clutching the wound as blood seeped through her fingers.
Her breathing became ragged.
Her vision blurred.
And she fell.
The moment her body hit the ground, Rimuru was already moving —
"Hinata!" His voice cracked with urgency.
He reached for her wound — instinctively channeling his magic to heal .
But nothing took.
Her body rejected every attempt like it was rejecting life itself.
Frustration flickered in his golden eyes.
Then one of the Saints stepped forward.
"Only holy magic works on Lady Hinata."
Rimuru's head snapped toward him.
"Seriously? Then bring someone who can heal her!"
His voice rang out through the battlefield.
"Litus! Come quickly!"
Litus rushed toward them.
But before she could reach Hinata...
A circle of light flared beneath her feet.
She gasped as radiant chains wrapped around her, halting her mid-step.
The same happened to the other Saints.
Then, from a dark, circular portal that split the air like a wound, two cloaked figures emerged.
One of them spoke first, his voice dry and aged like parchment.
"Demon Lord Rimuru... It is a pleasure to meet you. We are known as the Seven Days Clergy ."
The second man — just as old, just as cold — stepped forward.
"We have come to eliminate Hinata Sakaguchi," he said without hesitation. "For betraying our Trust and for violating our orders."
Silence.
Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Rimuru slowly rose to his feet, his gaze locked onto the two men.
"If you want to take Hinata," Rimuru said, his voice low and steady, "you're going to have to go through me."
One of the cloaked figures tilted his head slightly, as if amused by the challenge.
"Unfortunately, we cannot allow her to live," he intoned.
The second man stepped forward. "The woman you are trying to protect willingly defied the will of our God. Her crime is unforgivable."
A tense silence followed — broken only by the soft groan of pain from Hinata, still lying on the ground, barely conscious.
Then, Renard's voice cut through the air, sharp with accusation.
"I knew you were plotting to kill Lady Hinata from the very beginning."
But before he could say more.
Garde moved.
With brutal precision, he drove the tip of his spear into Renard's side.
Renard gasped.
Blood spilled.
Garde pulled the weapon free with a sickening squelch , his expression unreadable.
"Watch your tongue... scum," he said, voice laced with quiet contempt.
As Renard fell to his knees, clutching his side, Garde took a step back — and tore away his skin.
Gasps rippled through the gathered Saints.
"He's one of them too..." someone whispered.
Rimuru's golden eyes narrowed, but before he could act, Shion, Benimaru, and Souei moved in unison.
They launched themselves at the two clergy members, weapons drawn and magic flaring.
But to no awail.
"They're protected," Souei reported, voice tight with frustration. "Standard attacks won't break through."
The two men didn't retaliate immediately.
Instead, they began chanting.
A complex magic circle formed beneath them — glowing with cold, white light.
Its focus wasn't defensive anymore.
It was offensive.
And its target?
Both Hinata and Rimuru.
One of them intoned. "Initiating: Trinity Break ."
Dozens of radiant lines cut through the air — each one lined up to strike down in a devastating barrage.
Rimuru stood between her and the incoming attack, bracing himself instinctively.
But then—
"I think that's enough."
I stepped forward, raising a single hand.
The beams froze mid-air — suspended like frozen arrows in the sky.
Silence fell.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Garde's expression shifted slightly, his grip tightening on his spear.
"What... just happened?" one of the Saints muttered.
I tilted my head toward the two clergy members.
"You heard me. I said that's enough."
My tone wasn't angry.
Not loud.
Just... final.
Like gravity deciding which way the world should fall.
The two cloaked figures hesitated — their chant faltering as they realized something had gone completely off-script.
Their spell — a high-tier holy attack meant to kill threats — had been halted like a switch had been flipped.
One of them narrowed his eyes.
"Who are you?"
I smiled faintly.
Then I turned to Rimuru.
"Still want to handle this peacefully?"
He looked up at me, then at Hinata.
After a pause, he exhaled.
"No," he said quietly. "Not anymore."
I smiled — slow, sharp, and full of something far colder than amusement.
Then, I turned my gaze to the three clergy members still hovering in the sky.
"[Hell's Chains]," I said simply.
The air itself twisted.
From nothingness, dark chains erupted — thick, barbed, and pulsing with a dull, malevolent energy. They wrapped around the three figures in an instant, coiling around their limbs, torsos, even their throats.
They screamed.
Not from fear.
From pain.
Real, undeniable, soul-wrenching agony.
I didn't flinch.
Didn't move.
Just stood there, hands in my pockets, watching them writhe like insects pinned under glass.
"You're too high," I said, voice calm. "For my liking."
Then the chains yanked down.
They were slammed into the ground with bone-deep force.
Dust burst outward.
When it settled, their bodies lay half-buried in the earth, twitching faintly — barely conscious, barely breathing.
The onlookers — Saints, soldiers, even Rimuru's closest allies — stared in stunned horror.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Finally, Rimuru broke the silence.
"What the hell did you do to them?" he asked, his voice low, strained. A cold sweat had formed at his temple.
I tilted my head slightly, still watching the broken forms in the dirt.
"Oh, nothing," I said casually. "They're just experiencing the kind of pain no human ever has."
A heavy silence settled over the battlefield — the only sound the faint groans of the bound clergy as they twitched under the oppressive weight of my chains.
Then, behind them.
A door appeared — tall, ornate. It opened without a sound, revealing two figures standing at its threshold.
One was a man clad in white robes, golden threads weaving intricate patterns across the fabric. His presence exuded authority, calm, and quiet power.
The other was a woman — pale-haired, dressed in a sleek black dress. Her eyes gleamed with recognition.
"Hello, Demon Lord Rimuru," she said smoothly. "It's been a while."
Rimuru blinked, clearly taken aback. "...Yeah. It has been a while."
He hesitated, glancing between the two newcomers.
The woman continued, her voice soft but firm. "It seems my subordinates have caused you trouble. For that, I am sorry."
At her words, the remaining Seven Days Clergy — the ones not currently embedded in the earth — stiffened.
The man beside her turned sharply toward the gathered Saints, his gaze sweeping across them like a general addressing his troops.
"I am Cloistered Emperor Luis ," he announced, his voice carrying the weight of command. "I order you all to cease hostilities at once. On your knees."
The Saints dropped instantly — some out of instinct, others out of sheer compulsion.
Luis gestured toward the woman beside him.
"You are in the presence of your God — Lady Luminus ."
The name hit the crowd like thunder.
Gasps echoed through the battlefield.
Their God... had descended.
Luminus paid no mind to the chaos around her.
Instead, she walked forward — unhurried, composed — until she reached Hinata's motionless body.
She crouched beside her, expression unreadable.
"You never listen to my orders," she murmured, almost fondly.
Then, with a simple motion, she extended her arms — palms glowing with soft, radiant energy.
Light spilled outward.
Hinata's chest rose.
A breath.
Then another.
Her eyes fluttered open — unfocused at first, then widening in shock.
"...L-Lady Luminus?"
Luminus offered a small smile.
"I told you I'd keep an eye on you. Seems like you needed it more than usual today."
Luminus simply stood, brushing off her dress.
"Yo, Luminus. Been a while," I said casually, slipping my hands into my pockets.
She turned toward me, one eyebrow raised slightly.
"I must say," I continued, placing a hand dramatically over my chest, "it hurts that you stopped visiting."
Her expression didn't change.
"...What do you mean, I stopped visiting?" she asked, tilting her head ever so slightly.
I blinked.
Then paused.
Then mentally sighed.
'Wait... is she playing dumb?'
<<...>>
'I see. So this is your doing.'
I glanced upward slightly, reading between the lines.
'No matter. Even you can feel jealousy, huh?'
<<...>>
I gave a small shrug, deciding to let it go — for now.
"Nothing. Must've mistaken you for someone else," I said, smoothly pivoting the conversation.
I gestured lazily toward the three clergy members still half-buried in the ground, groaning under the weight of my chains.
"Anyway. Here are your guys. Hope you don't mind them being a little... worse for wear."
Luminus followed my gesture, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied the broken figures.
They weren't unconscious — far from it. They were fully aware, fully conscious, and very much regretting every life choice that led them to this moment.
She exhaled softly through her nose.
"They always did act before thinking," she murmured, almost disappointed.
One of them tried to speak — perhaps to beg, perhaps to protest.
But all that came out was a choked whimper.
Luminus flicked her wrist.
The chains tightened.
A second later, they vanished entirely — dissolved into nothingness.
The three men collapsed completely, their bodies trembling but no longer restrained.
She looked back at me, expression unreadable.
"Thank you... for not killing them."
I smirked faintly.
"Don't mention it. Literally. If word gets out I'm showing mercy, my reputation will suffer."
She gave me a long look — the kind that said she knew better , but also she appreciated the effort .
Then, after a beat...
"You're insufferable."
I grinned.
"But lovable."
She rolled her eyes — but there was a flicker of amusement in them.
Before either of us could say more, a voice cut in from behind me.
"Progenitor."
I turned slightly.
Rimuru stood there, arms crossed, watching the exchange with sharp, calculating eyes.
He looked between me and Luminus.
Then sighed.
"I guess I should've expected something like this."
I winked.
"Expect the unexpected, Rimuru. That's how the game's played."
He shook his head, muttering under his breath, "You really are impossible..."
I clapped my hands together once.
"Well! Now that the divine intervention portion of the evening is over, what say we grab a drink? My treat."
Rimuru gave me a flat stare, arms crossed.
"First, we need to figure out how we're going to move forward with the Church."
Before I could argue — or deflect — disaster struck.
A familiar voice groaned from behind us.
"Ugh… what is this white robe? It doesn't suit me at all."
We all turned.
Veldora was standing there, holding up one of the discarded robes from the clergy members who had just been punished by Luminus.
He tugged at it like it was cursed clothing, frowning as he examined the embroidered sigils.
Then he looked up — and spotted Luminus.
"Oh! Demon Lord Luminus! Nice seeing you again!" he said brightly, flashing her a smile.
There was a beat of silence.
Luminus stared at him — not with amusement, not with annoyance, but with something far worse.
Barely contained rage.
"You insufferable lizard," she muttered, her eye twitching slightly.
I, of course, couldn't help myself.
"Hey, Veldora," I chimed in, smirking slightly. "You really shouldn't go around exposing people's identities like that."
That set off a ripple through the gathered Saints.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
"Wait… our God is a Demon Lord ?"
"No way… Lady Luminus isn't a deity?"
"This whole time… we've been serving another Demon Lord?"
The murmurs grew louder.
Luminus' aura began to shift — subtle, but dangerous.
She took a slow breath, clearly trying to maintain composure.
Rimuru stepped forward, sensing the impending catastrophe.
"Yo, Veldora," he said, clearing his throat. "You should probably apologize."
"Yeah, yeah," Then with a smile, he added:
"Alright, alright. I'm sorry I destroyed your city back then. I was young! Call it a youthful mistake!"
The vein on Luminus' forehead pulsed visibly.
She didn't blink.
Didn't smile.
Just stared.
Then, finally, she spoke.
"Demon Lord Rimuru. "
Her voice was cold.
Measured.
Deadly.
"Bring that lizard to me."
Rimuru stiffened — clearly not expecting compliance to be part of this equation — but after a brief pause, he sighed and grabbed Veldora by the collar.
The ancient dragon flailed slightly, eyes wide.
"Woah woah woah , buddy," Veldora stammered. "Let's talk about this before we do something rash—"
Too late.
With surprising ease, Rimuru dragged him forward and deposited him at Luminus' feet like a disobedient pet.
She blinked, clearly surprised by how quickly he'd complied.
"...That was easier than I expected."
Veldora, still being held up by Rimuru's grip, gave her a desperate grin.
"See? He knows I'm not that bad!"
Before he could finish his sentence, Luminus reached out — her hand wrapping around his arm.
Then she pulled .
A pulse of energy surged outward.
Veldora gasped — then let out a sharp cry as his own power began draining away, siphoned effortlessly by Luminus' touch.
His body convulsed.
"You've betrayed me, Rimuru!" he yelled, twisting in pain. "I thought we were buds!"
Rimuru crossed his arms, watching without sympathy.
"Sorry, Veldora. You brought this on yourself."
He turned away from the writhing dragon and shifted his attention to Hinata.
She had just gotten back on her feet, blood still staining her clothes, breath still shaky — but her eyes were clear.
And they were locked onto Veldora.
The great dragon, legendary terror of the skies, reduced to a groaning mess under Luminus' grip.
Hinata blinked slowly.
Then exhaled.
"I… didn't expect this."
Rimuru chuckled faintly. "Yeah. Not exactly how I imagined today going either."
Behind them, the gathered Saints watched in stunned silence — their God casually punishing someone who, until recently, they believed was one of the most powerful beings in existence.
Luminus finally released Veldora, letting him collapse in a heap.
He wheezed, rubbing his arm.
"Man… that hurt more than when Milim hit me in the head."
Luminus ignored him.
Instead, she turned to Hinata — her eyes softening slightly.
"You're lucky you survived," she said simply. "Don't waste the second chance you've been given."
Hinata nodded slowly.
"I won't."
A long silence followed.
Then, unexpectedly, I stepped forward.
"Well," I said, clapping my hands together. "Now that the divine punishment portion of the evening is over… drinks?"
Everyone turned to me.
Some annoyed.
Some confused.
One (Veldora) still too dazed to process anything.
I grinned.
"What? Just trying to lighten the mood."
Luminus turned toward me then, her eyes narrowing slightly — not in anger, but in something closer to concern. Or maybe curiosity.
"What did you do to them?" she asked, voice calm, but edged with unease.
I tilted my head slightly, feigning ignorance. "To who?"
"The three clergy," she said, her tone sharpening. "They wanted to die… I could feel it. Their minds were broken. Like they'd seen something they weren't meant to survive."
A flicker of amusement passed across my face.
But it wasn't a kind one.
"That answer is better left unknown to anybody but me," I said, my voice light — almost teasing — yet carrying an undercurrent of something far colder.
Inside my mind, I allowed myself a single thought.
'I wonder how they'd react if I told them that one minute of their agony lasted a million subjective years to them.'
The idea didn't bring satisfaction.
Not exactly.
It brought clarity.
A reminder of what I was capable of — and what I chose to keep buried beneath polite smiles and casual banter.
Luminus studied me for a long moment, her expression unreadable.
Then she exhaled slowly, shaking her head.
"You really are terrifying sometimes."
I gave her a small, knowing smile.
"Only sometimes?"
She didn't respond.