Hinata rode towards the Kingdom of Blumund, determined to find Rimuru and resolve the issues weighing on her conscience. She intended to make this journey alone, but before she knew it, her fellow holy knights were already by her side, ready to accompany her.
"What do you think you're doing?" Hinata asked, her voice filled with concern. She knew the risks they faced in approaching a Demon Lord.
Arnaud, always quick to reply, said in a nonchalant tone, "We should be asking you that, Hinata-sama. Are you going to take all the glory for yourself?" Although he tried to hide it, the truth was that he was genuinely worried about his captain and wouldn't dare let her face everything alone.
"Are you an idiot? I'm just going to talk to him. I have no intention of claiming any glory."
After a brief pause, Hinata added, "You're being reckless. We're talking about a Demon Lord. It was I who caused his wrath, so I must take responsibility and do everything possible to prevent a bloodbath. Therefore, return to Lubelius immediately!"
Fritz, one of her companions, calmly replied, "Everything is fine in Lubelius. Lennart and Giard are taking care of things while we're away."
"We don't want to overshadow your sacrifice, Hinata-sama," said Litus, and then Bacchus added, "Glory shines only under you. And the message didn't say you had to go alone, right?"
Seeing the determination in their eyes, Hinata sighed and, with a slight smile, gave in. "Do as you wish."
The knights smiled, satisfied with Hinata's decision. Arnaud, especially excited, exclaimed, "Let's go defeat this Rimuru and bring glory to Hinata-sama!"
As soon as Arnaud finished his sentence, an oppressive and overwhelming aura suddenly emerged, forcing the horses to stop abruptly, neighing in despair.
The air around them seemed to compress, making it hard to breathe, almost impossible to maintain. An overwhelming presence enveloped them, as if space itself was bending under the weight of a colossal power.
The holy knights, as experienced and powerful as they were, couldn't avoid the fear growing in their hearts. This was not something they had faced before.
Hinata narrowed her eyes, trying to identify the source of that power. "Not even Luminas exudes such a crushing power... could it be Veldora?" She thought to herself, while maintaining her usual calm posture.
Soon, a figure began to emerge from the spatial distortion. At first, just a silhouette, but soon familiar features stood out: silver hair, flowing like the very light of the moon, and a face Hinata would recognize anywhere. The face of her former mentor, Shizue Izawa... but this was not Shizue. The power emanating from the figure left no doubt: it was Rimuru Tempest, the Demon Lord.
Hinata, as much as she tried to maintain her usual composure, could not hide the astonishment that took over her face for a few brief moments. When did he become so powerful? She wondered as the crushing aura seemed to distort the environment around her.
Rimuru, however, appeared calm. He walked slowly towards them, his form elegant and beautiful, almost ethereal, leaving everyone perplexed. His face was delicate and androgynous, attracting both for its grace and the strength his eyes conveyed. His presence was paradoxical: enchanting and, at the same time, terrifying. The knights didn't know whether they should kneel in reverence or flee in despair.
Finally, his voice echoed, calm but with a depth that made the ground vibrate slightly. "It's been a while, Hinata," he said in an almost friendly tone, which violently contrasted with the overwhelming aura that still suffocated them. "I'm glad you came to talk to me... but why are you not alone?"
Hinata, being the strong and fearless woman she was, gathered all her willpower to respond, controlling the fear that threatened to surface. "It really has been a while, Rimuru. My intention was always to come alone, so I ask you to forgive my foolish subordinates for having followed me."
As she spoke, the holy knights began to process what was happening. That being before them, the one who emanated a power capable of suffocating even the bravest warriors, was none other than the Demon Lord, Rimuru Tempest.
Arnaud, sweating cold, thought to himself, "I was delusional to believe I could face this being... He is absolutely monstrous... It's like being in the presence of the very goddess Luminas." The other knights shared similar thoughts, their hearts tight with the terror they felt. They had underestimated the threat Rimuru posed.
Rimuru, noticing the unease among the knights, gave a slight smile, but his aura didn't lessen in the slightest. "I see your companions are loyal," he said, more to himself than to Hinata. "But this is not a conversation for everyone to hear."
With a simple gesture, the pressure around the knights increased exponentially. Before they could react, an invisible force enveloped them, completely immobilizing their bodies. They tried to fight against the paralysis, but it was useless.
Rimuru's Haki, amplified by the power of the True Dragon, had rendered everyone incapable of movement.
"You'll stay here for now," declared Rimuru, his voice echoing with unquestionable authority. He then turned his gaze to Hinata, who looked at him with a mixture of surprise and anger, trying to understand what he intended.
Before she could react, Rimuru moved with divine speed, appearing right in front of her. "Hinata, you'll have to forgive me for this." He murmured in a tone only she could hear. And with a smooth movement, he enveloped her in his arms.
Being carried like a princess, Hinata immediately became embarrassed and exploded with anger, saying, "What do you think you're doing? Let me go now!"
She struggled in every way imaginable, trying to escape from Rimuru's arms, but he pretended not to hear and held her even more firmly. Without hesitation, he looked at the holy knights who were watching the scene, perplexed.
"Don't worry about your captain," Rimuru said, his voice calm but with an unquestionable tone of authority. "I'm taking her to a safe place. We'll see each other soon."
Before they could react, Rimuru spread his wings and took off towards Tempest.
It was a scene worthy of being remembered: Hinata Sakaguchi, the feared and respected Saint, being kidnapped by the Demon Lord Rimuru. The shock and confusion of the holy knights were visible, but none dared to move a muscle.
---
As they flew toward Tempest, Hinata, still struggling futilely against Rimuru's grip, couldn't contain her indignation. "You're insane! I can't believe you're kidnapping me! What do you expect to achieve with this?"
Rimuru looked at her for a brief moment, his serene smile betraying none of his thoughts. "You'll find out soon."
Upon reaching Tempest, Rimuru landed gently on a green hill, from where the entire city could be seen. A soft breeze swayed the trees, and the clear sky stretched for miles. He then placed Hinata on the ground, who immediately took a step back, preparing to attack him, her eyes glowing with fury.
"Why did you bring me here, Rimuru?" she demanded, her tone now colder and more controlled.
For a moment, Rimuru let out a soft laugh and then, with a more serious expression, approached and replied, "Because I'm a Demon Lord, and we are known for being evil and selfish, taking everything we consider valuable." He said, his eyes fixed on hers. "I'm kidnapping you because I want you..."
Hinata's eyes widened, her heart pounding with the unexpected revelation. Rimuru continued, without hesitation. "Hinata Sakaguchi, I want you to marry me!"
At that moment, Rimuru looked intently, internally laughing. Knowing Hinata, he knew she wouldn't accept it, but he had always wanted to provoke her this way. So, he waited eagerly for her reaction.
But, to Rimuru's surprise, the response was not what he expected.
Hinata was initially shocked by the sudden proposal from the Demon Lord. However, amid the confusion, she began to think.
Her instinct led her to believe that Rimuru wanted her close to torture her, forcing her to pay for everything he had suffered because of her. To Hinata, Rimuru was clearly angry with her. He couldn't possibly want to marry her for any other reason.
If that were the case, Hinata had already prepared for battle, willing to risk her life to eliminate him if necessary. However, after witnessing Rimuru's true power during their recent encounter, she knew that facing the Demon Lord in a direct confrontation would be madness, a provocation to someone even Luminas, the Demon Lord she served, couldn't handle.
Faced with the situation, Hinata considered humanity's safety above all else. If that was the price to maintain peace and avoid a war between humans and Rimuru's forces, she was willing to sacrifice herself. With a heavy heart but determined, she looked at Rimuru, feeling guilty and slightly embarrassed.
"If this is the price for your forgiveness, then I'm willing to pay it," said Hinata, with a firm tone, though slightly blushing. "I accept your proposal."
As soon as she accepted, the voice of the world suddenly announced something like:
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But the moment was so unique that neither of them seemed to hear the voice of the world.
Rimuru was visibly perplexed. What was supposed to be a playful provocation had turned into something completely unexpected. He couldn't deny that he had expected a different reaction, perhaps an explosive response or a definitive refusal, but Hinata surprised him with her acceptance without him even needing to explain the joke.
He remained silent for a few seconds, contemplating the seriousness in Hinata's gaze. Rimuru, deep down, felt a bit guilty for having joked about something so delicate, but how could he undo the situation now? It was impossible; it would be totally anticlimactic. Besides, Hinata would probably kill him if he told her it was all a joke.
Feeling embarrassed, he let the situation stand as it was. As his thoughts raced, he realized that he had created a bigger dilemma than he had imagined.
Hinata, on the other hand, carefully watched the changes in Rimuru's expression. Her sharp gaze didn't miss anything, and she said, with a tone of growing frustration: "Hey, why did you suddenly get so shy? Say something!"
Rimuru, caught off guard, quickly snapped out of his trance. "It's nothing, nothing at all," he replied, scratching his head, trying to maintain his composure. "Well... I think we should discuss this in a safer place."
Hinata crossed her arms, clearly suspicious, but didn't interrupt.
"Hold my hand," Rimuru said, extending his hand to her. "I'll teleport us to a safer place."
With that information, Hinata shot him a deadly glare. "If you could teleport us from the start, why did you insist on flying with me in that ridiculous way?"
There was the Hinata Rimuru remembered: a woman with a strong personality who wasn't afraid to speak her mind, no matter who her interlocutor was.
Rimuru, without hesitation, responded with a mischievous smile: "I just wanted to get some fresh air with a beautiful woman in my arms. What's wrong with that?"
Hinata was visibly embarrassed. She was used to receiving compliments, but something in the way Rimuru said those words unsettled her. There was an inexplicable familiarity between the two that she couldn't ignore.
Perhaps, the reset hadn't erased the memory of their souls; who knows...
Seeing Hinata in silence, without a response, Rimuru smiled even more. "Come on," he said, in a more serious tone now. "You must have realized that someone is targeting our lives."
Hinata, though reluctant to admit it, knew he was right. The danger looming over them was real. Without further hesitation, she took Rimuru's hand. The connection between them seemed deeper than it appeared.
With a blue flash, the two disappeared from the hill, heading towards the safest place in Tempest for the time being: Rimuru's mansion.
_________
Autor's note: Anyone reading so far?