Shizu-san says so, while smiling gently. The Izawa Shizue who was seen by Hinata and I was not the real person. It was the remains of the real person’s Soul. A fragment of her mind. At the time I absorbed her, her soul was also taken. Thanks to the evolution of Wisdom King Raphael, it seems that the analysis of her soul was a success. Really......... Since the time it was still ‘Great Sage’, what has it done secretly and silently behind me? This fellow… Wasn’t the true Mastermind Wisdom King Raphael-san? I thought so too, but it might also not be true. Inside the constructed thought space, Hinata was being embraced by Shizu-san. “You have done well”, Shizu-san said while praising Hinata. That ruthless Hinata had a relieved expression like a child. Seeing such an appearance I felt a strange feeling. Then, Shizu-san’s hands plucked the wicked insect that was coiling around Hinata’s head, and burnt it completely with her flame. That was, the “Curse’s Crystal” that had started Hinata’s Thought Restraint [1]. 「Wait, hey! Wisdom King Raphael. I also met Yuuki, could I also be under Thought Restraint?」(Rimuru) Although I didn’t think so, I asked to make sure. This Wisdom King Raphael fellow maybe doing something without permission, but it was not a negligent fellow. 《Notification. Master is not under Thought Restraint. However, the traces of Thought Guidance were confirmed. Because of the ability’s evolution, the effect of Thought Guidance has disappeared now. The report came nonchalantly from Raphael as if it was a trivial matter. This fellow, if there were signs, then the probability that Yuuki was the mastermind was high. Even I was not convinced to doubt at that level! This fellow (Raphael), really....... Oh well, perhaps to obtain definitive evidence, it attempted to reproduce Shizu-san’s soul. This fellow was too much of a perfectionist, it won’t report to me, if the information was not absolutely 100% correct. Since my analysis was imperfect, it will trouble and confuse me, if it reported every trivial information one by one. As if it understood what my intentions were, I don’t have any complaint about it. And thus, time passed for a while. Hinata raised her head, did she calm down?
「Nn? Ah! Before this, that person’s subordinate Clayman said that Demon Lord was still alive. He said that person’s Spiritual body seemed to have revived. Because he had detailed information from the human side, I guessed that he was possessing a human.」(Rimuru) 「He is alive? And, he is in a place where he could gather information easily. In the first place, to apply Thought Restraint on me, it doesn’t seem possible for Yuuki to do it at the same time when I arrived at this world. Above all else, his intention or objective was unknown. But, if you say that Kazaream is the mastermind.....」 (Hinata) 「Nn? Do you know something?」(Rimuru)
(Rimuru, thank you about Hinata. As expected you really are a kind person...... This place is very comfortable.....)
I opened my eyes after the signal from Wisdom King Raphael. The time that had been prolonged 1 million fold was returning to its normal flow, and thought link was released. The vicinity was shrouded with scent of the battlefield and we were glaring at each other with the same stance we had a little while ago. In real time, half hour had passed since the beginning of the fight. Even though I felt like the fight took place a long time ago, did my one on one fight with Hinata start only 30 minutes ago? Though I felt like time had already elapsed for several days, it looked like it never happened. 「Well then, shall we continue again?」(Hinata) Like nothing happened, Hinata drew her sword. Eh, wait a minute.
「Hey! The last time I had the advantage over you, I stopped! So, why did you nonchalantly ignore it!」 (Rimuru)
Souei apologized to me while he pushed aside the redhead Holy Knight while being annoyed. Although I was puzzled by what kind of torture he had conducted, I was more worried about what kind of torture that could cause such a reaction. I really don’t understand what’s going on there. 「You, get away from Souei-sama!」(Souka) Souka shouts vigorously with loud voice. But the voice doesn’t match with her completely exhausted appearance. She looks likes she was unable to stand up. If you look around, Gobuta, Gabil and also Souei’s Shadow squad were exhausted and looked like they wanted to collapse. Next to them was Hakurou sighing. 「You guys, will be drilled and tempered by me」(Hakurou) So he grumbled. As the words became the final blow, Gobuta and the others suddenly collapsed. Next to Gobuta and others, the Holy Knights were also similarly worn-out and laying around. It seems like an intense battle had unfolded there. But it seem their battle was not satisfying for Hakurou, didn’t they do their best with Holy Knights as the opponent? 「I was deceived-ssu. My opponent was the strongest one, so cruel-ssu!」(Gobuta) 「To end up drawing a Hobgoblin as an opponent...... That? I am also not in a good position......」 (Gregory) 「It can’t be!......... I have tried my best! And yet why!?」(Gabil)
Was he not playing enough? His tail has hung down but......... Were they relieved by my words? I think I heard relieved voices from the people under Ranga’s feet. Yup, it was their voice, all right. If Ranga played another round with them, those people will die. Frankly, they were saved! Their faces, with their thankful eyes, were directed towards me......... Was it alright for the Holy Knight to do that? I became a bit worried, but it can’t be helped, since their opponent was Ranga. The main problem was about Shion’s opponent’s condition. Why? Why did everyone’s limbs disappear and their body left to squirm on the ground? I believed that Shion’s smug face was a bad premonition. It really was.
These things (people)[4], because they dared to try and oppose Rimuru-sama, I punished them a little.」(Shion)
No no! Even if they are alive, they were not in a good condition. Didn’t those who lost their arms and legs have a blank and hollow expression?! What's more, since they were protecting people, if they lack arms and legs, how could they fight against monsters? She doesn’t understand what I want to say, this fellow....... 「Shion, it seems like it’s just you that did not obey my order. If you don’t have any explanation......」 (Rimuru)
Just when I attempted to speak,
Did she manipulate the system’s effect? An absurd dangerous skill had awakened in this troublesome girl. I cannot stop myself from sympathizing with her opponent. The Holy Knight that had their arms and legs restored, were sharing their joy with each other. Their joy was great since they weren’t turned into a disabled person, which is understandable because of how many daily training they had. Well, it’s because of Shion’s rampage, from now on I decided to pay more attention to her. Well, as long as Holy Knights safety was confirmed, so I thought. However, oh well...... About Hinata, is it because she saw her subordinates in a miserable condition? You reap what you sow, but this is just an excuse. It couldn’t be helped. To set up the fence again, so let’s become an enemy, huh?
Well then, this was the last match. While holding each one’s sword, we closed our distance together. Everyone, including the holy knights, were watching us intently. What is Justice, tedious talk is also not good. In the end, although it was annoying to resort to violence, it was easy to understand. To bet their beliefs, the fight between two people had restarted.
…
However. Frankly, there was no possibility for me to lose. After all, there was『Future Attack Prediction』. Although Holy attribute can pierce through Covenant King Uriel’s Absolute Defense, I already have eyes that can see all the sword lines. Having such thoughts, I must never think carelessly. In my vision, 『Future Attack Prediction』 emitted light for the line of all predicted attacks Nn??? Surprised. What was the meaning of this? To me, who was having such thoughts,
《Solution. Of course. There was a possibility to receive large damage, but it was also possible to regenerate immediately.》
Then, why did it seem like you were panicking? Perhaps......... it was because you wanted me to eat and analyze Melt Slash, right?[7]
《……》
Oh! You still don’t want to answer again! This fellow, gradually the response becomes high class. If it is compared to Human, it was good at scheming. Even if it had an ego, I could honestly believe it. ........But, certainly. It’s because that was something I had wished for. Can I withstand that attack? Can I also use it? In that moment it understood my wishes and immediately executed it, huh? This ability (Raphael) was no joke (overpowered). This ability was way too good for someone like me. 《No. I only exist for Master’s sake》 [8]
You immediately refuted it. Humph, thank you. Hereafter, I will be relying on you, Partner! But... I beg you to not do something secretly.
Inside Thought Acceleration, the exchange between Wisdom King Raphael and I ended instantly. And, invoking Covenant King Uriel’s Absolute Defense, my left hand caught Hinata’s sword. Astonished, Hinata opened her eyes wide. That was so. In my life, that was the fastest strike. Facing Hinata,
「It was my complete defeat, Rimuru. You may do anything you like........」
So she muttered, and closed her eyes.
The fight was over with my victory.
Well then.
Finally, it seems Hinata has become meek to me, did she finally agree to listen to my words?
Thus, the Holy Knights’ attack was completely fended off.
Or precisely, I felt it was too one-sided. I think I would deliberately pretend to have never seen it.
The cleaning up afterwards will be difficult, but the problem was solved for the time being.