DID YOU KNOW? YOU CAN NOW READ THREE TO SIX CHAPTERS AHEAD. CHECK MY PROFILE FOR THE LINK.
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"This concludes the introduction of our members from Tempest." Shuna gave a small bow after finishing the introductions, her graceful smile remaining unchanged as she stepped slightly to the side.
"And now, to introduce our honoured guests." She turned toward the opposite side of the pavilion and gestured toward Kaede and her entourage.
"From the monster empire of Maple Tree, Lady Kaede Honjou."
Kaede responded with a polite smile and a small nod, while Hanae, Hachi, and Sera followed suit, each offering an equally respectful acknowledgement.
"From the Holy Empire of Lubelius, Lady Luminous Valentine, as well as the leader of the Holy Knights, Hinata Sakaguchi."
Hinata gave a small, formal nod.
Luminous, however, looked considerably less interested in maintaining diplomatic etiquette. Her feet tapped impatiently against the marble floor as she continued glaring daggers at Veldora, who had conveniently turned his head away and was doing everything in his power to avoid making eye contact with her.
"And that concludes the introduction." Shuna gave another small bow before returning to Rimuru's side.
A brief silence settled over the pavilion.
It was broken almost immediately by the constant, increasingly impatient tapping of Luminous's foot against the marble floor.
Veldora shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his eyes darting everywhere except toward the enraged Demon Lord sitting across from him.
The reason for the awkward atmosphere was rather simple.
(A few minutes earlier.)
"Whoa...!" Veldora's eyes widened as he stared at the silver-haired Demon Lord. "You! I remember you! I know I do! You're Luminous, the Demon Lord Luminous!"
His face suddenly lit up with excitement as the memory finally clicked into place.
"That vampire whose castle I blew to splinters! Wow, I'm glad I remembered! Otherwise, it would've been bothering me all day..."
He never managed to finish the sentence.
A sword suddenly appeared in Luminous's hand, the tip of its blade coming to rest against Veldora's neck.
The Storm Dragon froze.
Luminous's heterochromatic eyes burned with barely restrained fury. "You..."
The temperature of the pavilion seemed to drop several degrees.
The next few moments had descended into complete chaos, with Hinata and Rimuru having to work together to restrain the enraged Demon Lord before she could turn Veldora into a very large pile of dragon-flavoured ash.
"This accursed lizard!" Luminous had snarled, struggling against their attempts to hold her back. "Getting in my hair every single damned time!"
(Back to the present.)
"Please tell Luminous to stop glaring at me so intensely, Rimuru." Veldora leaned slightly toward the slime, lowering his voice as though he were sharing a grave secret. "She's scary."
Rimuru maintained his polite smile, refusing to even look in Veldora's direction. 'You're on your own.'
Veldora's eyes widened. "T-traitor!"
He immediately turned his attention back toward Luminous, who was still staring at him with an expression that promised considerable violence.
"Now, now, Luminous, let's not get hasty." Veldora raised both hands defensively, forcing a nervous smile onto his face. "This is a very important summit, I'll have you know, between my good buddy Rimuru and his allies..."
Shuna gently tapped Veldora on the shoulder. She was still smiling. "Lord Veldora, the summit was requested by Lady Luminous."
"O-oh." Veldora's smile froze. For a moment, he looked as though he genuinely wished for the ground beneath him to open up and swallow him whole.
Around the pavilion, several of the paladins quietly exchanged glances.
"So this is the legendary Storm Dragon?"
"I expected him to be more intimidating, I guess."
"He looks quite sad."
"Just goes to show how powerful the Demon Lord Luminous is."
Hinata's eye twitched as she listened to the whispered comments behind her.
Veldora's shoulders sank further.
Luminous's patience finally snapped. "Enough of your blubbering, you insolent lizard."
Her voice carried across the pavilion as her heterochromatic eyes began to glow ominously, the sheer pressure of her presence immediately silencing the surrounding whispers.
She raised one hand and pointed directly at Veldora. "You have some nerve appearing before me after what you did."
"But it was such a long time ago." Veldora defended. "I'm a new dragon. A better dragon." He stood up, his hands on his waist as he puffed up his chest. "Veldora Tempest! Muahahahaha!"
Rimuru groaned into his hands. "Why?"
Luminous's eyes twitched. "This accursed..." She growled out words under her breath that made even Hinata raise one of her brows. "Then perhaps I should destroy your new home and ask you how long it takes to rebuild. Veldora Tempest."
Veldora's face paled.
Rimuru immediately raised a hand. "Okay, let's not destroy anything."
"Stay out of this, Rimuru."
"I'm just saying that we're supposed to be having a diplomatic meeting."
"I know." Luminous continued staring at Veldora.
Veldora slowly sat back down.
Kaede watched the exchange from across the pavilion, her chin resting lightly against one hand.
She had expected tension between the two, but she hadn't expected Veldora to be quite this good at making things worse.
Hachi leaned closer to her mother. "Is he always like this?"
Kaede whispered back, "Unfortunately."
Hanae nodded solemnly. "I believe so."
Sera covered her mouth to hide a laugh.
Veldora's ears twitched. "I can hear you, you know."
Rimuru sighed. "Can we please get through the introductions without anyone declaring war?"
Luminous finally returned to her seat, crossing one leg over the other as she continued to glare at Veldora. "Fine."
Shuna gave a small nod, apparently relieved that the situation had calmed down. "Now that everyone has been introduced, perhaps we should begin with the reason for this gathering."
Hinata looked toward the Great Saints seated behind her.
The nine Holy Knights were noticeably quieter than before.
They had spent the entire journey to Tempest knowing that they were about to meet the being at the centre of their faith.
The one they had worshipped as a goddess. The one whose existence had been hidden from them for generations.
Hinata had already told them the truth.
She had also made it clear that none of them were obligated to continue serving Luminous.
They had all chosen to come anyway. And they had all chosen to remain.
Kaede's gaze moved across them. "So these are the Great Saints."
Hinata nodded. "Yes."
Kaede looked at the group for a moment before smiling faintly. "Glenda had quite a lot to say about you lot."
Hinata's expression became slightly more complicated. "Glenda chose to leave."
"And join Maple Tree." Kaede finished.
Several of the Saints glanced toward her.
Kaede shrugged. "She's welcome here."
Hinata nodded. "I know."
There was no resentment in her voice.
That surprised Kaede slightly.
Hinata continued, "She made her choice. I won't hold it against her."
Luminous glanced toward Hinata. "Nor should you."
Hinata looked at her.
"You made the same choice when you told them the truth." Luminous's voice was quieter now. "They deserved to know who they were serving."
The pavilion fell silent.
The Saints looked toward Luminous. For the first time since arriving, none of them looked particularly intimidated by her.
Luminous noticed. She sighed. "Do not misunderstand." She rested her cheek against one hand. "I have no intention of forcing any of you to serve me."
One of the Saints lowered his gaze.
"You are free to leave."
Another looked toward Hinata. Then toward Luminous. "We've already made our decision."
Luminous raised an eyebrow.
The Saint bowed his head. "We remain with Lady Hinata."
The others nodded.
Hinata's eyes softened slightly.
Luminous stared at them for several seconds before a small smile appeared on her face. "Very well."
Kaede quietly watched the exchange. There was something almost strange about it.
Luminous wasn't even particularly surprised that they had chosen Hinata over her. She simply accepted it.
'Could I... allow something like that?' She thought to herself.
Rimuru cleared his throat. "Well, now that we've gotten that out of the way..."
Kaede glanced toward him.
Rimuru smiled nervously. "Maybe we can actually discuss why everyone is here."
"Please." Kaede leaned back in her seat. "I'd like to leave before Veldora accidentally starts another international incident."
Veldora looked offended. "I have done nothing!"
Everyone looked at him.
He slowly lowered himself into his seat. "...Recently."
Shion snickered. Benimaru covered his face. Soei remained expressionless. Hakurou simply chuckled.
Luminous closed her eyes and took a slow breath. "Very well."
She looked toward Rimuru. "I requested this meeting because the relationship between Lubelius, Tempest, and Maple Tree cannot continue in its current state."
Kaede's expression became more serious.
Rimuru nodded. "That's what I figured."
Luminous turned her gaze toward Kaede. "And considering recent events, I believe it is time we finally put certain matters to rest."
Kaede met her heterochromatic eyes without hesitation. "Such as?"
Luminous smiled faintly. "The cold war between our nations."
Kaede's fingers stopped tapping against the armrest.
Hinata remained silent.
Rimuru leaned forward. "Then I suppose we should start there."