However, isn't it common knowledge that there are eight seven virtues?
To put it simply, the seven virtues and seven deadly sins are not fixed categories.
They are more like a special hierarchy.
Lower, middle, and upper ranks.
The seven virtues and seven deadly sins, within the upper ranks, are Ultimate Skills with the potential to continue evolving and challenging, representing a transitional state.
Hinata's Lord of Mercy is one such case.
Its quality surpasses that of a typical upper-rank Ultimate Skill, and "Mercy" is not listed among the seven virtues.
According to Violet's explanation, the seven deadly sins and seven virtues are fragments of the Star King Dragon's Genesis Authority.
Only those who obtain these powers might be able to challenge the Gods' Domain.
Of course, this statement is not absolute.
Cases like Ogerpon, who comes from another world and carries rules exceeding the Star King Dragon's power, cannot be generalized.
Back to the Lord of Mercy.
"Lord of Mercy, controls reality and illusion."
Simply put, Hinata's Ultimate Skill allows her to turn tangible concepts, powers, matter, and energy into nothingness.
And from nothingness, she can create various powers she desires.
In terms of sheer strength, this Ultimate Skill is excessively powerful, whether in combat or other applications.
Rin even felt that the Lord of Mercy could be considered a minor Void.
"Violet?"
Thinking of this, Rin immediately asked Violet, "Hinata gaining this power isn't because of me, is it?"
"It's exactly as you think."
Violet replied, "Due to compatibility, Hinata inherited powers related to the Void from you."
This also meant that
if Hinata had relied solely on herself, even if she obtained an Ultimate Skill, it wouldn't have been the Lord of Mercy, an upper-rank Ultimate Skill that somewhat exceeds specifications.
It was precisely because she came under Rin's command and received his blessing that she was able to obtain the Eighth Virtue.
As the person involved, Hinata had also learned everything from the Lord of Mercy.
"Lord of Mercy, comparable to the seven virtues?"
Hinata expressed her gratitude to Rin and promised, "I will assist Artoria well in governing the Kingdom of Falmuth."
As for the issue of revealing her identity...
That was not a problem at all.
As long as Hinata wore a mask, no one would recognize her as Saint Hinata.
"Hmm."
Since Hinata was now one of his own, Rin no longer intended to be harsh with her. "I will release the knights under your command."
The punishment was nearly complete, and for Hinata's sake, Rin was willing to let them go.
"Thank you for your benevolence."
Hinata quickly stated that she was willing to take responsibility and atone for her knights.
The benefits of joining Rin and following the man before her were beyond imagination.
Not to mention, by siding with Rin, both humans and her knights would have a future.
Only after becoming Rin's subordinate did Hinata truly feel how powerful he was.
She even felt that Rin was overly modest and benevolent.
Otherwise, if Rin had even a hint of ambition, the Cardinal World, and even the entire world, would easily fall into his hands.
Anyone who dared to resist would be mercilessly crushed by him.
Compared to him, her classmate, Yuki Kagurazaka, was simply a scumbag.
Not only was he ungrateful, using Shizue's matter to set up a scheme, but he also treated her, his old classmate, as a pawn to be used at will.
At this thought, Hinata wished she could find him immediately and beat him up.
"Oh, right."
Rin said, "The Kingdom of Falmuth has already paid the price for this incident."
"As for the Holy Knights, I will let bygones be bygones for Luminous and your sakes."
"But there is one person," Rin said in a deep voice, "who must pay the price for this."
To dare to scheme against him, the opponent had already invited death.
"Please allow me, Rin-sama."
Hinata volunteered, "I will bring Yuki before you for you to personally deal with him."
Don't say Hinata is heartless.
It was Yuki who first disregarded her and Shizue.
If the person she had encountered wasn't Rin, but another Demon Lord, Hinata would have died, the Holy Knights would have been annihilated, and even the Holy Empire of Lubelius behind them would have been implicated.
Even Shizue would have been punished by Rin due to Hinata's actions.
Rin kindly helped you and your student with their treatment.
Is this how your other two students repay him?
"Alright."
It would be too easy for Rin to capture Yuki.
But since Hinata wanted to act, Rin would not refuse. "However, I'll only give you one month."
"If you still haven't caught him within a month,"
"I will send others to act."
"That's enough."
"I promise that within a month, that scoundrel Yuki will kneel before you and Shizue-sensei."
With that, all matters came to an end.
"Carrera."
"Release the members of the Holy Knights."
"Note, don't release all of them into the Demon Lords Castle, but only a portion, according to their personalities."
Not everyone in the Holy Knights knew that Luminous was a Demon Lord.
For them, eradicating monsters was their duty, and colluding with monsters was equivalent to betraying humanity.
In short, they were a group of individuals brainwashed by the human-supremacy ideology of the Western Nations.
Rin didn't like such people.
Therefore, he needed to conduct a screening.
Those who were stubborn and unteachable, Rin planned to keep imprisoned.
Of course, the previous torture was certainly unnecessary.
Rin had even thought of the reason.
That is, their leader, Hinata, decided to sacrifice herself to ensure their survival.
Hmm, this would serve as retribution for those severely prejudiced individuals.
As for the rest, those who could be reasoned with, such as Litus of Water and Bacchus of Earth, could be directly released, and then Hinata and Luminous would personally explain things to them.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)