Summary
The following contains spoilers for That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime Season 3, Episode 7, “Saint and Demon Clash” available onCrunchyroll.
The seventh episode ofThat Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slimeseason 3 was a welcome change from the monotony of previous episodes not simply because it gave us a taste of battle, but because of the strong start it had as it focused on the travels of Hinata Sakaguchi to Tempest.
While the culmination of the deliberations and meetings of the past few weeks in battle was definitely exciting, it was the change in pace and the weaving in of multiple characters' motivations within the ranks of the Holy Knights, as well as the presentation ofthe treachery of the Seven Luminariesthat made this episode a much more enjoyable affair than many before it.
Hinata and Her Party’s Travels To Tempest
An Otherworldly Taste And A Wholesome Moment
As mentioned before, the most enjoyable part of this seventh episode ofThat Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slimewas the beginning, which followed Hinata Sakaguchi’s party as theymade their way toward Tempest. This also showed us how Hinata, who had opted to make the perilous journey on her own, ended up travelling with four other Holy Knights as backup. Soon after they adjourned, the other Great Saints drew lots to determine who would be forced to go and who would stay, which saw Arnaud, Bacchus, Ritus and Fritz; members of the Crusaders, join Hinata on the trip despite her orders for them to return to the Holy Empire. As they moved through Blumund, they noticed the improved quality of life and the overall happiness of the citizens, correctly presuming it to be a result of Tempest’s influence in the area.
While in Blumund, they decide to stop for a meal and find something that shook Hinata to her core: a bona-fideramen-yamarked with signage written in Japanese. Naturally, as an Otherworlder from Japan, Hinata was able to read the sign and was intrigued at the premise; however, it was in the taste of the food that she and the others were presented that Hinata may have finally confirmed that Rimuru is in fact an Otherworlder like herself. Overjoyed by the recreation of a taste she never thought she’d experience again, we see a cuter side to the Holy Knight Captain as it is revealed that her tongue is sensitive, which was a great moment to see the kind of connection she has with these other knights who are laying down their lives out of fealty.There were even funny moments, like seeing the other Crusaders struggle to use their chopsticks; or when Hinata snatched the lastgyozafrom the clumsy chopsticks of Fritz, who was devastated that he couldn’t have another. Fritz was great comedic relief in this episode, and the dynamic between Hinata’s party was greatly enjoyable.
The Reliable Demon Lord
The Inescapable Influence of the Otherworlder Demon Lord of Tempest
Blummond was not the only place that Hinata and her group found to be strangely impressive. As the journey continued, they came across the beautiful stone roads Geld worked together with the beastmen and scientists to build. Met by two friendly guards who explained the basic rules of engagement while in the area, and where they’d find amenities like water, a place to set up camp, and the location of an inn where they could post up for the night. Hinata’s group struggled to fully take in the height of the infrastructure development being pioneered by Tempest. To make things even more impressive, their journey should have been wrought with monster attacks, but it went so smoothly Bacchus admitted it was getting boring. While eating ramen in Blummond, the waittress told them that they only recently started selling the gyoza, which they source fromDemon Lord Rimuru himself, possibly a way for him to have his name continuously associated with positive things (not to mention his image on the inside of the bowls).
Various elements of the trip almost seemed placed for Hinata to come across, like the Japanese script on the ramen shop, or the friendly guards' use of the kilometer as a unit of measurement when it shouldn’t exist in this world. Tempest also showed them the peaceful co-existence of humans and monsters, which made Hinata think back to her earlier encounter with Rimuru and how he was adamant that he desired to live together in harmony with humans. From what they’ve seen on their way to Tempest, there’s no reason to believe anything but what Rimuru claimed, which is all the more reason why Hinata is confused that he’d choose to challenge her to a fight now of all times.
The Misunderstandings That Herald Peril
Leonard Is Dispatched By The Seven Luminaries
While Rimuru waits for Hinata’s arrival, a number of misunderstandings have influenced not only their decision-making, but that of Hinata as well. Unbeknownst to Hinata and her party, the remaining Holy Knights formed a stealth force led by the Three Battlesages to surround Tempest; however, with Sо̄ei’s abilities, Rimuru is able to learn of their presence, thinking it to be part of Hinata’s plan to engage him.
What they both don’t realize is the hidden hand – the Seven Luminaries, who not onlyforced Hinata to make this perilous journeyin the first place, under the guise of having her defeat Veldora, but also convinced the Crusaders' Vice-Chief, Leonard Jester (sometimes written “Renard”) to head over to Tempest to kill Rimuru. They convince him that the threat of Veldora isn’t actually real, and plant major seeds of doubt regarding the loyalties of Hinata, whom they’ve made out to be a conspirator alongside the Holy Emperor himself. Hinata, who went to Tempest because of Rimuru’s summons, is under the impression that she has angered him and is trying to apologize, while Rimuru thinks Hinata’s entire goal is to attack him and Tempest again.
The Seven Luminaries are using these various misunderstandings and creating more to have their various biggest threats take each other out, and we will probably soon see how the Holy Knight Glenda’s alignment with Granville Rosso has anything to do with these developments. While rushing towards the battlefield, Hinata receives telepathic communication from one of her allies, who tries to tell her that the Three Battlesages have secretly joined in Falmuth’s civil war, but there’s interference as he tries to tell her to be wary of the Seven Luminaries. The advance force led by Leonard and Garde believes that they have the advantage of surprise; however, with Shion’s leadership and the rapid regeneration of theYomigaeri(literally “called back from the underworld”) forces soon put them on the back foot.
Rimuru takesBenimaru, Sо̄ei, Albis, and Sufiawith him to the battlefield to see the developments, where he runs into Hinata Sakaguchi, prepared for their fated encounter. With various entertaining elements, a foray into Hinata’s relationships, and the setting up of various conflicts beyond the main event, this episode ofThat Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slimehad everything needed to revive any faltering excitement for this third season.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Based on Fuse’s novel and light novel series, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is an isekai anime that follows Rimuru, a guy who reincarnates in a fantasy world as its weakest monster. However, that soon changes.
