Highlights

• Hinata's journey to Tempest featured a cute and bonding moment at a Japanese-themed ramen shop.
• Tempest's infrastructure surprises Hinata's group, suggesting Rimuru's positive influence and the peaceful coexistence of humans and monsters.
• Misunderstandings orchestrated by the Seven Luminaries lead to a confrontation between Hinata and Rimuru, adding layers of complexity to the plot.

The following contains spoilers for That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime Season 3, Episode 7, “Saint and Demon Clash” available at Crunchy Roll.

The seventh episode of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3 was a welcome change from the monotony of the previous episodes, not only because it gave us a taste of battle, but because of the strong start it had, as it focused on Hinata Sakaguchi's travels to Tempest.

While the culmination of the last few weeks' deliberations and meetings in battle was definitely exciting, it was the change of pace and the weaving of the motivations of multiple characters within the ranks of the Holy Knights, as well as the presentation of the Seven Luminaries' betrayal that made this episode much more enjoyable than many that came before it.

Hinata and her group's trips to Tempest

An out-of-this-world flavor and a healthy moment

As mentioned earlier, the funniest part of this seventh episode of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime was the beginning, which followed Hinata Sakaguchi's group as they made their way towards Tempest. It also showed us how Hinata, who had chosen to make the dangerous journey alone, ended up traveling with four other Holy Knights as support. Soon after the end, 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 journey despite their orders for them to return to the Holy Empire. As they progressed through Blumund, they noticed the improved quality of life and general happiness of the citizens, correctly assuming that it was a result of Tempest's influence in the area.

While in Blumund, they decide to stop for a meal and find something that shakes Hinata to the core: a genuine meal. ramen-ya marked with signage written in Japanese. Naturally, as a resident of the Otherworld of Japan, Hinata was able to read the sign and was intrigued by the premise; however, it was in the taste of the food she and the others were introduced to that Hinata may have finally confirmed that Rimuru is indeed an Otherworlder like herself. Overjoyed with the recreation of a taste she never thought she would experience again, we see a cuter side of the Holy Knight Captain as she reveals that her tongue is sensitive, which was a great moment to see the kind of connection she has with these other knights who are sacrificing their lives for loyalty. There were even some funny moments, like seeing the other Crusaders struggle to use their chopsticks; or when Hinata picked up the last one guioza Fritz's clumsy chopsticks, who was devastated that he couldn't eat another one. Fritz was a great comic relief in this episode, and the dynamic between Hinata and the party was very funny.

The Trustworthy Demon Lord

The Inescapable Influence of the Otherworldly Storm Demon Lord

Blummond wasn't the only place Hinata and her group found strangely impressive. As their journey continued, they came across beautiful stone roads that Geld had worked with the beastmen and scientists to build. They were met by two friendly guards who explained the basic rules of combat while in the area and where they would find amenities like water, a place to set up camp, and the location of an inn where they could spend the night. Hinata's group struggled to fully enjoy the boom in infrastructure development initiated by Tempest. To make matters even more impressive, their journey should have been punctuated by monster attacks, but it was so uneventful that Bacchus admitted it was getting boring. While eating ramen in Blummond, the waitress told them that they had only recently started selling gyoza, which they bought from the Demon Lord Rimuru himself, possibly as a way for him to have his name continually associated with positive things (not to mention his image on the inside of the bowls).

Several elements of the trip almost seemed set up for Hinata to encounter, such as the Japanese writing in the ramen shop, or the friendly guards' use of kilometers as a unit of measurement when they shouldn't exist in this world. Tempest also showed them the peaceful coexistence of humans and monsters, which made Hinata think back to her previous encounter with Rimuru and how adamant he was about wanting to live together in harmony with humans. From what they saw on their way to Tempest, there's no reason to believe anything other than what Rimuru claimed, which is all the more reason why Hinata is confused that he would choose to challenge her to a fight now of all times.

The misunderstandings that herald danger

Leonard is dispatched by the seven luminaries

While Rimuru waits for Hinata's arrival, a series of misunderstandings influence not only their decision-making, but Hinata's as well. Unbeknownst to Hinata and her group, the remaining Holy Knights have formed a stealth force led by the Three Battle Sages to surround Tempest; however, with Sо̄ei's abilities, Rimuru is able to learn of their presence, thinking that it is part of Hinata's plan to confront him.

What they both fail to realize is the hidden hand—the Seven Luminaries, who not only forced Hinata to make this dangerous journey in the first place under the pretense of having her defeat Veldora, but also convinced the Crusader's Vice-Chief, Leonard Jester (sometimes spelled "Renard") to go to Tempest to kill Rimuru. They convince him that Veldora's threat is not actually real and plant major doubts regarding Hinata's loyalty, whom they consider 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 angered him and is trying to apologize, while Rimuru thinks that Hinata's goal is to attack him and Tempest again.

The Seven Luminaries are using these various misunderstandings and creating more so that their greatest threats can destroy themselves, and we will likely soon see how Holy Knight Glenda's alignment with Granville Rosso has anything to do with these developments. While racing towards the battlefield, Hinata receives telepathic communication from one of her allies, who tries to tell her that the Three Battle Sages have secretly joined Falmuth's civil war, but is interfered with when he tries to tell her to be wary of the Seven Luminaries. The advance force led by Leonard and Garde believes they have the advantage of surprise; however, with Shion's leadership and the rapid regeneration of the Yomigaeri (literally “called back from the underworld”) soon put them at a disadvantage.

Rimuru takes Benimaru, Sо̄ei, Albis and Sufia with him to the battlefield to see the events unfold, where he meets Hinata Sakaguchi, prepared for their fated encounter. With several entertaining elements, a foray into Hinata's relationships and the creation of several conflicts beyond the main event, this episode of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime had everything it needed to revive any waning excitement for this third season.