I think there was happening quite a lot in this volume that drives the plot. Very little filler apart from those different POV chapters. From big battles finding and freeing a attacked village (and the rescue mission for the survivors) to finding long looked for allies, to working through a demon coup d'etat in the capital and saving the saint from assassination attempts. All in one volume. If you think all this is just skippable then I really don't want to know what volumes meet your expectations.