Rigurd moved with light, practiced steps—far too agile for someone who, until recently, could barely leave his village without fearing for his life.
The Jura Forest was different now. It wasn't just quieter; it was organized. The Direwolves patrolled specific territories, and lesser monsters avoided the new routes. It was still a wild land, but there was an emerging intent behind it.
"—South side," Rigurd whispered.
Behind him, two goblin scouts followed in silence. This mission didn't require strength, but judgment.
"Lord Rimuru asked only for observation," Rigurd reminded them. "No confrontation."
As they pressed further south, the mana grew strange. It wasn't oppressive or wild. It was… stable.
"The mana here isn't turbulent," one of the scouts hissed. Rigurd nodded. He felt it too. The air felt structured, as if someone had ironed out the wrinkles in reality.
Then they saw it.
A small, discrete clearing, easy to miss if one wasn't looking for it. The trees were arranged in a way that looked almost too natural. The ground was perfectly level.
"There…" Rigurd pointed.
They approached with caution, using the dense foliage for cover. In the center of the clearing stood a simple shelter. It was small and functional, made of common wood reinforced with something Rigurd couldn't identify at first glance.
Mana, Rigurd realized. But not like any magic I've seen.
The human appeared shortly after.
White hair caught the light filtering through the canopy; blue eyes were sharp but calm. He carried a bundle of branches and began organizing them beside his shelter. He had no visible weapons. No combat stance.
Even so, a chill ran down Rigurd's spine.
"This human… is dangerous."
It wasn't because of his muscles or gear, but the total absence of hostility. It felt like standing near a sleeping volcano. The human knelt and extended a hand. The surrounding mana responded instantly. The branches aligned themselves, coated in an invisible layer that bound them together with unnatural strength.
"He didn't chant," a scout murmured. "He just… moved the mana that was already there."
Rigurd held his breath. "Lord Rimuru needs to know this."
At that moment, the human stopped. He raised his head slowly. Rigurd froze. Those blue eyes swept the vegetation—not directly at them, but far too close for coincidence.
"Goblins…" the human said, his voice level and calm.
Rigurd's stomach tightened. He felt us.
The human took a few steps into the open, making himself fully visible. "You don't need to hide. I know you're there."
The scouts shifted nervously. "Rigurd…?"
"Stay back," Rigurd ordered. He stepped out of the brush slowly, holding his hands up in a clear sign of peace. "My name is Rigurd. I am the leader of a goblin village to the north."
The human tilted his head slightly. "Eryon Arclight."
The name was simple, yet it felt heavy with hidden meaning.
"You live here alone," Rigurd continued. "Our scouts reported that you do not attack our kind."
"I don't."
"Even in Jura?"
"Especially because it's Jura."
Rigurd frowned. "This forest is treacherous for humans."
"I'm aware."
"And yet, you stay."
"Yes."
The answer was immediate, devoid of hesitation. Rigurd took a deep breath. "I will be direct. A powerful monster has appeared in the north. He protects us. He defeated the predators that hunted us… and he gave us names. For the first time, we are not just survivors. We are a village."
Eryon listened in silence.
"The Direwolves have joined us as well," Rigurd said. "We are growing. We aren't a nation—not yet—but we have a leader."
"A leader," Eryon repeated.
"Yes. A slime named Rimuru."
The name hung in the air, vibrating with significance.
"Lord Rimuru asked only that we observe you," Rigurd concluded. "Nothing more."
"Fair enough."
Rigurd stared at him intensely. "Do you intend to be our enemy?"
"No."
"Do you intend to join us?"
Eryon thought for a moment. "Not yet."
Rigurd nodded slowly. "Then you intend to remain neutral."
"Until I understand this world better."
The wind swept through the clearing, rustling the leaves. Rigurd felt an unexpected wave of relief. "I will report this to Lord Rimuru."
"Do that."
Rigurd stepped back and inclined his head. "As long as you remain this way… we will not consider you a threat."
"I appreciate that."
The goblins retreated, vanishing into the trees. Once they were far enough away, one of the scouts whispered, "Chief… that human…"
Rigurd nodded. "He is not our enemy. But one day… he will be much more than just a human."
Back in the clearing, Eryon watched the shadows of the forest. "Rimuru…"
The mana around him rippled softly. Two paths had acknowledged each other. Still separate. But now, fully aware.
[Location: Goblin Village - North]
Rimuru was resting on a polished wooden surface when Rigurd returned. The village smelled of fresh cedar and progress.
"Welcome back, Rigurd," Rimuru said in his usual light tone. "By the look on your face, you found something interesting."
Rigurd knelt respectfully. "Yes, Lord Rimuru."
Rimuru straightened up, his relaxed mood shifting into full attention. "Report."
Rigurd recounted everything: the clearing, the stable mana, the white-haired human, and the strange, effortless manipulation of the environment.
"He sensed us before we revealed ourselves," Rigurd concluded. "No hostility. No visible magic."
Rimuru went silent for a few seconds. Inside him, the Great Sage was already at work.
[Analysis in progress. Direct manipulation of ambient mana without magic circles detected. Phenomenon: Unusual for humans of this world.]
"A human… living alone in Jura… and he's peaceful," Rimuru mused.
"His name is Eryon Arclight," Rigurd added. "He said he remains neutral. For now."
Rimuru chuckled. "'For now' is always the most dangerous part, isn't it?"
"Lord Rimuru… he didn't seem weak."
"Not at all, right?"
Rimuru swayed his gelatinous body thoughtfully. "Jura doesn't usually allow exceptions. Ordinary humans die here. Strong humans draw attention. Strange humans…" he paused. "They change the flow of things."
[Suggestion: Maintain passive surveillance. Direct intervention is not recommended at this time.]
"Agreed, Sage," Rimuru said aloud. "If he doesn't want to get close, we won't force it."
Rigurd bowed. "So… no action?"
"Nothing aggressive," Rimuru smiled. "But let's prepare the ground. If he's watching us, I want him to see order. Cooperation. A place where monsters don't just live to survive."
Rimuru turned his gaze toward the south. "A human who moves mana like it's part of his own body… that's rare even for this world."
[Hypothesis: Subject does not fit the patterns of Summoned Heroes or common native humans.]
"Yeah, I felt that too." Rimuru's curiosity was piqued. "Eryon Arclight… let's see how long that neutrality lasts."
In the southern clearing, the wind shifted. Eryon opened his eyes.
"So, you're the center of it all… Rimuru Tempest."
He reached out, feeling the forest's mana respond like a silent tide.
"A slime building a nation." A faint smile touched his lips. "This world really never stops surprising me."
The forest remained calm. But in the silence, two wills were growing. Observing. Calculating. Waiting.