he invitation from Rimuru Tempest was not merely a courtesy; it was a diplomatic necessity. The incident with the Kingdom of Falmuth's scouts to the south had created shockwaves that reached the monster capital even before Eryon Arclight could decide on his next move.
Eryon walked down the main road of Tempest, but he was not alone. To his left, Esdeath moved with predatory elegance, ignoring the looks of sheer terror from the Hobgoblins. To his right, Shanks followed with his hands in his pockets, his dark cloak swaying slightly, a tranquil smile on his face that seemed to disarm any tension in the air.
"They have a good structure here," Shanks commented, observing the sturdy buildings. "You can feel the will of those who built it."
"It's efficient," Esdeath admitted, her blue eyes coldly analyzing the blind spots in the city's defenses. "But it lacks... rigidity."
Eryon remained silent as his passive skill, 『Elem of Saga』, processed the environment, detecting powerful presences like Benimaru and the latent aura of Veldora. As they entered the meeting room, the tension spiked instantly. Benimaru reached for his katana's hilt, and Shion narrowed her eyes. Esdeath's frigid pressure was like a blade pressed against everyone's throats.
"Relax, everyone!" Rimuru intervened, breaking a cold sweat in his human form. "They are guests. Eryon, it's good you came. And... I see you brought some heavy company."
"These are Esdeath and Shanks," Eryon introduced them. "They are part of my... project."
Shanks stepped forward, and suddenly, the pressure in the room evaporated. Not through negation, but because his presence was so vast and calm that it drowned out both Esdeath's ice and the Kijins' hostility.
"Pleasure, Slime-san," Shanks said with a short laugh. "I heard you have some good drinks around here."
After the ice-breaker, the War Council began. The verdict was clear: Falmuth and the Western Holy Church would not accept two powers emerging in the forest simultaneously.
"I will use 「Arcana Customize」 to create a conceptual barrier," Eryon determined. "It won't be physical, but a mist of perception. Those who enter with peace will see only forest. Those who enter to fight... will find my army."
Shanks pointed to the map. "If we show that the South is a territory of 'Archives,' a place of neutral knowledge, the Church will have a hard time justifying a holy war."
『Elem of Saga』 glowed with the suggestion: Establishment of the World Archive. The plan was set. Rimuru would be the "Muscle and Commerce" to the North; Eryon would be the "Brain and Knowledge" to the South.
The Rise of the Tower and the Third Guardian
Back at his clearing, Eryon pushed his skill to the limit. At his command, a tower of translucent crystal emerged from the earth, pulsing with the forest's mana.
"The concept is ready," he murmured. "I need someone to organize the infinite."
[Selected Archetype: Merlin — The Boar's Sin of Gluttony.]
A deep purple light filled the center of the tower. A woman with an enigmatic gaze and a cunning smile materialized, floating with a crystal orb in hand.
"So this is the world where magic flows like blood?" Merlin scanned Eryon with scientific curiosity. "I accept the position, Eryon-dono. But know that curiosity comes with a price."
Esdeath and Shanks approached. "Another one?" Esdeath smiled, feeling Merlin's magical pressure. "She seems to have interesting tricks."
"She is the mind that will protect this place," Shanks replied, adjusting his hat. "And it seems she arrived just in time. They are here."
The Confrontation: The South Is Not Empty
It didn't take long for peace to be tested. Falmuth's Elite Division, led by the Otherworlders Shogo, Kirara, and Kyoya, marched against the South. They expected mindless monsters; they found silent death.
The temperature plummeted. In the middle of the path, Esdeath waited on an ice throne.
"Crossing this line is a declaration of death," she warned.
"Shut up, bitch!" Shogo lunged with his 『Berserker』 skill, but before he could land a blow, an invisible force crushed him against the ground.
"How rude," Shanks' voice echoed. Leaning against a tree, he released only a fraction of his Conqueror's Haki. The common Falmuth soldiers fainted instantly, their minds unable to withstand such a massive output of soul-will.
"What is this?!" Kyoya tried to draw his sword, but his arms wouldn't obey.
From the top of the tower, Merlin whispered: "「Infinity: Magic Seal」."
Purple magic circles covered the sky, and all the mana surrounding the invaders was simply turned off. Elite knights collapsed, suffocated by the weight of their own now-useless armor. Eryon appeared beside Esdeath, altering the air density around the enemy generals, making it heavy as lead.
"Tell your king," Eryon's voice resonated like calm thunder, "that the South is not a land to be conquered. It is an Archive of Laws. If you return, Merlin will not only seal your magic... she will turn you into part of our collection of records."
The Aftermath
Humiliated and deprived of power, the survivors retreated. The result was notified by 『Elem of Saga』: the reputation of the "Forbidden Territory of the South" was sealed.
Eryon looked at his three companions: the Sword, the Will, and the Mind. The South was safe, but he knew the world's board had just changed forever. Jura Forest now had two hearts, and the world would have to learn to deal with both.