The clan leader’s words lingered in the air, painting a picture of limited choice for Emery in refusing the bestowed position. The genuine surprise that crossed Emery’s face didn’t go unnoticed by the astute eyes of the female grand magus.

“There is no need to be surprised; this is a promotion, an upgrade from a mere subsidiary outsider to a Count, a Nephilim second-class nobles,” she explained with a reassuring smile, attempting to cast the development in a positive light.

With the clan leader having left the room, the female grand magus shifted her demeanor, signaling her readiness to address the situation more candidly. Emery, having some awareness the intricate workings of his promotion, perceived it as a shift from a faction member to a position that carried increased responsibilities, akin to some kind of employment.

Before responding, Emery exchanged a brief glance with Jinkan, whose silence indicated her acceptance of the situation, prompting Emery to express his genuine sentiments about the offered position.

“Elder, I wonder if I have any say in the matter,” Emery inquired.

With a smile, she said, “Well, it’s been granted, so if you are not fond of the reward, you could return them all.” The grand magus spoke the words with a subtle indication that the other two rewards were intertwined with the title. Emery, however, found himself growing more annoyed at the implication that his compliance could be bought.

“Why would you return it, though?” she continued, “Being a second-class citizen is a great honor, one higher than your predecessor. Lord of Terra Castle Izta was still a third-rate citizen with much less benefit despite his great achievements.”

The mention of Lord Izta triggered memories of Emery’s Senior, who harbored a deep-seated disdain for the Nephilim and had been forced to return home for a millennium. The irritation that had been building finally eroded Emery’s patience, prompting him to calmly assert,

“With respect, This is not about the benefits, besides… I have rejected better offers.”

ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ɴovelꜰɪre.ɴet

The female grand magus looked genuinely surprised and questioned, “Better than a noble position within the Nephilim faction?”

Knowing some extend of Emery’s concern, Jinkan finally intervened, assuring him, “Emery, you don’t need to worry. The family won’t make unreasonable demands, and I won’t let them.”

Emery responded with a wry smile, “Unreasonable like this one?”

Hearing this answer, the grand magus’s expression changed to annoyance. Jinkan was smart enough to quickly step in, asking to be the one to personally deal with the situation. With deep reluctance, she decided to leave the room.

In the ensuing stillness, Emery released a deep sigh, contemplating the unexpected turn of events. It was then that Jinkan, breaking the silence, revealed a layer of vulnerability. “Emery, the truth is, the situation in the magus universe has never been worse—the dark elves, the rogue magus, and now the Oculus… My father… he just wants the best for the family, and right now, that means you.” Despite the seemingly sincere words, Emery discerned that this reward was, in fact, a test of loyalty—a measure of whether he would truly step inside the family. Unfortunately, Emery harbored zero loyalty, zero trust in the faction. His mind echoed with stories from his seniors and Master, vividly illustrating the faction’s ruthlessness. If possible, Emery wished to shed the subsidiary status as soon as possible. Thus, his response was a resolute,

“No, I don’t want this.”

Jinkan fell silent for a moment. The princess seemed hesitant to force the matter, but she decided to speak, saying, “Not all Nephilim are the same, you know… I thought we have shown you this in the past few weeks.”

Emery heaved a sigh, unable to shake off memories of how Jinkan had manipulated him into saving her fiancé by throwing him into the Demon’s Pit. Despite the recent feeling of some indescribable bond with her, it was far from enough for Emery to accept becoming a Nephilim lackey.

With his decision final, Emery didn’t feel the need to explain any further. He started to walk toward the door, leaving all the rewards behind. Once again, Jinkan tried to stop him. Her voice trembled as she said, “You can’t refuse my father… we can’t. He could do terrible things.”

These words were enough to make Emery stop, standing silently in front of the door. Jinkan added, “You caretaker status… He can take away as easily as he gave” Still, Emery remained silent, prompting Jinkan to emphasize, “He also knows about the two primordial wisps in your planet… you… you don’t want to anger him.”

Emery, though, couldn’t be easily intimidated. He turned, gazing at Jinkan, and calmly asserted, “No. No, I don’t think he could. Maybe he could have last week, but not now, not after what I did for your family.”

The recent expeditions had thrust him into the limelight, transforming him from an outsider to a renowned magus who had made significant contributions to the Amarhiks family. This newfound status, he believed, rendered him less susceptible to potential bullying from within the faction. Moreover, the watchful eyes of other factions and the presence of the other two Nephilim families added a layer of accountability, making it less likely for the Amarhiks to tarnish their reputation by mistreating a magus of Emery’s stature.

Jinkan’s silence acknowledged this perspective, but she persisted with another question, probing the depths of Emery’s conviction, “What if you’re wrong? Will you bet your planet, your friends for this?” It was a direct challenge to Emery’s resolve.

Meeting her gaze with determination, Emery replied, “If I am wrong, me and my friends are ready to fight.” The confidence in his voice did not waver. He pulled the door open and just before stepping out, he added “Besides… you still owe me… friend.”

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