Once the ancient human finally got an audience with Captain Argus of the seventh division, he went straight to the point and asked the man to hire them, reminding Argus that he had been the one to offer his help in the first place.
When Argus asked about the children who had come along with him, Jin explained that he had ended up confronting the very bandits Argus had been searching for, and had managed to capture them before handing them over to the guild. Argus became anxious, because he found it hard to believe that someone who looked like an inferior species could accomplish all of that so quickly.
Jin continued, explaining that he had brought along Nino and his big sister Poire because they had no one else to rely on, and because people would treat them poorly for being considered an inferior species. Because of that, he asked the captain whether he could arrange some kind of work for them.
Captain Argus reminded the ancient human that he had no obligation toward them, but Jin argued that he was willing to take responsibility for the children, since he was the one who had saved them. Argus found this reasoning interesting, while the children looked at their savior with hopeful expressions.
The captain quickly formed an idea, and decided to use the children as a bargaining piece. He calmly told Jin that he would allow them to stay at his place and work there, but only if Jin agreed to work as a teacher at the academy.
Jin accepted the condition without giving it much thought, and soon the children were changed into maid outfits. Poire thanked the captain sincerely, while the captain instructed his other maidservants to educate them properly and make sure that no discrimination happened.
As Jin walked away with Argus, he asked the captain what kind of catch was involved in him working as an instructor. Argus explained that although he had no clear idea where Jin had originally come from, his instincts told him Jin was a trustworthy person.
Then the captain moved directly to the real point. He wanted Jin to infiltrate Harness Academy.
Jin became serious and asked for a proper explanation, and Argus began describing the current power struggle inside the capital. According to him, several factions were locked in a quiet cold war over control of the throne, since the king was critically ill and might die at any moment.
He further explained that aside from the usual succession conflict, there were also individuals who held no legitimate right to the throne but still wanted to seize power. These people were extremely dangerous, and were even using the Corruptors, which people in this era called invaders, as weapons to push their plans forward.
Jin remembered Lord Shapion, and began to realize there might be figures even more troublesome than him.
The captain explained that he wanted to uncover these people and find their hidden base, and that Harness Academy was currently the place he suspected most.
Argus then knocked on a door and introduced Jin to his younger sister, Myria Alton. He explained that she attended the academy and would guide him there. Myria immediately showed her sharp tongue, calling Jin a lowly inferior species just as Karina had earlier.
The captain quickly tried to stop her and reminded her that speaking like that was rude. However, she kept insisting that she did not approve of giving such an important task to someone she considered an inferior species. Her rudeness was pointed out plainly enough that the captain grew embarrassed, and he apologized for her behavior.
Karina stepped closer to Jin and quietly whispered that Myria was actually very capable, but that she strongly disliked inferior species.
Myria kept throwing insults at Jin and claimed that she did not see him as someone qualified to take the role of an instructor. Hakama then made the situation worse by casually revealing that her guardian could not even read. However, Hakama quickly continued by praising how strong and capable Jin really was. Her words suddenly made Karina realize that Myria was the one who had earlier asked the academy students to attack Jin.
The captain apologized repeatedly again and promised that he would properly discipline his sister.
Jin changed the subject and asked Argus what exactly he was expected to teach at the academy. Argus replied that from his observations Jin seemed quite skilled with spirit arts, which was why he believed Jin would be the perfect person to teach the basic fundamentals. He then listed the four basic spirit arts — ignition, discharge, freezing and healing — and explained that being able to use even two of them should already be considered enough.
Hearing that the basics here consisted of only four spirit arts, Jin realized that the bandit leader from earlier had actually been quite skilled. The ability he had used would count as a special spirit art in this place.
Jin quietly smiled as he decided that he might change the way people in this era understood these special powers.
A week later, it was finally time for Hakama to take her entrance exam at the academy. Argus walked in together with Jin, since he wanted him to take responsibility for the instructor duties this year. It appeared that every year one division from the knight order had to fill this position, and this time it was the turn of the seventh division.
While Jin walked quietly behind them, the fat man named Rudman kept staring at him the entire time.
They eventually arrived at the headmaster's office, and Argus respectfully greeted her. The headmaster smiled when she saw her former pupil doing so well in the knight order. Then she mentioned the faction struggles happening inside the country and started criticizing Jin, telling the captain that sending an inferior species to handle such an important academy role made it look as though he were taking the matter lightly. The captain firmly insisted that Jin was more capable than anyone else in his division.
When the skinny Lord Gita noticed that the headmaster seemed ready to accept Jin as their instructor, he quickly objected to the idea. He took over the role of insulting the poor ancient human and argued strongly that they could not allow an inferior human to take such a position.
The headmaster then turned toward Lord Rudman and asked for his opinion regarding this protest. The fat man casually agreed with the concern, but then presented a practical argument about the backlash they might face from both the students and the other instructors. The headmaster joined the protest as well, and admitted that she shared the same concern.
Jin realized he was being spoken about without being included, so he stepped forward and stood up for himself before respectfully greeting them. He introduced himself calmly and with proper manners, showing that he could remain composed even while being openly mocked. Then he asked the lords a direct question. Were they judging him because he looked like an inferior species, or because they believed he lacked the power needed for the role?
The principal smiled and replied that the only thing that concerned them was whether he truly had the required ability. Then she asked whether he could prove it to them.
When Argus suggested that the headmaster test him herself, she agreed, and a quick mock battle was arranged at the Harness Academy spirit arts training ground. It was the skinny Lord Gita who stepped forward to face Jin, laughing as he said that at least Jin would not embarrass himself too badly, since there were only a few students around today.