The butler asked Nino and Poire to guide the guests, and the two of them happily agreed.
As they walked through the mansion, Jin asked whether they had been hurt during the recent chaos. Thankfully, both of them said they were fine, explaining that everyone at work had protected them. Jin was relieved to hear they were being treated well.
Nino mentioned that Jin had played the biggest role in the whole incident. Jin asked who had told him that, and Nino said Myria and Argus. Myria proudly declared that spreading the achievements of her master was only natural for her as his disciple, which confused Jin even more. She even lectured Poire and Nino, telling them to learn from Jin, since they belonged to the same race as him. The two happily agreed, while Nino quietly whispered that Myria used to be extremely strict with them, but that lately she had become a little nicer.
Hearing that, Jin could not help remembering Sars, because her sudden change in attitude was just as wild.
Eventually they arrived at Argus's office. Poire respectfully knocked and announced that they had brought Jin. Once they entered, Jin saw Argus sitting with Harden.
After everyone had taken their seats, Argus apologized for summoning him so suddenly, but Jin told him it was fine. Argus introduced Harden properly, and the guild master studied Jin carefully before respectfully shaking his hand.
Harden explained that he had personally witnessed Jin's actions during the disaster. If Jin had not stopped the boss Corruptor, the entire kingdom would have faced a national crisis. Because of that, Harden bowed his head and sincerely thanked him for saving their nation.
Jin, being Jin, refused to take all the credit. He humbly said he had only defeated the huge one. The Holy Knights were the ones who had handled the suppression afterward, so they deserved thanks as well. Harden was surprised by how modest he sounded. He started wondering whether Jin simply lacked ambition, or whether something else was going on.
Jin then asked whether thanking him was the only reason they had called him.
That was when Harden revealed the bigger issue. The royal family wished to meet him, but before arranging that meeting there was something they needed to clarify. Harden's expression turned serious as he asked Jin who he truly was. He explained that almost no information in the country escaped him, because guild members were stationed across every city. Naturally, he had investigated Jin, and despite that he had found absolutely nothing.
Argus added that he also wanted the truth, and warned Jin not to dodge the question this time. He directly asked where Jin had come from, and why he had come to their country.
Jin sighed. He explained that he had not exactly been trying to hide his identity. The problem was that even if he told the truth, he had figured nobody would believe him anyway. Argus assured him that if Jin was willing to speak honestly, he would believe him.
So Jin finally came clean. He told them he was a human who had lived a hundred million years ago.
The room went quiet. Argus immediately remembered the taboo of Kodama Village and pieced it together. Jin had to be the one who had been sleeping beyond the sealed door all this time.
Harden, naturally, struggled to believe such an insane claim. But Myria instantly backed Jin up, saying she believed him completely. After all, Jin had opened an ancient door beneath the academy that was never supposed to be opened. She also pointed out that Argus had already seen Jin's power with his own eyes. Argus was more shocked by his sister defending Jin than by the story itself, and wondered what on earth had happened to make her change so dramatically.
Jin admitted that he had been sleeping underground in their country for all that time. The reason he had come to the royal capital was simple. He wanted information about the current era.
Harden asked what kind of information he was looking for, and Jin said there were two main things. The first was information about the Corruptors. These monsters had existed even a hundred million years ago, but originally they should not still be alive in the current era.
Harden asked why they should have disappeared, and Jin explained that it was because of the power people now called spirits. Long ago, these particles had spread across the world. Corruptors could only survive in contaminated environments, while spirits possessed the ability to purify that contamination. In theory, that should have slowly wiped the Corruptors out. So why were they still here?
Jin did not know the exact answer yet, but according to the cube, the Corruptors were evolving.
Harden became fascinated by the cube, wondering whether it came from an ancient civilization and what kind of mechanism powered it. He also started wondering whether Jin really was a person from a hundred million years in the past.
Jin moved on, saying that he had believed there would be records in the royal capital, which was why he had come here.
But Argus was not done. He asked about Jin's second reason. Jin answered that he was searching for clues about research facilities. One facility had existed beneath the royal capital, but it had been created by his old friend. Similar facilities were scattered across the world, and Jin intended to find them. For a moment he wondered whether he should mention the power-ups Kagura had left behind, but he decided to keep that part vague.
Instead, he made one thing clear. His goal was to erase the Corruptors from the world. That was the reason he was here.
Everyone fell silent. His story sounded absurd, but his goal was too serious to ignore. Argus finally said he believed him. They both wanted the same thing: to deal with the Corruptors. However, he advised Jin not to share this story carelessly, because most people would assume he had completely lost his mind. Jin agreed without argument.
Argus then asked Harden what he thought. Harden said that if Argus believed Jin, then he would too. Besides, someone intending to harm the kingdom would not risk his life to protect the castle.
At that moment someone knocked on the door. It was Poire, reminding Argus that their scheduled time was approaching. Argus was surprised that time had passed so quickly, and asked Poire and Nino to help Jin get ready.
A few hours later they were heading toward the main palace. Jin was lost in thought, trying to process the fact that he was about to meet the royal family. What confused him more was why he had had to change clothes for it. Argus assured him that the suit looked good on him, and even mentioned that the girls who had stayed behind had been praising him.
Harden explained that the person they were about to meet was the first prince of Kermesia, who was currently acting as the king's proxy. In other words, Jin had to present himself properly. Jin simply thought the whole thing was a hassle, and hoped he would not get dragged into another annoying mess.
Eventually they arrived at the royal castle, and everyone bowed respectfully before the throne.