The first prince ordered them to raise their heads, and when Jin looked up he finally saw Terris Kermesia.
Jin greeted him politely. Terris returned the gesture by expressing gratitude as the king's proxy. But then he mentioned that he had heard Jin came from Kodama Village, and acted surprised that someone like him came from such an insignificant little village, which already irritated Jin.
Then Terris decided to be blunt. He ordered Jin to serve him as a Holy Knight of the royal country and devote himself completely to the kingdom.
Jin stayed silent, clearly annoyed. Terris asked whether he had not heard the order. Harden quickly reminded the prince that they were the ones who had called Jin here, so forcing him was unreasonable.
But Jin stopped Harden and calmly answered for himself. He said he did not plan to stay in the royal country for long. Terris pointed out that Jin was currently working at the academy. Jin explained that it was only temporary. So Terris asked whether that meant he refused the offer.
When Jin did not submit, Terris immediately ordered the knights to seize him.
Harden tried to stop him, demanding to know what he thought he was doing. But Terris declared that Jin was under suspicion of treason. After all, the invaders had been hidden behind the ancient sealed door beneath the academy, and Jin was the one who had opened that door. Then the prince had the nerve to ask how they knew the whole rescue had not been staged by Jin himself.
Harden knew the accusation was insane. It was far too forced. But Jin stayed quiet.
Terris continued, saying that Jin's power would be wasted if left uncontrolled. If Jin pledged loyalty to him, he was willing to let everything slide. But if he refused, Terris claimed he had no choice but to kill him.
Argus instantly knew Jin had had nothing to do with treason. Jin had only recently arrived in the capital, and Argus had already reported the investigation to the royal knights. They should know this. But when one of the royal knights smirked, Argus finally realized they had used him. He was furious at himself, because he should have noticed something was off from the suspicious level of castle security.
The commanders of the third and fourth units were both fanatically loyal to Terris. They would do anything for him, no matter how unreasonable. Argus also understood that if he had refused the commanders from the start, they probably would have tried to eliminate Jin immediately.
Terris told Jin that a man who could defeat a giant Corruptor was far too dangerous to roam free. Then he extended his hand like some merciful ruler and gave Jin one last chance. Swear loyalty, or die.
Jin simply replied that he did not get it. Terris was confused, but Jin calmly asked what the point of a verbal promise was when blades were already pointed at his neck. Even if he said he would obey, he could just run later and make the oath meaningless. From Jin's point of view, Terris only wanted to hear him say it.
Then Jin asked whether this was just Terris trying to satisfy his need for control, or whether there was a deeper reason behind it.
The question hit a nerve. The fourth commander became furious and pressed his spear closer to Jin's face, demanding to know who he thought he was talking to. But Jin simply grabbed the shaft of the weapon. The commander suddenly felt an absurd pull and realized something was wrong. In the next instant Jin lifted the spear with the commander still holding it, and slammed the man straight into the floor, knocking him out instantly.
Terris was left stunned. Argus, meanwhile, was simply worried, because he knew this situation was getting worse by the second.
The third commander tried to stop Jin with spirit arts, but her power refused to activate. With no other choice, she ordered the knights to seize him. One knight lunged with a spear, but Jin dodged, grabbed the weapon, kicked the knight away, and swung the spear around him, knocking out multiple knights in one clean motion.
Terris turned to Argus and screamed at him to do something. He ordered Argus to punish Jin for bearing his fangs at the royal family. Argus hesitated for a few seconds, then reluctantly drew his blade, telling Jin not to take it personally.
Terris laughed as though he had already won, and ordered the knights to take Jin dead or alive. The knights rushed him all at once, but Jin activated his power and disappeared before they could even touch him.
His voice echoed through the room as he explained that unleashing his true power here would be dangerous. If he seriously wanted to, he could probably wipe the entire city off the map without breaking a sweat, but he had never once intended to do that, because he had chosen to stand with the people of this era. He had come here to protect them.
Then he appeared right behind Terris and whispered that there were exceptions. He showed no mercy to those who brought darkness into people's lives.
With that, Jin asked the prince one simple question. Which side was he on?
Terris froze so hard he practically forgot how to breathe. The third commander angrily demanded whether Jin understood what he was doing. Jin calmly replied that he was standing against people trying to shove injustice down everyone's throats. Naturally, this only made her angrier.
The fourth commander, still lying on the floor, forced out a question. Was Jin declaring himself an enemy of the royal kingdom?
Jin reminded them that he was not the one picking a fight. They were. He made his position clear. If they were royalty, he could show respect. If they followed the country's rules and their demands were reasonable, he would even cooperate. But he was not cheap enough to swallow nonsense and obey in silence. If they tried to force him, they had no right to complain when he pushed back.
Then he turned back to Terris and asked whether this deluded fool truly believed everything bent to his will, or whether there was something else going on.
Before things could explode any further, someone entered the hall. The second princess, Charlotte, respectfully asked whether she might join the conversation.
Argus was visibly relieved. She had made it just in time, and he decided to leave the rest to her.
Charlotte looked at Terris and casually remarked that he seemed to be enjoying himself. Terris panicked the moment he saw her, quickly realizing that Argus must have been behind this. Charlotte told him that if he was going to invite the hero who had saved the kingdom, he should have invited her too. Then she warned him that he was not even acting properly as the king's proxy.
Terris snapped back, arguing that Jin was no hero. Anyone who bore his fangs at the royal family was a criminal. Charlotte acted surprised, and the third commander, Wassa, confirmed it by saying Jin had wounded the fourth commander. Charlotte calmly asked whether that had happened because they were being rude first.
Wassa angrily asked what she was implying. Then she pointed at Jin and shouted that he had been about to harm the first prince. Charlotte simply said that Jin had only been standing behind Terris, and asked Jin whether that was correct. Jin smiled and agreed. He said he had merely stood behind the prince and asked a question.
Terris was furious, but Charlotte cut him down with elegance, saying that calling someone a criminal just for standing behind him made him look extremely small-minded.
Then she bowed to Jin and told him she would not ask him to serve the royal kingdom. Instead, she asked whether he would lend them a hand as a friend, if the kingdom ever found itself in trouble. Jin replied that he would be happy to help.
Charlotte thanked him and said they should move, because this was not the best place to talk. She walked forward and ordered the knights to make way and mind their manners, as she escorted her friend out. The knights immediately lowered their weapons and stepped aside, leaving Terris behind, practically boiling with anger.