In a flash of crimson the female knight Lila is behind Eric with her sword to his neck. He is holding the edge of the blade. "Kazuma, Rizu remember they summoned us here. Now that I point it out don't you feel like we shouldn't help?"
"Lila!" Rebecca reprimands her.
"Princess I cannot allow such insolence."
"And I can't believe you've kidnapped us." Eric interjects.
"Lila let him go. This isn't helping us win their favor."
Hearing the princess Lila complies and releases him.
Rizu and Kazuma sigh in relief.
"Well I'm not about to help you so if you don't mind can you send me back home?" Eric asks politely.
"Um…" Rebecca is reluctant.
"First let's meet with the king." Geoffrey says trying to move things along.
"Come on Eric." Rizu urges him on.
With a reluctant sigh he follows.
They walk down overly decorated corridors after corridors until finally they make it to the king's audience chambers.
Inside there are many diplomats and nobles along with the king. He looks just like you'd imagine a king to look like. He has white hair with a short white beard and a crown wearing a red robe with white fur lining it.
Rebecca leads them in front of the king and she kneels. The others kneel as well. All except Eric.
Whispers of "such insolence." And "how disrespectful" can be heard.
"Welcome heroes…" he says with a raised eyebrow looking towards his daughter.
"We have guests with us." she says.
"I see which one is the hero?" He asks.
"Please show me the marking of the hero."
Kazuma and Rizu assume it's the black symbols on their arms.
"Is this it?" They say in unison holding up their arms.
"Yes that's the hero's mark… It's strange that the summoning spell summoned multiple people." The King says.
Then Eric holds his arms out and says "well since I don't have the marking can you send me home."
The King and everyone has a downcast look on their face "Unfortunately that can not be done."
"Excuse me?" Eric asks again "I said that's impossible."
Eric's face twists "Are you serious? You kidnapped us and now you refuse to send me back the one who doesn't even have that mark."
"I'm sorry but there isn't a way to send you back."
"So you're selfish enough to force us to fight and when I refuse Big Red here puts a sword to my neck? Yeah I'm going to pass."
Eric turns away from the throne and walks out of the giant room with an unpleasant look on his face.
"Stop!" Lila yells and starts to chase after him. "Lila is what he said true?" the King asks.
"Uh…" she stutters. "Lisa, can you show Sir Kazumitsu to a room?" Rebecca asks and a maid attendant follows after him. After leaving the throne room Eric is shown to a room by Lisa. "If you need anything just let me know."
After closing the door Eric sighs "Hey Tux you're here right?" he says out loud. "Of course my Lord." a deep and raspy voice replies.
From nowhere a white mist appears and a vague shape of an animal on four legs forms. Unlike a normal animal it's only a skeleton, a wolf skeleton to be exact. "Ah it feels good to stretch my bones."
"Tux can you contact Arobeth or Hitori?"
"Unfortunately my spiritual link to them is severed."
"Dammit." Eric has his head in his hands. "Don't worry my Lord I'm sure they have noticed your spirit energy has disappeared. Well at least Annabelle has."
"Yeah you're right if all else fails I know Annabelle will be on top of it. Our main priority is to return."
"Of course my Lord I'd recommend transcribing the summoning circle. However I feel a different power other than Spiritual."
"I felt it too, however it had a familiar feeling." Eric says, pondering that feeling.
"Be careful my Lord." Tux fades into mist then there's a knock on the door. "Yeah?" Eric calls out.
"Uh… It's Lila, could you let me in?" she asks with a disheartened voice. "Oh Big Red come in." he says.
The door slowly opens and the downcast girl walks in. After gently closing the door she stands in front of him.
"What?" Eric asks with a glare. Seeing him she recoils "I've come to apologize my actions were uncalled for after all you are a guest here. So I'm sorry…"
"Wow the King scolded you huh ha ha ha." Eric laughs
"..." She stays quiet. "Well apology denied." He says coldly.
Lila is glaring daggers at him. "I've been ordered not to leave your side until you accept my apology."
"Well isn't that convenient? I needed a golden ticket." Eric says with a devilish smile. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't worry about it, I'll get that maid to get you when I need you for now you can go."
She silently leaves.
"My Lord, you shouldn't bully beautiful girls. After all, you still need a marriage partner so you can continue the Kazumitsu bloodline."
"Tux we've been over this. I'm still too young to have a kid and besides that… I've got a lot of work."
"Ah yes the old I have work to do excuse. Your parents used that excuse a lot especially your Mom haha good to know you're their kid." Tux radiates a happy aura remembering them.
"Another reason why we have to return. We need to make our report to his majesty. The Cult of Dedros is making moves and we need to move the society in."
"You know they're busy wiping out the Institute that's why they sent us to America in the first place."
"We mostly destroyed their hideouts."
"We didn't catch any higher ups. Our only lead was from Kapasis and that went up in smoke." Tux says
"Not my best play I'll admit that but she was also part of the problem."
"Okay I'm going to try some methods to communicate with them. Please my Lord and I can't stress this enough, don't cause a scene."
"Of course." Eric says, pushing up his glasses.