James suddenly raised his hand.
"Wait. Wait, wait."
Sampon stopped talking mid-sentence and looked at him.
James was frowning hard, like someone trying to solve a math problem that kept changing numbers.
"A demon," James said slowly. "From another zone. Appeared because of that girl's skill."
"Yes," Sampon nodded patiently.
"And the body you're using right now…" James pointed at him. "…that's the demon's body?"
"Yes."
James blinked.
"I thought you wanted the healer's body?"
Sampon sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Can you please just listen first before your brain explodes?"
Martis, standing at the side, crossed his arms.
"You interrupt too much."
James shot him a look. "Because nothing you're saying makes sense!"
Sampon clapped his hands once. "Focus. Let me continue."
---
The red rune hit the floor with a faint glow.
The demon had just vomited it out under Martis' command.
Before the creature could even process what happened—
Slash.
Martis' dagger moved so fast the air made a sharp sound.
The demon's head separated cleanly from its neck.
Its massive body collapsed with a heavy thud.
The room went silent.
Blood slowly spread across the floor.
Sampon stared at the corpse for a long second.
Then his lips slowly curved upward.
"…I have a better idea."
Martis glanced at him. "What now?"
"That body," Sampon said, walking toward it, "has far better stats than the healer."
Without hesitation, Sampon's soul exited James' body like mist being pulled out.
James' body slumped into Martis' arms.
The smoke-like soul flew straight into the demon's corpse.
The body twitched.
Fingers moved.
Then the headless demon sat up.
John watched with shining, almost worshipping eyes.
Sampon picked up the severed head calmly and pressed it back onto the neck.
The flesh reconnected like it was never cut.
Sampon rolled his shoulders.
Cracked his neck.
"…Much better."
Then he activated a skill.
Genetic Transmutation.
The horns shrank.
The wings retracted into the back.
The demonic face reshaped into a human one.
The tall, monstrous frame compressed into a normal man's build.
In seconds, he looked human.
John slowly dropped to his knees.
"I will serve you both."
Sampon blinked. "What?"
Martis tilted his head. "…Why?"
John bowed deeper.
"You two are clearly beings beyond this world."
Sampon scratched his cheek awkwardly. "This is getting uncomfortable."
Martis ignored him and immediately went to James' unconscious body, lifting him carefully like something precious.
John noticed that.
"…Why are you protecting that body so much?"
Martis' dagger was suddenly at John's throat.
No warning.
"So many questions for someone who wants to live."
John froze instantly.
Sampon stepped between them. "Relax."
Martis clicked his tongue but lowered the blade.
Sampon spoke calmly.
"That person… is our clan leader."
John's eyes widened.
"And our most trusted friend," Sampon added, mixing truth with lie.
John's expression changed completely.
He bowed even deeper.
"Then I wish to join your clan."
Martis answered immediately.
"You can't delete your own clan."
John looked confused. "What?"
"If you're a normal member, you can leave a clan. But if you're the leader, you can't leave or delete it."
John didn't hesitate. "Then what can I do?"
"You can turn your clan into a vessel clan," Martis said.
"A vessel clan is a slave clan. Bound permanently to another."
John replied instantly.
"I agree."
Sampon looked at him. "You didn't even think about it?"
John smiled faintly.
"I already chose who to follow."
Martis looked at James.
"He needs to wake up first."
---
James' eyes widened slightly. "…Vessel clan?"
Sampon nodded. "Yes. Now listen."
---
They arrived back at the school.
It was midnight.
But the place was loud.
People laughing.
Cooking.
Talking.
For the first time in days, there was noise that wasn't screaming.
Ark noticed them first.
"James?! What happened?!"
Martis answered calmly, "He's unconscious."
"And we brought a survivor," Sampon added.
John stepped forward politely.
"John Delgo."
Ark nodded. "Ark. Welcome."
Then Ark's eyes moved to Sampon.
"…And you are?"
Sampon froze.
Right.
He has a body now.
"I— I'm Sampon."
Ark blinked. "You're… Sampon?"
Sampon panicked slightly. "I just spaced out thinking about something."
Awkward silence.
Ark forced a smile.
"…Welcome too."
Behind Ark, a girl peeked from behind him.
Eumie.
Her eyes moved between Martis, Sampon, and John.
Curious.
Martis was still holding James carefully, not letting anyone touch him.
Sampon coughed.
"We should put him somewhere to rest."
Ark nodded quickly. "Yes, yes, this way."
As they walked inside—
John followed silently behind them.
Watching.
Observing.
Like someone who had already decided who his gods were.
And for the first time since everything began—
They returned to the school.
But they didn't return the same.
They brought with them:
A healer.
A demon's body.
And a man who was far too willing to kneel.