"Hold on."
James raised a hand again, frowning.
"Why was I being carried like a princess by Martis?"
Martis' eyes narrowed. "You were unconscious."
"That's not the point," James argued. "You still look like a high schooler. If people see that, people will think I'm weak."
Martis blinked once.
"…What?"
Sampon sighed loudly. "Here we go."
James crossed his arms. "You wouldn't understand. It's a dominance thing."
James added "I feel like Y/N and Martis as the CEO..."
Martis stared at him for a long second, then said flatly, "Your human logic is exhausting."
"It's not logic, it's pride."
Martis looked mildly offended. "I would even let you carry me if that makes you feel better."
"That's worse!"
Sampon clapped his hands. "Can you two stop arguing? My story isn't even finished."
Martis cut in lazily. "He's just mad because this is the part where Eumie's friends keep praising how handsome he looks."
Sampon pointed at him. "You didn't have to say that."
James squinted. "…What happened?"
Sampon continued.
---
Flashback — Midnight at the School
They entered the school building.
People were still awake.
Some cooking. Some talking. Some just sitting, unable to sleep.
John looked around, confused.
"It's midnight. Why are you all still awake? You're teenagers."
Ark replied quietly, "We just can't sleep. And I need to protect my sister."
John's eyes moved to Eumie and the group of girls around her.
He stood up slowly and walked toward them.
The girls stiffened slightly.
John stopped in front of one of them.
"What's your name?"
The girl hesitated. "…Mhae."
She bowed her head politely. "Nice to meet you."
John nodded. "Do you want a class?"
Ark, who was nearby, almost choked. "Wait— what?"
John opened his hand.
A red rune glowed brightly on his palm.
Everyone around froze.
John began explaining calmly.
"This is called a rune. It gives classes, skills, power. This one is an ultra rare class called Corrupt Saint—"
"I'll take it."
Mhae said it immediately.
John paused mid-explanation.
"…You didn't even let me finish."
Mhae grabbed the rune and absorbed it.
A system window appeared in front of her.
Her eyes widened.
Eumie and her friends gasped.
Ark rushed toward John.
"Where did you get that?!"
"Martis told me to keep it," John replied casually.
Ark blinked. "…Of course he did."
John looked at Ark. "You're the buffer Sampon told me about, right?"
Ark nodded.
John then opened his inventory.
And poured out a pile of mana runes and stat runes on the table.
Ark stared.
"…Where did you get all of this?"
John's mind flashed briefly to torture. Screams. Begging.
He smiled calmly. "Hunted many monsters."
Ark looked amazed.
John continued, "My class is a unique class. Messenger of Shrep. I can heal, create barriers— very useful for survival."
Ark's eyes lit up. "That's amazing!"
Ark then explained his own class and skill.
John's eyes widened. "An unlimited scaling buff? That's insane."
"No, no," Ark waved. "Your healing is more important."
They began praising each other back and forth like two fans meeting their idols.
Behind them, Eumie's group surrounded Mhae.
"You have a class now?!" "You can fight monsters?!" "That's so cool!"
Mhae smiled nervously, overwhelmed but happy.
For the first time, hope spread in the room.
---
Back to Present
"And after that," Sampon said, "we brought you to rest. Which leads us to now."
James scratched his head slowly, trying to process everything.
"…So while I was unconscious, you guys recruited a healer, gave away an ultra rare class, and made friends."
"Yes," Sampon nodded.
Martis quietly handed James a small bottle.
"Drink."
James took it. "What's this?"
"Medicine for your headache."
James drank it.
Sampon smirked. "See? Tsundere."
Martis froze.
Sampon continued teasingly, "Acts cold, pretends not to care, but actually worries the most—"
Martis slowly turned his head toward Sampon.
His face completely serious.
Eyes cold.
Deadly quiet.
Sampon immediately stopped talking.
"…I value my life."
James looked between them.
And for the first time since waking up—
He felt something strange.
Not fear.
Not confusion.
But the odd feeling that…
Despite everything.
Despite demons.
Despite killers.
Despite other worlds.
They were starting to feel like a very strange…
Very comfortable…
Very much like a family.