Garion and the Vessel Demon stood side by side on the circular platform.

The Vessel Demon shifted its weight nervously, glancing down at the faint lines under its feet.

"…Master," it said quietly, "what is this place supposed to do?"

Garion didn't answer right away.

He was looking straight ahead, arms relaxed, completely calm.

"Just stand still," he said. "And don't panic."

That somehow made the Vessel Demon more nervous.

Then a clear, emotionless voice echoed through the room.

[Teleportation sequence initializing.]

The Vessel Demon stiffened.

"…What?"

The platform beneath their feet began to glow.

[Ready…]

The Vessel Demon's heart started pounding.

"Master..."

[Three…]

The light grew brighter.

"…Master, I don't like this."

[Two…]

The air around them felt tight, like everything was being pulled inward.

"Is this safe?!"

Garion finally glanced at him.

"You'll be fine," he said casually. "Probably."

The Vessel Demon's eyes widened.

"…Probably?"

[One.]

The light exploded outward.

The Vessel Demon felt the ground vanish beneath its feet.

Its stomach lurched, its vision twisted, and for a brief moment it felt like its body was being pulled apart and put back together again.

Then...

Silence.

The light vanished.

They were no longer in the demon world.

---

Meanwhile, back in the human world…

The training grounds of the God Gym were filled with noise.

Dahlia was shouting instructions, hands on her hips.

"Again! Louder footwork! You two are dragging!"

Rynor laughed. "Hey, we're improving!"

Rynar snorted. "Barely."

Clara was lounging off to the side, tossing small illusions at passing disciples just to mess with them.

Arden stood nearby, wiping sweat from his forehead, trying to regulate his breathing.

Then...

BOOM.

The ground shook.

A loud explosion echoed across the entire area.

Everyone froze.

"…What the hell?" Dahlia muttered.

The twins immediately straightened.

"That didn't sound like training," Rynor said.

Rynar frowned. "That came from inside the grounds."

Rachel had already turned, her expression calm but alert.

"Everyone," she said gently, "stay close."

They all rushed toward the source of the sound.

As they rounded the corner, they stopped dead.

A building stood there.

It hadn't existed before.

A clean, box-shaped structure sat firmly on the ground, solid and unmistakably real.

"…What is that?" Clara asked slowly.

The twins shook their heads at the same time.

"No clue," Rynor said.

Rynar narrowed his eyes. "There was nothing here earlier."

Arden stared at the structure, confused.

"…I'm sure this place was empty," he said. "I trained here yesterday."

Dahlia stepped forward, eyes sharp.

"…A new building," she said. "Inside our grounds."

She clenched her fist.

"Only one person would pull something like this."

The others didn't need her to finish the thought.

The door creaked open.

And right on cue...

Garion walked out.

He threw his head back and laughed.

"Hahaha... long time no see."

For a split second, there was complete silence.

Then...

"MASTER?!"

Dahlia nearly shouted the word.

She rushed forward without thinking, stopping just a few steps in front of him.

"How can you be here?" she demanded.

"You were stuck in the demon world! How did you even..."

Garion raised a hand, still smiling.

"Easy," he said. "One question at a time."

He leaned back slightly, clearly enjoying the reaction.

"As for how," he added, "that's my secret."

Dahlia stared at him, then clicked her tongue.

"Tch. Of course it is."

Behind her, Arden stood frozen.

"…Master Garion," he said softly.

Relief flashed across his face, but it vanished almost instantly.

His eyes shifted.

"…Wait."

Arden squinted.

"There's… someone behind you."

Garion stepped aside slightly.

"Yes," he said. "Good eyes."

Arden's brow furrowed.

"…Master," he asked carefully, "is that a demon?"

The word instantly changed the atmosphere.

Dahlia's smile disappeared.

The twins moved without thinking, stepping forward, muscles tensing.

Clara's playful expression faded, illusions flickering faintly around her fingers.

Rachel took one step forward, calm but alert.

The Vessel Demon stiffened.

Garion sighed.

"Relax," he said. "Don't jump straight to murder."

Everyone froze.

"…What?" Dahlia asked.

Garion pointed his thumb over his shoulder.

"He's with us now," he said. "A fellow disciple."

The Vessel Demon flinched at the word.

Disciple.

Dahlia looked at the demon up and down.

Thin arms. Narrow shoulders. A body that looked like it might snap under a heavy breeze.

Her expression twisted.

"…Master," she said slowly, "are you really sure?"

She gestured vaguely.

"His body looks like a stick."

The Vessel Demon shrank slightly under her gaze.

Garion laughed.

"That's exactly why he's here," he said.

He rested a hand on the demon's shoulder.

"I'll explain later," Garion continued. "Long story."

Dahlia crossed her arms, clearly unconvinced.

"…You always say that."

Garion grinned wider.

"First things first," he said. "I'm starving."

He looked around at everyone.

"Let's go to the restaurant."

There was a pause.

"…Restaurant?" Rynor repeated.

Garion nodded. "Yeah. I haven't eaten proper food in forever."

He started walking as if this was all perfectly normal.

"Come on," he said. "You can interrogate me while I eat."

The group exchanged looks.

Dahlia opened her mouth, clearly ready to start yelling, but before she could say anything, Arden fell quiet.

He was staring past Garion.

His eyes moved from Garion's back… to the new building… and finally to the circular platform inside.

Something clicked.

"…Master," Arden said slowly.

Garion paused mid-step and glanced back. "Yeah?"

Arden pointed at the platform.

"Could it be," he asked carefully, "that you teleported from the demon world to here?"

Garion smiled and nodded.

"Bingo."

The group froze.

"…Wait," Rynor said. "You're serious?"

Garion nodded again. "Very."

Arden's eyes widened.

He pointed again, this time more urgently.

"Using that?" he asked.

Garion's smile grew.

"Exactly that."

For a moment, no one spoke.

Then Arden took a slow step back.

"…Then does that mean," he said, "that we can also go to the demon world?"

Garion looked at him.

"Of course," he replied. "It's actually a great place to train."

Dahlia opened her mouth.

Rachel raised an eyebrow slightly.

Clara looked excited.

But Arden raised his hand quickly.

"Nope," he said immediately. "I'm good."

Everyone looked at him.

Arden gave a nervous laugh.

"With my [Nature Physique]," he continued, "the demon world is… really not my destiny."

Garion laughed.

"Fair," he said. "You can't do anything in the demon world."

Arden nodded rapidly. "Exactly."

Garion turned back toward the restaurant.

"Alright," he said. "Demon world trips later."

He glanced back one last time at the platform.

"For now," he added, "let's eat."

As the group followed him, excitement and unease mixed in the air.

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