Shadow Slave

On the way out of the castle, Kai was strangely silent. Sunny didn't mind, because he had a lot to think about.

Going back to that lodge… there were a lot of things there that he had hoped to never see, feel, or experience again. For a moment, he even thought about rushing straight back to his cathedral without making good on his promise.

But why should he? It's not like he asked to be invited back. Nephis was the one who wanted his help with something.

'Just pretend like you don't care. Also, demand to be compensated for whatever it is they want you to do. You're an outsider now, and your services won't be cheap.'

Yeah, that was the best option. He wasn't going to agree to anything that didn't serve his own selfish interests. And there were a lot of things that Changing Star, with her thriving hunting party and following, could provide him with.

There was this one thing in particular, something he really wanted to do, but couldn't on his own. Maybe they would be able to help him with that...

As they were approaching the lodge, Kai suddenly asked in a serious tone:

"Sunny… why did you want me to come with you, really?"

Sunny sighed. Glancing at the charming archer, he hesitated, then said:

"I want you to tell me if I'm being lied to."

Kai frowned.

"I thought that Lady Nephis was your friend. Why are you so wary of her?"

Sunny chuckled.

Was she a friend? Even he didn't know what exactly the two of them were to each other. Worse yet, he wasn't sure what they would become.

"She's the kind of friend you don't really want to lower your guard around."

He lingered for a moment, then added:

"There's also a guy called Caster. He's the one I especially don't trust."

The archer raised his eyebrows.

good things about Caster.

glance at him and scowled. To be honest, Caster hadn't really done anything to deserve his hostility. But there just was something about the proud Legacy that gave Sunny

too perfect. In Sunny's experience, only people with bad intentions were capable of appearing so flawless. Perhaps he was wrong, but the policy

just gives

shrugged and

hunting party had changed a lot since his last visit. It had already looked pretty

were built to expand it both horizontally and vertically. Now, it was by far the largest building in

the white road. A couple of lookouts were visible on the roof, observing the ruins below. They were wearing armor-type Memories

far cry from how things

tasks. Sunny froze for a moment, disoriented by all

tastefully decorated interior, with warm carpets covering the stone floor and various tapestries hanging on the sturdy stone walls. No, the

was almost gone from their eyes, replaced with energy and vigor.

Gunlaug put an end

that he saw, Nephis was almost asking to be destroyed. How was all

were disrupted by a young woman who greeted them

I help

the smiling girl, trying to remember if he knew her. No one came to mind. Trying to remove the scowl from his face, he answered in

"Neph is expecting me."

The young woman blinked.

Who is

Sunny rolled his eyes.

Nephis is expecting me. You know… Changing

woman's

Let me show you

he knew the way, but truth be told, he wasn't sure that he did. With all the

him. Just as they were walking by, Sunny glanced inside and saw that it

owner left on the

'Figures.'

thoroughly replaced by the scion of the Han Li clan. Well, whatever. The cot was not very comfortable anyway, unlike his luxurious

lodge. Now, it was

a deep

that moment a lot

reunion with the cohort would happen in