Shadow Slave

The four people in the room reacted to his arrival differently.

Nephis seemed to be indifferent, as always. However, Sunny knew her well enough to notice a strange tension hiding in the depths of her calm grey eyes.

Caster greeted him with an amiable smile, but there was coldness hiding behind it. It seemed as though the handsome scion was not happy about this turn of events. Did he see him as a rival for Neph's attention, or was there more to it?

In any case, it was not Sunny's problem. He did not plan on returning to the cohort on a permanent basis. Caster could have all the attention to himself.

Effie looked at him with a genuine surprise.

"Doofus? You are actually alive?"

Sunny blinked and stared at her for a few moments, then said in an acrid tone:

"Sorry to disappoint."

She shook her head.

"No, no. Just… how the hell did you manage to survive three whole months in the ruins?"

He grinned.

"What can I say? I had a good teacher."

Since Effie was the one who taught him how to navigate the Dark City, that compliment was directed at her. However, the huntress simply shook her head.

"No student of mine would be stupid enough to actually live in the ruins. Not to mention returning looking so… feral."

'Do I look feral?'

Sunny took a mental picture of himself. Ragged clothes, dirty hair, a crooked grin, a hint of madness burning in his eyes… no, he couldn't see anything wrong with how he looked. In fact, the thought he looked great.

With an offended frown, he glanced at Effie and said:

"Yeah? Well… you look like you've gained a little weight."

…In all the right places.

'Focus, fool!'

glared at him for a few moments, then

to eat.

finally, there was

out of all of them. The changes were not instantly

invisible weight pressing down on her, the kind that people usually accumulated with

back, Sunny. I'm so happy

welcome he had expected from her. He

is shy because of

had a feeling that he already knew the true reason for her subdued attitude.

vision. That damn

down on one of the chairs and offered

did you guys want to

door and closed it. After that, he summoned a Memory that looked like a bone flute and placed it on the

Sunny raised an eyebrow.

"What is that thing?"

a

a cone of silence. No one outside this room will be able to hear

tell Sunny that they were going to discuss something that had to do with the Bright Lord, Gunlaug himself. Suddenly, he felt

He sighed.

say that I'm surprised. If anything, it's strange that he didn't make a move

Effie giggled.

"Oh, did he ever…"

at her, making the huntress fall silent, and turned to

to make a move. We have withstood his previous attacks, but they were just a rehearsal. A few provocations to test out strength. Now, he is ready to

Sunny raised his eyebrow:

cockroach like me help the great and mighty Changing Star

gave him and Nephis a strange

but I sort of agree with Sunny. What can this little imp… uh, no offense,

"Hey! Offense taken!"

Star smiled, then

by his act, Effie. Sunny might behave like a cowardly weakling, but in fact, he's the last person in the Dark City I would want to face in combat. He

passed in silence, with everyone staring at him.

out of the box. Surprise, everybody! I am actually not a weakling. Who could

and added

My mistake. Actually, everyone except for you already knew. It

However, Neph interrupted him: