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!'

for a

got to eat. But also…

there

changed the most out of all of them. The changes were not instantly apparent, but to Sunny, who knew her so

an invisible weight pressing down on

back, Sunny. I'm so happy that

expected from her. He had been sure that the blind girl would give him a hug, at

she is shy because

he already knew the true reason for her subdued attitude. He just

vision.

down on one of the chairs and offered another one to

what did you

After that, he summoned a Memory that looked like a bone flute and placed it on the table. Immediately, something in the

Sunny raised an eyebrow.

"What is that thing?"

young man sat on a

one outside this room will be able to hear what we're

Gunlaug himself. Suddenly, he felt

He sighed.

Lord is finally ready to obliterate you all? Can't say that I'm

Effie giggled.

"Oh, did he ever…"

her, making the huntress fall silent, and

but they were just a rehearsal. A few provocations to test out strength. Now, he is ready to act in earnest.

Sunny raised his eyebrow:

great and mighty Changing Star

gave him and Nephis a

to heart, princess, but I sort of agree with Sunny. What can this little imp… uh,

"Hey! Offense taken!"

smiled, then looked

weakling, but in fact, he's the last person in the Dark City I would want to face in combat. He is far more dangerous than anyone thinks he is.

passed

well. I guess the secret is out of the box. Surprise, everybody! I am actually not a

at Effie and added in a

for you already knew. It

However, Neph interrupted him: