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!'

at him for a few moments,

eat. But also…

there was

them. The changes were not instantly apparent, but to

It was as if there was an invisible weight pressing down on her, the kind that people usually accumulated with the flow of years. Her

back, Sunny. I'm so

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

shy

true reason for

was the vision. That damn

the feeling of dread, he sat down on one of the chairs and offered

what did you

Caster exchanged glances. Before saying anything, Caster walked over to the door and closed it. After that, he summoned a

Sunny raised an eyebrow.

"What is that thing?"

a chair

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

Gunlaug himself. Suddenly, he felt an irrational desire to be anywhere else but in this

He sighed.

is finally ready to obliterate you all? Can't say that I'm surprised. If anything, it's strange that he

Effie giggled.

"Oh, did he ever…"

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

indeed about 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

Sunny raised his eyebrow:

the great and mighty

gave him and Nephis a strange look, then

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

"Hey! Offense taken!"

Star smiled, then looked

fact, he's the last person in the Dark City I

froze on his face. A few moments passed in silence, with everyone staring

I guess the secret is out of the box. Surprise, everybody! I am actually

he glared at Effie and added in a mocking

everyone except for you already

However, Neph interrupted him: