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

girl got to eat. But

there was

the most out of all of them. The changes were not instantly apparent, but

She looked older, somehow. It was as if there was an invisible weight pressing down on her,

I'm so happy that

of welcome he had expected from her. He had been sure that the blind

is shy because

he already knew the true reason for her subdued attitude. He just didn't want to

was the vision. That

he sat down on

you

to the door and closed it. After that, he summoned a Memory that

Sunny raised an eyebrow.

"What is that thing?"

on a chair

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

Gunlaug himself.

He sighed.

you all? Can't say that I'm surprised. If

Effie giggled.

"Oh, did he ever…"

at her, making the huntress fall silent, and turned

were just a rehearsal. A few provocations to test out strength. Now, he is ready to act in earnest. And that's why I

Sunny raised his eyebrow:

a cockroach like me help the great and

Nephis a strange look, then

take it to heart, princess, but I sort of agree with Sunny. What can this little imp… uh, no offense, Sunny… do that we can't? I mean, he is

"Hey! Offense taken!"

then

the last person in the Dark City I would want to face in combat. He is

froze on his face. A few moments passed in silence, with everyone staring at him. Finally, Sunny

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

he glared at Effie and added in a mocking

except for you already knew.

However, Neph interrupted him: