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!'

him for a few moments,

got to eat. But also… wanna

finally, there

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

mature? She looked older, somehow. 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 demeanor was

Sunny. I'm so happy that you

him a polite smile, she grew silent and turned away. This… wasn't exactly the kind of welcome he had expected from her. He had been sure that the blind girl would give him a hug, at least. That was how

shy because of

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

the vision.

feeling of dread, he sat down on

what did you guys want

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

Sunny raised an eyebrow.

"What is that thing?"

handsome young man sat on a chair next

has an enchantment that creates a cone of silence. No one outside this room will be able to hear

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

He sighed.

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

Effie giggled.

"Oh, did he ever…"

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

his previous attacks, but they 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:

cockroach like me help the great

gave him and Nephis a strange look,

can this little

"Hey! Offense taken!"

smiled, then looked

he's the last person in the Dark City I would want to face in combat. He is far

A few moments passed in

Surprise, everybody! I am actually not a weakling.

he glared at Effie and added

you already knew.

However, Neph interrupted him: