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

girl got to eat. But also…

there

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

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 calmer, more restrained. Almost…

I'm so happy

He had been sure that the blind girl would give him a hug, at

is shy because

true reason for her subdued

the vision.

down on one of the chairs and offered another

what did you guys

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

Sunny raised an eyebrow.

"What is that thing?"

man sat on a chair next

silence. No one

to discuss something that had to do with the Bright Lord, Gunlaug himself. Suddenly, he felt an irrational desire to be

He sighed.

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

Effie giggled.

"Oh, did he ever…"

her, making the huntress fall

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 need

Sunny raised his eyebrow:

great and mighty Changing Star of

and Nephis a strange

with Sunny. What can this little imp… uh, no offense, Sunny… do that we can't? I mean, he is a decent scout,

"Hey! Offense taken!"

Star smiled, then looked

he's the last person in the Dark City I would want

face. A few moments passed in silence, with everyone staring at

Surprise, everybody! I

glared at Effie and added in a

except for you already knew. It seems that you

However, Neph interrupted him: