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 few moments,

to eat. But also… wanna

there

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

girl seemed more… 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 calmer, more

I'm so happy that you

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

she is shy because of

reason for her subdued attitude. He just didn't want

the vision. That damn

dread, he sat down on one of

did you

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

Sunny raised an eyebrow.

"What is that thing?"

young man sat on a

Memory has an enchantment that creates a cone of silence. No one outside

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

He sighed.

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

Effie giggled.

"Oh, did he ever…"

at her, making the huntress fall silent,

Bright Lord is 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 ready to act in

Sunny raised his eyebrow:

like me help the great and mighty Changing Star of the

a strange

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

"Hey! Offense taken!"

smiled, then

by his act, Effie. Sunny might behave like a cowardly weakling, but in fact, he's the last person in the Dark City I would

few moments passed in

box. Surprise, everybody!

he glared at Effie and added in a mocking

you

However, Neph interrupted him: