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

girl got to eat. But

there was

them. The changes were not instantly apparent, but to Sunny, who knew her so well, they were

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

back, Sunny. I'm so happy that you

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

is shy because of

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

vision. That

feeling of dread, he sat down on one of

did you

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

Sunny raised an eyebrow.

"What is that thing?"

handsome young man sat on a chair next to Changing Star

one outside this room

fact alone was already enough to tell Sunny that they were going to discuss something that had to do with the Bright Lord, Gunlaug himself. Suddenly, he felt an irrational desire to be

He sighed.

Bright Lord is finally ready to obliterate you all? Can't say that I'm surprised.

Effie giggled.

"Oh, did he ever…"

huntress fall silent, and turned to

right. The Bright Lord is indeed about to make a move. We have withstood his previous attacks, but they were just a

Sunny raised his eyebrow:

a cockroach like me help the great and mighty

Nephis a strange look,

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 a decent

"Hey! Offense taken!"

then

a cowardly weakling, but in fact, he's the last person in the Dark City I would want to face in combat. He is far more dangerous than anyone thinks he is. Isn't it right,

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

the secret is out of the box. Surprise, everybody! I am actually not

he glared at Effie and added in

you already knew. It seems

However, Neph interrupted him: