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

finally, there was

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

seemed more… mature? She looked older, somehow. It was as if there was an invisible weight pressing down on her, the kind

I'm so happy that you are

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 it

is shy because

feeling that he already knew the true reason for

the vision. That damn

down on one of the chairs

you guys want to

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

Sunny raised an eyebrow.

"What is that thing?"

on a chair next to Changing Star

silence. No one

Lord, Gunlaug himself. Suddenly, he felt an irrational desire to

He sighed.

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…"

making the huntress fall

move. We have withstood his previous attacks, but they were just a rehearsal. A few provocations to test out strength. Now,

Sunny raised his eyebrow:

can a cockroach like me help the great

and Nephis a strange look,

this little imp… uh, no offense, Sunny… do that we

"Hey! Offense taken!"

smiled, then looked

the Dark City I would want to face in combat. He is far more dangerous than anyone thinks he is. Isn't

A few moments passed in

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

he glared at Effie and added in a mocking

Actually, everyone except for you already knew. It seems that you

However, Neph interrupted him: