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!'

huntress glared at him for a few moments,

eat. But

there

The changes were not instantly apparent,

It was as if there was an invisible weight pressing down on her, the kind that people usually accumulated with the flow of

so happy that you are

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

shy because of

reason for her subdued

vision. That damn

down on one of the chairs and offered

what did you

over to the door and closed it. After 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?"

man sat on a chair next to Changing Star

creates a cone of silence. No one outside this room will be able to hear what we're talking about

were going to discuss something that had to do with the Bright Lord, Gunlaug himself. Suddenly, he felt an irrational desire to be anywhere else but in

He sighed.

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…"

the huntress fall silent,

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 earnest.

Sunny raised his eyebrow:

cockroach like me help the great and mighty Changing Star of

gave him and Nephis a strange

but I sort of agree with Sunny. What can this little imp… uh, no offense, Sunny… do that we can't?

"Hey! Offense taken!"

smiled, then looked

Sunny might behave like 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

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

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

he glared at Effie and added

for you already knew. It seems

However, Neph interrupted him: