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

girl got to eat. But also… wanna

finally, there

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

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,

so happy that you

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 him a hug,

shy because

Sunny had a feeling that he already knew the true reason for her subdued attitude. He just didn't want to admit

the vision.

feeling of dread, he sat down on one of the chairs

did you guys

saying anything, Caster walked 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

Sunny raised an eyebrow.

"What is that thing?"

handsome young man sat on a chair

silence. No one outside this room

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 sighed.

that

Effie giggled.

"Oh, did he ever…"

at her, making the huntress fall silent, and turned to

just a rehearsal. A few provocations to test out strength. Now, he is ready to act in earnest. And that's why

Sunny raised his eyebrow:

great and mighty Changing Star of

a strange

this little imp…

"Hey! Offense taken!"

then looked at

in the Dark City I would want to face in combat. He is far more dangerous than anyone

few moments passed in

well. I guess the secret is out of the box. Surprise, everybody! I

and added

except for you already knew. It seems that you

However, Neph interrupted him: