Shadow Slave

Gunlaug looked just like the last time Sunny had seen him.

…Like a golden demon born of some harrowing hell.

The Bright Lord was tall and had broad, powerful shoulders. His body was clad in a strange armor that seemed to be made out of molten gold. It was both solid and liquid, flowing over his mightly muscles and covering him from head to toe.

Not even Gunalug's eyes were exposed.

In the place where his face should have been, there was nothing but a smooth and empty expanse of polished gold. The great hall of the Bright Castle reflected in it, and all the people gathered there did, too.

As soon as Sunny saw the golden mask, he felt the oppressive aura that radiated from the Bright Lord. Even knowing what was going to happen, he couldn't help but shake a little and bite his lip.

The mind assault of the golden armor was truly hard to endure. Even with the protection of the Puppeteer's Shroud, he felt it pressing on him, making it hard to breathe. Deep inside, a primal, bestial fear was clawing at his heart.

But this fear did not belong to him. It was fake. With a dark grimace, Sunny strangled it and made it disappear.

Walking out of the darkness of the alcove like a golden apparition, Gunlaug glanced at the mass of people below him and sat on the throne. His pose was relaxed and casual, as though he was here to leisurely resolve a trivial matter, not decide someone's fate.

Hundreds of fates, perhaps.

However, despite his laid-back attitude, everyone gathered in the great hall swayed a little, pressed down to the ground by the incredible force of his presence.

The Bright Lord lingered for a few moments, and then said, his serpentine voice full of mirth:

"Ah, what a sight. All my precious wards gathered here, united in the desire to see justice prevail. This dedication, this fervor for the rule of law… oh, it just makes my blood boil with appreciation. Don't you think it's wonderful?"

He laughed and turned his head slightly, peering directly at Nephis. She lowered her head a bit, an almost imperceptible tremor running through her body. To Sunny, though, it seemed as though the plates of marble beneath her feet were about to crack from the terrifying pressure of Gunlaug's gaze.

it without showing much of the tremendous strain she

then echoed his words, a note of some dark emotion

think it's wonderful, Changing Star of the Immortal Flame

the psychic onslaught of the golden armor. When she finally answered,

"...Indeed."

silent for a bit. Although his face was hidden behind the golden

Finally, he spoke:

been told by my most loyal

his

words was clear: Gunlaug was letting Nephis know that

Maybe even silently allowed

'Damnation…'

did

looked at Effie. After a few seconds had passed in tense silence, he spoke to her with a hint of

it is in these tragic circumstances. If only you had listened to me and joined the Host… perhaps

his

Instead of a noble Hunter, you have turned into a wild beast. But that is what happens when people refuse my grace. They become no

echoed in the silence of the great hall, making

of his undivided attention. But then, she grinned and answered, her raspy voice sounding relaxed

only said

"Fuck off."

raised his

remorse left in her corrupted, rotten soul. That is why, with a heavy heart, I have to sentence this once-promising young woman to death. She has to answer for her crimes, and leaving her alive would put you,

of voices rose from the crowd. Slum dweller or an inhabitant of the Castle, everyone

"Don't you dare, bastard!"

"Kill that murderer!"

"Effie! We're here!"