Shadow Slave

At first glance, the interior of the Instructors Lounge seemed simple and cozy. Most of the furniture was made out of wood, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Bright sunlight streamed through the tall windows, which were open slightly to let in the chilly winter air.

However, his eyes widened slightly when Sunny realized that all the wood around him was natural, not synthetic.

'Extravagant! Wasteful!'

Noticing his expression, Master Jet smiled slightly.

"Let me guess, you have never seen that much real wood in one place?"

Sunny hesitated, then gave her a nod.

"Only in the Dream Realm…"

The young woman grinned, moved a chair back with her foot, and sat down at one of the tables.

"Where do you think all this came from?"

He looked around, seeing the Instructors Lounge of the Academy from a completely new perspective, then silently sat down, lost for words.

Master Jet summoned the menu, made a selection, then leaned back and tiredly rubbed her face.

"Believe it or not, the chair you're sitting on is made out of a dead titan."

Sunny stared at her, shocked. Suddenly, he had a strong impulse to jump out of the chair.

"...What?"

She chuckled and gestured around:

when Bastion was first established, it was surrounded by a vast — and very hungry — forest. The whole thing was one giant Nightmare Creature. Clan Valor spent decades at war with it, losing many knights. In the end, the forest was destroyed, leaving behind a lot of high-quality lumber. And here

the back of his head, then cautiously knocked on the wooden table. The thing seemed dead, but he

had once been a part of a

it to be delivered by an actual Echo, but luckily, it was brought by a mundane automated

feast in front of him with wild eyes. There were fried potatoes, baked beans, juicy roasted meat, a salad made out of

the most beautiful sight he

these things in real life. Suddenly, the position of a research assistant once promised to him

"Uh… please excuse me…"

on her own food. Not wasting any time on manners, Sunny assaulted his breakfast with the same

pushed away empty plates and leaned back with a satisfied smile

'Ah… this is life!'

glanced at him with a dry

I tell you? This is where they hide the good

at the empty plates with regret

almost nothing except for monster meat, I would

at the mention of the most common food in the

sighed, then took out something from the inner pocket of her

the table, she

be wondering why I visited

head slightly, stared at the metal box for a few seconds, and then answered in a cautious

honest,

nodded, then smiled

formality, and a very beneficial one, at that. Put your finger on

told. The sensor buzzed for half a minute, and then

flexible glass, a memory chip with the government seal etched

toward Sunny, she lingered for a moment, and

Sunless. You are now officially a citizen. Of the seventh rank,