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:

of this, actually. Back 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

wooden table. The thing seemed dead, but he decided to

had once been a part of

be delivered by an actual

feast in front of him with wild eyes. There were fried potatoes, baked beans, juicy roasted meat, a salad made out of real vegetables, a bowl of fragrant soup, several pieces of oven bread, butter, jam, and even chocolate

the most beautiful sight he had ever

life. Suddenly, the position of a research

"Uh… please excuse me…"

Not wasting any time on manners, Sunny assaulted

time later, with his belly on the verge to bursting open, he pushed away empty plates and leaned back with a satisfied

'Ah… this is life!'

glanced at him

you? This is where they

the empty plates with regret and

a year of eating almost nothing except for monster meat, I would have

smile dimmed at the mention of the

them, Master Jet sighed, then took out something from the inner pocket of her uniform. It was a small metal box

the table, she looked at

why I visited

stared at the metal box for a few

To be honest, I am very

nodded, then smiled

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

she had told. The sensor buzzed for half a minute, and then a small green light ignited on the metal box. With a quiet

out several objects — a slick communicator made out of flexible glass, a memory chip with the government seal etched on

toward Sunny, she lingered for a moment, and then said in a light

Sunless. You are now officially a citizen. Of the seventh rank, no