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

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

a part of

by an actual Echo, but luckily, it was

There were fried potatoes, baked beans, juicy roasted meat, a salad made out of real vegetables, a

the most beautiful sight he had

real life. Suddenly, the position of a research assistant

"Uh… please excuse me…"

wasting any time on manners, Sunny assaulted his breakfast with

his belly on the verge to bursting open, he pushed away empty plates and leaned

'Ah… this is life!'

glanced at him with a dry

is where

looked at the empty

eating almost nothing except for monster meat, I would have

at the mention of

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

box on the table,

why I visited

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

be honest, I am very

then smiled

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

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

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

she lingered for a moment, and then

now officially a citizen. Of the seventh rank,