Shadow Slave

After the five of them walked inside, Nephis remained silent for a few moments as she looked around. Although her face was still and stoic as ever, Sunny could have sworn that he noticed a hint of curiosity reflected in her cold grey eyes.

After a while, she asked:

"This is your home?"

Due to her sheltered upbringing, Changing Star had probably never been in a normal residence. Strangely, she was someone who had only experienced living in upscale manors and squalid Dream Realm slums, with nothing in between.

Still, Sunny was not discouraged. He grinned and nodded proudly.

"Yes. Bought it fair and square, with the contribution points from my first research paper. I own this place!"

Nephis hesitated.

"What happened to the walls?"

His smile dimmed a little.

"...Effie happened."

Of course, he had long cleaned the mess that the huntress created after Ascending. However, Sunny had been too preoccupied with other matters to enact proper repairs. As the result, the guest bedroom only had a flimsy curtain covering its irregular-shaped entrance, but no door.

'Maybe I should get to it…'

Sunny cleared his throat, then gestured at the living room section of the main space.

"Make yourself comfortable. I'll make us something to eat."

stood in front of the open refrigerator for some time, thinking. For some reason, Sunny had a strong desire to cook up something special. Nephis must have been sick

ingredients and laid them out on the cooking

rice… fried rice should do the job. Omurice? Do I

went about it, the discussion reached a poignant moment. Cassie was finishing describing the important details of the reason for their

so their response was only mildly aggressive.

and then added

past six months, Sunny's contact in the government acted as an intermediary to arrange a peaceful negotiation. It seems that Valor is finally

The blind girl sighed.

us are already a very important asset, but with the addition of the Fire Keepers, our value is nothing short of tremendous. If they can't get all of us, they are determined to at least make sure that we don't pledge allegiance to their competitors. Of course, now that you

and then said in an

you with all

a few moments, then shook her

were right to

grim and thoughtful look appeared

listened to the conversation silently. He was darkly perplexed by the fact that his life had turned out in such a way

looked at Changing Star with curiosity and

is. What's your problem with them? I thought that you, of all people, would have been chummy with the top

looked at her without any

"They want me dead."

a

"What? Why?"

Changing Star shrugged.

have to

a while, thinking. After some time, she frowned and

"So was Caster…?"

Nephis simply nodded.