Shadow Slave

The shadow hid on the slope of a tall cliff, observing the wide highway that stretched north between the momuntaind and the ocean. The world was obscured by a white wall of snow, but it could feel slight tremors running through the ground.

Something was approaching.

A few moments later, two bright dots appeared inside the blizzard, slowly growing larger as their source drew closer. Then, powerful beams of light cut through the snowstorm, making the shadow shift its position.

...Several kilometers away, Sunny frowned with a troubled expression.

'People.'

What approached from the north was not a swarm of Nightmare Creatures or a lumbering monstrosity, but a small procession of civilian transports, accompanied by a handful of military vehicles. They cut through the blizzard, rolling down the highway at a slow speed. Several of them appeared battered and barely functioning. Soldiers could be seen manning the turrets, shivering in the vicious cold.

His scowl deepened.

"What are they doing here?"

"...Luster. Bring the Rhino to the edge of the coastal highway"

Leaving the carcass of the dead demon behind, Sunny walked forward. A few minutes later, he was standing on the snow-covered surface of the highway, with the Rhino positioned behind him. His silhouette was drawn against the backdrop of the blizzard by the beams of two powerful spotlights.

The convoy was already close, but they did not notice him yet.

Striking the butt of the Cruel Sight into the ground, Sunny hesitated for a moment, and then activated the [Light Eater] enchantment.

Immediately, the silver blade of the spear shone with brilliant light. It was as though a small sun bloomed in his hand. Somewhere behind, Belle and Dorn emerged from the APC, carrying their weapons with guarded expressions. Samara had climbed to the roof of the vehicle and was now laying on it, resting her chin on the stock of her rifle.

The other three Irregulars remained inside, protecting Professor Obel and Beth.

The radiance of the Cruel Sight was too intense to not be noticed. Finally, the soldiers protecting the small convoy reacted, turning the turrets in the direction of the unknown threat.

Their faces were tense and frightened. The lead vehicle slowed down.

those fools don't

Sunny augmented the volume of his voice. Calm and oppressive,

of the First Irregular Company. Think twice

not that a mundane bullet would be able to do him serious harm, let alone scratch the surface of the

emerged from it, hesitated for a bit, and then headed toward Sunny. Judging by the lack of an armor-type Memory and the way the man was holding to the collar of his coat, shivering in the cold, his

of frightened civilians, and their military chaperones were few and far between. Everyone seemed to be in a rough shape, tired, and numb. There were women, children, and elderly among the refugees, all scared and exhausted, but not

was not a single

mood turned

to see him. Raising a hand to shield his eyes from the Rhino's lights,

really is

at him

can hear you,

flinched, and then lowered his hand,

"Oh... sir! Sorry, sir!"

the effort

and

"At ease."

he looked past the man's shoulder at the battered convoy, wondering

and why you are in this area. I thought that the First Army

soldier remained silent for

must know that our division suffered heavy losses when... when the siege capital we were building was destroyed. A sufficient number of us had time to evacuate, taking the civilians with us. However, the aftermath was...

done by a titan.

man let out a heavy

escaped retreated north, but for many of us, that direction was cut off. We gathered

not sit right with

way here driving

was too dangerous. Even Sunny did not dare choose that convenient, but dire path. How did a bunch of

man's face grew bleak. He lingered for a while, and then said

this is just the ones that remain. I have three hundred and forty free civilians in

Sunny sighed.