Shadow Slave

Indeed, the gallant man was none other than Quentin, the healer and melee specialist of Sunny's old cohort of Irregulars.

Quentin's soul had been swallowed by the Call when he lost consciousness during the siege of Falcon Scott. As a result, he was pronounced missing in action by Army Command... but no one had any illusions. Everyone, including Sunny, had thought him dead.

However, the gallant healer proved everyone wrong. Somehow, he had not only managed to reach a suitable Seed of Nightmare in the hellish white desert without succumbing to its many perils, but also conquered that Nightmare alone.

There were a few people among the members of the Evacuation Army who had managed a similar feat, but still, Quentin's return could only be described with one word.

A miracle.

Sunny did not like that word too much, though. It detracted from Quentin's own effort, resolve, and incredible determination to survive. He was a man who had once clawed his way out of a cocoon made by an abominable spider, after all, while being digested alive. So, perhaps Sunny should have given him more credit.

In any case, Quentin had survived. His physical body had long been destroyed by the time he Ascended, so the Spell created a new one for him, sending it to the Citadel where he was anchored at that time.

Sunny had only learned about it a few years after becoming a Saint. Knowing that the gallant healer was alive brought him a bit of solace.

Before, he was under the impression that most of his soldiers had perished. Now, he knew that only a half of them had... which was better, somewhat.

Maintaining a facade of polite indifference, Sunny silently pushed Aiko into the kitchen and showed Quentin to the table where Beth, Kim, and Luster were waiting. They met the healer warmly.

"Master Quentin, good morning!"

"Hey, Quentin!"

"Well, if it isn't Mr. Big Shot Ascended..."

Quentin smiled in embarrassment and took a seat.

Sunny followed Aiko into the kitchen, ignored her glare, and retrieved the additional glasses.

'Strange...'

He had opened his shop in Bastion because that was where most of the people he knew were. There were not that many good restaurants here, yet, and certainly very few run by a Master. Not to mention the Memory side of the business. Therefore, it was inevitable that he would run into an old acquaintance or two sooner or later.

his services were top-notch, the Brilliant Emporium gained many customers through word of mouth. Those old acquaintances recommended the new place to people in their circle, so it wasn't that

he had known

it was strange for an impromptu meeting between the survivors of the

had happened before, Sunny would have thought that

concerns now. Coincidences were nothing more than coincidences,

'Free...'

placed

like something to

pouring the whiskey into the glasses. The sound of laughter disappeared, and

few moments, their faces solemn. Then, they gulped the

an idea of what his customers were going to talk about, so he

waiting for him with a dismayed expression. She

me away! Boss... listen... I can serve that dreamy... uh...

noticed something on his face and grew

moments

are being

impassively, then said

and they are here

She coughed awkwardly.

you were in

without going into details, of course. That was because the situation

unknown Master had popped out from by simply saying something like "Oh, I sort of stumbled into a Nightmare

it was very

the shoulder and went to cook Quentin's

The breakfast crowd

omelette, brewed some coffee,

Sunny picked up the Monster Almanac

bits and pieces

gradually turned lighter. They joked, laughed, and shared news about themselves. Listening to

point, though, his expression

his pleasant voice

heard something strange a few