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.

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 odd to meet someone Sunny had known, on

people he had known were

was strange for an impromptu meeting between the survivors of the

thought that

concerns now. Coincidences were nothing more than coincidences, and they did

'Free...'

smiled neutrally as he placed the glass in

you like something to

an order, and Sunny left. As he was walking away, he saw Kim pouring the whiskey into the glasses. The sound of laughter disappeared, and the smiles disappeared, as

them remained silent for a few moments, their faces solemn. Then, they gulped

on the table, untouched. Sunny had an idea of what his customers were going to talk about, so he dove into the

with a dismayed expression. She

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

something on his face and

moments later, Aiko

are being strange

glanced at her impassively,

are from the First Evacuation Army, and

She coughed awkwardly.

that you were in Antarctica, as well.

did not make a secret of the fact that he had gone through the Southern Campaign — without going into details, of course. That was because the situation there had been extremely chaotic, and many

explain where an absolutely unknown Master had popped out from by simply saying something like "Oh, I sort

short, it was very

the shoulder and went to cook

The breakfast

coffee, and

to the reception desk, Sunny picked up the Monster

but catch bits and pieces of the

turned lighter. They joked, laughed, and shared news about themselves. Listening to the sound of their laughter,

some point, though, his expression

moment, his pleasant voice tinged with a complicated

I heard something strange a few days ago,