Shadow Slave

They left the Impact zone in a government transport. The ride was much less luxurious than Nephis' destroyed PTV, but Sunny, who had crossed countless kilometers in shaky military vehicles, did not mind.

«…I wonder how much that PTV cost.»

If Sunny had lost something that lavish and expensive, he would have been cursing the dead gods and drowning in bitterness. But Nephis did not seem to mind the loss too much.

Granted, her mood seemed a little strange.

As they drove past the burned remains of the PTV, she stared at it intently, a distant look in her eyes.

«Are you alright?»

Sunny wished that it was him who had asked that, but the Lord of Shadows was not that considerate. So, he had kept silent, and Kai spoke in his stead. Nephis lingered for a few moments, then looked away from the wreckage and sighed.

«Sure. It's just that… the situation is so familiar. But the outcome is entirely different. Times have changed.»

It seemed that she was reminiscing about the past, just like Sunny. He had contemplated how different the dread of having to face a Nightmare Gate for the first time felt from today's battle, where he did not even have to lift a finger, Nephis, meanwhile, must have been comparing the powerlessness she had felt as a child to today's attempt on her life.

The difference had to be quite startling, considering that she was one of the most powerful Saints in the world now.

The transport moved along the streets of NQSC at a moderate speed. The news of what had happened, however, was spreading much faster.

Sunny did not even want to imagine what kind of storm would rise when people learned that Changing Star, humanity's darling, had almost died to a human assassin while defending innocent lives from a descending Nightmare Gate.

The people responsible for the government's propaganda would be losing their minds by now. They were great masters of both disseminating and suppressing information, but this time, the incident was too sensational, and the parties involved were too renowned. There was no stopping this story from spreading far and wide, so they could only try to control it the best they could.

The government… was in a tight spot.

It was a bit ingenious, actually. Nephis was so beloved and venerated largely because the government had once decided to make her into a shining symbol for the whole of humanity — she had worked very hard to build upon that foundation, of course, but the government was responsible for the initial push.

Now, however, someone had taken the fruit of their labor and used it against them. The public outrage caused by an attempt on Changing Star's life would be proportional to the amount of effort the government had put into turning her into someone who was revered and admired by all.

That reputation of hers had only grown more exalted in the last four years, reaching unimaginable heights.

real goal to undermine the government

the attack while the transport rolled across the streets of NQSC, eventually

from the bustling city, surrounded by a

the manor of the Immortal Flame clan, which served as the base of operations for the Fire Keepers in

Kai sent the driver and the guards assigned to Nephis by the government away. Sid also bade them farewell and left, lamenting the state of her tattered clothes under her nose. The loss of the

certainly a strange bunch… Nephis led her two guests to a secure room in

and through extensive use of runic magic, Sunny realized that what she had planned wasn't really to

had suspected

indifference, then pulled out a chair and sat

am guessing this is not a simple reunion among

a wall with one shoulder, while Nephis sat across from

«Indeed.»

tilted his head a

what the purpose of this meeting is,

smiled faintly, remained silent for

know what Saint

«Ah.»

back, perfectly

sense lies, does

also never made a point of keeping it

Nephis nodded.

thought we'd have an honest conversation,

were so many things he was deceiving the

that was not necessarily the case. Nephis could have simply

any case, none of Sunny's worries showed in

smiled behind the mask. After

honest person in the world, after all. Two

stared at him for a moment, then glanced

a very strange expression, hesitated for a bit, and gave her

…She seemed perplexed.

Sunny suppressed a chuckle.

did you want to discuss with me,