Planning to hunt in the dark city

In the Throne Hall, the sleepers sat eating their food in suffocating tension. The reason for this tension was none other than Gunlaug, who sat upon his throne with his lieutenants behind him like loyal dogs. Well, not everyone was tense—Nephis was calmly eating her food, occasionally casting glances at Gunlaug and his lieutenants as if studying how to kill them. As for Sunny, he ate his meal slowly and deliberately. He didn't want to draw anyone's attention… not before everything was in place. Then he would kill Gunlaug—or let Nephis do it.

Gunlaug didn't speak during their time in the hall. After the Sleepers finished their meals, he rose and descended into the cellar from where he had come, followed by his lieutenants. Once Gunlaug left, the three young men looked around for Sunny, but couldn't find him.

In the days that followed, Sunny continued observing the Bright Castle. He didn't find Caster, which he found both strange and troubling, but continued his surveillance. He even snuck into one of Gunlaug's meetings with his lieutenants, but was almost discovered by Seishan. Sunny didn't want to risk it, so he retreated with dignity.

"Ah, how I hate those with beast God lineage. Anyway, today's our last day."

The group gathered at the reception office for new arrivals at the Bright Castle. Nephis looked relieved to be leaving, while Cassie stood beside Sunny, and he gently held her shoulder.

"So, what intel did you gather?"

"Well, let's see. First, the Bright Lord—or whatever his name is—wears a Transcendent Echo and never takes it off, not even while sleeping. As for his lieutenants, some follow him out of fear, and some only because he keeps this place intact. But there's one lieutenant whose loyalty to Gunlaug is absolute—Haros. Also, as you know, the roles in the castle are divided among servants, craftsmen, hunters, scouts, and guards. Oh, and there's a Memory shop."

Nephis blinked. "A Memory shop?"

"Yeah, a Memory shop—but you can't buy any Memories unless you're a hunter, or have one of the lieutenants' permission… whatever that means."

"Greetings, guests. Would you like to renew your stay?" Harper arrived and sat at his desk, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"No, actually, we're heading out. Just wanted to let you know so we don't cause any trouble."

Harper was stunned. Then he lost his enthusiasm and fell into disappointment. He had sincerely hoped they would renew their stay so he could prove he wasn't useless to Gunlaug and avoid being thrown out into the outer settlement.

"Are you sure you don't want to renew?… The outer settlement is unsafe! There's even a chance you'll get attacked by Fallen Ones while you're asleep!"

"We know, we know. We just want to leave."

After leaving the castle, Sunny, Cassie, and Nephis reached the outer settlement. In front of them were the dilapidated huts and dozens of Sleepers wearing empty expressions full of despair and pain. They turned their heads toward the newcomers with hope, but that hope vanished quickly. Nephis said:

"I'm thinking of organizing hunting parties and feeding these people. They don't know hope, and they don't want to try. They're afraid—but they're content with this miserable life."

"I was thinking the same. But it's better to show them results before inviting them. Otherwise, they'll just see a bunch of new Sleepers who haven't tasted real despair yet… By the way, I heard there's a skilled huntress in the outer settlement who doesn't serve Gunlaug. Her name is Athena. It's said she's a lone hunter with no party. Should we try to recruit her?"

"Do you know where her hut is?" Nephis asked with a hint of skepticism.

"Actually, yes. Look for the best hut in this wreck of a settlement, and you'll find her."

"And how do you know that?"

"Oh, I used to sneak in here sometimes on request and watch… Come on, let's go. You'll waste the whole day talking."

Sunny headed toward Effie's hut, which he knew from his previous life. It was made of the finest garbage—an upgrade from the surrounding huts. Nephis stepped forward and knocked on the door.

"Oh gods, who the hell is knocking at my door in the morning? The night's activities are over, now go away."

Sunny's face turned red. Even though he was used to Effie, meeting her like this was still a bit shocking. "She'd be stunned to know that she will be married in the Next years…"

"Sorry, I'm not here for that. I have something to discuss."

"Oh, you Gunlaug rats—or whatever you are—so annoying." Effie opened the door, prompting Sunny to quickly cover his eyes. Nephis looked at the naked Effie, then back at Sunny. Cassie sensed what was going on, somehow.

"She's naked, isn't she?"

"I think so."

"Yes, she's naked… Athena, can you put on some clothes?"

"Alright, alright! You guys force people to follow your rules even in their own homes."

After they entered, Sunny closed the door behind them and looked around, spotting the nightmare that was Effie's bed. Certainly, awful things happened on that bed every night. Effie lay down on it, now covered by a tight but durable leather outfit—a major improvement from being completely naked.

"So, let's see… a princess, a blind girl, and maybe a killer? Or a sickly rat? I don't know… So what brings you to my humble hut? Know this—I don't host guests, and I don't serve food!"

"Stingy," Sunny said simply.

"Oh hello, Dufus. Calling me stingy, are you? For your information, I've satisfied the desires of many men here—or maybe the other way around? Anyway, stop saying mean things and tell me what you want."

"Well, how should I say this… We want to form a hunting party without involving the castle, and you're the only capable scout and hunter in the outer settlement. So we wanted to invite you."

"Wow, you guys are ambitious. But what proves your worth to me? How do I know you're competent and not just a burden? You know why I haven't joined any hunting teams from the outer settlement?"

Sunny answered quickly like a student reciting his homework. "Well, that's obvious, isn't it? Gunlaug won't let them—because they're weak, right?"

"Bravo! Dufus, I thought you were an idiot, but you're very clever. But since you know the reason, why did you even come here?"

"Isn't that obvious?… We're not weak at all. I killed a Corrupted Devil on my first day in the Dream Realm, and I even killed a Fallen Monster that dragged me into the dark sea when we arrived… Ugh, that bastard—I shoved my sword down its Mouth."

Effie laughed heartily, but when she saw that Nephis and Cassie weren't laughing, her smile disappeared and was replaced by suspicion.

"That's not true, is it?" Nephis and Cassie both shook their heads in protest.

"No, everything he said is true."

"Yeah, Sunny's the most honest person in the world—no, in both worlds!"

"Really? How do I know that's true?"

"Because it's simply my flaw, you Idiot."

Effie's expression collapsed, though she still held some doubt. But Sunny summoned [Shiraleth Armour]—a black armor of dark waves formed around his body, thorns and belts protruding from its flexible surface.

"Try to stab me." Nephis's eyes widened, and Cassie gasped, but Sunny didn't move.

"Fine, Dufus. Brace yourself." Sunny quickly wrapped himself with his shadows, knowing what was coming. Effie punched him with all her strength, but the armor barely moved—he only staggered back two steps and groaned. Effie, however, twisted her wrist.

"Ow, you bastard! How cruel—you do that to a woman?"

"Huff… huff… You knocked the wind out of me, you cow."

Sunny was only able to endure Effie's strike thanks to his innate ability and shadow reinforcement, making him eight times stronger than a normal sleeper. But even with that, against Effie, who had twelve times the strength, his ribs were still left trembling. She grabbed her wrist and looked at Sunny, Nephis, and Cassie with a gaze of recognition.

"Alright, kids. I'll guide you through the Dark City and become your babysitter—but share your abilities and weapons with me to figure out what we'll be targeting."