"I'm behind you, idiot."
Kai froze, then slowly turning around to face him. Sunny didn't fail to notice that the young man held one of his hands out, obviously ready to summon whatever Memory he used as a weapon.
Blinded by darkness, Kai couldn't see him, of course. But Sunny could see him.
A smirk formed on his face. Unlike last time, where Kai was infinitely more handsome than Sunny. But this time they were almost the same in terms of handsomeness. Though, because of dirt and all, Sunny appeared to be inferior in looks compared to Kai.
Pretending to be perfectly composed, Sunny asked in a calm voice:
"Haven't I told you that I had an Echo? It's her over there. Well, sort of. That is to say, those aren't my eyes."
The handsome Sleeper hesitated for a few seconds, then said:
"Sunless? You really are a human?"
"Last time I checked, I was still human, so yes, for now I'm still human. If you have a Memory to produce light, you can summon it and see for yourself."
With a sigh of relief, Kai summoned a paper lantern that glowed with soft yellow light.
The beautiful young man lowered the lantern a little and looked up, trying to finally lay eyes on his mysterious liberator. Sunny was not as short as last time, so Kai didn't have to look down and could see him normally.
'Ahh... finally! No one will think I'm short!... except that gluttonous wick woman, anyways.'
...
(Dialogues and actions repeated same as novel.)
...
Sunny and Kai, while going to the outer settlement, talked a bit. Kai, as last time, asked questions about outside culture now and fashion, etc. And Sunny fortunately answered some, because Nephi was also into that kind of thing, so she naturally dragged Sunny sometimes into those talks and all.
Currently, Sunny was waiting in an alley after sending Kai into the castle to check on Memories.
Sunny was... a bit troubled. Because he and Nephis didn't receive a single new Memory even though they killed more Nightmare Creatures than before.
They received all their previous Memories, but not a single new one. So it meant he can't let Saint absorb more Memories and make her stronger this time.
Unless... he bought more Memories than just one from memory market. That's how he could make Saint more powerful this time around.
He was contemplating all this when Nephis appeared in the alley. She looked at him curiously and asked:
"What are you thinking about?"
He slightly turned his head toward her as he leaned back against the wall and lingered for a second before saying:
"Just how to make Saint stronger this time around. Like buying Memories from the castle."
She also leaned onto the wall beside him.
"But why? I don't think making her stronger currently will have any point. You can just make her infinitely stronger after you get into the real world."
Nephis said making Saint stronger now didn't have any point, because it was true.
Because Saint didn't have any important role in their plans for the Forgotten Shore. If she became too strong, then it would be easy for their cohort and other sleepers.
And... both of them didn't want that. They couldn't carry their entire team every time. All of them had to get strong like last time, and it would only be possible with experience and hardships.
And about other Sleepers here... same for them. There was no use taking so many Sleepers just for them to be barely as strong as the weakest Fire Keepers.
Sunny and Nephis also needed... quality, not just quantity. For quality, they needed experience, and what better experience than near-death experience?
That's why these two were not going to help much and would just do as much as last time, nothing more.
But... it made Sunny think of something... how much they both were different from... Weaver?
He thought with a grim expression.
'What we are currently doing... isn't this what Weaver did as well? Sacrificing people for better future...'
Before he could indulge himself further in that thought, Kai returned from the castle.
...
"Uh, Sunny? Who is this? Your friend?"
Sunny and Nephis decided to play along but not act like last time, with Neph blushing and all. This time, something else.
Sunny's Flaw forced him to answer.
"Ahh, she is Nephis. You might have heard about her. Meet Changing Star of the Immortal Flame clan."
Kai turned to stare at Neph with horror. The corner of his eye twitched. But due to his idol training, he managed to hide his emotions much faster. Blinking a few times, he lingered for a moment, and then said in his smooth, enchanting voice:
"Oh. It's... a pleasure to meet you, my lady. I have... have heard so much about you. It's an honor!"
Neph gave a small smile.
"It's a pleasure to meet you too, sir Nightingale."
The charming archer shook his head.
"I would prefer if you call me Kai."
They talked for a bit but not much. With this, Neph took her leave after Sunny said he would come to her with Kai after he finished his work.
While the heir of death and the dragon slayer were walking in the bright castle direction. Kai leaned toward Sunny slightly and whispered:
"Hey Sunny... I was a little curious about how you two met and how strong she is. Sorry if I'm being rude, you can ignore my question if it's personal."
Sunny paused for a moment after hearing a question that the stupid singer didn't ask in the previous time before continuing to walk.
'Is that because my and Neph's conversation was different from before? So unlike last time, where he saw my and Neph's complicated relation and didn't ask anything, this time none of it.' Sunny wasn't sure.
"Hmm... we met in the labyrinth, with Cassie with us. You must have also heard her name. And how strong she is..."
He then smirked. 'Ahh, I was waiting for this time...'
"She is really strong. She survived in a world of darkness and survived against an eldritch horror. She then defeated a demon who could erase people from existence, and ohhh... did I mention that she had also defeated two Awakened Terrors? Matter of fact, she killed one of the Terrors before even awakening to Sleeper!"
Kai's face paled as Sunny continued, his eyes widening in shock and horror.
"...Sunny." He interrupted him.
"Did I forget to mention that I can do the same? I'm as powerful as she is!"
The handsome archer went silent as he made a slight distance between him and Sunny and continued walking while thinking...
'I... if we two ever escape from here and go to the real world, I should show him to a therapist or some mental doctor. Yes, I will...'
Meanwhile, Sunny was trying to suppress chuckle. It felt... good to be back again and to tease Kai like before.
As two of them finally made their into the the castle, while entering the guards on entrance look at him with disdain but he ignored.
On reception desk there a young women now.
Sunny sigh. Harper is... most probably dead.
This time around he ignore Harper all time, so there no way for him to get any valuable information from any other members or even hunters parties. Plus according to Nephis Harper is not been seen for sometime, so maybe Gualang gang kill Harper because how useless he was.
Whatever. Sunny and Kai approach Memory market.