This guy is nuts. Batshit crazy.
You're telling me he took down thirty combat-focused Sleepers without killing them and didn't even break a sweat? Not only that, but he also killed a fucking Cursed Herald? That thing was a fallen monster… Sunny thought to himself, feeling a chill run down his spine.
"I see. You saved us some time," Nephis said, still as unimpressed as ever.
"How cold. Your lover, whom you haven't seen in so long, comes bearing gifts, and not even a simple 'thank you'?" I teased.
"We are not lovers." Nephis maintained her deadpan expression.
"Anyway, since I assume you've been here for a while, do you happen to have some kind of armor Memory that looks normal? This thing is disgusting," I said, pinching the fabric of my current armor with disdain.
"I do," Nephis said, extending her hand toward me.
As soon as I grasped it, a notification appeared.
[You have received a Memory.]
Memory Name: [Azure Light Armor]
Rank: Awakened
Type: Armor
Description: [On the Forgotten Shore, only steel remembers.]
A sleek black bodysuit appeared, reinforced with several blue armor plates.
I immediately dismissed my [Second Skin], and as I summoned the [Azure Light Armor], I was naked for a few seconds.
The cohort around me was stunned into silence once again, but this time, their expressions quickly shifted from shock to astonishment as they took in my body—scarred from head to toe, not a single inch left unmarked.
"Ahhh, much better," I sighed in relief. "Here, take these."
I waved my hand toward Nephis, and as she held out hers, I transferred the [Second Skin], [Dawn Shard], and [Dusk Shard] to her.
For the first time, she actually reacted.
"What are you so surprised for?" I asked nonchalantly. "I made a promise, didn't I? Besides, I wasn't using them anyway."
After a brief hesitation, she withdrew her hand and gave me a small nod. "Thank you."
Moving on, I leaned back and crossed my arms. "Now, I must say… I'm quite disappointed in you, my little Star."
"Huh?" Everyone was dumbfounded yet again. Even Nephis's expression shifted slightly as a faint frown appeared.
"How dare you—" Caster growled, clearly agitated.
"Oh, shut up, speedy boy."
I turned back to Nephis. "I get that you're ambitious and all, but it shouldn't cloud your judgment."
"What do you mean?" she asked, her tone calm but sharp.
"Let me get this straight," I began. "We're stuck in a place with no accessible Gateway, and some people have been trapped here for years. We have a tyrant who kills anyone who opposes him, and he doesn't even try to leave, right?"
"Yes."
"And your brilliant reaction to this situation is: I will form a rebellion and kill the tyrant." I sighed. "Probably half the people here will die in the process. And have you considered that you won't be killing the weak and harmless? No, no. The very people who could help you escape this place—the strongest among them—will surely die during your little rebellion. So tell me, how exactly do you plan to storm the Crimson Spire when you're done?"
"..."
I exhaled, shaking my head. "Haaah. I know you're a bit awkward with people, but generally, they don't like being prisoners. They do, however, like it when someone offers them a way out—a ray of hope. Did it never occur to you to try convincing Gunlaug and his men? From what I understand, Gunlaug is just a man who's lost all hope of escaping."
"You really need to take a course on human nature and interaction when we get back to the waking world," I muttered.
"What do you know?" Effie scoffed, shaking her head. "He can't be convinced with words."
"Huh? Who said anything about talking?"
"...Huh?" Once again, the entire group was baffled.
"The best way to convince someone is to beat them until they listen to you," I said matter-of-factly.
I immediately heard the distinct sound of facepalming.
Yeah. This guy is totally insane, Sunny confirmed to himself.
"You guys… whatever. It doesn't matter. Tomorrow, I'll show you how it's done. For now, I need a good night's sleep—I haven't had one in months. Show me a place where I can crash."