Chapter 3149 — Chapter 3149 Loose Ends

A few days later, Sunny stared into the distance, a contemplative expression on his face.

He remained silent for a long while, then sighed.

“Things... do not look great."

He hesitated a little, then shook his head.

“It used to be that humanity was conquering new lands every day. There was so much energy when Nephis first ascended to the throne, so much momentum... we were achieving one victory after another. Those times are behind us now. The world just had to go and end on us without a warning. We were so busy preparing for the end of days that it arrived without anyone noticing. One day, we simply looked around and found ourselves in the middle of the apocalypse."

Sunny smiled bitterly.

"These days, we are not conquering new lands. In fact, we can't even seem to hold onto the ones that were already conquered. It's a controlled retreat, for now... but the Human Domain is shrinking, little by little, every day instead. And do you know what really grinds my gears?"

His smile turned contemptuous.

"It is that because of that bastard, the Dreamspawn, most people don't even remember the good times that well. The Longing Domain is about to disappear, and its glory days are all but gone from everyone's memory. That seems quite unfair, don't you think?"

Sunny cursed.

“And don't even get me started on the waking world. That whole place is a mess — Nightmare Gates opening everywhere, chunks of it being swallowed by the Dream Realm, swarms of abominations besieging all three Quadrants. The Barrow Wraiths, the Black Millipedes, and every other kind of horror imaginable... gods, I really hate those."

He inhaled slowly.

"Well, at least things are looking up now because of Effie, Kai, Jet, Seishan, Morgan, and Nightwalker. South America has been evacuated, and the coastal areas are next. Ananke and the cities in the Stormsea have been a real lifeline for us in the past couple of years, and now that Effie and her Soul Garden are ready to enter the fray... I think we can get ahead of the apocalypse for once. At least for a little while."

Leaning back, he shook his head.

“Who knows? The world might still be in one piece by the time I become a god. I sure hope it will be. After all, it would be quite unfortunate to become a god at the same time as all of existence crumbles. There won't be anyone left for me to boast to... what even is the point of godhood if one cannot be smug about it in someone else's face?"

In response, there was a long stretch of silence.

Then, a heavy sigh dispelled it.

“Has not being a god ever stopped you from being smug?"

Sunny raised an eyebrow, then frowned in indignation.

The voice, meanwhile, added:

"And for the love of gods, why are you monologuing in my room? Listen, there is a legion of dead shadows in your soul. Can't you use one of them — any of them! — to ramble at instead?!"

Sunny was, of course, in Revel's room. The room was just as messy as ever, but at least the great and terrible Lightslayer was in a more presentable shape than her usual reclusive self — if being covered in sweat, grime, and blood could be considered an improvement. She had just returned from the battlefield, and had yet to shake off her fearsome image.

‘No, what am I talking about? Of course, it's an improvement!’

Anything was an improvement compared to her usual sloppy look.

Sunny did not have to be ashamed of how unprofessional his supposed top minion... that was to say, the esteemed elder of his Shadow Clan... looked.

He stared at Revel in confusion.

"Of course, I can. But where is the fun in that?"

Groaning, Revel threw an exasperated look his way.

“Why are you hiding in my room, anyway? Did you make Aiko angry again?"

Sunny coughed.

“Of course not. Why would I make her angry? I don't know what you mean."

She seemed unconvinced.

"Why are you here, then?"

Sunny cleared his throat.

“By the way, do you remember that time I mentioned hiring Aiko as my assistant, then disappearing for a few years, leaving her in charge of a crumbling business in the absence of its main asset?"

Revel nodded slowly.

Sunny stared at her with a vague smile for a few moments.

“Well, I am leaving for a few years! And I am leaving you in charge of the Shadow Clan! Congratulations, I guess!"

His smile was flawlessly innocent.

"That is why I am here. To deliver the news — and the congratulations — in person. Oh, and I also had a question..."

Revel looked around her room with a strange expression.

What was that emotion?

Sunny couldn't quite recognize, but thought that it looked strangely similar to... melancholy.

‘What is that about? I just handed her a promotion! Of sorts...’

Why were people so ungrateful?

She sighed.

"Can't say I didn't see it coming.”

Sunny raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, you did? Well, that simplifies things."

Revel nodded.

“You didn't make a secret of your intention to challenge the Nightmare, after all. Our people can only enter the Forgotten Shore with the help of your Dream Gate. The expedition to the Underworld did not produce a safe and reliable path connecting us to the rest of the Dream Realm under the Hollow Mountains, either. So... once you're gone, we will be either stuck here or forced to retreat. I was expecting this conversation for a while."

She remained silent for a few moments, then glared at Sunny.

“I just didn't expect it to happen in my private quarters, immediately after I returned from a battle against one of those damn Barrow Lords."

Revel's scowl deepened.

“And speaking of my private quarters — do you know what 'private' means, damn it?!"

Sunny was surprised by the question.

"Who do you take me for? Of course, I do!"

He let out a derisive scoff.

“It means that I have to enter through the shadows instead of opening the door!"

A book Revel had nearby flew in the direction of his head, and Sunny elegantly caught it in the air.

Turning it around to look at the cover, he blinked a few times.

"What? There's a sequel? But how... how does she keep accidentally seducing all these men..."

Revel growled.

"Focus! Anyway, you had a question?!"

Sunny tore his gaze away from the book, put it aside, and surreptitiously wiped his hand on his tunic.

“Oh, yes."

He leaned forward and asked in a friendly tone:

"Say... how do you feel about pets?"

Then, he leaned back and sighed.

"You see, I have this snake. It is a sweet little fellow — about a kilometer long, house-trained, loves eating people... uhm, did I say eating people? I mean people, it loves people!"

He paused for a moment.

“Anyway, I was hoping you could look after it while I'm gone, just for a little while..."