'You're welcome.'
Kai leaned toward him and whispered:
'She's lying. You're not welcome.'
Sunny gave him a stare, and then whispered back:
'Why are you whispering, fool? Everyone can hear you!'
Kai coughed in embarrassment.
'Oh… right. Sorry. It's a habit.'
Shaking his head, Sunny took a deep breath and summoned Slayer. The murderous Shadow rose from the darkness, looking at him and his companions from behind her veil.
Death Singer immediately pointed a finger and opened her mouth, her face beaming with excitement, but before she could say anything, Seishan covered her mouth with a hand.
'Ah… I see you have a new servant, my lord.'
Sunny smiled.
'Oh, she's not a servant. She's an employee. Actually, now that I think about it, the two of you are kindred spirits. She only accepts payment in blood.'
Seishan did not say anything, but her gorgeous eyes suddenly glistened with a peculiar emotion.
Sunny chuckled.
'But don't worry, I won't be collecting blood donations today. I already paid her this week, and plus… I don't want to brag, but she only has a taste for my blood.'
Turning away, she pushed the last door open and walked inside a small room.
It had shelves with ancient toys, as well, but there was also a low table in the middle of it, surrounded by soft cushions. There was something on the table…
A square jade board with small hinges in the middle, which suggested that it could be folded to become a case. Its surface was separated into seven rows of seven squares each - most of them were white, with only three squares at the bottom of the board standing out due to their vivid black color. There were intricately carved figurines standing on various squares, too, most of them representing alarming monsters. The three black figurines were surrounded by a dozen white ones.
Sunny stared at the board intently, feeling his blood reacting to it with a peculiar, tingling sensation.
There were no Nightmare Creatures inside the room. No awful danger, no startling secrets.
Just old toys and the radiantly crafted jade board.
Sunny raised an eyebrow, confused.
'What the hell is this?'
Slayer was already in the room, and Kai entered next.
He glanced around, then studied the jade board curiously. Finally, he spoke:
'I think it's… chess.'