Chapter 380: Firefly's Failure

Chapter 380: Chapter 380: Firefly's Failure 

Tifa was left speechless by Jeanne's flawlessly innocent question; her cheeks flushed red at a speed visible to the naked eye, so flustered she couldn't speak. 

"Hss—" 

Suddenly, Aiden, who was watching this good show with great interest, felt a sharp pain from his waist. 

He snapped his head around, meeting Robin's emerald-green eyes that carried both a warning and a threat. Her slender fingers were mercilessly pinching the soft flesh of his waist, slowly twisting it in a circle. 

Aiden instantly grasped the situation. 

"Ahem," he cleared his throat, stepping forward with the majestic presence of a Captain to set the tone for this invisible storm. "How about this: capturing a Unicorn is a high-difficulty mission. For this time, Robin and Tifa will stay behind to guard the Palais Mermonia. Hyacine, Jeanne, Daphne, Cassandra, and Firefly, you all will set out tomorrow with Miss Airmid from the Dian Cecht Familia. I will escort you there." 

As soon as he said that, Daphne instantly understood. 

Her thoughtful gaze swept over Tifa and Robin before she finally shook her head in exasperation. 

Robin was still within her expectations; after all, her relationship with Aiden was public, so she wasn't surprised that she wasn't a virgin. 

But Tifa… She could only sigh inwardly that her Captain moved incredibly fast, and so secretly too. Those of them who lived in the Palais Mermonia every day hadn't caught the slightest wind of it. 

Hyacine recalled the scene she had witnessed in the hot springs that night—one that made her blush all over—and her pretty face couldn't help but flush slightly red. 

Meanwhile, Firefly and Jeanne's gazes invariably swept back and forth between Furina, Tifa, and Robin, who had actively requested to stay behind. 

Robin and Tifa were one thing, but based on their understanding of Furina, since when could a mere Guild ban stop her desire to go out and play? 

That was a Unicorn, a dreamlike creature that only existed in fairy tales. 

Given Furina's personality, even if the sky were falling, she absolutely wouldn't pass up this chance to join in the fun. 

And this time… she actually backed down voluntarily? 

Sightings of the Unicorn were concentrated due north of the city, in a vast expanse of grassland bordering the Foothill Forest. 

Early the next morning, Firefly, Hyacine, Daphne, Cassandra, and Jeanne—the five of them—set out from the Guild's North Gate under Airmid's lead. 

The journey was not entirely smooth sailing. 

Many adventurers and opportunists who had caught wind of the news tried to block their path, wanting to snatch the initiative from this squad of maidens who were clearly well-prepared. 

However, those overconfident fools were all quietly "persuaded to leave" by Aiden, who was traveling along as their escort. 

With Aiden, a powerful Level 4 adventurer, escorting them, Airmid and the others faced almost no substantive obstacles and quickly arrived at their destination. 

After clearing out the scattered hunters in the vicinity, the group followed the hoofprints left by the Unicorn, carefully searching for quite some time. 

"Ah—E-everyone, look!" Hyacine, who was the first to crest a small hill, suddenly lowered her voice and excitedly pointed into the distance. 

Everyone looked in the direction she was pointing and simultaneously drew in a breath of cold air. 

At the edge of the grassland, a radiant white horse was taking a leisurely stroll. 

From its slender limbs to the tip of its tail, it was covered in a pristine white coat, pure as freshly fallen snow. 

The single horn growing from its forehead traced a gentle spiral from its base all the way to its sharp tip, refracting a dreamlike halo under the morning light. 

Being praised as a "Sacred Beast" was truly well-deserved; its posture as it advanced across the grassland could be described as elegantly refined. 

That was precisely the target of their journey, the Rare Monster—the Unicorn. 

"Wow... it's my first time seeing one..." 

"It's so beautiful, really… even though it's a monster." 

Daphne and Cassandra muttered to themselves, their tones intoxicated. 

Firefly also slightly narrowed her eyes, losing herself in the sight for a moment. 

Looking closely, they could see a few minor scrapes on its snow-white coat, presumably left by repeated attacks from hunters or falling into traps earlier. 

From time to time, it would raise its head, vigilantly looking around, those sapphire-like eyes brimming with a nervous sensitivity toward its surroundings. 

The group lay flat on the small hill to avoid being spotted by the Unicorn, simultaneously holding a miniature strategy meeting on the spot. 

"So, who's going first?" Hyacine asked softly. 

"Eh, can only one person go at a time?" Jeanne was a bit confused. 

"It goes without saying, Jeanne-dear," Hyacine explained. "If we all ran over there at once, wouldn't the Unicorn get troubled over who to choose?" 

"Regardless of whether it would fret over such a thing, you make a valid point." Airmid calmly expressed her agreement. "If several people approach at once, I'm afraid it would greatly increase its wariness." 

"I'll go first." Firefly stepped forward, taking the initiative. 

She felt that since this mission was originally for the sake of crafting her specific medicine, it was only right that she be the first to try. 

Taking a deep breath, she walked down the hill alone, slowly approaching the Unicorn on the grassland. 

At this moment, the Unicorn was lowering its head, grazing on the tender green grass. 

When it sensed someone approaching, it immediately raised its head in alert, those pure blue eyes staring intently at Firefly. 

Firefly tried her best to force the softest, most non-aggressive smile, softly speaking to soothe it: "Don't be afraid, I mean no harm… I just want to be friends." 

Then, tentatively, she took a step closer. 

However, the Unicorn simply aimed its beautiful spiraling horn right at her, striking a clear defensive stance. 

Firefly's body stiffened, freezing in place. 

On the hill, Daphne said quietly, "It's guarding against Firefly." 

"Yes, its guard is very high," Airmid confirmed. 

"Is it because… Firefly's aura is too sharp?" Hyacine guessed. 

To avoid further provoking this sensitive Sacred Beast, Firefly had no choice but to step back helplessly, her face full of disappointment. 

"It's not your fault, don't take it to heart." Aiden looked at her dejected appearance and spoke up to comfort her. 

Firefly's failure was entirely within his expectations. 

On the surface, she looked like a quiet, frail young girl, but deep down, she was a veteran who had struggled between life and death countless times. 

That murderous intent and the smoke of the battlefield, long etched into her very soul, might go unnoticed by ordinary people, but to a holy creature sensitive to auras like the Unicorn, it was as glaring as a torch in the dead of night. 

That it would be on guard was the most normal reaction possible. 

Not just any pure virgin could gain the Unicorn's approval; not only did you have to be pure, but you also had to be pretty and harmless. To the Unicorn, the aura emanating from Firefly was far too dangerous. 

─── 

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