Locus' finely chiseled features were a sight to behold, with his shimmering blonde locks and sparkling blue eyes that held a mischievous twinkle. However, as soon as Andras mentioned the "Forest of Silence" and the "Shadow Clan," Locus' playful demeanor was replaced with a steely resolve, his complexion turning ashen in an instant.
"Impossible!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief.
"Locus, please hear me out first."
"Doesn't Locus know how important the strawberry field is to the Cardis estate? Especially if you're an officer of the estate!"
Locus' emotions subsided after being pacified by me and Andras, but his pale face did not return to normal.
"Are we really going back to that accursed place? And with that madwoman?" he questioned incredulously.
"We have to go there if we want to bring back the fairies of the strawberry field. Please help us, Locus."
"Milord, I understand the importance of the strawberry fields, but as the treasurer of the territory, my duties lie here. You would do better to take Kroc with you instead,"
Locus tried to divert our attention by pointing his finger at the large, muscular dragon demon.
"Senior Locus Senior Kroc already agreed to come with us to the Forest of Silence. Just give up and join us."
"You traitor"
Locus gave Kroc a resentful look, but Kroc just shrugged his shoulders as if to say What did I do?
Kroc accepted the proposal without hesitation, saying that he wanted to help the people of Elden Village who would suffer without the fairies.
It moved me and Andras.
Meanwhile, Locus realized that the atmosphere was getting strange and he shouted in desperation.
"How are you going to find that crazy woman? You know going into the Forest of Silence without her is like suicide, right? She is so free-spirited that it won't be easy to find her."
"We've already found the place she has stayed recently through Ryan."
When the excuse he had barely found was easily blocked, Locus rolled his eyes and burst out in frustration.
"How, he did that last time, too. Why does he know all our locations?"
"It's kind of like a control device. In many ways, individuals with unique characteristics scattered in an instant. If anyone lives in a way that puts dirt on Black Hawk Unit', Mr. Kaneff himself"
Andras blurted out the last words, but everyone, including Locus, shuddered.
If you think of the boss coming personally every time you make a mistake
Ugh! The mere thought sent shivers down my spine.
"Locus, could you reconsider one more time?"
"Mmm"
Despite my earnest request, Locus' consent did not come easily. The frown on his face conveyed the impression that he really did not want to go.
What can I do?
It's not something I can force him to come along with
I gave a small sigh and tried to give up.
Knock!
Rumble!
As the door creaked open, Elden villagers along with Lagos, Reville, and Miru flooded into the room, their excitement and chatter filling the air.
"Locus! Is that really true?"
I never thought you would make such a decision. I must have misunderstood you all this time.
"Locus, you're amazing!"
"What? What's amazing?"
Not only the Locus but also the rest of us looked puzzled by the sudden situation.
Lagos came forward on behalf of the villagers and held Locus' hands firmly with a deeply moved expression.
"Thank you very much, Locus!"
"What's going on?"
"I've heard you're going to the Forest of Silence to get back the fairies of the strawberry field."
Andras agreed with her with a faint smile. Kroc also worked hard to express his feelings in sign language and formed a consensus. Of course, some people did not agree with the sentimental atmosphere of the three.
"What do you miss! Don't you remember any of the hard times? I'm already sick and tired of it Argh!"
Kaneff waved his hand at the back of the complaining Locus' head.
"Hey! Leader, why are you hitting me?!"
"Stop whining and concentrate on the mission properly. You know he's not supposed to get hurt, right? If Sihyeon is injured and you are fine, I will make you miss the old days even more."
Locus pouted and murmured at the dreadful threat.
"You could just curse me to death instead of asking such an impossible task."
"What?!"
"Argh!"
Locus ran away from Kaneff and hid behind my back. Everyone burst into laughter at his funny appearance.
"Lord Sihyeon. You know this is a different matter from financial affairs, right? Youll pay for the employment, right?"
"Yes. I'll take care of it as much as Locus and Kroc want."
"That monster participated voluntarily. Just take care of me."
"Hahaha"
In the midst of this, Locus' mindset of caring for his profit, made me think of him as great in many ways.
"Papa, youll come back soon, no?"
A little fox girl looked up at me as if she was about to burst into tears.
I hugged the fox girl so that she could feel safe. And I patted her little back gently and said in a calm voice.
"Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll be back soon. Speranza, you have to listen to Boss Uncle while Papa is away, okay?"
"Yes, I'll listen."
"Don't worry, Popi! I'll protect Sihyun, Popi!"
Gyuri also relieved Speranza by clenching her fists. Thanks to this, the fox girl shook off her anxiety a little and nodded.
"Take care, Senior."
"Don't worry about the farm."
"I wish you the best of luck."
"If you don't think it's possible, just come back. Don't do anything unreasonable again."
Greeted by the farm members, we began to prepare to leave.
While Andras was preparing for the dimension leap magic, I asked Locus, who was next to me.
"We're going to meet another member of the Black Hawk Unit, right? That?
"Crazy woman?"
" yes. Who is it that we're asking for help?"
"Didn't they explain it? Like us, she is a member of the Black Hawk group and comes from the shadow clan.'
I asked again in surprise.
"If shes a member of the shadow clan, did she live in the Forest of Silence?"
"That's right."
Locus shuddered as if he had thought of something unconsciously.
"The name is Terzan."
"Terzan"
"She is the most dangerous demon among all the Black Hawk members except Leader."