In mid-air.
Lin Ling was drifting along in a posture that was far from elegant, but could at least be considered moving forward.
The wind brushed past her face.
The Demon King's Castle gradually grew smaller behind her.
Beneath her feet was the familiar black earth.
In the distance lay the experimental fields.
Further out, she could see the expanding defense nodes made of Magic Slow-Release Stones.
Lin Ling had been incredibly excited at first.
After all, this was flight.
Flight in the truest sense.
Though the speed was slow, the posture unstable, and the directional control felt like the pathfinding of a drunkard.
But she was indeed in the sky.
“Life in another world.”
“It finally feels a bit like magic.”
She spoke with deep emotion.
However, that emotion didn't last long.
A few minutes later, Lin Ling’s expression gradually froze.
“Wait a minute.”
She looked down at the wind magic beneath her feet.
“Is this mana consumption a bit fast?”
Originally, the Levitation Magic Phelan had applied was just a small spell intended to support her and prevent her from falling.
But now that she was forcibly pouring mana into it to use it as a flight spell...
The consumption was naturally on a completely different level.
Lin Ling could clearly feel her mana continuously flowing into the wind beneath her feet.
Coincidentally, she had absorbed so much mana lately that her mana bar felt uncomfortably overfilled; now she had finally found an outlet to vent it.
“Hmm, where should I go look next?”
She looked down.
The experimental field was not far away.
There seemed to be people there.
And there were magic suppression stones.
It should be safe.
“Let’s land at the experimental field first.”
Lin Ling adjusted her direction, wobbling as she drifted toward the field.
The tiny purple bat following at a distance gently flapped its wings and followed.
At the edge of the experimental field.
Baroque was standing by a newly constructed fence.
Several demon soldiers followed behind him.
Inside the fence was a group of creatures Lin Ling had never seen before.
Some looked like cows but were much taller than normal ones, with broad shoulders, curved black horns on their foreheads, and hooves that made heavy thudding sounds against the ground.
Others looked like sheep, covered in thick, off-white curly wool, with gentle eyes, though they would occasionally lower their heads to ram the fence with their horns.
There were also several bird-like magical beasts walking around inside the enclosure with their chests puffed out.
When Lin Ling slowly drifted down from the sky, Baroque was the first to look up.
His face changed instantly.
“Lin Ling?!”
“Why are you in the sky?!”
Lin Ling struggled to control the wind, slowly lowering herself to the ground.
The moment her feet touched the earth, she let out a long sigh of relief.
“Lord Phelan applied Levitation Magic to me.”
Baroque frowned.
“Levitation Magic isn't meant for you to fly out of the Demon King's Castle! I can't believe they didn't stop you from doing something so dangerous!”
Lin Ling looked away.
“I just conducted some reasonable research on the skill. Sorry.”
Baroque: “...”
He looked like he really wanted to scold her.
But in the end, he first checked to see if she was injured.
“Do you feel unwell anywhere?”
Lin Ling shook her head.
“No.”
Baroque huffed.
“Do you even know what state your HP is in?! If something happened... hmph.”
Lin Ling whispered:
“It was my first time flying, I couldn't help myself.”
Baroque looked at her guilty expression and bright eyes, and ultimately just sighed.
“Don't be reckless next time.”
Lin Ling nodded obediently.
“Okay.”
Her gaze was quickly drawn to the creatures inside the fence.
“Lord Baroque.”
“What are these?”
Baroque turned toward the fence.
His expression softened slightly.
“Magical beasts brought back from the Forbidden Forest to the west.”
“The Forbidden Forest?”
“A forest humans dare not enter,” Baroque explained.
“The magic there is chaotic and the terrain is complex. There are many beasts suitable for demons to capture and domesticate.”
“It's not that we haven't thought about bringing them back to demon territory before.”
“But the magic concentration here is too high.”
“They simply couldn't survive.”
Lin Ling looked around the fence.
A ring of magic suppression stones was buried there.
Pale white light runes connected into a loop, lowering the surrounding magic concentration.
The magic inside the fence was noticeably milder than outside.
“It works now?”
Baroque nodded.
“Yes.”
“With your magic suppression stones, at least this area is habitable for them.”
He looked at the magical beasts, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“In the future, it won't just be grain.”
“The meat supply can slowly stabilize as well.”
Lin Ling was stunned for a moment.
“Meat.”
Baroque looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Everyone will finally be able to eat meat.”
He smiled.
That smile was very different from his usual grumpy look.
There was no murderous intent from the battlefield.
No sternness from scolding Lin Ling for her recklessness.
It was just pure happiness.
Like an elder who had finally brought food home.
Lin Ling suddenly felt a warmth in her chest.
The people of the Demon King's Castle had truly been hungry for too long.
So long that a piece of soft bread would make Niya happy.
So long that a bowl of soup with a hint of meat would be seen as a reward.
So long that a rugged warrior like Baroque would smile because he could finally bring back magical beasts that could be raised.
Lin Ling took a soft breath.
Then her eyes lit up.
“So there's meat tonight?”
Baroque: “...”
The touching atmosphere she had just felt was instantly shattered by her own words.
Baroque looked at her helplessly.
“There is.”
Lin Ling pumped her fist.
“Great!”
Baroque led her to the edge of the fence.
“Since you're here, I'll introduce them to you.”
He pointed to the tall, cow-like magical beasts.
“These are called Brolls.”
“They have great strength and high endurance.”
“Once grown, they can pull carts or plow fields.”
“The meat quality is also quite good.”
Lin Ling nodded earnestly.
“A beast of burden unit.”
Baroque: “?”
Lin Ling immediately corrected herself.
“I mean, very practical.”
Baroque then pointed to the curly-haired sheep-like beasts.
“These are Ulin Sheep.”
“Their wool can be sheared for weaving.”
“They have gentle temperaments.”
“Their meat is edible too.”
Lin Ling looked at the fluffy Ulins, her eyes sparkling slightly.
“These look like they'd feel great to touch.”
Baroque warned:
“Don't touch them blindly.”
“They haven't fully adapted to this place yet.”
Lin Ling nodded regretfully.
“Alright.”
Then, Baroque pointed to the last group of bird-like magical beasts standing with their heads held high.
They were much larger than ordinary chickens, with developed chest muscles, broad wings, and a very conspicuous crest on their heads.
The moment Lin Ling saw them, her eyes shone even brighter than when she saw the Ulins.
“This is...”
She spoke slowly.
“Bro-bro?”
Baroque froze.
“What's a bro-bro?”
He looked at the bird-like beasts, his expression confused.
“These are Battle Roosters.”
Lin Ling: “Battle Roosters?”
Baroque nodded.
“They use their wings to strike rocks to train their bodies.”
“The wing strike of an adult Battle Rooster is incredibly powerful.”
“On the human side, it usually takes three shield warriors working together to catch one.”
Lin Ling looked at the proud Battle Roosters.
Specifically, she looked at the crest on their heads that looked like a middle-parted hairstyle.
She fell into silence.
Just then, one of the Battle Roosters suddenly took a step.
It set its sights on a large rock by the fence.
First, it backed up.
It lowered its body.
Then it suddenly lunged forward.
Thud!
It slammed hard into the rock.
However, because the surrounding magic was suppressed by the stones, the magic that would normally strengthen its body was also significantly weakened.
Thus, this collision did not shatter the rock.
Instead, the bird let out a “cluck” and bounced back.
The entire rooster stumbled back two steps and shook its head.
Lin Ling gasped.
“It even knows the Iron Mountain Lean!”
Baroque: “?”
Lin Ling pointed at the Battle Rooster, shocked.
“And that middle-parted crest.”
“There's no mistake.”
“That hairstyle is unmistakable.”
Baroque pressed a hand to his forehead.
“You're starting to say strange other-world things again.”
Lin Ling said seriously:
“Lord Baroque, this is a very powerful spiritual force.”
Baroque didn't understand at all.
Nor did he intend to.
He just looked at the Battle Rooster that was still competing with the rock and said calmly:
“In any case, their meat is delicious.”
Lin Ling went quiet instantly.
She turned to look at Baroque.
“Really?”
Baroque nodded.
“Really.”
“We caught quite a few this time.”
“The kitchen will process some tonight.”
He looked at Lin Ling, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly again.
“Miss Saintess, tonight you'll be able to eat meat that isn't just minced.”
Lin Ling froze.
In the next instant, stars seemed to light up in her eyes.
“Meat.”
She repeated in a low voice.
“Real meat.”
Baroque nodded.
“Yes.”
“Real meat.”
Lin Ling looked at Baroque.
She looked at his face, which was usually grumpy but now carried a hint of pride and gentleness.
Then she suddenly rushed over, opened her arms, and hugged Baroque around the waist.
To be precise, she hugged the part of him she could reach.
After all, Baroque was nearly twice her height.
When she slammed into him, it was like a small platinum blonde animal pouncing on a solid wall.
“Uncle Baroque!”
“You're the best!”
Baroque stiffened completely.
He looked down at Lin Ling hugging him, his arms momentarily not knowing where to go.
“Hmph, it's just a meal of meat, don't just suddenly hug me like that. Look at yourself.”
Lin Ling looked up, her eyes sparkling.
“But there's meat tonight.”
“That is a major event worthy of a hug.”
Baroque looked away.
“It's just a few magical beasts.”
Lin Ling said seriously:
“It's not 'just' anything.”
“This is a significant advancement in the demon race's food supply.”
Baroque: “...”
He had wanted to say something else.
But seeing Lin Ling's genuine happiness, he finally just awkwardly raised his hand.
He had originally wanted to pat her head.
But halfway through, he remembered she only had 1 HP.
So he stopped his hand abruptly in mid-air.
Finally, he just said gruffly:
“Fine.”
“Eat more tonight.”
Lin Ling nodded vigorously.
“Mhm!”
Baroque coughed.
“Also.”
“Don't call me Uncle. I'm actually considered young among beastkin.”
Lin Ling blinked.
“Then... Uncle Baroque?”
Baroque: “...”
“Don't call me Uncle at all.”
Lin Ling thought for a moment.
“Lord Baroque?”
Baroque finally gave a reluctant nod.
“That works.”
Lin Ling let go of him, the pale green Levitation Magic still gently swirling around her.
Her mood had clearly improved.
Even the exhaustion from consuming mana while flying was half-healed by the fact that “there's meat tonight.”
Baroque looked at her and suddenly asked:
“Why are you out here alone?”
Lin Ling pointed into the air.
“I'm not actually alone.”
Baroque looked up.
The tiny purple bat was hanging upside down from a nearby branch, blinking its eyes.
Baroque: “Aliviel's familiar?”
Lin Ling nodded.
“It's been following me. It's probably here to watch over me.”
“And Lord Phelan said I could come out for a walk.”
“Though I accidentally went a bit high.”
Baroque huffed.
“That's called flying.”
Lin Ling nodded sincerely.
“Alright.”
“I accidentally flew out.”
Baroque rubbed his brow.
“I'll have someone send you back in a bit.”
Lin Ling immediately said:
“Can it be a little later?”
Baroque looked at her.
Lin Ling pointed to the magical beasts in the fence.
“I want to watch them for a bit longer.”
“After all, they are related to tonight's meat.”
Baroque: “...”
He was silent for a moment.
“You can only watch.”
“No entering the fence.”
“No touching them secretly behind my back.”
“And, no giving them strange names!”
Lin Ling: “I think the last one is negotiable.”
Baroque: “No, it isn't.”
Lin Ling sighed regretfully.
She looked at the Battle Rooster with the middle-parted crest still trying to ram the rock and whispered:
“It's clearly so suitable to be called _____.”
Baroque: “...”
“I heard that.”
Lin Ling immediately looked at the sky.
“The wind is too loud, you misheard.”
Baroque's temple throbbed.
But just as he was about to continue scolding her, a slight magic fluctuation suddenly came from the direction of the Demon King's Castle.
The tiny purple bat looked up.
Baroque also turned to look at the castle.
That was Niya's magic fluctuation.
It wasn't strong.
But Niya usually wouldn't release that magic of her own accord.
Baroque frowned.
“Something's happening in the castle.”
Lin Ling also looked toward the Demon King's Castle.
“The magic seems to be coming from near my room?”
Baroque didn't answer.
The tiny purple bat flew down from the branch, circled Lin Ling once as if to confirm her safety.
Then, it flew off toward the Demon King's Castle.
Rate on N.U.
