Meanwhile, Lin Ling had already flown—or rather, floated—to the residential district of the Demon King's Castle.
Behind the towering walls of the Demon King's Castle lay a residential area built from gray-black stone, all of it enveloped within the range of magic suppression stones.
The houses were not grand.
The stone walls were thick, the roofs were low, and the windows were relatively small.
Firewood was stacked in front of some houses, laundry hung to dry against others, and ceramic water jars sat by several doorways.
Compared to the complex, dizzying corridors inside the Demon King's Castle, this place felt more like somewhere people actually lived.
Lin Ling slowly lowered herself.
“Wow.”
She looked around, her eyes lighting up.
“This is my first time coming here.”
Her usual range of activity had basically been jumping between her room, the kitchen, the experimental field, the conference room, and the labyrinthine hallways.
She had never truly taken a good look at the residential district.
“So this is where all the demons live,” Lin Ling murmured in wonder.
“It’s a bit like a medieval town.”
“Though it still looks like it would be easy to get lost in.”
Just as she was about to float a bit further forward, a large hand suddenly reached down from above.
In the next second, her collar was firmly grabbed.
“Hey.”
A deep voice rumbled from behind her.
“Finally caught up to you.”
Lin Ling’s body stiffened.
She slowly looked up.
Baroque was standing behind her, looking down at her.
His expression wasn’t exactly fierce.
But it certainly wasn’t gentle, either.
With Baroque holding her by the collar, Lin Ling felt like a small animal caught by the scruff of its neck.
“Mr. Baroque.”
She blinked.
“Actually, this is, well...”
She tried to explain herself.
But Baroque’s gaze was calm—so calm that Lin Ling felt like any excuse would be like throwing more wood onto a fire.
Finally, she hung her head honestly.
“Okay.”
“I’m sorry.”
Baroque had been prepared to give her a lecture.
About running off the moment she woke up.
And about insisting on flying out the window instead of using the door.
But seeing Lin Ling admit her mistake so bluntly, the words suddenly got stuck in his throat.
It was an uncomfortable feeling.
Baroque remained silent for two seconds before letting go of her collar.
He let out a sigh.
“Why didn’t you let Niya follow you?”
Lin Ling looked up.
“Niya looked like she didn’t get any rest last night.”
“So I thought I’d let her sleep a bit more.”
Baroque stared at her.
Lin Ling’s apology seemed very sincere.
Baroque’s anger dissipated even further.
In the end, he could only reach out and give Lin Ling’s head a light pat.
“Fine.”
“I’ll show you around then.”
“Eh?”
Before Lin Ling could react, Baroque bent down and picked her up.
Then, he placed her right on his shoulder.
Her field of vision suddenly soared.
Lin Ling was completely stunned.
She looked down at the ground, then out at the distant houses.
“Wow!”
“It’s so high!”
Baroque held her with one hand to keep her from wobbling and falling off.
“Don’t move around too much.”
“I might not be able to catch you if you fall.”
Despite his words, Baroque’s senses were fixed entirely on the girl on his shoulder.
Lin Ling blinked.
“Baroque, uh...”
She trailed off.
Sensing her hesitation, Baroque couldn’t help but sigh.
“Sigh.”
“Just call me Uncle.”
Lin Ling’s eyes sparkled.
“Uncle Baroque is the best!”
Baroque: “...”
He suddenly felt like he might have just made a terrible mistake.
Sitting on his shoulder with her elevated view, Lin Ling was clearly getting excited.
“By the way, Uncle Baroque.”
“Hmm?”
“Don’t you have things to do today?”
“I do.”
“Then why can you walk around with me?”
“Because right now, you are my task.”
Lin Ling had an epiphany.
“I see.”
She looked down at the side of Baroque’s face and continued her questioning.
“Uncle Baroque.”
“Hmm?”
“Why are you being so gentle today?”
Baroque’s footsteps paused.
Lin Ling didn’t sense the danger and kept going.
“Also, Uncle Baroque, do you look after children often?”
“You’re so practiced at this.”
Baroque fell silent.
Sitting on his shoulder, Lin Ling suddenly felt the air around her getting a bit warm.
She looked down.
Baroque’s already reddish face seemed to have turned a deeper shade of red.
She wondered if the sun was just particularly strong in the residential district.
Furthermore, a vein seemed to be throbbing on his temple.
Lin Ling immediately shut her mouth.
Baroque said in a low voice, “Lin Ling.”
“Yes?”
“I don’t know why.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“But I really want to punch you right now.”
Lin Ling sat up perfectly straight.
“I believe violence doesn’t solve anything.”
Baroque gave a cold laugh.
“But it makes me feel better.”
“I’m sorry, Uncle Baroque.”
“Too late.”
“Can I take back the word ‘Uncle’ then?”
“Way too late.”
Lin Ling silently looked off into the distance.
She decided that from this moment on, she would simply enjoy the scenery.
A few demons poked their heads out of their houses in the residential district.
When they saw a platinum blonde girl in Saintess vestments sitting on Baroque’s shoulder, everyone was stunned.
Lin Ling was about to wave hello.
But before she could speak, several demon children suddenly dashed out from a nearby alley.
They were of various heights.
Some had small horns on their heads.
Some had thin tails trailing behind them.
One child even had faint scales on their cheeks.
The children had been chasing something, but they stopped immediately when they saw Baroque.
Then they looked up and saw Lin Ling on Baroque’s shoulder, their eyes widening instantly.
“Is it...”
The child at the front asked in a small voice, “Is it Miss Saintess?”
Lin Ling blinked.
“Eh?”
The children looked at one another.
One little girl, clutching a small wooden toy, had eyes that were shining.
“It really is Miss Saintess.”
“Her hair is platinum blonde.”
“And she’s wearing the Saintess’s clothes.”
Another little boy added softly, “Lord Baroque is even carrying her on his shoulder.”
Lin Ling immediately sat up straighter.
“Wow.”
“Has Miss Saintess’s great name already spread among the demon citizens?!”
She looked down at the children.
They were looking up at her with their faces tilted back.
There was curiosity in their eyes, and a bit of undeniable admiration.
That look made Lin Ling feel like she was floating on air for a moment.
Before she could fully savor the feeling of being looked up to by the children, Baroque let out a low chuckle.
“Heh.”
“It seems you still don’t realize the impact your actions have had on the demons.”
Lin Ling looked down at him.
“What did I do?”
Baroque didn’t answer.
He just looked at the children.
The experimental field.
The slow-release stones.
The soft bread.
The children could finally eat a little more.
The adults might restrain their emotions, but children wouldn't.
They knew who had made the crops grow in the experimental field.
They also knew who had made it so their parents no longer had to worry about whether their children could survive the mana levels.
So they would remember Lin Ling.
Even if Lin Ling herself had no real sense of it.
Lin Ling looked at the children and suddenly patted Baroque’s shoulder gently.
“Mr. Baroque.”
Baroque raised an eyebrow.
“It’s ‘Mr.’ again now?”
Lin Ling pretended not to hear him.
“Can you put me down?”
Baroque glanced at her.
Though a bit puzzled, he bent down and gently set her on the ground.
Once Lin Ling was steady, she smoothed out her skirt.
Then she turned to the demon children and gave them what she considered to be a very reliable and cool smile.
“Hello there~”
The children’s eyes widened in unison.
Lin Ling put her hands on her hips, her tone carrying a hint of small pride.
“Have you heard of Miss Saintess’s cool deeds?”
“And do you admire Miss Saintess just a little bit?”
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