“Alright, then let's let Miss Saintess have a look.”
Realizing what he had just done, Data decided to let this currently happy Miss Saintess enjoy herself to the fullest before the great terror arrived.
With that, Data reached out and grabbed the cloth covering the massive toy.
Then, he pulled it off with a gentle sweep.
As the cloth fell away, its true form was revealed—a rocking horse?!
Lin Ling stared at the wooden horse in front of her.
The base was a curved wooden frame.
The body of the wooden horse was carved with rounded contours. Although it wasn't fully polished yet, it was clearly a toy designed for children to sit on and rock.
There was even a small handle in the front to hold onto.
Lin Ling: “...”
For some reason, she felt drawn to it.
She felt like this rocking horse, with its potential for swaying, was practically beckoning to her.
This was practically a hidden mount meant for Miss Saintess's great adventure in another world.
“M-Mr. Data...”
Lin Ling quickly turned her head to look at Data.
Her eyes seemed to be sparkling.
“C-Can I try riding it?”
Data: “...”
Seeing how eager she was to try it, he fell silent for a moment.
He had been pondering how to naturally entice—er, persuade—Miss Saintess to sit on it.
He hadn't expected Miss Saintess to make the request herself.
Data suddenly felt like a bit of a villain.
But looking at Lin Ling's sparkling eyes, he ultimately nodded.
“O-Of course you can.”
“However, the toy isn't fully polished yet, so please be careful, Miss Saintess.”
“Mm-hmm!”
Lin Ling nodded vigorously.
Having received permission, she couldn't wait to climb onto this incredibly enticing rocking horse.
The wooden horse swayed slightly.
Lin Ling grabbed the front handle.
“Oh! It really rocks!”
Sitting on the toy horse, her entire expression lit up.
It was clearly just an ordinary wooden toy.
Yet, Lin Ling looked as if she had just met her most beloved mount.
She even started giggling sillily while sitting on it.
Watching this, Data's feelings became even more complicated.
Miss Saintess was truly happy.
But...
If nothing went wrong, that personage should be arriving soon.
Just as he was wondering how much longer the Demon King would take, a knock sounded at the door.
Knock, knock.
The sound wasn't loud.
Yet, upon hearing the knock, Data's body shuddered involuntarily.
His family wouldn't be returning at this hour.
So, the person outside could only be her.
Data glanced at Lin Ling, who was still happily riding the toy horse.
Lin Ling was completely oblivious.
She seemed to have completely immersed herself in her own world.
Data took a deep breath, walked to the entrance, and opened the door.
Ivelia was standing at the doorway.
A faint smile played on her lips.
Yet, Data felt as if the scales on his back were about to stand on end.
He immediately lowered his head and bowed to Ivelia.
“Lord Demon King.”
Ivelia nodded to the bowing Data, then swept her gaze inside the house.
Lin Ling was sitting on the wooden toy inside the house, a silly smile plastered across her face.
Ivelia watched this scene.
Then she looked back at Data by the door.
“You did well in this matter.”
Data: “...”
For some reason...
Even though he had received praise...
His heart was weeping. He felt like kicking himself; he had actually thought the Demon King wouldn't arrive so quickly.
Looking at the cheerful Lin Ling, Ivelia seemed to want to play a little prank on this mischievous Miss Saintess, so she quietly cast an invisibility spell on herself.
The Demon King, who had been standing right in front of Data, vanished in an instant.
Yet, he could feel the Demon King's presence stealthily approaching Lin Ling's direction.
That oppressive aura belonging to the Demon King, even if only a fraction of it was leaked, made Data incredibly tense.
Meanwhile, Miss Saintess was still riding the toy horse, completely unaware.
Watching this, Data suddenly felt a trace of admiration for Lin Ling.
Perhaps only Miss Saintess could completely ignore such a terrifying aura.
Lin Ling was still fully immersed in riding the toy horse, which rocked gently.
Her body swayed back and forth along with the rocking motion.
“Hehehe, this is really fun.”
“Though the handle could be polished a bit rounder.”
“And a soft cushion could be added here.”
“Miss Saintess really has a talent for toy development.”
Lin Ling grew happier the more she spoke.
Just as she was thinking about how to modify the wooden horse, a very gentle voice suddenly echoed from behind her.
“Is it fun?”
Ivelia dispelled her invisibility magic behind Lin Ling.
She stood there, looking down slightly at Lin Ling, who was sitting on the rocking horse.
It was hard to tell if she was asking whether today's hide-and-seek game was fun, or if the toy she was currently sitting on was fun.
But her smile certainly carried a sense of doting affection for Lin Ling.
Lin Ling giggled sillily as she answered the person behind her.
“It is.”
“This is really fun.”
“Miss Saintess thinks—”
She stopped mid-sentence.
Wait! Something was wrong!
Why did a female voice come from behind her?
And this voice...
Lin Ling's body stiffened bit by bit.
Her hands holding the wooden horse's handle gradually tightened.
Then, Lin Ling stiffly turned her head.
What she saw was the Demon King standing behind her, smiling as she looked at her.
Lin Ling: “...”
Ivelia: “...”
Oh no! I must escape immediately!
Thinking this, Lin Ling's body reacted honestly as she began to cast teleportation magic.
But this time, Ivelia had no intention of continuing their game of cat and mouse.
The moment Lin Ling's magic began to surge, several purple ribbons of magic directly bound her wrists and waist.
“Gah! Lord Demon King!”
Ivelia did not answer.
She simply reached out and picked up the bound Lin Ling from the rocking horse.
Even after being scooped into her arms, Lin Ling didn't forget to look back at the rocking horse.
There was even a hint of reluctance in her eyes.
“W-Wait.”
“Lord Demon King.”
“At least let me say goodbye to my beloved horse.”
Ivelia: “...”
Data: “...”
Beloved horse?
That was just an unpolished children's toy.
Carrying Lin Ling, Ivelia turned and walked out the door.
“We're going back.”
“Woo...”
Lin Ling muttered softly in Ivelia's arms:
“Goodbye, my beloved horse.”
“Miss Saintess will remember you.”
Her eyes still seemed filled with reluctance to part with the toy horse.
Data stood at the doorway as the light from outside shone in, looking like a path paved with light before him.
Watching Lin Ling being carried away, he let out a soft chuckle.
Miss Saintess was truly a very peculiar person.
Rate on N.U.
