On the sparsely populated street, Xiao Mu Yu stood indifferently in the shadows at the entrance of an alley.
Following his icy gaze, one could see a small girl not far away, struggling to sell several cheap plush toys while carrying a large bundle that seemed incongruous with her petite frame.
The little girl was earnest and dedicated in her endeavor.
Even though her slight figure was clad in a thin summer dress, trembling against the biting cold, her small hands were reddened from the frigid temperature.
Yet, she persistently held up two adorable plush toys, making every effort to promote them to each passerby.
Occasionally, kind-hearted adults, moved by her pitiable appearance, would stop to inquire about the price, only to be quickly deterred by the amounts she quoted.
"How could such a poorly made rag doll possibly be worth five silver coins?"
This sentiment echoed among several pedestrians, yet the little girl stubbornly clung to her belief, insisting, "Five silver coins, at the very least; it cannot be any less."
And so, they parted ways in discontent.
After facing several rejections, the little girl felt disheartened.
With her head bowed, she gazed sadly at the two plush toys in her hands, whispering, "Clearly… clearly these dolls are so adorable; how could they not be worth five silver coins? If it weren't for my dire financial situation, I wouldn't dream of selling them. Even if… even if I truly must sell them, they should be worth at least one gold coin, right? Five silver coins are already quite a bargain; why do they all look so angry?"
Having stood on the sidewalk for so long, fatigue began to set in. She gently stretched out her small hands, cautiously leaning back against the hefty bundle on her back.
The little girl perched herself on the edge of a small flowerbed beside the sidewalk, and once she felt the bundle settle securely as she sat down, she withdrew her frostbitten hands.
Carefully placing the two plush toys into her embrace, she then opened her rosy lips, breathing warmth onto her cold, red hands.
Although the benevolent shopkeeper had previously advised her that these carefully selected dolls typically retailed for around sixteen copper coins, which, according to the continent's currency exchange rate, equated to approximately half a silver coin, she had been too enamored with the thrill of possessing so many delightful toys to heed this advice.
The shopkeeper had suggested that, considering her charming appearance, she could add an extra two or three copper coins to the price and still sell them quickly.
However, the little girl was overwhelmed with excitement at having acquired so many adorable dolls for the first time—despite the fact that their combined value barely matched the worth of her favorite white tiger plush at home.
For a girl of her age, the craftsmanship and materials of a doll paled in comparison to the sheer joy of choosing a pile of cute toys, even if they were collectively valued at less than a gold coin.
In her affluent upbringing, she would have unhesitatingly purchased these charming dolls, even at five gold coins—if only she had the means to do so.
Now, even selling them for five silver coins felt like an injustice to the delightful toys.
In her mind, she had made significant sacrifices to gather enough funds quickly, pricing these precious dolls so low that they should have sold out in no time.
Yet, after three whole days, she was distressed to find that not a single doll had been sold.
"Bad people! Bad people! They're all bad!" The little girl waved her now-warmed hands in frustration, her voice low and filled with grievance.
To her, the adults' refusal to purchase her dolls stemmed entirely from their awareness of her financial plight, seeking to exploit her desperation by driving the price even lower…
Perhaps only when it dropped to a silver coin or even around twenty copper coins would they consider buying—this was the thought of a girl who had just been deceived three days prior, selling a necklace worth thousands of gold coins for merely one gold coin and three silver coins.
Sitting in the cold snow, the little girl felt a wave of sorrow wash over her as she pondered.
The continuous setbacks over the past three days, coupled with the reality of her nearly depleted pocket change—just enough to last two more days—spiraled through her small heart, causing her large eyes to glisten with unshed tears.
Clearly…
Clearly, she had already compromised so much, willing to part with such adorable dolls for the meager price of five silver coins. Why were the adults still unsatisfied? Was it truly as her father had said, that human greed knows no bounds?
Thinking of her father, the little girl was suddenly flooded with memories of a warm home, a cozy bed, and delicious food. Instantly, the mist in her eyes thickened. "No… I mustn't cry, Annie, mustn't… mustn't cry…"
Sniffling and shedding tears, the little girl repeatedly murmured to herself, "I mustn't cry… I mustn't cry, Annie; I can't cry anymore… You're already eight years old; you're not a child anymore… Be strong… Be as strong as Father, don't cry… If you cry, you won't be powerful anymore… You won't resemble a formidable and dignified great sorcerer… Don't cry… Don't cry…"
Though she kept insisting, "I mustn't cry," she was still just an eight-year-old girl.
Caught between the beautiful memories of home and the harshness of reality, the little girl's crystalline tears fell like pearls scattered from a broken string.
Yet, after sobbing for over ten minutes on the edge of the flowerbed, she finally mustered the strength to stand, wiping her tear-streaked face with her reddened hands.
Raising her gaze to the sparsely populated street, she felt it was time to change her location. With some effort, she hoisted the large bundle onto her back and set off.
Standing coldly at the street corner, Xiao Mu Yu's gaze remained fixed on the little girl's retreating figure, unperturbed by her tears and evident distress, his eyes betraying no emotion.
Only after the girl had departed with her cumbersome load did he step out from the shadows, silently following her small, struggling form.
"Hehe… Human boy, what are you doing? I find myself increasingly perplexed by you. You've spent the entire day doing nothing but trailing after our adorable little girl, even skipping your midday bus to the Shurima Desert. What's your game?"
"You don't know?" Xiao Mu Yu replied coolly, his head bowed as he walked slowly.
"Huh? What do I know? What could a pitiful little demon, sealed for who knows how many thousands of years, possibly understand? Hahaha… Human boy, you're quite amusing… Uh, wait a moment, you're not telling me that seeing such a cute little girl has awakened the Lolita's soul hidden deep within you? Is that why you've spent the day tailing our adorable little girl?"
"Are you looking for an opportunity to act? To drag this innocent little girl into a secluded corner, first to… then to…? Afterward, you'd confine her in an unknown chamber for… and various other…?"
"Ahhh… Human boy, how could you? I understand that since your beloved wife was sealed away, you haven't touched a woman in years, and your pent-up frustration is understandable, but if you have physical needs, you could seek out…! As long as you're willing to spend, you can find a more reputable… or even just a young… with no worries about hygiene and safety."
"But why would you choose to target such an innocent, charming little girl? Have you no humanity left? Look at her, she's so small, still undeveloped; how could she possibly accommodate a grown man's…? You're destroying a flower! This is a deed that will send you to hell! Hahaha…"
As he reached the end of his tirade, the demon seemed unable to contain himself any longer, erupting into a fit of laughter.
"Hahaha… Human boy, you didn't deny it?! Hahaha… It seems what I said is true. But you needn't be so flustered; even if I've exposed you, there's no need for you to be tongue-tied. Are you embarrassed? I promise I won't laugh at you; I really won't! After all, we're such good friends, almost inseparable."
"Liking Lolitas isn't shameful, and wanting to engage with them certainly isn't something to hide; you needn't be so bashful! I can understand you, truly! I won't laugh at you! After all, there's no law in any country prohibiting relationships with Lolitas… Hahaha…"
"Oh, forgive me, I seem to have forgotten; if I recall correctly, your country explicitly states that engaging with Lolitas is punishable by death, right? So, having grown up with the education that one must not engage with Lolitas, deep down, you still wish to? If that's the case, it truly seems abnormal; could it be that you're a pervert? Hahaha…"
Another burst of laughter ensued.
After a considerable time, as if finally having laughed enough, the demon caught its breath and continued, "Alright, alright… Let's halt the jesting for now. Let's discuss serious matters. Human boy, what do you truly wish to do? Share your intentions with me; even if your aim is to engage in something harmonious and affectionate with this little girl, that's fine. Perhaps I could offer you some advice."
"…" Fixing his cold gaze on the small figure ahead, Xiao Mu Yu sensed that if he remained silent, the demon would only continue its prattle. For the sake of his own peace, he finally spoke, "I intend to pursue her."
"Eh? Eh? Eh?"