The sky was a clear, deep blue, a perfect complement to the sea-like maiden.
Standing under the blue sky, Seele exuded a sense of transparent purity.
Ye Feng chuckled. "It's normal that Seele can't understand the later moves for now. But that's where the essence of the sword style lies. Even my esteemed master couldn't withstand them; I broke right through her defenses and routed her completely. I'll teach you slowly in the future."
"...Brother Ye Feng's master?"
"What are you even talking about? Your laugh is a little... disgusting."
It was Dark Seele who spoke up, dissatisfied.
It wasn't that she truly found it disgusting, but she felt she had to say something right now.
According to Seele's description, Ye Feng was the "master" of this world.
In other words, the fact that she had gotten stuck in a wall might have been his will.
Just thinking about that made Dark Seele feel that the man before her was dangerous, in every sense of the word.
She couldn't let him get too close to the innocent Seele.
"Eh? My other self... you can't talk about Brother Ye Feng like that..."
Seele quickly stepped forward.
Not to defend Ye Feng, but because she was genuinely worried that Dark Seele would be the target of one of Ye Feng's "pranks."
"You—"
Seeing Seele step forward, Dark Seele's anger flared. I'm worried about a naive little rabbit like you, who knows nothing, getting eaten by this big bad wolf. And here you are, turning on me instead.
Ye Feng watched the two maidens, both looking out for the other, and the smile on his lips deepened.
"Um... Brother Ye Feng."
Seele wrung her small hands, finally getting to the point.
Dark Seele couldn't wield the power of the contract and needed Ye Feng to add her to it.
"But from the looks of it, she seems very unwilling?"
"...My other self."
Seele looked at Dark Seele with shimmering eyes, her expression pleading and moving.
Dark Seele couldn't withstand this gaze, which was filled to the brim with "Seele power." She averted her eyes and looked away. "I get it, I get it! Hey, you're Ye Feng, right? Let's do it. This contract or whatever, I accept."
"No."
"Eh?"
Dark Seele stiffened, glaring angrily at Ye Feng.
"You're too impolite," Ye Feng said.
"Huh?"
"Do you think my [Contract] is some cheap thing you can find anywhere? And with that attitude of yours... even being a tsundere won't work. Tsunderes are a retired meta. The new hotness is grabbing someone's thigh and saying, 'I'll do anything'."
"??"
A hint of confusion flashed across Dark Seele's face. She recognized every word Ye Feng said, but putting them all together was a bit taxing on her brain.
But the meaning of "being rejected" was perfectly clear.
"You think I want this? To sign a [Contract] with a guy like you, even if it's..."
"—Brother Ye Feng!"
Seele interrupted loudly.
"...It's all Seele's fault. Please don't fight."
Ye Feng's gaze shifted to the maiden who was clenching her small fists. "Oh? Tell me, Seele, where did you go wrong?"
Seele lowered her head and said, "...As the one in the middle, Seele didn't communicate well with everyone and neglected everyone's feelings..."
"Mm, mm."
Ye Feng crossed his arms and nodded. "Then if Seele did something wrong, does she have to accept punishment?"
"Eh? P-Punishment...?"
"What? Don't tell me Seele thinks she can just say 'I was wrong' and smooth things over, and then we can all just forget about it and play happily ever after? Surely not, right?"
"N-No... Seele was just... Mmm, Seele understands. Seele will accept Brother Ye Feng's punishment."
"Hey— you bastard."
"My other self... it's okay..."
Seele looked at Ye Feng. Her clear eyes held fear, but even more determination.
Dark Seele stopped in her tracks. She wanted to see just what Ye Feng's so-called punishment was.
"You."
Ye Feng pointed at Dark Seele, then at the ornate railing on the open-air platform. "Put both hands on it."
"??"
"I'm going to spank your butt."
"What? You bastard!"
A bloody, sinister light shone in Dark Seele's pupils. Black energy surged around her body, and a pair of massive, sharp claws appeared at her sides, reflecting a cold, menacing gleam.
Dark Seele stared at Ye Feng like a wild beast, looking as if she were about to tear him to shreds.
Just a moment ago, some person named Kiana had spanked her butt for no reason, and now it was happening again?
Do you really think I don't have a temper?
Seele quickly took a step forward. "...Isn't it Seele who's being punished? It has nothing to do with 'my other self'..."
"Oh? Is Seele saying she wants me to spank her butt?"
"...Y-Yes. Hmm?"
Seele nodded subconsciously, but when she thought about it again, it felt wrong.
What does she mean, "wants Brother Ye Feng to spank her butt"... saying it like that is too humiliating.
The toes inside Seele's boots wiggled restlessly. She lowered her head in embarrassment, her cheeks growing hot.
"What a good girl."
Ye Feng said admiringly.
It made one want to bully her mercilessly.
"Does Seele want to save Yuexia that badly?"
"...Mmm. There's an innocent person in trouble right in front of me, and it just so happens that Seele can do something... I can't just leave her be..."
"And you don't mind getting your butt spanked for it?"
"..."
Seele fell silent. Dark Seele couldn't watch any longer. She jumped up, about to slash at Ye Feng with her claws.
Then she saw Ye Feng take out a pink remote control.
He pressed a button!
"—!!"
Dark Seele instantly clamped her thighs together with all her might. Her entire body convulsed, and sweat poured from her uncontrollably.
Clang.
The two giant claws, no longer supported by her power, fell to the ground with a metallic crash.
Dark Seele collapsed to the ground, sitting with her legs splayed out like a duck. She struggled to raise her head, her eyes moist, her cheeks flushed with heat.
"What... what did you do to me?"
"Why bother asking? It's exactly what you're thinking."
"You... you..."
Seele hurried to Dark Seele's side. Although she didn't know what had happened, seeing her in such distress, she subconsciously reached out to help her up.
But then she had a strange feeling: it was probably better not to touch her right now.
Seele looked at Ye Feng. "Um... Brother Ye Feng, please don't make things difficult for 'my other self'... she doesn't mean any harm."
"I don't mean any harm either."
Ye Feng looked completely innocent.
"Mmm..."
Seele stared blankly at Ye Feng, her fists clenched slightly as she lowered her head. "...If it's Brother Ye Feng... Seele, Seele can..."
"Can what?"
Ye Feng blinked, feigning ignorance of what Seele was trying to say.
"..." Seele's head drooped even lower, her face bright red. "Can... let Brother Ye Feng spank Seele's... bottom..."
Hiss~
Even Ye Feng's heart couldn't help but skip a beat.
Hearing such a pure and lovely maiden say those words to him was simply blissful.
"Mm. Then let's prepare the contract."
"Eh?"
Seele paused, looking at Ye Feng, her limpid eyes seeming to ask, "You're not going to punish Seele?"
"Mm, that's enough. You don't have to try anymore, Seele. I've already received the greatest gift."