CHAPTER 134: I’VE CREATED AN ASS-GRABBING DEMON!

Yelena’s thoughts were already tangled, and Mika’s boldness only made them burn hotter. She stood there, staring at him in that white abyss, her chest rising and falling as she tried to hold her composure.

But he noticed. Of course he noticed.

And before she could collect herself, Mika suddenly stepped toward her and—

Smack!

—his palm landed squarely on her ass.

The sharp sting jolted through her body, echoing loudly in the still void and the thousands of swords suspended in the Sanctuary trembled violently, as though even they were stunned that he would spank the very master of this realm.

Yelena’s face flared red. Her hand instinctively grabbed her rear where he had struck, her eyes flashing indignantly as she glared at him.

"Mika, what in the world was that?!" She hissed, her voice rising with both anger and fluster. "This is my Sanctuary! I am its ruler! How dare you treat me so shamelessly here of all places?"

"Do you know what this means? Do you know how much respect I must maintain here, and you, you go and spank me as if I were a child! Explain yourself!"

But Mika only tilted his head, utterly unbothered, his lips curving into that infuriating, teasing smile.

"Simple. You were in a daze." He said easily, stepping closer. "Lost in your head. I thought maybe a sword was trying to lure you in like it did Charlotte. So I snapped you out of it the same way."

Her lips parted in protest, but then closed again as she faltered. Because he wasn’t entirely wrong, she had been in a daze.

But not because of a sword. It was because of him. Because of the way he had touched her, looked at her, spoken to her since yesterday. Because of the storm of feelings she didn’t want to admit.

"I-I wasn’t—" She stammered, her eyes darting aside, her words tangling uselessly in her throat.

Mika’s grin widened.

"Look at you." He drawled, stepping closer again. "You can’t even talk properly. Still in a daze, aren’t you? Hm. That must mean one thing." His hand twitched as if readying to strike again. "You need more spanking."

Her eyes flew wide. "W-What?!" She gasped, spinning to face him fully now, her cheeks flushed crimson. "No! Absolutely not! That is not the reason, and stop bullying me in my own Sanctuary! Enough, Mika!"

Flustered beyond reason, Yelena turned sharply and stormed a few steps ahead, her long hair swishing behind her as she tried to hide her burning face.

Charlotte giggled softly at the sight, slipping to Mika’s side with a conspiratorial smile.

"You really are bullying Mama too much." She said, though her voice was laced with amusement. "Careful, Mika, if you keep it up, she’s going to cry. And then you’ll be the one who has to cheer her up."

But then she leaned in a little closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Still...isn’t she cute like this? Mama never gets flustered. No matter who it is, she’s always calm, always proud, always untouchable. But with you? Look at her. She’s like a completely different person. So adorable, isn’t she?"

"That’s exactly what I think." Mika’s smile turned sly, his gaze lingering on Yelena’s retreating figure. "And I’ve only just started. I plan on making her show me that side again and again."

"Then do it!" Charlotte clapped her hands together happily. "Bully her more. I want to see even more of Mama’s cute reactions!"

"Don’t worry." Mika replied smoothly, eyes gleaming. "That’s exactly what I intend to do."

They started walking again, the three of them heading along the endless white bridge that cut through the void.

At the far end, another portal shimmered faintly, pulsing like an open door waiting for them. Yelena was already there, standing stiffly beside it, her face composed again but her ears still tinged red.

"This portal..." She explained in a clipped voice, pointing at it. "...will take us directly to the academy gates."

Hearing this, Charlotte’s tension melted into pure joy. She darted forward, throwing her arms around her mother with a wide smile.

"Thank you, Mama! Thank you so much! You saved me!"

Yelena softened despite herself, stroking her daughter’s back.

"It’s nothing. Now go on, your friends are waiting, aren’t they? Don’t make them worry."

Charlotte nodded quickly and, without hesitation, leapt into the glowing portal, vanishing from sight.

Yelena turned then, expecting Mika to follow.

But instead of stepping forward, she found him standing still, his gaze locked on her. Intent. Focused. A shiver ran down her spine under that look.

"W-What?" She asked, her voice wavering. "Why are you staring at me like that? You look suspicious, Mika. What are you plotting now?"

His lips curled.

"Just thinking." He said casually, though his tone was edged with amusement. "Earlier, that one spank might’ve made some of your swords look down on you. And I was wondering...what if I went further?" He leaned in slightly, eyes gleaming. "What if I bent you over right here, spread those cheeks apart, and let every sword spirit in this place watch? What would happen then?"

Her face went scarlet.

"You—! Don’t you dare!" She sputtered, clutching her skirt protectively. "If you did something like that, I’d lose every shred of respect here! None of these swords would ever want to be wielded by me again!

"...I’d-I’d be stuck fighting with kitchen knives for the rest of my life!"

Her panicked look only made him chuckle.

"Relax. I’m joking." He said, stepping back with a lazy grin. "I wouldn’t actually do it. These swords may be spirits, but even so, I’m not about to share your body with anyone else. Not even with them."

Her heart stuttered. She exhaled shakily, relief mixing with something else she didn’t want to name.

Because the way he said it, the possessiveness in his voice, the sheer certainty that she was his alone, ignited a warmth inside her that terrified her even more than his threat.

"Enough..." She muttered, shaking her head quickly, trying to banish the thought. "Just go already. Go to your classes. Don’t be late."

But when Mika stepped toward the portal, she suddenly blurted. "...Wait!"

He stopped, glancing back curiously.

"You didn’t give me a hug." She said, crossing her arms but refusing to meet his eyes. "A proper hug goodbye. How can you just leave without it?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Didn’t you just say you can’t show weakness in front of these swords?"

"A hug is not weakness." She retorted quickly, cheeks flushing. "It’s a mother giving her son affection. Nothing more. Nothing less."

"...Now stop wasting time and hug me, or else I’ll lock this portal and you’ll be stuck here."

Mika chuckled under his breath but stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her. She melted into the embrace despite herself, the memory of countless past farewells making her chest ache.

But this hug was different. His arms were firmer. His hand, sliding down to her waist, then lower, cupping the curve of her ass, made her stiffen.

"Mika!" Her eyes snapped up to him, indignant. "Can’t you keep your hands off my ass for even one moment?"

He only smirked down at her.

"Not my fault. From this angle, your butt’s more prominent than your face. It’s practically begging me to touch it."

She pushed him away with a pout.

"Enough! That’s enough! Go! And don’t you dare skip your classes today!" She jabbed a finger at the portal, trying to hide the heat in her cheeks.

Mika only laughed, strolling toward it with infuriating calm. But just before stepping through, he turned back, his smile soft but mischievous.

"For a second, I was sad I wouldn’t get to feel your ass anymore today. But then I remembered, I’m staying at your place. Which means tonight, when we’re back home...I’ll have all the time in the world to play with it again."

"Maybe while we watch a movie together on the sofa. Something to look forward to, isn’t it?"

And with that, he stepped through the portal, vanishing, while Yelena stood frozen, her whole body burning.

He was a demon, she had created a demon. One who delighted in her body, in her ass, in pushing her to the edge of madness.

And yet the worst part, the part that made her cover her face in shame, was that a traitorous part of her was already looking forward to tonight.

As she turned back into the white abyss, the swords whispered in their silence, as if wondering what had just unfolded to leave their proud ruler flushed, frustrated, and trembling like a girl in love...