Chapter 285: The Witch’s Punishment Starts with a Kick to the Butt!

Boom—!!!

Reason snapped.

A soul-freezing killing intent, no longer mere oppressive pressure, manifested into a tangible pillar of purple-black magic flame that shot skyward, casting Astreia’s wildly dancing hair in the light of a demon god from Hell.

“You! Are! Courting! Death!”

“No no no! Astreia! Calm down! CALM DOWN!”

Wendy was practically hanging off the Witch Queen’s body, his cheek pressed tight against that ice-cold yet impossibly sturdy armor, screaming with every ounce of strength he had.

“She’s a child! She was just born! She doesn’t know any better! Why are you picking a fight with a mentally underdeveloped little brat?! If this gets out, where will your dignity as the Witch Queen be?!”

Wendy felt his brain overclocking, throwing out every moral plea and psychological comfort he could think of.

He had only one thought right now.

He absolutely could NOT let her make a move!

Astreia’s body froze.

She slowly lowered her head, her magic eyes burning with purple flame, coldly staring over her shoulder at the man clinging to her like an octopus.

“Let go.”

“No! Not even if I die!”

Wendy shook his head like a rattle, his arms tightening around her even more.

And right at that moment.

Little Lacshanna, shielded behind Wendy’s body, poked her tiny head out. Those rainbow-colored eyes sparkled with smug delight.

Little Lacshanna’s lips curled open, flashing another proud and radiant grin. Then, under Astreia’s about-to-erupt gaze, she even let out an extremely quiet sound—yet one perfectly audible to everyone present…

“Hehe~”

That soft giggle lit the powder keg completely.

But this time, Astreia’s fury was no longer aimed at the little one.

The Witch Queen’s pupils, blazing with purple flames, locked dead onto the man hugging her waist with a panicked expression.

Her ice-cold words made Wendy’s heartbeat skip a beat.

“Seems… I’ve been far too lenient with you.”

The next second.

Astreia suddenly grabbed the back of Wendy’s collar. An irresistible, overwhelming force yanked him upward.

His entire body was effortlessly lifted off the ground, feet dangling in the air.

“Made you think you could defy me… for something else?”

“Wait! Astreia! I didn’t! I—I didn’t mean to!”

Wendy flailed in midair, desperately trying to explain.

But Astreia wasn’t listening.

She spun his body around, forcing him to face the still-smug little one.

Then, under everyone’s stunned gaze.

Astreia extended both arms and, in a gesture of absolute ownership, pulled Wendy tight against her hot, soft embrace, trapping him completely.

And then.

Right in front of everyone, Astreia lifted her long, straight leg and gave little Lacshanna’s backside—the one still going “hehehe”—a firm but measured kick.

“Smack!”

Not much force. Maximum humiliation.

Little Lacshanna’s laughter cut off instantly.

The unexpected kick sent her tumbling through the air in a somersault before she landed flat on her bottom, utterly bewildered.

She sat there, dazed, staring at the bad woman who had stolen “Daddy” and kicked her. Her lips trembled, and her rainbow eyes instantly welled up with tears.

That kick: minimal damage, maximum humiliation.

A clear demonstration of who was the master of this household.

And you? Just a disobedient little thing.

Not far away, Layana and Aurelia—who had witnessed this entire absurd spectacle—were completely speechless.

Aurelia in particular stood with her mouth open, feeling her three perspectives being repeatedly crushed and flattened.

Wendy, trapped in Astreia’s arms, had completely given up struggling.

He was just a tool now. A trophy used to declare sovereignty.

What could he do? He was in despair!

And little Lacshanna, who had been so proud just moments ago, saw Wendy held by Astreia—and in that instant, all the playfulness and provocation on her face vanished without a trace.

A visible anxiety and displeasure surfaced on her delicate little features.

“Ah!”

She cried out anxiously, not even bothering to rub her sore bottom, and sprinted over on her tiny legs.

Her small hand grabbed onto Wendy’s dangling pant leg, tugging hard.

She looked up. Her rainbow eyes were already brimming with tears, misty and pitiful beyond words.

“Daddy!”

She called out in her childish, tearful voice:

“Daddy is MINE!”

That “Daddy” shattered Wendy’s heart.

He instinctively wanted to bend down and hug her.

But Astreia’s arm barred his way, keeping him from moving an inch.

She glanced down at the little thing clinging to his pant leg, a cold smirk curling at the corner of her lips.

Still holding Wendy, she slowly crouched down until she was eye-level with little Lacshanna.

“Listen.”

The Witch Queen extended her index finger and pressed it firmly against little Lacshanna’s smooth forehead.

“Whether you’re really Lacshanna, whether you lost your memory, or you’re putting on an act—”

“I will NOT give Wendy to you.”

“Even if you’re just a drooling baby right now. Not happening.”

With that, she flicked her finger lightly.

A purple-black spherical barrier materialized once again, sealing the bewildered little Lacshanna inside.

“Ah! Let me out! Daddy! Daddy!”

The little girl pounded frantically against the barrier, tears on the verge of falling. But Astreia didn’t even bother glancing at her again.

Done with that, the Witch Queen slowly rose to her feet and turned toward Layana and Aurelia, who were still frozen in disbelief.

“Dean Aurelia.”

Astreia first looked at the red-robed archbishop, giving a slight nod of acknowledgment.

“You freed me. I’ll remember this debt.”

Then she turned to Layana, whose expression was complicated.

“As for you, Dean Layana…”

Astreia’s voice returned to its usual icy tone.

“Your daughter schemed against me, and you wanted to study me with that necklace. In the end, you fumbled your way into releasing me, so merits and faults cancel out. Between us—we’re settled.”

“Settled.”

Those two words made Layana tremble all over.

She understood. It meant Astreia would no longer pursue past grievances. But equally, it meant whatever bond they had was now completely severed.

Astreia paid no further attention to the two deans with their conflicting thoughts.

She withdrew all her scattered magic.

As her power receded, the world that Lacshanna’s self-destruction had completely erased began to undergo a transformation.

The vitrified ground started to crumble, dissolving into primordial energy particles; the spatial barriers in the distance reknit and repaired themselves.

The blood moon in the sky vanished, and the twisted withered forest regrew…

The Dream Demon Graveyard was restoring itself at an inconceivable speed.

“Let’s go, my little kitten.”

Astreia pulled Wendy back into her embrace, brooking no resistance.

“Time to go back… and receive your true punishment.”

Wendy couldn’t help but shiver slightly.

Going back…

Back to the dorm…

That would mean…

His heart churned with fear and a certain indefinable anticipation tangled together.

Yet from the corner of his eye, he couldn’t help but steal a glance at the silver-haired little girl sealed in the purple sphere, staring back at him with pitiful, pleading eyes.

What exactly was going on with her now?

Just as a thousand thoughts surged through Wendy’s mind, Astreia held him tight, dragging three “purple spheres” along as she transformed into a violet-black meteor, shooting skyward in an instant—tearing through the Dream Demon Graveyard’s spatial barrier and blasting off into the outside world!