Why did we stop?

Even before Herbert could ask, he realized why Sofia did it.

Because of guilt.

As a protector, this time she was successful.

She successfully protected Herbert, bringing him back from the crisis.

But as a servant, she deemed herself negligent.

She let Herbert get hurt and almost let her hot blood override his commands...

Such a failure.

"..."

Herbert dismounted and came before Sofia.

The Centaur Heroic Spirit stood before him with her head bowed low, eyes full of guilt, her agile centaur body trembling slightly, tail swaying gently with unease.

Sofia knew she had made a mistake.

This mistake weighed like a heavy boulder in her heart, keeping her soul unsettled.

Herbert did not blame her, but after waiting awhile gently asked, "Do you have anything to say?"

Upon hearing this, the Centaur Heroic Spirit's body shivered, slowly raising her head, looking at her master with eyes full of determination and plea.

"My lord..."

This young man, though still youthful, possessed a unique majesty in her eyes.

His deep eyes exuded wisdom and calmness, just standing quietly there, like a brilliant beacon in this mist.

"My lord, I have sinned."

Herbert raised an eyebrow and asked:

"Hm? What is your sin?"

Sofia spoke in a raspy voice to Herbert: "I have committed the sins of arrogance and anger."

Herbert: ?

First of all, the sin of arrogance... ahem!

"If not for my arrogance, you would not have been harmed."

Sofia looked at the back of Herbert's hand, where the scar had long healed, but the mistake she made would not disappear from her heart.

The Centaur Heroic Spirit's mood turned even glummer, hoarsely saying: "I also almost lost my mind from anger and did not follow your orders."

In Herbert's eyes, it was a trivial matter, but for this loyal Heroic Spirit, it was as weighty as the heavens.

She deeply bowed her head, pleading:

"I do not seek your forgiveness, I only beg you to mete out punishment."

She believed in Herbert's fair judgment, needing to atone for her mistakes accordingly.

"..."

But truthfully, Sofia's request posed a dilemma for Herbert.

Because he really did not see it as a big deal.

Herbert was not dictatorial by nature.

He did not want to treat his earliest follower harshly.

But he understood that he could not dismiss it too lightly, as that would only lead Sofia into self-doubt.

She was loyal.

But also somewhat naive.

She still couldn't grasp complex emotions.

In Sofia's mind.

Right is right, wrong is wrong.

With such subordinates, as a leader, one must uphold rewards and punishments clearly.

Do right, and be rewarded.

Do wrong, and be punished.

Now she had erred.

Only by receiving punishment could Sofia truly unburden her mind.

And after pondering briefly, a smile graced Herbert's lips, and he made his decision.

Herbert lifted Sofia's chin, asking her to meet his eyes, smiling softly:

"Sofia, are you resolved to accept punishment?"

Sofia shivered upon seeing Herbert's gaze, a glimmer of hope in her eyes, nodding firmly.

"Yes, please punish me severely."

She longed for Herbert's punishment to absolve her sins.

Herbert nodded, gently declaring:

"You let me get hurt and defied me once, so I will punish you twice."

"Thank you!!!"

Herbert smiled, looking at the excited centaur, and instructed:

"Alright, now close your eyes, and do not open them without my command."

"Yes!"

As the centaur lady closed her eyes, Herbert quietly moved behind her.

Herbert lightly placed a palm on the centaur's body, not striking but merely lifting his first finger and letting it fall.

"This is the first punishment."

Ting.

Because it was a punishment, Herbert enlisted Nenasha's help to turn a simple touch into an entirely different sensation.

A sharp pain.

Sofia's reaction was as expected.

"Ugh!!!"

The centaur lady, intending to endure silently, couldn't help but groan, collapsing powerlessly to the ground.

The sensation was beyond her imagination.

Because both were Spirit Bodies, all attacks directly impacted the soul.

At the moment of spiritual contact, Sofia felt the pain.

It hurt.

It hurt terribly.

The entire soul first faltered, then felt the agony.

But Sofia did not get angry because of it.

Yes.

This was what she wanted, the punishment she desired!

Sofia bit her lip hard, trembling with gratitude, saying: "Thank you, my lord!"

"Please administer the second punishment!"

But after she beseeched in this way, Herbert gave no response.

No, not only that.

When Sofia sensed, his presence had vanished.

As if he had disappeared from this world.

"Hmm!?"

Sofia called out in a panic: "My lord!!? Are you still there?"

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