Chapter 27: A big sister acting like this? Gross
The whole situation felt absurd to Diana. First, Shia had taken photos of her to use as leverage, then sternly warned her to act more dignified in his presence.
For Diana, this was beyond comprehension. Normally, anyone would be thrilled at the prospect of receiving her "reward" and would jump at the chance to ask for something outrageous.
At least, that's how Shia had initially seemed to behave.
But not only had he resisted her allure, he had also taken it further by threatening her with photos.
Diana, the alluring and manipulative principal, had met someone immune to her charms.
This only made Shia even more fascinating to her—a fresh, novel challenge.
Her gaze on Shia now carried the interest of someone inspecting a delightful new toy.
Her amusement grew, along with her grudging admiration.
But there was one thing she couldn't overlook—the fact that those photos could genuinely damage her reputation.
Diana's eyes drifted to Shia's phone screen, where the image of her alluring, coquettish self was displayed. Even she had to admit that the sight of herself in the photo was captivating.
While Diana wasn't overly concerned about such photos circulating, she knew that if they did, her authority and image within the academy would be completely destroyed.
'Occasional mischief is fun, but becoming the permanent source of everyone's amusement is not.'
Straightening her posture, Diana shifted her demeanor entirely. The seductive aura faded, replaced by the dignified presence of the academy principal.
"Ahem."
She clasped her hands behind her back.
"Do you realize who you're threatening? I'm the principal of this academy. Do you understand the consequences of such behavior?"
Shia's calm gaze met hers as his finger hovered dangerously close to the "Send All" button on his phone.
His expression said it all: 'Push me, and these photos go public.'
"Wait, wait, don't do that!"
Diana's confident tone crumbled, replaced by a pleading, syrupy voice.
"Come on, I was just teasing you! Don't send those out, okay?"
"I really know I was wrong~! Please, I'm begging you, don't do this!"
Her pitiful tone, paired with her over-the-top coquettish delivery, made Shia cringe.
He shoved her hand off his shoulder and rolled his eyes.
"A big sister acting like this? Gross."
Sliding through the options on his phone, Shia made a show of playing back her voice.
"I really know I was wrong~! Please, I'm begging you, don't do this!"
The distorted electronic playback only made Diana's expression darker.
Shia turned the screen toward her, grinning as he showed her the video he had recorded moments ago.
Diana's face fell.
She had thought Shia was simply bluffing with his threat to mass-send the photos. Instead, he'd captured another damning piece of leverage.
"Stay dignified," Shia said with a sweet smile.
Now he had two aces up his sleeve: one was her flirtatious photo, and the other was a video of the mighty principal groveling in a cutesy, whiny voice.
Diana's lips twitched, her frustration evident, but she couldn't deny the humor in the situation.
Still, she put on a stern face and said, "Can we talk seriously now?"
Shia nodded, sliding his phone into his pocket.
"Alright, enough playing around," Diana said, regaining her composure as the principal.
"While your method of clearing the trial was unconventional, using crafted equipment to specifically counter the boss's weaknesses was clever. Breaking a historical record is still a fact."
"Come with me. It's time to claim your reward."
This time, their path led directly to the Divine Grace Clocktower.
Instead of heading to the top, Diana stopped on the third floor, where sacred relics were housed.
"Pick one," she said, pushing open the door and gesturing for Shia to enter.
The casual tone of her offer contrasted starkly with the extravagant nature of the reward.
Sacred relics were legendary artifacts, often crafted by gods themselves and ranked from F to S-grade. Each one carried immense power.
The room was filled with shelves and walls lined with grids, each containing a unique relic. Swords, spears, shields, axes—there was no shortage of variety.
The sheer opulence on display was enough to surpass even the treasuries of the most powerful nations.
Shia showed no outward reaction, much to Diana's disappointment.
She had hoped to see him awestruck, but given his resistance to her earlier charm, his calm demeanor wasn't surprising.
Still, she couldn't help but tease him a little.
"While I said you can pick anything, there are some exceptions. For instance, this sword belonged to the Twilight Empress and contains boundless power. It's not something you can handle. Then there's—"
"I've made my choice," Shia interrupted, cutting her off mid-sentence.
Diana blinked, stunned.
'So fast?!'
She hadn't even finished explaining the relics he couldn't take, let alone started guiding him to the best options.
"Are you sure?" she asked, frowning as she watched him lift his chosen item.
"Yes."
"Don't you want to look around a bit more? There are so many treasures here—you might miss something better."
"Thank you for your concern, Principal, but I've already decided."
Shia's tone was light, but his decision was firm.
When Diana pressed him further, he simply smiled and said, "The best choice is the one that suits you."
He explained that while the most prestigious relics might seem appealing, they could be burdensome if not compatible with his abilities. Choosing something appropriate would allow him to use it to its fullest potential without attracting undue attention.
Diana shrugged, relenting.
"If you're that sure, then so be it."
Shia smiled, content with his choice, and said no more.