Frankly speaking, Su Hong knew Diana was incredibly strong.

At the very least, among everyone he’d met—from the restaurant owner across the street to the executives of the Chris Guild—none stood on the same level as her.

Still, Diana wasn’t actually a bad person. She was only looking out for Lia. Luck, after all, was such a mysterious thing—something only oneself could truly know.

Su Hong gently nudged Lia a few steps aside and reassured her, “Lia, don’t worry. She won’t hurt me.”

Though reluctantly staying put, Lia remained uneasy. She hadn’t even sheathed her Frostlight Blade, ready to leap in and shield Su Hong the moment danger appeared.

Seeing Su Hong deliberately move Lia away, Diana’s expression softened slightly.

“I thought you’d keep hiding behind Lia forever. Seems you’re not completely hopeless.”

“Thank you for the compliment,” Su Hong replied calmly, “but I stand by my decision. I won’t let Lia face danger.”

His tone was utterly serious, leaving everyone puzzled.

Even Diana shot Lia a bewildered glance. “Danger? What danger?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe someone at the academy means her harm… or bandits on the road…”

Su Hong prided himself on his eloquence, but this bizarre situation defied simple explanation. Mentioning “luck” would sound absurd.

“In short—if danger comes, regret will be too late.”

“So *that’s* your reason for insisting on entering together?” Diana asked coldly, voice tight with suppressed anger.

When Su Hong nodded, Diana gritted her teeth and stomped her foot.

“Using such a ridiculous excuse—you think I’m an idiot?! You’re insulting the academy! If bandits exist the academy can’t handle, what good are *you*? Are you claiming you’re stronger than the academy itself?!”

Unable to bear the mockery, Diana snapped. “Then dodge this attack! Let’s see if the academy is truly inferior to someone like you!”

With a sharp wave, the blue birds shot toward Su Hong like a hundred blades—*whoosh!*

“I don’t need to dodge.”

Su Hong even stepped forward to meet them.

Gasps filled the room. Lia turned deathly pale, lunging to tackle him down—

—but the instant his foot hovered mid-step, a crisp *crack!* erupted from Diana’s Spirit Card Slot!

The blue birds vanished. Silence fell, broken only by the *clatter* of shattered components scattering across the floor.

Diana froze, then flushed crimson with rage.

“Damn it! Of all times for the Spirit Card Slot to break!”

She snatched her Spirit Card from the wreckage, hastily borrowed a Slot from a junior student, and jammed the card in—

“Consider yourself lucky just now. Now—”

*Snap!* Thick black smoke billowed. This time, both Slot and Spirit Card were damaged.

The air turned eerie. Diana’s face burned red; tears welled at the corners of her eyes.

“How?! I don’t care!! I’ll still teach you a lesson!”

Voice trembling with sobs, she hurled the broken Slot down, grabbed a nearby chair, and swung it hard—

*Crack!* The chair shattered. A splinter flew up—and by sheer misfortune—smacked her square on the forehead.

Stunned silence gripped the restaurant. One broken Spirit Card Slot was rare. *Two?* Plus the chair? …Could this beautiful girl really be cursed by the heavens?!

A faint rectangular mark bloomed on Diana’s brow—mild, yet utterly humiliating.

She dropped the broken chair, hands flying to her forehead as frustrated tears finally spilled over.

“This isn’t fair! Why?! Su Hong—I challenge you to a duel!!”

Dead silence. Every eye turned to Su Hong with eerie suspicion. (°ー°〃)

Lia shot him an anxious glance—torn between comforting Diana and urging reconciliation.

Though Su Hong had only taken one step, seeing Diana’s tear-streaked, furious face stirred guilt in his chest.

*Really… it was her own doing…*

He sighed softly, fingers brushing the Spirit Card in his pocket. What a shame. After all that effort crafting his combat Spirit Card—planning to borrow Lia’s Slot and test it here—*again*, no chance.

*Next time… I’ll act faster. Strike first.*

Yet he spoke gently: “Diana, you misunderstood. I never disrespected you or the academy. Please don’t cry. Can’t we just talk?”

Diana wiped her tears fiercely, glaring at him like she’d devour him whole.

“Who’s crying?! I’m *not* crying! The instructor’s coming soon—I’ll borrow their Spirit Card and Slot and challenge you to a rematch!”

Wait… the instructor? Even the academy instructor was on the way?!