Chapter 147: The Jealous Vampire | Damn You, Luke
While Selene was passing through the corridor, which was enormous and stretched for hundreds of meters, countless students from different races walked back and forth.
Elves, dragons, vampires, humans, mermaids, winged people, giants, beastkin, dwarves, spirits, and many more.
The wide corridor was lined with towering white pillars engraved with ancient runes, while massive crystal chandeliers floated near the ceiling, illuminating the entire area with a soft golden glow.
Large glass windows revealed floating islands outside, where students could be seen flying on, griffins, magical beasts, and even enchanted artifacts.
Everywhere, lively conversations echoed.
Some students laughed together.
Some hurried toward their classes.
Others were engaged in magical discussions, while a few practiced spells by creating tiny flames, water droplets, or floating swords above their palms.
Despite the crowd, the academy maintained remarkable order.
No one dared to cause trouble openly.
Because Emperyan Academy was one of the few places on Valtharion that had survived the Shadow Era—the age when the gods had vanished and chaos consumed the entire world.
Kingdoms had fallen.
Civilizations had disappeared.
Countless races had gone extinct.
Yet this academy had endured through it all.
And now it had become one of the strongest existences in the Dusk Era, which was also known as the Hero Era.
The era in which a Hero was summoned every one thousand years to stand against the Demon race.
Because of Emperyan Academy’s near-invincible strength and its ancient history, almost every race sent their children here.
Among them were not only talented commoners but also countless nobles.
Princes. Princesses. Young masters of ancient clans. Successors of legendary bloodlines. Future kings.
The academy had also produced extraordinary results throughout history.
Many of its graduates had risen to stand at the very peak of the world.
Not one.
But countless.
Some became rulers.
Some became legendary generals.
Some became Hero companions.
While others reached heights that ordinary people could never even imagine.
Because of that, gaining admission into Emperyan Academy had become one of the fiercest competitions in the entire world.
Even a single vacant seat was enough to make countless geniuses fight desperately for it.
And the academy had always maintained absolute neutrality.
It belonged to no kingdom. No empire. No race. No religion.
It sided with no one.
Its laws were equally applied to every student.
Its famous principle was known throughout the world.
"Everyone is equal under the Emperyan roof."
Whether noble or commoner.
Whether human or dragon.
Whether vampire or elf.
Whether male or female.
Inside these walls...
Everyone possessed the same rights.
And everyone received the same punishment.
Unfortunately...
Very few truly accepted that ideal.
Pride built over thousands of years could not disappear overnight.
As a result, numerous factions had formed throughout the academy.
Some gathered according to race.
Others according to noble status.
Ancient clans stayed with their own.
Royal families rarely mingled with commoners.
Even rival races often glared at one another whenever they crossed paths.
It wasn’t uncommon to see dragons looking down on other races.
Or vampires refusing to share a table with werewolves.
Although open discrimination was strictly forbidden, subtle conflicts and silent rivalries had never disappeared.
This was also one of the reasons Selene had chosen this place.
After graduating from the academy, she worked tirelessly and eventually became one of its professors, granting her complete protection from her Vampire royal family.
As Selene walked through the grand hall, countless eyes instinctively turned toward her.
Not only because of her strength.
But also because of her breathtaking beauty.
Her flawless features, graceful bearing, and captivating figure could rival even that of a succubus—the enchanting demon race renowned for seducing hearts with their unmatched charm.
For a brief moment, conversations quieted.
Many male students couldn’t help but steal another glance before quickly looking away.
Some stood frozen in place.
Others whispered among themselves.
"Professor Selene..."
"She’s even more beautiful up close."
"I can’t believe she’s a vampire."
"Don’t keep staring. She’ll notice."
"I heard hundreds confessed to her during her student days."
"And every single one was rejected."
Meanwhile, several female students admired her elegant appearance.
Some viewed her as an idol.
Others envied the effortless grace with which she carried herself.
Even a few professors smiled and greeted her with respectful nods as she passed.
Because of all this, regardless of race, nearly every male student in Emperyan Academy had fantasized about her at least once.
And thanks to her gentle, approachable personality, she had become the most popular professor among the academy’s newer students.
Yet despite the admiration surrounding her, Selene paid no attention to the countless gazes fixed upon her.
With calm, elegant steps, she simply continued toward her destination, her serene expression never changing.
Marius Duskraven, a vampire noble who had been a professor at Emperyan Academy for several years...
Had always harbored feelings for Selene.
When he first heard that she had married the Hero, his heart shattered into countless pieces.
Fortunately...
It recovered the very next day.
Because news quickly spread that the Hero she had married had been declared talentless.
For the first time in days, Marius had smiled.
His rival had become a joke.
But before he could properly celebrate...
His freshly repaired heart shattered once again.
He had heard rumors that Selene and Luke had entered the Holy Light Temple together.
For any married couple, the meaning was obvious.
’I curse you, Hero... May your both balls be annihilated!’
That day, Marius repeated the curse thousands of times.
Ironically...
It happened to be the exact same day Luke’s both balls had nearly been crushed by Aurielle’s hands.
Fortunately for Luke...
Marius never learned about that incident.
Otherwise, he would have doubled the number of curses without hesitation.
Now, standing inside the academy corridor, Marius watched Selene walk past.
His lips parted slightly.
He wanted to greet her.
Yet not a single word came out.
’Damn you, Luke.’
So he silently cursed him again.
Ever since yesterday, his mood had been terrible.
The reason was simple.
News had spread throughout the world that Luke had slain a Mid-Golden Knight.
Not only that...
The so-called talentless Hero had apparently proven everyone wrong.
’Impossible!’
’It’s all lies!’
’You’re definitely talentless!’
’Damn you, Luke!’
So he cursed him once more.
"Huff..."
Taking a deep breath, Marius tried to calm himself.
Only then did he notice several nearby students staring at him strangely.
Apparently...
His face had become bright red while he was silently cursing Luke.
’Ahem...’ Pretending nothing had happened, he adjusted his robe with a dignified expression.
Then, after a brief moment of thought...
’Should I curse him one more time...?’
He seriously considered it.
A few seconds later, he shook his head.
’Forget it.’
’Why should I waste my time thinking about a crippled man?’
Yes.
A crippled man.
Recently, Marius had learned that Selene’s step-brothers and step-sisters had somehow discovered that she creating an hidden organization, which had her strength increased considerably.
Naturally, that made them uneasy.
If Selene became too powerful, controlling her would become impossible.
So they had reportedly decided upon the simplest solution.
Cripple Luke.
As long as the Hero became powerless, Selene would have little choice but to return under the royal family’s influence.
’Damn yo—’
"...Nah."
He forcibly stopped himself.
With a smile that looked far more confident than he actually felt, Marius began walking after Selene.
’Today is our joint lecture.’
’This time...’
’I will definitely win her heart with my profound knowledge, refined elegance, and irresistible charm.’
Thinking that, he couldn’t help but feel that the weather was unusually pleasant today.
Unfortunately for him...
He had forgotten one very important detail.
This was not the first time he had reached that exact conclusion.
Nor the second.
Nor even the tenth.
And every previous attempt had ended in complete failure.