reward

I looked around and found the Baron's daughter, who had harassed me, quickly stepping away and heading off as if a ghost were chasing her. I wanted to thank her for her hard work because, without her boldness, I wouldn't have gotten close to the two heroines at the beginning of the academy. When I followed Elena's gaze, I found the harasser.

Perhaps she thought I was scared because of what had just happened, so she tried to comfort me.

"Don't mind her."

Elena's voice behind me made me turn around. She stood firmly, her black coat moving as if alive. "Let's go. The academy waits for no one. Move."

I didn't utter a word, but I felt something hot coursing through my veins... "I want to hug her and kiss her."

I pushed the thoughts out of my mind, smiled brightly, and said to her:

"Let's hurry, let's go."

We left the station and entered a wide street paved with black and gold stones, emitting a faint chime with every step. On either side stood enormous trees of a kind I'd never seen before—their trunks were purple, and their leaves fell like phoenix feathers.

"Arsia Academy..." Elena said as we made our way through the crowd.

I lifted my head.

On the horizon, the academy appeared like a castle carved from moonlight—its towering spires ending in sharp peaks, its white walls adorned with golden veins that shimmered even in the shadows. The stained-glass windows radiated colors like emerald and ruby, as if the building itself breathed magic.

We arrived at the academy's gates, where there were two entrances.

We reached a vast courtyard in front of the academy, where the students divided into two groups:

Left: A black marble gate, adorned with a statue of a woman in armor slaying monsters. The entrance for girls.

Right: A white stone gate, bearing a statue of a winged man holding a book and a sword. The entrance for boys.

Elena stopped in front of me for the first time since we entered the academy. "Here's where we part ways," she said quietly.

"Why?" I asked, even though I knew the reason.

"The rules here... are ancient," she replied, smiling faintly with a hint of mockery. "Good luck on the entrance exam."

This was a strong opportunity to deepen my relationship with the heroine, so I didn't waste it and asked for her name.

"My name is Kim Hyul. May I know yours?"

"Kim Hyul... Kim Hyul..."

She repeated my name a few times, then looked at me and smiled.

"You can call me Elena or Eli."

Ding... ding... ding...

The academy bell rang.

"Alright, I'll go now. You can tell me more after the exam."

I watched as Kim Hyul's back retreated like a duck searching for its mother.

I smiled, then turned away and headed toward the gate.

As I ran to reach the exam hall, a voice rang in my head.

I arrived at the large door—the black gate. Just as I was about to open it, the air in front of me vibrated, and a floating blue screen appeared:

[Quest Completed!]

[Reward: 'Vampire Bloodline' (Rank: S)]

[◄ Confirm Receipt ►]

I pressed "Confirm" without thinking.

Immediately, excruciating pain exploded in my gut!

It felt like an ice-cold knife was being driven into my stomach and then twisted apart. I doubled over, clutching my abdomen as a metallic, vile taste filled my mouth.

Damn it! That's blood!

Escape to the Restroom

Ignoring the questioning looks around me, I rushed through the academy's marble hallways.

Everything around me was deafening:

The enchanted paintings on the walls that moved and whispered.

The golden statues of past professors watching me with their eyes.

The floating staircases that chimed with every step.

But all I could see was the green door at the end of the hallway... the restroom.

I barged into the first stall and collapsed onto my knees.

I vomited.

But what came out of my mouth wasn't food... but a black, sticky mass, like tar mixed with red sparks. It fell into the toilet with a sound resembling a faint scream.

"How could a body contain so much impurity?" I whispered to myself.

Normally, the amount of impurities ranges from 50 to 60 grams, but it seemed I had underestimated the life of someone who lived in a dump—this body had 600 grams of impurities, ten times that of an ordinary person.

I didn't know if purging the impurities would enhance my body's natural abilities, so I looked in the mirror to see just how much corruption had been in me.

My face... had changed.

My cheekbones had sharpened, my eyes—once crimson—now looked like liquid blood. Even my lips had turned as red as fresh blood.

"The impurities in my blood... are gone."

But the dizziness that followed was overwhelming.

Alright, no time to wait—I had to hurry to the exam hall.

I left the restroom, ignoring the strange looks.

At the end of the hallway stood a tall man in a black hat:

"Why are you late?"

"I was in the restroom..."

"..."

The man gave me a strange look before allowing me to enter.

"Never mind. Go in."

He opened the door, and I stepped into a vast hall filled with male students, all standing in front of magic circles drawn on the floor.

Since I was the last to enter, all eyes turned toward me.

"Uh... heh..." I couldn't help but laugh awkwardly and scratch the back of my head.

It's embarrassing being the center of attention.

If the gazes had been from women, I would've been happy—but with all eyes on me being from men, it was honestly awkward.

"Line up."

I heard three sharp claps, followed by a sharp female voice.

In the center of the hal

l, a shadow-like creature waited for us.

"Today's exam begins now."

End of Chapter