Chapter 4: The Day I Refused to Lose Her
I woke up in the morning as sunlight slipped through the window and touched my eyes.
The faint warmth spread slowly across the room.
"Ugh..."
I let out a low groan, slowly opening my eyes as my body stirred from sleep.
I stretched lazily.
*Crack... crack...*
A satisfying stretching sound echoed through my joints as I rolled my shoulders and sat up.
The quiet room shifted slightly with the movement, the soft bedsheets slipping down my waist.
Then a smile appeared on my lips when I thought about last night, on which I turned toward my side.
There was sleeping a princess—pink hair and a pale face—but seeing her face makes my heart calm.
"Selene."
I said her name in a low voice. Seeing she was not awake, I rubbed my hand through her hair.
The strands were soft... almost unreal.
"So silky..."
I muttered. Then I noticed her smell.
"The scent of dark roses blooming under moonlight."
Her eyes snapped open suddenly and she smiled mischievously, after hearing my voice.
"So darling is awake and now sniffing me."
My face turned red and I let her hair go and stood up from the bed without reply.
HUG!
My body shivered as she suddenly hugged me from behind. The coldness of her skin made me pause for a second.
Then she said something in a low voice. "Darling, I have to go."
I trembled after hearing this and slowly turned back to look at her.
"Why?" I whispered in a weak voice while holding her hand and bringing it to my face.
Her hand felt cold, just like the look in her eyes as they stared back at me.
For a moment my mind went blank and doubt started appearing inside it.
So I asked with a trembling voice.
"Was everything that happened last night a lie?"
My eyes became moist as those thoughts filled my mind, because I don’t want to face heartbreak again.
Not in this world as well.
"Am I destined to be always lonely?"
My body trembled as this thought came into my mind.
Then I felt her lips against mine as Selene kissed me deeply, which brought me out from my memories.
Soon I also melted into her kiss and started kissing her back.
The faint sound of our breathing filled the quiet room for a moment.
After a few moments we finally separated, but I could see anger in her eyes.
"Idiot."
"What were you thinking?"
She asked me in a loud voice.
Then she sighed and explained to me.
"We just came here for hero summoning, so after this we have to go back to our routine."
She finished and told me about the place.
"So I have to go back to Academy."
She paused for a moment, before taking a breath and bringing a genuine smile on her face.
Then she added another sentence.
"but we will meet again and if I get free time I will come to you."
When she said the final words, my shoulders relaxed a little and I nodded to her.
"Good boy."
She patted my head which made my face red again.
After that we took a bath together, but seeing her flawless body made me hard again, so we spent another 1 hour in bath.
As I came out first,
DINNGG
I heard system voice.
[Luke well done, you have nailed it perfectly] the system said while laughing.
On which I just scratched my head, then he continued.
[So here is your reward]
[Evaluation]
Wife: Selene Nightveil
Emotional Change: Large
Return: 100x
---
[Luke, as this is the first time you are getting return from your wife, so there will be additional 100x crit multiplier]
The system said enthusiastically.
On which I smiled. Finally I am going to become strong, because now it’s 10,000x.
[So your reward is SSS rank Origin Skill (Titan Knight)]
"Wow, an SSS rank."
A big excited smile appeared on my face when I saw this.
Then a question escaped my mouth.
"What does it do, System?"
[Luke, this skill have three forms, here is the info]
---
🔹 FORM 1 — BASE TITAN CORE (PASSIVE SURVIVAL)
Strength ×1
Durability boost
Faster healing
[System Stabilization Mode]
---
"System, this form looks amazing, but what is this System Stabilization Mode?"
After reading the description, I asked with a confused expression.
[Luke, actually all three forms are truly available to you only after reaching the first stage of Knighthood, the Body Tempering Realm.]
The System paused for a moment, allowing me to digest the information, then added.
[So, to prevent this ability from becoming useless, I changed the structure of your First Form, allowing you to use it in any realm.]
When he mentioned the word Knighthood, my expression became worried, but luckily the System took care of it.
"So, why not make every form suitable for me?" I asked with a hopeful voice, but sadly the System’s next words broke my mood.
[Luke, I can’t do that, because the 2nd and 3rd Forms are your core abilities. So just go ahead and reach the Body Tempering Realm first.]
I shook my head in regret, but it can’t be helped, so I moved on and read the description of the 2nd Form as well.
---
🔹 FORM 2 — TITAN ARMOR MODE (COMBAT STANDARD)
Armor manifestation (defense focus)
Weapon summon
Strength ×2 burst
[Can fight trained knights / mid enemies]
---
"Ok, so I will get a Knight Armor, a strength boost as well, plus a weapon. It’s pretty good."
"The thought of having a cool knight armor set made me nod in satisfaction. Then my expression changed, and curiosity surfaced."
"System, can the forms be stacked? Like if Form 1 and Form 2 are combined, then wouldn’t my strength become three times stronger?"
[No.] That’s the only answer he gave. I sighed helplessly. Seems like there was no bug to exploit after all.
---
🔹 FORM 3 — TITAN ASCENSION (EMERGENCY BERSERK)
Body enlargement (2–3x)
Strength ×5 burst (temporary)
Pressure aura intimidation
High stamina drain
---
"Crazy!" I said in an excited voice, because this was totally insane.
As I was feeling too happy, the System’s cursed voice came out again to pour water on my happiness.
[Luke]
"What?" I narrowed my eyes suspiciously, because I knew he was going to say something annoying again.
The System ignored Luke’s look and told him the words it had wanted to say after his excitement had reached its peak.
[Sadly, Luke, this isn’t an ability you can control.]
"What do you mean?" My expression darkened at those words, but I waited for the System to continue.
[This form consumes an enormous amount of stamina, Luke, and as a mortal, you simply don’t have enough to sustain it.]
"Okay." I nodded calmly, unfazed by his insult.
[So, you will become like a tired bull that has lost all sense of reason, and you will go berserk.]
[That’s why I added the tag Emergency Berserk.]
"So, I have to reach the Body Tempering Realm before I can use this properly without going berserk?"
[Yes.]
I nodded, though my mood had already shifted to something like, "Okay, we’ll deal with it when the time comes."
"What about the 2nd Form? Can I summon the armor and weapon?"
I asked with a little bit of hope, but the System quickly crushed it.
[¬‿¬ Why don’t you give it a try yourself?]
I sighed. It seems like that’s not going to work either.
After waiting sometime, Selene finally got out from the bath.
Then we dressed before coming out and going toward the temple to get final blessing.
The palace corridors were wide and silent again, servants bowing slightly as we passed.
During traveling Selene told me about the previous hero, which was a dragonkin girl and how she defeated the enemy.
While talking, we finally reached the temple.
Even from outside, the structure was massive—white stone pillars glowing faintly under divine runes, and a pressure of holy energy pressing gently on the skin.
I looked around to observe and found that this temple is bigger than the previous one from which they summoned me.
After we stepped in, I noticed there were many people of all races, talking and laughing while each making group with their own races people.
Humans, elves, beastkin, vampires—each corner had its own quiet dominance, like invisible borders drawn in the air.
The moment we entered, many eyes turned towards us and started muttering something.
A few voices slipped through.
"...That’s the Hero?"
"...The talentless one?"
"...And those are his wives?"
I ignored their talks and then Selene voice come.
"Seems like we are late," Selene said in a low voice as she leaned close to me.
"And whose fault is this?"
My expression darkened when I remembered, as she was hell bent on sucking me dry.
After hearing my word, she laughed in a small voice.
Then—
A Vampire man with long silver hair and black eyes came in front of Selene and knelt.
The entire hall gradually quieted. Even the background chatter faded as attention shifted.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked toward the entrance where we were standing.
Luke’s four wives also turned toward them.
Selene narrowed her eyes, then turned toward the group of other vampire men and women standing in the corner beside a handsome long black hair and red-eyed vampire, who was smiling.
"What’s that fucker wants to do?"
Selene felt a bad premonition in her heart as she thought about this.
The kneeling man straightened his posture slightly, clearly gathering courage under dozens of gazes.
"Miss Selene, I have admired you and your beauty for a very long time."
He said with a smile on his face.
"I always thought I am not worthy enough, but now I feel I am."
A few nobles whispered immediately.
"...He actually said it."
"...In front of the Hero too..."
Selene already knew where this is going, because she had seen this type of thing many times.
"Miss Selene, will you marry me?"
The moment his final words left—
Silence.
An absolute silence.
Even the candle flames seemed to flicker softer for a moment.
Because no one dares to disrespect a princess before, and now this person is clearly asking for the hand of a princess who just married a hero.
Everyone started gossiping.
"Will he take the bait?"
The black-haired vampire said in a low voice.
Luke’s wives also narrowed their eyes and looked toward Selene and Luke, watching how they would handle this.
As everyone was thinking that he would chicken out, but he did something unexpected.
"I challenge you to a duel of honor."
Luke’s angry voice echoed throughout the temple.
A few gasps immediately followed.
"...He’s insane."
"...A duel already?"
"...Against a vampire noble?"
[Chapter End]
