"What a pity?"
Marishka and Aleera, who had witnessed the entire battle, looked at Vlad with confusion in their eyes. They couldn't understand why their master felt pity—nor for whom.
Vlad stared at the heart-shaped lake, now once again calm, then shook his head and said:
"When I say pity, I mean for Rejason."
"The banshee's greatest strength is her ability to manipulate minds. If Rejason hadn't hesitated—if he'd killed the troll when he had the chance—things wouldn't have ended like this."
"At the very least, Rejason wouldn't have died."
"In the end, their failure—two dead, one escaped—was rooted in Rejason's indecision."
Vlad addressed Marishka and Aleera directly, using this as both explanation and warning.
In Van Helsing's world, people often die either from running their mouths or letting their guard down. Otherwise, with their strength, they wouldn't fall so easily.
Vlad was sparing no effort in training his three young vampire brides.
When the two women heard Vlad's analysis, they nodded in agreement.
If Rejason had killed the troll on time, he might have been able to team up with the witch, Muriel, and take down the banshee.
Only Vlad knew the truth—that even if they had fought together, they still couldn't have killed the Jibaro Banshee.
As the daughter of the River God, the banshee could heal using the energy of the water around her. As long as she remained submerged, she was virtually unkillable—at least not by anyone with their level of strength.
Vlad looked toward the heart-shaped lake where the Jibaro Banshee had vanished, a thoughtful look on his face.
From what he'd gathered while hiding in the shadows, it was clear:
The Jibaro Banshee was a woman blessed with extraordinary luck—far greater and more vibrant than the fortune surrounding his three vampire girls.
And that wasn't all.
Even the witch Muriel was also incredibly lucky.
This minor trial had unexpectedly revealed many surprises—including the discovery that Muriel, too, possessed an unusually strong aura of fortune.
Vlad turned his gaze in the direction where Muriel had fled, a glint of thought flickering in his eyes.
"You two go track the witch. Don't let her notice you. If you find her, return to the hotel and wait for me."
Aleera and Marishka nodded obediently, spread the bat wings behind their backs, and flew off in the direction Muriel had escaped.
Watching them go, Vlad remained still.
His reason for sending Aleera and Marishka after the witch wasn't just her luck. It was because her presence likely meant she was from some other movie, or even a fictional world.
And if that was true, the rewards could be substantial.
But... which world had Muriel come from?
Vlad felt a nagging sense of familiarity, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recall it.
If only the mysterious light orb could show me which world she's from, Vlad thought bitterly.
As if in response, a message briefly flashed across the orb in his mind—but vanished before it could fully appear.
And Vlad didn't notice it at all.
As the sun dipped below the horizon and the moon rose high, the forest fell into a peaceful silence.
High in the trees, Vlad opened his eyes.
He had spent the entire afternoon thinking and had now formed a complete plan.
From what he'd seen earlier, the Jibaro Banshee was very powerful. Even if he were confident in defeating her, it would still take considerable effort.
And Vlad saw no need for unnecessary conflict. Not only would it bring complications and risk, but it didn't align with his nature or his goals.
After all, all he wanted was to absorb her blood and claim her luck. There was no need to create more trouble than necessary.
Furthermore, he wasn't certain whether draining her blood without her consent might backfire—for instance, causing the luck-absorption to fail entirely.
When he'd absorbed the blood of girls like Verona and the others, they had all given their consent.
Not knowing the consequences, Vlad had no intention of taking unnecessary risks that might lead to failure or harm.
More importantly, Vlad didn't like forcing people. He preferred mutual desire—the fusion of body and soul in shared joy.
Wait... something about that metaphor felt wrong.
Chuckling to himself, Vlad shook his head, then leapt down from the treetop and made his way toward the heart-shaped lake.
Night in this world was stunning—stars gleamed in the sky, the moon glowed softly, and the air was rich with the scent of flowers and plants.
As he neared the lake, the shimmering starlight reflected off the water, giving the whole area a dreamlike, artistic atmosphere.
Vlad paused to admire the scenery, then slowly walked to a large stone by the shore and sat down.
He pulled out a leaf and began playing "Bleeding Love" softly beside the lake.
His eyes were full of sorrow and longing. The emotion in his gaze was deep and overwhelming, echoing perfectly with the song's heartbreaking melody.
Of course, he had a purpose: to draw the attention of the Jibaro Banshee, to stir her curiosity—and most importantly, awaken her yearning for love.
In the original story, the banshee had been drawn to the deaf knight, mistaking his inability to hear her song for resistance to her magic.
After killing his fellow knights, she was shocked that he hadn't been enchanted by her beauty and dancing.
She believed he was a rare, honorable man—and she admired him.
The simple-hearted banshee also misunderstood the knight's desire for her gold and jewels as genuine love.
But in the end, tragedy struck.
Just when she believed she'd found real, pure affection—something deeper than greed—reality shattered that illusion.
The knight took everything from her. The jewels. The gold. Nearly her life.
Though powerful, the banshee was innocent in matters of love and the human world.
And that innocence gave Vlad an opportunity.
As the leaf's melody filled the air, full of emotion and longing, it soon reached the ears of the Jibaro Banshee.
From the middle of the lake, a graceful figure slowly emerged from the water. She looked toward the man on the shore, captivated by the gentle music.
"It's so beautiful," she whispered softly. Her voice was raw, but sweet—her lips glittering with tiny ruby-like gems.
Driven by curiosity, she quietly moved closer, using the branches reaching over the lake to hide herself as she peered at the mysterious man.
Just as the leaf's melody stopped—and the banshee, still enchanted, thought the song was over—a rich, magnetic voice rose and continued the song, filling the night with passion.
The heartfelt lyrics, full of warmth and sincerity, reached deep into her soul.
She rested her chin on her hands atop a branch, tilting her head as she listened. Her eyes softened. Her heart, long buried beneath solitude, began to stir.
The song had awakened her yearning for love.
As Vlad continued to sing, the banshee began to hum along unconsciously. Beneath the water, her alluring figure swayed with the rhythm of the music.
Then, without warning, the song ended.
The sudden silence caught her off guard. She looked anxiously toward the stone where the man had been.
But Vlad was gone.
A flicker of disappointment crossed her face. She stared at the empty shore for a long time, then silently slipped back into the water, disappearing once again beneath its surface.