IWTRAE Chapter 101

 

 

#Episode 101

 

 

A vast expanse of blue stretched endlessly before them. The sea and sky blended seamlessly, with no clear boundary between them. The crashing waves seemed as though they might spill beyond the edges of the canvas at any moment.

 

Even those who had initially dismissed the painting, believing it was not theirs to claim, found themselves overcome with a creeping sense of greed. A burning desire took hold—an urge to possess the painting at any cost.

 

As the auctioneer called out the starting bid, the entire auction house buzzed with excitement. Everyone was on the edge of their seats, paddles at the ready.

 

Laurus, who had previously scoffed with indifference, gave the auction host one final instruction.

 

“Then, I’ll leave today’s purchases in your care, including delivery.”

 

“Of course, my lord. I’ll ensure everything is handled smoothly, so you won’t have to worry about a thing.”

 

But before their conversation could conclude, a sudden commotion erupted within the auction house.

 

“W-wait! You can’t just come up here!”

 

The auctioneer’s panicked voice rang out. A stranger was making their way onto the stage.

 

The host’s brows furrowed as they caught sight of the figure—cloaked in a heavy hood, their presence radiating suspicion.

 

“I apologize. Despite our best security measures, this has happened. But don’t worry—they won’t be able to lay a finger on the artwork. I’ll handle this immediately.”

 

The intruder didn’t appear particularly imposing—neither in stature nor demeanor. They seemed like someone who could be removed easily.

 

And yet, the moment the stranger appeared, the guards sprang into action, forming a defensive line around the painting. Their spears were pointed at the uninvited guest in an instant.

 

“What’s going on?”

 

“Wasn’t it supposed to be Laurus’s painting next?”

 

Murmurs of confusion spread through the crowd.

 

But despite the sharp, glinting spearheads aimed at them, the intruder remained unfazed.

 

Instead, with unwavering confidence, they stepped onto the platform and spoke.

 

“I’m simply…”

 

A soft smile curled upon their lips, barely visible beneath the hood. Their voice, as melodious as the plucking of harp strings, was so unexpectedly beautiful that it hardly seemed to belong to an intruder.

 

The entire room hesitated, momentarily captivated by the sheer allure of the voice.

 

Then, in one fluid motion, the stranger pulled back their hood.

 

“…here to reclaim what’s mine.”

 

A hush fell over the auction house.

 

The sound of fabric slipping from their shoulders echoed loudly in the stunned silence.

 

Under the grand chandelier’s glow, cascading waves of violet hair shimmered like the sea at sunset.

 

The stranger’s breathtaking appearance left the crowd speechless.

 

Was this what a siren—one who lured sailors to their doom—would look like?

 

Standing before Laurus’s painting, she seemed less like a trespasser and more like a part of the artwork itself.

 

Like a prima donna commanding the opera stage, she belonged here, as if it had always been her rightful place.

 

A powerful presence radiated from her—an untouchable, almost divine beauty that left even the guards, the auctioneer, and the eager bidders frozen in silence.

 

Sensing the sudden silence, Todd cautiously peeked beyond the curtain toward the auction floor.

 

That was when he finally caught sight of the intruder.

 

Unconsciously, his brows furrowed as he muttered,

 

“…Vasha?”

 

No, it wasn’t Vasha. At first glance, they looked similar, but there were subtle differences in their features and expressions.

 

Most notably, their eyes.

 

Vasha’s crimson eyes gleamed like morning dew on a rose vine—vibrant and full of life. But this person’s gaze was different—like dried, brittle rose petals crumbling at the slightest touch.

 

As Todd stood there, lost in thought, he overheard Laurus whisper in a daze.

 

“Lady Lucy…?”

 

That’s Lucy?

 

Todd had never seen Lucy’s portrait before. He’d never been interested in it, nor had he ever felt the need to be.

 

He had dismissed the idea that she resembled Vasha, assuming all vampires shared similar features. But now, faced with reality, the resemblance was undeniable.

 

While Todd and Laurus remained frozen in shock behind the curtain, the auction host, unable to bear the chaos any longer, rushed onto the stage.

 

“What kind of disgrace is this in front of Laurus?!”

 

He had seen enough foolishness for one day. If Laurus’s painting were stolen here, it wouldn’t just be an embarrassment—it would be a lifelong stain on his reputation.

 

Just the thought of it sent shivers down his spine.

 

With a sharp glare, he berated the guards.

 

“What are you doing?! Are you just going to stand there and let them take the painting?!”

 

Snapped back to reality by the host’s outburst, the guards immediately repositioned their spears, once again pointing them at Lucy.

 

They had been momentarily caught off guard by her unexpected appearance, but in the end, she was just a single unarmed woman.

 

Confident that she would be subdued quickly, the host turned his attention to the panicked audience, attempting to restore order.

 

“Everyone, please remain calm! She is nothing more than a thief attempting to steal an auction item. The city guards will be here soon!”

 

But his words fell on deaf ears.

 

The auction house’s security would prioritize Laurus’s painting and the noble guests in the VIP section over the common attendees.

 

And with no guarantee of when the city guards would arrive, who in their right mind would sit quietly with a potential threat right in front of them?

 

Once a dam begins to crack, it’s impossible to stop the flood.

 

Panic spread like wildfire. People pushed and shoved—some trying to flee, others scrambling to get a better look. Within moments, the auction house had devolved into chaos.

 

“Get out of my way!”

 

“You get out! Stop pulling on me!”

 

Even without realizing that a vampire was among them, the crowd was gripped by an inexplicable fear.

 

Amidst the madness, Laurus remained rooted in place, staring blankly at the stage.

 

There, Lucy stood, facing off against the guards.

 

Her gaze swept over the people—clueless of her true nature—and she let out a low, mocking laugh.

 

“Run while you still can. Soon, you won’t have the chance.”

 

CRASH!

 

As soon as Lucy whispered those words, the stained-glass ceiling of the opera house shattered into countless fragments, cascading down in a shower of glimmering shards.

 

“Aaaah!”

 

“Kyaaah!”

 

Sharp shards of glass rained down on the people below. Screams filled the air as the auction hall descended into chaos.

 

In the midst of the panic, someone sharp-eyed pointed to the ceiling and stammered,

 

“T-the ceiling! Look at the ceiling…!”

 

At that cry, all heads turned upward.

 

What they saw sent a fresh wave of terror through the crowd.

 

Where the stained glass had shattered, only jagged steel beams remained. And from between them, countless eyes peered down at the auction hall.

 

Eyes gleaming red, like ravens gazing hungrily upon a battlefield of corpses.

 

Their predatory gaze shimmered with unsettling delight, as if beholding a feast laid out just for them.

 

‘Following Menorah, dozens of vampires…’

 

Todd swallowed hard.

 

Even at the height of his vampire-hunting days, Van Drake had rarely faced a situation this dire.

 

There was no time to dwell on Lucy’s resemblance to Vasha.

 

He wasn’t even prepared to face a lowly vampire, let alone Menorah.

 

He had to escape.

 

But then—

 

‘Wait… something isn’t right.’

 

A deep frown creased Todd’s face.

 

Despite everything, Lucy didn’t exude the overwhelming power he would expect from a high-ranking vampire.

 

‘She doesn’t seem much stronger than Vasha.’

 

And yet, if she was only as powerful as Vasha, there was no way she could have entered the auction hall—a place protected by sacred relics.

 

His eyes darted around the venue, searching for the protective artifacts—the Stars of Lamphas—which had been installed throughout the hall.

 

But they were gone.

 

The Stars of Lamphas had been completely burned away, reduced to nothing.

 

Only a high-ranking vampire could have achieved such a feat.

 

Todd clenched his jaw. The contradiction unsettled him.

 

But before he could think further, a wave of oppressive energy crashed over the room like a dark tide.

 

His stomach churned. His skin prickled.

 

There was no mistaking it.

 

Even Van Drake’s instincts, honed over years of hunting, recoiled in protest.

 

There was only one explanation.

 

Menorah was here.

 

It was an undeniable fact.

 

There was no time for hesitation.

 

Taking advantage of the chaos, Todd reached for the chalice.

 

No matter what, I have to take this with me.

 

It wasn’t just for Vasha.

 

His father had always spoken of this relic as the most important treasure of their family.

 

As the last remaining Van Drake and head of the family, Todd had to secure it.

 

As for Wilhelmina’s remains…

 

‘Damn it… there’s no way.’

 

In this madness, there was no chance that he and the aging Laurus could retrieve something so large.

 

Even though his mind had made the logical choice, his feet hesitated.

 

Leaving behind his aunt’s remains—it felt like a betrayal.

 

‘Damn it all…’