Mirena opened the door. In the darkness—

Her eyes slowly adjusted. Only then could she make out her surroundings.

The area around her house—

Was mostly ruins of dilapidated buildings.

Most houses were probably destroyed by Vampires.

She stood by the door, scanning the scene around her.

Then her gaze fell on her mother lying at her feet.

Her mother’s condition was critical.

Where could she get medicine and bandages?

Mirena, who hadn’t stepped outside in fifteen years, felt utterly lost.

After all, she had no idea where a pharmacy was.

Come to think of it, how had they hidden here for fifteen years in this old Elvenfolk settlement?

But when Mirena stepped out of her house—

She noticed an emerald-green glow nearby.

She followed the light slowly to the edge of the wooden wall.

On the wall was an emerald-green crystal—

Mirena focused, using her unique ability to examine it.

Information popped up in her vision.

Name: Elven Barrier

LV: ???

Effect: A large-scale spell that conceals buildings, creating an illusion of emptiness.

—So that’s why they’d remained undetected for so long.

This crystal must have been installed temporarily to create the Barrier.

When she was young, her mother hadn’t escaped through the exit.

Back then, the thirteen Vampire Princes blocked the path.

Any Elf stepping out would be driven back.

Those who resisted had their blood drained or were killed outright.

So her mother chose not to risk escaping that way.

Instead, she hid within the city.

Waiting for the weakest defense to make a break for it.

Mirena stepped forward toward the road center.

Green crystals like the one on her wall were embedded in all four corners.

Did that mean she could move safely here?

But her goal was the city center.

To buy medical supplies.

Anyway, following that road should get her there.

Knowing the direction, she checked if her coins could afford the supplies.

The coins were items her foster mother took from the Elf royal palace.

Her birth mother left her one thing—

An angel-wing pendant hanging around her neck since birth.

Mirena had already analyzed it with her ability.

The pendant was named Angel’s Wing.

But its actual use was unknown, even to her ability.

It should be something to protect her.

The rest of her possessions were ‘coins’—small emerald-green crystals.

Actually the same type as those embedded in walls and floors.

But these were smaller than the ones on walls and floors.

—Spirit Stones.

She was about to embark on a terrifying adventure.

An Elf buying medical supplies in a Vampire market—

It was like strolling through the enemy’s den.

If things went wrong, she’d run away.

Though her stats were weaker than a child’s, she had a trump card.

This ultimate move should be enough against low-level Vampires.

Honestly, this outing was also a test.

Her first time buying supplies, so her heart was filled with anxiety.

She muttered her purpose to herself.

“I’ll just buy them and come back immediately…”

As she started to step forward, ready to run toward the city center—

A pale, weak voice came from a woman on her house wall.

“Your Highness, where are you going?”

“Wah!?”

Mirena jumped back two or three steps in fright.

“W-who are you?”

She feared this pale-faced woman. Was she one of them?

Her mother had warned her about the outside.

Even if someone looked like an Elf, never open the door carelessly.

Among Elves, some were Vampire Blood Slaves.

Controlled by Vampires.

Many Elves had sworn loyalty to Vampires.

If there were bite marks on the neck—

There was a high chance.

Mirena’s eyes darted to her neck.

Two small bite marks marred the pale skin.

“!?”

Seeing the bite marks, Mirena recoiled in fear.

She turned and sprinted back home.

Trying to slam the door shut, locking her out.

But a hand gripped the doorframe tightly.

Pulling the wooden door with all her might.

—No good!

Her Strength stat was very low. Once the woman grabbed the frame,

She clearly couldn’t match the woman’s strength.

In an instant, the door was flung open.

Mirena fell to the ground in fright.

But seeing her mother lying there, she stood up again.

“W-what do you want!? I’m not afraid! I’ll protect my mother!”

Mirena was about to use her trump card.

But it could only be used once a day.

Using it here would leave her bedridden all day.

By then, her mother would be long dead.

“Your Highness, please don’t be afraid. I’m a member of the Royal Guard Squad, and your mother’s deputy. I’m here to explain what happened today.”

The woman realized the princess misunderstood her.

Time was running out; no time for explanations.

She added weakly, “Please, Your Highness… my time is almost up…”

“…”

Mirena swallowed nervously.

She was skeptical, but the woman had been inside for a while.

If she wanted to attack, she would have done it already.

Why explain so much?

As Mirena thought this—

The woman collapsed onto the floor, but remained conscious.

Mirena used her ability to observe the stats popping up.

Name: Erika Philimon

HP: 50/300 (Ghoul State 50%)

MP: 200/200.

She was indeed severely injured.

Her HP had dropped from around 300 to just 50.

But Mirena was puzzled by the status after HP.

Ghoul State 50%!? What did that mean?

As she pondered, the question slipped out.

“What does Ghoul State mean?”

“Your Highness? How… how do you know about Ghoul State?”

Logically, this princess should be like a flower in a greenhouse.

She shouldn’t know about outside events.

How did she know about her Ghoulification?

“Never mind that. You said you’re running out of time. Get to the point.”

“Right. Our Royal Guard Squad and the remaining Elf forces were searching for an escape route. But we were ambushed by Vampire troops.”

“Then, to deal with the enemy, my mother got injured? No time to listen. If we don’t hurry, my mother will—”