That woman had indeed delayed her briefly, but—

"Just an ordinary bandage?"

Here, items were ranked by quality. The effect an item produced directly determined its tier.

Common, Rare, Excellent, Uncommon, Epic.

Roughly five grades existed.

This tested the creator’s skill.

Put simply,

even identical items varied by grade.

Take this bandage in her hand, for instance.

A Common bandage healed 100–200 HP, while a Rare one restored 200–300 HP.

But—

Even if she gave it to her mother, she wouldn’t know how to use it.

In an RPG, you’d just click the item and drag it to the character.

—Done.

So Mirena haphazardly wrapped it around her mother’s wrist.

Then, something miraculous happened. The bandage glowed white.

It vanished completely from her hand.

Activating [Data Analysis],

she saw her mother’s stats.

HP: 180/300 (bleeding continuously), MP: 200/200.

"The critical state is gone, but HP still drops—about 1–2 per minute."

Mirena had no choice but to go outside.

To save her mother’s life.

Come what may, she must buy medicine.

Resolved, Mirena grabbed the magic cloak Erica left behind.

—A cloak that fully concealed her form and presence.

She touched the magic circle; its name popped up instantly.

Level 5 Magic Cloak: Hides body and presence.

Yet its weakness was clearly stated below—

Useless against higher-level Vampires.

That must be why she was attacked despite wearing it.

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that—

She’d go even without the cloak.

She’d decided that from the start.

Having it was unexpected.

Her mother’s life hung by a thread; trivial worries didn’t matter.

Still, Mirena realized her impulsiveness.

Without that woman’s gear—

Walking out like this,

she’d surely be caught by Vampires in moments.

So Mirena silently thanked her.

She clasped her hands in prayer toward the worn cloak.

A gesture from her homeland; she didn’t care if it was universal.

It was the deepest respect she could offer.

"Next—"

Mirena draped the oversized cloak and headed for the door.

Inside the green-lit space, distant views were hazy.

But stepping beyond the Barrier—

The outside world came clear.

Moonlight bathed the ruins of the Elvenfolk homeland.

Nothing like it was fifteen years ago.

Utterly desolate. Trees and houses were charred skeletons.

Except her room.

Black bats flitted past her head.

They clung upside-down to burnt branches.

Blood-red eyes glared at Mirena.

"Ah—"

She froze, collapsing to the floor as they swooped near.

But they flew onward, ignoring her.

"Ah..."

Mirena sighed deeply.

—Was this the Elves’ home?

The sight choked her throat; words failed.

She remembered designing this Elven territory.

A paradise, breathtakingly beautiful.

Now, it lay in ruins.

New additions marred it too.

Like the colossal wall behind her house.

A prison-like barrier.

It loomed, trapping her inside.

Nearby stood a massive castle.

The Vampire stronghold.

Its size dwarfed everything else.

Mirena pulled up her mental map.

She was inside the outer wall.

Her goal: Central Street within the inner wall.

Only there sold medical supplies.

The left path led straight there.

Central Street?

Mirena peered into the distance.

From here, it glittered with multicolored lights.

—Like neon signs in her world’s night cities.

Her own magic lamp design.

Meant to glamorize bustling streets.

Now, utterly pointless.

Well, she’d just walk.

Uneasy but resolute.