Mirena froze in place, her legs trembling uncontrollably.

A look of terror fixed on the oddly dressed man before her.

Then, she activated her ability—[Data Analysis].

Streams of numbers flooded her vision.

Name: Nelson Jurorlian

Race: Vampire (Slave Merchant)

Level: 89

HP: 4000/4000

MP: 2000/2000

Level 89!?

Even without checking further, Mirena knew her stats were no match for his.

—Could she escape with just 20 agility and endurance?

Honestly, her first thought upon seeing him was to run.

But—

Her slender legs shook violently with fear.

She was utterly lost, frozen in panic.

Desperate, Mirena pounded her trembling legs with her fists.

Trying to use [pain] to numb her [fear].

She had to seize this moment—while his attention was on the elf ore—and flee.

Just as Mirena prepared to bolt—

Long fingers roughly pinched her cheeks.

"An Elvenfolk princess, yet just a little kid. Scared stiff by a mere fright. Still, such an adorable face—you’ll fetch a fine price."

Mirena’s body shuddered.

Inside, she thought:

—He’s a slave merchant. If I don’t escape, I’ll be sold as goods.

Who knows what horrors await then?

Worse, my mother will die alone at home.

That must never happen!

Gritting her teeth, Mirena lunged and bit his finger.

Forcing him to release her cheeks.

She immediately sprinted away.

With her sharp hearing, she caught his distant murmur—

[Catching you outright would be boring. Run. The chase is the best part.]

"Damn it! Who treats hunting slaves as entertainment?!"

Night had fallen.

Perfect for vampires.

Her senses were duller than theirs.

So Mirena hid.

She crouched under a flowerbed, her small frame hidden by tall grass.

—Must I use my trump card now?

No. Wait. He lacks my convenient ability.

He shouldn’t find me.

I’ll observe longer before using it.

Mirena clenched her tiny fists, palms slick with sweat.

Ever since arriving in this RPG world—

Nothing went right.

Trapped in this child’s body.

Forced to live like a fugitive, hiding as a princess.

In light novels or manga, protagonists never suffered this.

—Their lives were the opposite of hers.

Light novel heroes lived happily ever after.

Orphaned, she now hid in her enemy’s territory.

If she could choose, she’d rather be a cool vampire youth.

Enslaving others beat being enslaved.

But dreams were sweet; reality was cruel.

She was hunted like merchandise.

When would she live without hiding?

Only escape from this city offered hope.

Without escape, nothing began.

Yet even her mother’s Royal Guard Squad failed.

What could she do?

Mirena’s long ears drooped limply.

She buried her face in the grass.

—Just pray he doesn’t find me.

It’s fine. My cloak hides my presence.

Even on this vampire-friendly night, he can’t detect me.

If caught, I’ll become a Blood Slave. Suffer unspeakable horrors.

I might even lose my chastity.

That’s unthinkable.

It’s about my masculine dignity.

So she lay motionless in the grass.

Waiting—

For the man to leave.

But when Mirena peeked out again—

The man had vanished.

"What!?"

She gasped, standing up from the grass.

—Did he lose interest and leave?

To be safe—

She scanned the area with [Data Analysis].

The moment it locked onto him—

Mirena bolted, terror in her eyes.

Footsteps echoed behind her.

—Unmistakably his.

Damn persistent merchants. They never quit without profit.

She had to run faster.

Capture meant disaster.

As she fled, a fork appeared ahead.

One path led to the main road; the other to a dark alley.

Night favored vampires.

The main road risked more encounters.

Why did she pick the most dangerous time for her first outing?

No choice. Waiting meant her mother died by dawn.

She’d relive that heart-wrenching loss—again.

Thinking of her waiting mother, Mirena pushed forward.

Suddenly, she crashed into something solid as a pillar.

Tiny Mirena tumbled to the ground.

Her hood flew off.

"Who put this garb—"

—Not garbage.

Looking up, she saw the man in a top hat and tailcoat.

His monocle glinted, revealing crimson eyes fixed on her.

"Just as I expected…"

His blood-red gaze pierced her.

—Mon… monster…

The only word fitting him.

Then Mirena noticed her hood had slipped off.

—Her elf ears were exposed.

She frantically pulled the hood back on.

Turning to flee, she heard footsteps behind—not an illusion.

A giant hound glared menacingly from the shadows.

Mirena scrambled backward, frozen in fear.

A hand seized her wrist, lifting her high.

"Let go, bastard! Let me go!!!"

She punched his face, thrashing to break free.

But—

His grip was like an iron claw.

Unbreakable.

This was adult vampire strength.

Terrifying—

At barely 1.3 meters, Mirena felt dwarfed by his two-meter frame.

His presence crushed her.

"You can’t escape me… former princess. Your Blood Fragrance intoxicates me."

"W-What do you want?"

"Nothing much. You don’t know your worth. Sold to high-ranking vampires, you’d fetch an even higher price…"

"S-Sell me?"

She knew he was a slave merchant, but hearing it chilled her.

Would she be branded a Blood Slave?

Never!

Serving her father’s killer as master?

The thought horrified her.

Her struggles intensified.

"Futile, but—"

He pressed a cloth over her mouth and nose.

Mirena held her breath, fearing the worst.

But the cloth stayed pressed.

Even prepared, she couldn’t avoid inhaling.

Her breath-holding was weak.

"Your squirming troubles me."

Anesthetic fumes clouded her mind.

"Heh. You’ll sell for a fortune. Plus, the elf stone on you—tonight’s profits are already huge."

Only glittering gold coins reflected in the merchant’s eyes.

Clearly, he saw no person—just currency.

A toy to please nobles.

"When you wake, you’ll start a new life."

Mirena's Status Panel (Updated in Real-Time)

Name: Mirena Barlit

Gender: Female

Age: 15

Race: Elvenfolk

Level: LV0

HP: 100/100

MP: 50/50

Strength: 10

Agility: 20

Endurance: 20

Intelligence: 400

Physical Attack: 2

Accuracy: 10

Evasion: 20%

Critical Hit: 0%