Eun Ha, who had been examining the parasol, clicked her tongue. The name ‘Elegant Parasol’ didn’t evoke any expectation, and it wasn’t much different when she opened it.

The pitchblack parasol was excessively decorated with black rose patterns. The lace attached in a twisted manner according to the shape of the parasol was even burdensome.

The term ‘pretty trash’ seemed to exist solely for this parasol.

‘……I might as well carry it for now. It’s my first spoils after all.’

Monsters dropped items at a rare rate after being defeated. The higher the monster’s level, the stronger the monster, the higher the drop rate, and the better the quality of the items.

The mutant monster she had just defeated had a whopping level of 68. Surely, the spoils it dropped would be useful somewhere. It had to be, especially since it was a reward exchanged for her right arm.

She took the parasol and headed back to the shelter. Every time her shoulder ached, she recalled the gigantic elite monster.

‘……They said it was the first named.’

The message certainly said, ‘You have defeated the first named.’

‘That means there’s a second and a third.’

Moreover, if there’s a second and third named, it means there’s a high likelihood that the last named exists as well.

‘Maybe if I defeat the last named, I can escape this place.’

Though the hope was as small as a match flame, it began to become more vivid.

Soon after, Eun Ha arrived at the shelter.

Her shoulder hurt terribly. She needed to take out the kit quickly. Eun Ha looked around, opened the roof, and disappeared inside.

Ding.

In the place where she disappeared, a small message window floated up.

[The divine beast ‘Wandering Cat of Darkness’ steps on your shadow.] [Golden eyes carefully watch the shelter.]

No one was there to see the message window that floated up out of nowhere. It was different from the typical blue message window. However, no one knew for whom or why it appeared there.

[This is the time separator]

Having lost her right arm, Eun Ha could only use fire with one hand. In other words, her destructive power was reduced.

Fortunately, no mutant monsters appeared after that. However, no one knew how long they would be trapped in this gate. She needed to make up for her reduced combat power.

Eun Ha stared blankly at the parasol she had acquired a while ago. Fighting with such a thing was a bit hesitant.

But… it must be useful somewhere. It couldn’t be useless since it was dropped by a Lv.68 monster.

After comforting herself with something close to selfhypnosis, Eun Ha raised her head to glare at the monster opposite her.

[Lv.30 ‘Redeyed Black Tiger’ is scared.] [Lv.30 ‘Redeyed Black Tiger’ uses its skill. ▶ Final Retaliation] [Anger / Confusion State Monster’s attack power greatly increased.]

Facing a Lv.30 monster now was not difficult. It was a perfect opponent to test ‘this.’

The black tiger monster approached her, gaping its mouth open as if to swallow her in one bite, its sharp fangs gleaming.

Eun Ha reflexively swung the parasol. She intended to hit it like a blunt weapon, but─.

Kwaaaaang!

“……Huh?”

An astonished voice slipped out. The monster that had been charging at her a moment ago had disappeared without a trace.

[The monster has been eradicated!]

Pababam─.

With a cheerful BGM, the nowfamiliar message window appeared.

Eun Ha didn’t even look at the message window but stared at the floor. Where the monster had vanished, only a pile of black ash remained.

“…….”

Eun Ha blinked slowly as she alternated her gaze between the ash and the parasol.

This parasol didn’t seem to be an ordinary item.

[This is the time separator]

As time went by, that day’s doubt gradually turned into conviction.
The fan was sharper than any blade and sturdier than any blunt weapon. The tip of the fan pierced through the monster’s thick hide in one strike, and with a bit of a stronger swing, the monster turned into powder and disappeared without a trace, just like last time.

‘Lv.60 or higher monsters drop trophies that are on a different level, indeed.’

Eun Ha stared at the fan in her hand. It was a moment when she learned not to judge anything or anyone by its appearance. With this fan, she might have had a chance against the ‘second named.’

Eun Ha, having folded the fan, approached the fallen monster. Without hesitation, she reached out her left hand to the monster, whining as if pleading for its life.

Swoosh.

A crimson flame eagerly swallowed the monster.

‘That takes care of dinner tonight.’

However, moving meat of this size all at once was too much. It needed to be cut into appropriate sizes.

It was the moment when Eun Ha drew a dagger from her waist.

Ding.

[The divine beast ‘Cat Wandering the Darkness’ gazes at you.] [Golden eyes filled with curiosity sparkle like stars.]

Eun Ha froze in the position she was in when drawing the dagger.

The message window Eun Ha usually knew was blue. But the one that appeared before her eyes now was larger and sparkled in bright yellow.

‘…What is this?’

Perhaps because Eun Ha had no reaction, another message window overlapped above the message window.

[The divine beast ‘Cat Wandering the Darkness’ snorts its whiskers, asking what’s the big deal, have you never seen a divine beast before?]

A divine beast? At that moment, a memory suddenly came to Eun Ha’s mind.

‘I’ve always been curious… Eun Ha, have you ever made a contract?’

‘No.’

‘Really? Why? Since you’re very strong, I thought you must have contracted already. Eun Ha, you would suit the dragon among the 12 divine beasts. Because it’s the strongest.’

As Eun Ha recalled an old memory, another yellow message window popped up.

Ding!

[The divine beast ‘Cat Wandering the Darkness’ proposes a contract to you. Do you accept?]