The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 110

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Yeo Joo Saves the World – Episode 110

This morning, when I announced that our Guild had climbed to rank 135, the reaction from the guild members was decidedly lukewarm.
Their enthusiasm fell far short of what I’d hoped for.
“Wow, that’s good news.”
Ji Sung gave a few half-hearted claps, but that was the extent of it.
“Guild ranking?”
“Oh, right, that exists.”
The twins nodded absently while busying themselves stacking two sandwiches and shoving them into their mouths.
“That’s nice.”
I’d expected Kang Han, our guild master, to show a bit more joy.
“Let’s have breakfast, Yeo Joo.”
Instead, he merely sipped at the Americano sitting before him.
I shook my head in resignation, pulled out my phone, and took a seat.
It was clear that none of them truly grasped what it meant to break into the visible rankings.
This is the loneliness of a pioneer.
The burden of knowing what others do not.
The guild members gradually gathered around and began their breakfast, but today there was something more important to me than food.
I stared at my phone screen, refreshing the Staragram DM window endlessly.
“It should arrive soon…”
Then, just as I realized I’d been absentmindedly eating a sandwich, it happened.
“Yes! It’s here!”
The message I’d been waiting for had finally arrived.
When I suddenly jumped to my feet from my quiet seat, the startled gazes of the guild members snapped toward me.
“What? What arrived?”
“Who came?”
Lee Yu Eul even paused mid-bite and turned toward the dining hall entrance.
Under normal circumstances, I’d have been quick to tease her about that, but not now.
With slightly trembling hands, I pressed open the fresh, warm DM that had just arrived.

[ Hello, Justice Guild account administrator! This is Easy Life, a hunter-specialized nutritional supplement manufacturing company. We’re reaching out to propose an advertising partnership with the Justice Guild. Our company… ]

“Hehehehe.”
When a Guild entered the visible ranking range, one change became apparent: advertising proposals started pouring in.
Easy Life, a nutritional supplement company, was merely the beginning.
Following that, proposals from coffee companies, furniture companies, and several others came streaming in.
The advertising methods were remarkably simple too.
There was no need to go through the hassle of shooting commercials on location.
The proposal was simply to post photos on Staragram and attach hashtags like #ad, #EasyLife, #HunterSupplements.
In return, millions of won in advertising fees would be deposited directly into the Justice Guild’s account.
“Hehehehe, money, glorious money.”
The Guild’s funds had been dwindling lately, and now these advertising opportunities were rolling in.
It was definitely worth climbing the rankings.
What made it even more beautiful was that as the ranking climbed higher, the amounts they’d propose would increase as well.
Perhaps one day I’d end up shooting a proper commercial like Sa Ma Young did.
“Yeah, a proper commercial… huh?”
Had my words become prophecy, sprouting seeds and growing bean stalks?
I blinked my eyes a couple of times, but the message that had stopped my fingers didn’t disappear.
“Sneakers, an advertisement?”
Upon checking the details, it was indeed a legitimate advertising proposal.
This wasn’t the kind of thing where I’d just post a photo or two on Staragram and call it done.
Though I’d never heard of the company name, they wanted the Justice Guild as the advertising model for commercials to appear on YouTube and in print media.
“Wow, seriously.”
There really are people with discerning eyes out there.
I glanced once at the Guild members who were sitting around eating without a clue.
Even if I wiped the sleep from their eyes and tidied them up a bit, they were all quite—no, incredibly—worth looking at.
They were undoubtedly valuable assets to the Guild.
“H-hello… Thank you. This is… the Justice… Guild…”
I immediately began moving my fingers to compose a reply.
The tapping sound of the smartphone keyboard sounded like the sound of my bank account balance rising.

* * *

A few days later.
We stood before the Taesan Guild Building located in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.
We were here for a meeting regarding the joint conquest strategy.
“Oh, it’s quite impressive.”
I gazed up at the massive building that Taesan occupied from the first to fifth floors.
According to what Jang Su Ho had told me on the way here, the dormitories and Training Facility were located separately elsewhere, meaning this space was purely for the staff who operated the Guild.
‘That’s probably why they invited us.’
There would be no burden in opening it to the public.
However, that didn’t mean anyone could simply enter the Guild Building.
The entrance required either a card scan or someone from inside to open the door.
In the end, I called the employee I had spoken with when scheduling this meeting.
“This is Justice Guild. We’re currently at the front of the building.”
[“Ah, yes! I’ll be right down!”]
That’s what they had said.
Yet despite seeming ready to rush down immediately, the employee gave no sign of appearing as time dragged on.
“This seems…”
“They’re deliberately keeping us waiting.”
I responded to Han Ji Sung’s words, his delicate brow furrowed.
The other Guild members seemed to share the sentiment, their expressions darkening.
The reason we were left standing at the door soon became apparent.
“What, Justice Guild?”
“Why is Justice Guild at Taesan?”
Taesan was a place where fan-like supporters possessed unusually passionate enthusiasm.
So even on this weekday morning, there were many people lingering around the Guild Building hoping to catch a glimpse of the Hunters they supported.
And they immediately recognized us.
“Ugh, I hate Justice Guild.”
“Me too, me too.”
“Don’t tell me Justice is forming an alliance with us?”
“No way, why would our guys ally with Justice Guild?”
The voices I heard were far from pleasant.
It seemed to stem from the incident at the Gangneung Gate not long ago.
Gwak Ho Young had felt it too, and Taesan supporters were making a fuss about how Justice Guild had stolen what Taesan had already conquered.
“Insane, even Jang Su Ho is here.”
“Completely shameless.”
But there was a limit to simply listening.
When the remarks began crossing the line, I turned to face them.
“He’s coming, he’s coming!”
Suddenly the surroundings erupted in commotion.
In an instant, the faces of those who had been glaring at us with sharp eyes transformed into expressions as gentle as lambs.
Turning my head, I saw Gwak Ho Young emerging from the first-floor entrance, along with Hunters I had seen during conquest broadcasts.
“My apologies for keeping you waiting.”
Gwak Ho Young, beaming at us with that bright smile, bore little resemblance to the man I’d seen in the mountains of Gangwon Province.
His meticulously styled hair met slightly drooping eyes, creating the image of a refined and cheerful handsome man—like a portrait of elegance itself.
“Not at all. We’re fine.”
Kang Han spoke as he clasped the hand Gwak Ho Young extended.
“You must have had a difficult time in Gangneung.”
As he said this, the smile lines around Gwak Ho Young’s eyes deepened further.
“Ah, I noticed the Justice Guild made it onto this ranking. Congratulations. I hear competition has been fierce lately with so many new guilds popping up.”
On the surface, there was nothing wrong with what he said.
But Gwak Ho Young was essentially spitting while smiling.
To translate his meaning:
‘So you stole the Gangneung Gate and managed to chart? But honestly, with competition this fierce, you’ll drop off soon enough.’
That’s what he meant.
As if I were some noblewoman from a romance novel.
His backhanded compliments were quite skillfully delivered.
But such cutting remarks only sting those who understand them.
“Thank you.”
Kang Han simply replied in his usual blunt manner.
However, that didn’t mean Gwak Ho Young’s efforts were entirely wasted.
“Ah, Ho Young is so kind.”
“Look at our guild master’s manners.”
The Taesan Guild supporters nearby bounced on their heels.
Gwak Ho Young was simultaneously conversing with the Justice Guild while appealing to his own supporters.
He seemed intent on creating the impression of extending a hand for cooperation despite having lost the Gate to the Justice Guild.
As if that were his choice to make.
“Hello, Guild Master Gwak Ho Young.”
I stepped forward beside Kang Han and greeted him first.
“Ah, Hunter Yeo Joo.”
I could see the thought ‘What is this?’ flicker across Gwak Ho Young’s eyes as he looked at me.
But I paid it no mind and extended my hand for a handshake.
“I’m actually a fan of Hunter Gwak Ho Young, but last time you looked so exhausted that I couldn’t properly greet you.”
In other words: ‘You really got your ass handed to you last time, didn’t you?’
Gwak Ho Young, understanding my meaning instantly, took my hand.
Then he squeezed it hard enough to make my hand ache sharply.
Did he think I’d cry uncle from that?
I smiled even wider than Gwak Ho Young and spoke.
“If we’re going to work together this time, I hope there won’t be any difficult situations like last time. Right?”
In other words: if you try that shit again, I won’t let it slide.
Did you understand, you bastard?
“…Of course. Pleased to meet you, Hunter Yeo Joo.”
Gwak Ho Young’s gaze shifted subtly as he looked at me.
That’s right—your opponent is me, you bastard.
“Haha, then shall we head inside and continue our conversation?”
Gwak Ho Young said, opening the entrance door.
Following the staff’s guidance inside, I glanced back to see Gwak Ho Young lingering at the rear, signing autographs for supporters and posing for photos, that artificial smile plastered across his face.
You certainly know how to live hard, don’t you.

* * *

Taesan was renowned for having a notably young average age among active Hunters.
Yet this seemed to apply not only to the Hunters themselves but also to the administrative staff who ran the Guild.
Combined with the clean, light interior design aesthetic, the Taesan Guild gave off the vibe of a thriving startup.
That impression intensified the moment we entered the Conference Room.
I’d naturally expected a large conference table and chairs, but the spacious room contained only couches arranged in a circle and small coffee tables.
As we looked around with puzzled expressions, Gwak Ho Young appeared from somewhere and spoke.
“Here at Taesan Guild, we prioritize free communication. That’s why we designed the Conference Room this way.”
“I see.”
While Kang Han handled Gwak Ho Young appropriately, I reflected.
‘Every company that talks about communication never actually communicates properly.’
At least no one’s head will explode from this.
Sure enough.
The expressions on the administrative staff’s faces were remarkably telling.
“Now then, allow me to formally introduce you. These are the Hunters belonging to our regular conquest team.”
“Good day. I’m Kim Han Kwon, Vice Guild Master.”
The introductions proceeded.
I carefully scrutinized each Taesan Guild Hunter as they greeted us in turn.
Yet none of them were Hunters given significant roles in the novel.
Except for the person standing at the very end.
“This is Yoo Jin Rok, who serves as an advisor to Taesan Guild.”
The only middle-aged man in a Conference Room filled with young people.
The former Guild Master of Taesan who had supposedly retired—Hunter Yoo Jin Rok.
And inwardly, I couldn’t help but grin.
‘Found you, Master Kang Han.’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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