The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 131

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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 131

Seo Yu Baek S
1. Oath of the White Coat ( S )
2. Emergency Treatment ( S )
3. Awakener Medical Chart ( S )
4. Empty

So it was real.
That skill called “Awakener Medical Chart” seemed to be the status-reading ability he’d mentioned earlier.
And he caught me with it.
Since it was obvious and I couldn’t keep lying, I nodded in agreement.
“That’s right. For some reason, my stamina kept draining away.”
“I see, as I thought.”
Seo Yu Baek’s brow furrowed.
“Then the last time you were unconscious for so long—was that because of this as well?”
“Well, yes.”
The truth was that the damned system had slapped me with a drug abuse penalty for consuming too many potions.
As I nodded, Seo Yu Baek’s concern deepened.
If I left this alone, I’d definitely get lectured until my ears bled.
With that ominous premonition crossing my mind, I hastily offered a weak excuse.
“But I don’t think it’s really that bad. Stamina potions are cheaper than mana potions anyway. If I just stock up on potions before entering a dungeon, there’s no major problem. The time I collapsed was because I failed to manage my stamina properly.”
“However, Yeo Joo.”
Seo Yu Baek adjusted his glasses with his index finger as he spoke.
“Healers don’t die just because their mana reaches zero.”
Ah, that didn’t work.
Struck by his point, I could only smack my lips.
“Do the guild members—or at least Kang Han, your guild leader—know about this issue?”
“No? Nobody knew until you noticed it. And I don’t plan on telling them.”
“…If that’s your decision, I have no reason to tell anyone else either. Don’t worry.”
“I wasn’t really worried, just thinking for a moment, but you caught that too.”
As I laughed awkwardly, Seo Yu Baek offered a final word of caution.
“Yeo Joo, you must pay close attention to managing your stamina every time you enter a dungeon.”
“I understand, Teacher.”
“Well, at least I won’t be surprised the next time you lose consciousness in a dungeon and get carried out.”
I wonder if that will really be the case.
I recalled the spinning wheel of random penalties that had been whirling away and deliberately averted my gaze.
There were so many bizarre status ailments on that wheel besides unconsciousness.

* * *

A quiet hour had descended upon the National Awakener Hospital.
Despite being fully recovered from treatment, I had become an inpatient by order of the guild master, who insisted I take a day of rest—and I was, quite frankly, bored out of my mind.
Moreover, just moments ago I had been inside a dungeon where flames danced and flickered, and now I found myself sitting on a bed wrapped in crisp, fluffy blankets; the whole situation felt utterly surreal.
“I suppose I’ll watch some TV.”
I turned on the oversized television in my private hospital room and switched to the news channel.
…Yes, that was it.
I had turned it on hoping to catch news about the Justice Guild.
“Ugh! Why is Sa Ma Young on the screen!”
I covered my eyes with both hands so quickly that my palms made an audible slap against my face.
It was a spinal reflex—that sinister face filling the entire screen was simply too much.
But with only two hands, I couldn’t block my ears, and several familiar words slipped through anyway.

[ “Regarding this acquisition and merger between the Sama Guild and the Taesan Guild….” ]

Taesan?
An acquisition and merger?
I slowly lowered my hands from my face and turned up the volume on the television.

[ “…Now, let us hear the perspective of Sa Ma Young, guild master of the Sama Guild.” ]

Following the anchor’s introduction, a conversation between a reporter and Sa Ma Young filled the hospital room.

[ “There are reports suggesting this merger with the Taesan Guild is a one-sided acquisition. What are your thoughts on this, guild master?”
“I can see how it might appear that way. However, I would like to clarify that Gwak Ho Young, the guild master of the Taesan Guild, and I have been collaborating on various matters for quite some time, and this merger was conducted through entirely legitimate procedures. It was a matter that proceeded carefully over an extended period to ensure a fair agreement between both parties.” ]

“Heh, that’s ridiculous.”
A snort escaped me before I could help it.
I could bet Sung Yo Na’s sandwich that what Sa Ma Young called “cooperation” was actually a contract where he’d lent Tae San funds he’d never be able to repay, using the guild itself as collateral.
I leaned back against the bed, arms crossed, watching the interview between the reporter and Sa Ma Young unfold.
But even so, all manner of thoughts kept creeping in.
‘Should I have stopped it?’
Gwak Ho Young was unfit to be a guild master, and personally, I’d wanted nothing more than to see him fail.
But the hunters and staff I’d seen when visiting the Taesan Guild—what sin had they committed beyond choosing the wrong company?
Especially those hunters who’d suffered and been injured in this Flame Dungeon because they’d been saddled with a poor leader…
But then I shook my head.
‘The Sama Guild needs to grow stronger—not quite as much as the Justice Guild, but still.’
And Sa Ma Young had considerable talent for that sort of thing.
Absorbing smaller guilds like the Taesan Guild and expanding his roster of hunters that way.
A Sama Guild grown stronger than it was now would need to shoulder a major portion of dungeon conquests when the apocalypse arrived.
Of course, Sa Ma Young would need to survive it alive.
“Come to think of it, wasn’t it soon?”
I pulled out my phone and muttered while checking the calendar.
As the weather grew steadily colder, the time of Sa Ma Young’s re-awakening as an S-rank was drawing near.
I’d be able to find out the exact timing from the news around then.
And just then, I noticed Sa Ma Young’s image zooming in on screen as if he were filming some advertisement.

[ “Is there anything else you’d like to say in closing?”
“I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone supporting the merger between the Sama Guild and the Taesan Guild. The Sama Guild will continue to recruit outstanding talent going forward.” ]

A chill ran down my spine.
It felt like he was speaking directly to me.
I’d rather believe it was just my own paranoia, but the other party is Sa Ma Young.
The embodiment of greed and desire—Sa Ma Young.
“Ugh, and he’s disgustingly handsome on top of it all.”
I scratched at my arm where the goosebumps had risen and got out of bed.
It felt like Sa Ma Young had rubbed off on me somehow, and suddenly I craved some fresh air.

* * *

The park encircling the Awakened Healer Hospital was quite pleasant for a walk.
There were several people like me out for a solitary stroll, and I could see others chatting with visitors they’d come to see.
“I suppose I should head back inside.”
The snacks I’d bought from the hospital shop to pass the time tasted bland, and since I’d rushed out half-fleeing from Sa Ma Young on the screen without grabbing a jacket, the autumn breeze cut through me rather sharply.
The thought of catching a cold and facing the nagging of several people I knew spurred my feet to quicken their pace back toward the hospital room.
“Oh! It’s Yeo Joo!”
A young girl seemingly materialized from nowhere, pointing at me and shouting.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Yu Ga Young!”
“Yu Ga Young?”
I’d heard that name somewhere before.
I thought absently while gently lowering the finger still pointed at me and spoke.
“You know who I am?”
“Of course! Justice Guild! Yeo Joo the healer! You got the finishing blow this time and—mmph!”
“Hey, you were doing fine until you went there.”
The little one named Yu Ga Young chuckled with a giggle even as she worked her mouth around the snack I’d popped in.
She was cute, I’ll admit.
But dealing with kids was exhausting.
“So, what. Are you a fan of mine?”
“Yes!”
“…Really?”
“Yes! Really truly!”
And as if to prove her words, a familiar cheerful chime sounded, and a pink speech bubble materialized above the little one’s head.

《 ♥ 15 》

…This is real.
And the affection rating is already at 15.
With my cheeks flushed, I alternated my gaze between the child staring at me and the speech bubble hovering above their head, then held out the rustling snack bag.
“…Want some?”
“Yes! Thank you!”
The polite child took my hand and led me to a nearby bench, then plopped down beside me and happily munched on the snacks.
“What are you doing? What if I’m a bad person? You’re just gobbling down whatever I give you.”
“That’s not it. I know Yeo Joo the Healer well.”
“You’re saying something dangerous. I mean the real Yeo Joo, not the one on the broadcast. You’ve never seen me before.”
“That’s true, but I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“…Alright, eat plenty.”
The child’s height and build suggested they were quite young.
Judging by how they couldn’t distinguish between the person on the broadcast and the real person.
I sighed softly and asked the child a question.
“But why are you out here alone? Where’s your guardian?”
“Oh, I ran away.”
The child answered cheerfully, stuffing their small hand into the snack bag.
“Ran away? Why, does your guardian nag a lot too?”
“Um, not really.”
The smile faded slightly from the child’s face, which had been giggling constantly since we met.
“They keep spending money unnecessarily. I’m going to die anyway.”
“How old are you? You have your whole life ahead of you. Why are you saying such things?”
“I heard the Doctor and Dad talking about everything. They said there’s no real treatment method.”
“Hey, even so, that’s not right.”
“It’s all a waste, right? My hospital bills are apparently huge. Dad suffers working under someone like Gwak Ho Young just to pay for it….”
“Wait.”
I raised one hand to stop the child’s words.
I felt like I’d just heard something familiar.
“Hey, kid, is your dad’s name perhaps….”
“Ga Young!”
The one who came running, calling out the child’s name with a pale face, was naturally the Hunter Yoo Jin Rok.
I thought the name sounded somewhat familiar.
I pointed at him with my finger the way the child had done moments before and asked.
“Yu Ga Young?”
“Yes!”
Yu Ga Young, the daughter of Hunter Yoo Jin Rok, crunched on the snack and answered loudly.

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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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