The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 144

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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 144

“Training? You want to give it a try?”
“Yes….”
Even as I spoke with her, Sung Yo Na’s gaze remained fixed on Kang Han as he trained.
She’s serious about this.
“Sure, then.”
“Really?”
Sung Yo Na’s face brightened as though I’d just lit a lamp, apparently having expected me to refuse more readily.
“Yeah, he was brought in as an instructor for the entire Justice Guild from the start anyway. And you’re part of the Justice Guild too.”
“That’s true, but….”
What kind of treatment did she receive at Fantasia Guild?
But the fact that Sung Yo Na wanted to train at all was incredibly encouraging.
Especially considering she’d worked up the courage to ask despite thinking I might refuse.
“But what kind of training do you want to do?”
This time I asked out of simple curiosity.
“For now, I’d like to revisit the training I did at Fantasia Guild. I’ve been resting for quite a while, after all….”
“So you do basic physical conditioning like Ji Sung does?”
“No, not really. I’d say I’m closer to Lee Yu Eul?”
Lee Yu Eul? That Lee Yu Eul?
The one who sprints and scales walls for reflex training, doing handstand push-ups with nothing but her bare hands?
“Really…?”
“Yes. Of course, since I’m returning to it after so long, I’ll need a preparation period. But to attack while supporting from the mid-line, hand-to-hand combat is essential, isn’t it?”
Sung Yo Na suddenly looked different to me.
Hand-to-hand combat, no less.
“So you weren’t just naturally good at whipping egg whites.”
I should have realized it back when she was frothing them by hand without any equipment.
Sung Yo Na laughed—hehe—accepting my genuine admiration as praise.
“Thank you, unnie. Then I’ll hurry upstairs and get my training clothes ready.”
“Go ahead.”
As I watched Sung Yo Na hurry away, I felt a faint, indescribable sense of betrayal.
I’d thought she was a non-combatant like me.
She’s a combat specialist.

* * *

A few days later, in a studio in Mapo-gu Seogyo-dong.
At last, the day had arrived to shoot the Nice Sports sneaker pictorial.
The schedule had originally been set for earlier, but given how tumultuous things had been for the Justice Guild lately, and considering the company president’s determination to produce a quality new product now that they were investing such a substantial sum to film with a Hunter, the shoot had been postponed.
“Is that why they look so gorgeous?”
I nodded while examining the sneakers prepared as shooting props.
Gazing at the array of brand-new athletic shoes arranged in various sizes, colors, and designs, I found myself thinking about asking for a pair for myself.
“Wow.”
“Oh my.”
“Insane.”
Suddenly, exclamations erupted from all around.
I turned to assess the situation, and it was understandable.
Kang Han and Han Ji Sung were sitting side by side, receiving hair and makeup treatments.
Though they hadn’t changed into their outfits yet, the contrast between their styles was already striking.
“It’s been a while since I’ve exposed my forehead like this. Is it alright?”
“More than alright! Ji Sung, your face—no, your entire body is a work of art!”
“Th-thank you.”
Han Ji Sung had misspoken slightly and was now drowning in the stylist’s praise, his face flushed crimson.
Meanwhile, Kang Han gazed thoughtfully at his own reflection with his bangs styled down before speaking.
“Is this really sufficient? It feels like there should be something more done with the hair, doesn’t it?”
“Oh no, not at all. Just lowering the bangs gives off such a compelling, well, handsome athletic student vibe!”
“I see.”
“With your height, you look like a basketball player, and with those broad shoulders, you could pass for a swimmer!”
Han Ji Sung and Kang Han possessed such exceptional looks that such versatility was entirely possible.
You could tell from the way the advertising company staff—accustomed to seeing celebrities daily—were practically bouncing with excitement.
Speaking of which, Kang Han had an athletic student concept.
It was clear that the PR Team Leader had been captivated by Kang Han when he’d shown up at the Justice Guild meeting last time, fresh from a shower and dressed casually in training clothes.
“What are we wearing?”
“I want to wear pants. Something like fresh denim.”
“Oh, that sounds good.”
The three high school students, whose turn to shoot was later and who were still waiting, watched Han Ji Sung and Kang Han intently, buzzing with excitement about what their own concept might be.
“Yeo Joo, how does it feel? Is the outfit uncomfortable?”
“No, it’s just a dress. It’s comfortable enough.”
My outfit was a one-piece dress.
They wanted to emphasize that these sneakers could be worn not only with sporty outfits but with any style of clothing.
“That’s a relief. The outfit suits you wonderfully. Your skin is so beautiful that there’s not much to work on—I’ll keep the makeup simple and move straight into hair styling.”
“Okay.”
They’re professionals, so they’ll handle it well.
Just as I was thinking that and closing my eyes—
Knock, knock.
Someone was tapping on the open makeup room door.
“Hello. I’m Yoo Ki Hwan, the director overseeing today’s shoot.”
A man with a well-groomed beard and tied-back hair greeted us with a bright smile.
He had an artistic appearance that suggested he’d be exceptionally skilled at photography.
It seemed we weren’t the only ones making a good first impression—Director Yoo beamed widely as he spoke.
“Wow, today’s models are absolutely stunning! My eyes are dazzled!”
His praise wasn’t mere flattery; he even clapped enthusiastically, his eyes sparkling as he observed the subjects.
“Before we start shooting, I wanted to stop by to familiarize myself with everyone and briefly explain today’s concept. Feel free to listen while you’re getting ready.”
Director Yoo’s explanation went like this:
Considering that Nice Sports’ primary customer base consisted of young students—particularly those in their late teens to mid-twenties—they would be shooting a pictorial targeting that demographic.
“The overall concept is campus life. The background will be composited with university scenery. And we’ve specially prepared beautiful school uniforms for the three high school hunters.”
I nodded at his reasonable explanation, but chaos erupted behind me.
“Ugh. School uniforms at a pictorial shoot…”
“Couldn’t we just wear jeans instead?”
“Right. If it’s campus life, why do we have to wear uniforms!”
These brats.
Inside the guild, they could grumble as much as they wanted, but out here—especially at a work site—that wasn’t acceptable.
“One moment.”
I paused the hands of the stylist who’d been applying something to my face and swiveled my chair halfway to face the three hellhounds.
“Lee Yu Eul, Lee Yu Chan, Im Chung Soo.”
The moment I called their names, the three pups—as if by agreement—sensed something was wrong and shut their mouths.
I spoke to them.
“Just think of it as a campus tour.”
“Whimper.”
“Tch.”
Finally, some peace and quiet.
“I apologize. Please continue with the makeup.”
“Oh, yes!”
The stylist, who’d seemed slightly stiff for some reason, resumed working busily at my apology.
“Well, ahem. We’ve prepared the concept this way, and I’ll explain the details once we start shooting. See you outside then.”
After Director Yoo left, the costume covers for Kang Han and Han Ji Sung were removed shortly after.
Han Ji Sung, whose pupils had trembled the moment he heard the “campus life” concept explained, saw the black suit bearing his name and hesitated before speaking.
“Um, it’s campus life, so why am I wearing a suit…”
“Ah, Ji Sung is a young, handsome professor. If there are students learning, there must be teachers teaching them!”
“I, I see.”
Han Ji Sung nodded awkwardly, unable to imagine himself in that role, but internally I was overjoyed.
Han Ji Sung in a suit and clean sneakers—this was perfect.
This would work.
Though the shoot hadn’t even begun, I could already hear the sound of Justice Guild’s market value rising.

* * *

The shoot had begun.
Han Ji Sung was the first to finish preparations.
He was so flawless that there was barely anything to apply to his face.
“Alright, push those glasses up a bit! Perfect! Look this way! Yes, excellent!”
Director Yu proved that my first impression—that he looked like someone who’d photograph well—was spot on, as he guided the set with practiced ease.
“Writer, your energy is really high today.”
“Look at the monitor. How could it not be?”
“What monitor? The screen is so bright I can’t see anything.”
I, watching the monitor behind the camera where photos uploaded in real time, completely agreed.
I thought I’d grown somewhat accustomed to Han Ji Sung’s insane beauty.
But a silver-haired man with his forehead exposed, bangs swept back, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, dressed in a suit, and sporting white sneakers—
The sheer presence radiating from the screen was overwhelming.
And unlike his nervousness just before shooting, Han Ji Sung was a natural model.
“Yes! Sweep your hair back there! Perfect!”
His long, lean limbs and toned physique made him look like someone born wearing a suit.
“Ah, this is problematic.”
I heard the Nice Sports project manager beside me murmur thoughtfully.
“Doesn’t it seem like the sneakers are being overshadowed by how cool Han Ji Sung looks?”
“But we can’t just shoot his feet when we have a model this impressive.”
“Are you only saying the right things today?”
Han Ji Sung’s shoot wrapped up quickly.
The director was so frustrated about how to classify it into A-cuts and B-cuts that you could tell.
Finally escaping the blazing studio lights, Han Ji Sung stumbled over to find me.
“Yeo Joo….”
Han Ji Sung leaned his forehead against my shoulder with a soft thud.
He was so tall that I had to bend my waist considerably, but I couldn’t push him away when he seemed comfortable.
“You did great, oppa.”
“That was exhausting.”
“You looked good though.”
“I gave it my all.”
“Want to head back to the Research Lab soon?”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s remove the makeup and catch some sleep in the car where nobody’s around.”
“Yeah.”
For someone who spent every day locked away alone in his room, a shoot set crowded with people all staring at him would have been torture.
Han Ji Sung accepted my pats a few times before stumbling away again, saying he could make it to the Waiting Room now.
Next was Kang Han.
‘This company really knows how to work.’
The sneakers Kang Han wore were similar in design to the ones Han Ji Sung had on just moments earlier.
It seemed intended to demonstrate how well they suited two completely different outfits.
“Am I watching a coming-of-age movie right now?”
“It’s reality, but it lacks that gritty realism. They’re handsome, sexy, and have that solid athletic build—it’s insane.”
“…Why aren’t these people actors instead of hunters?”
“Because hunters make more money.”
“Ah, that’s true. Still, what a waste. We should be seeing faces like that on screen every day.”
The staff’s reaction was a pass.
“Right. Hands in your pockets, just like that!”
The director’s reaction was favorable too.
But watching the monitor, I couldn’t help but feel a slight disappointment.
‘He’s handsome, sure, but isn’t his expression a bit too expressionless?’
Of course, that blank face was Kang Han’s default setting.
Unless something extraordinary happened, whether he was exhausted, pleased, or angry, that was the face he wore.
‘Still, I wish there was something more powerful, you know?’
And apparently the photographer felt the same way, because Kang Han’s shoot was stretching on.
I moved as close to the shooting booth as I could without getting in the way.
Fortunately, it was close enough for Kang Han to notice me.
I raised my index fingers and pressed them to the corners of my mouth, gesturing for him to smile.
“…?”
Kang Han looked at me, slightly furrowed his brows, and tilted his head in confusion.
Click, click!
True to form for an experienced photographer, Director Yu silently kept pressing the shutter.
‘S.M.I.L.E.’
Lighting that would be blindingly bright to ordinary people was barely indirect lighting to an S-rank hunter.
Why couldn’t he understand?
I eventually pressed both fingers into my cheeks and dragged them straight up to below my cheekbones.
“Heh.”
Kang Han pulled his left hand from his pocket and laughed, covering his mouth slightly.
There, see? He looks so much better when he smiles!
I gave him a pointed look to that effect.
Click, click, click!
The camera shutter sounds poured down like rain.
Kang Han’s usually stern face, now smiling like a boy his age, was being captured perfectly in the photographs.
I checked the monitor screen once, then turned away without hesitation.
Three high school students were scheduled to shoot after Kang Han, and then it was my turn.
I should go finish my makeup and get my hair done.
“Phew. So busy, so busy.”
Still, thinking of Kang Han’s smiling face made me feel satisfied.
I’d earned my keep for the day.

* * *

“Hmm, I’m not trying to nitpick the concept, but doesn’t this feel a bit off?”
I sighed softly as I studied my reflection in the mirror.
But my assigned stylist didn’t seem to understand my hesitation and replied cheerfully.
“It looks absolutely perfect on you! Yeo Joo, you have fair skin and naturally light-colored hair, so this bright, vibrant dress really suits you wonderfully!”
“If the expert says so, then I suppose it must be fine, but…”
As if the shimmering one-piece dress wasn’t enough, now I had these long, wavy extensions.
The artificial hair cascading down to my lower back felt distinctly unnatural under the stylist’s expert touch.
Do kids these days really go to school looking this polished?
I’d been too busy working to pursue higher education, so honestly, I wasn’t entirely sure what the campus atmosphere was like.
“It’s the perfect blind date look. But even on a day like that, you can’t give up comfortable shoes! That’s the concept.”
“Ah, a blind date look.”
Well, that made sense.
I looked at my reflection again and found myself accepting it.
But that didn’t make the unfamiliar feeling disappear entirely.
‘I should have done this kind of thing at least once in my life.’
The more I looked, the more it seemed acceptable.
I was thinking just that when it happened.
“Yeo Joo, I’ll take good care of this coffee!”
A staff member who had just entered the makeup room suddenly called out to me, holding up an iced Americano cup.
“Coffee?”
“Yes! There’s a coffee truck outside with your name on it, Yeo Joo!”
What on earth was this about?

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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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