The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 164

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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 164

After exchanging greetings with me, Jung Je Hwa’s gaze shifted toward Kang Han at my side.
“You came together.”
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes.”
Huh? That’s it?
No matter how taciturn they both are, isn’t this a bit much?
Yet Jung Je Hwa, Kang Han, and even Geum Eun Dong beside me all wore serene expressions, seemingly oblivious to anything amiss.
“Boss, did you know? That spear Kang Han is using—it looks like the Guild Master made it long ago. The creator’s real name was engraved on it instead of Master. I was so surprised when I finally pulled out the item manual later!”
“Ah, that’s right.”
Jung Je Hwa nodded as if the memory had just returned to him.
“Is the spear serving you well?”
Yes!
Talk to each other!
Get along!
In the previous timeline, Kang Han and Jung Je Hwa maintained a rather good relationship.
Whenever they faced formidable enemies, Jung Je Hwa would craft new weapons and tools, and Kang Han would use them to protect the world.
“Yes, it serves me well.”
“That’s fortunate.”
…Is that all?
My attempt to give them a shared topic of interest fell flat.
Moreover, though Geum Eun Dong hadn’t noticed yet, the atmosphere between Kang Han and Jung Je Hwa felt subtly cold.
It was as if they weren’t simply disinterested in each other, but rather warily guarded.
‘Why are they acting like this?’
I would need to create an opportunity for these two men to grow closer soon.

* * *

Shortly after, we gathered around the conference table.
Jung Je Hwa took the head seat, with Geum Eun Dong to his left, while Kang Han and I sat on the right.
“Come on, show us now. Something truly, truly amazing.”
Geum Eun Dong could no longer contain himself and urged me forward.
“I’m curious too. Why Yeo Joo suddenly asked for this meeting to be arranged.”
Jung Je Hwa chimed in as well.
The eager anticipation on the faces of these two craftsmen—second to none in their field—was quite pleasant to witness.
Tap.
I smiled with satisfaction and carefully retrieved Im Chung Soo’s concentration-boosting elixir from my Subspace, setting it gently on the table.
“Huh?”
Geum Eun Dong’s reaction was hardly different from my own initial response.
He squinted his eyes, trying to determine whether it was an empty bottle or not.
Jung Je Hwa gazed at me with a subtle smile playing on his lips.
‘Look at the potion bottle!’
I gestured with my eyes, glancing repeatedly at the bottle resting on the table.
Only then did Jung Je Hwa’s dark brown eyes slowly focus on the concentration elixir.
After a moment, he began examining the potion intently.
His body, which had been leaning back leisurely against the chair, had long since leaned forward.
“A, a concentration-boosting, boosting elixir?”
Geum Eun Dong tilted his head, apparently checking the item information window through his skill.
Then he asked Jung Je Hwa in a wheedling tone.
“Well, what do you think, Master?”
To be precise, Geum Eun Dong was a metallurgy specialist.
Like me, he could access basic information about items, but his scope was limited.
He couldn’t perceive all items the way Jung Je Hwa did—through a ‘craftsman’s eye.’
Of course, when it came to metallurgical items, he could dissect them more thoroughly than anyone else.
“…It’s remarkable.”
Jung Je Hwa reached toward the potion bottle containing Im Chung Soo’s elixir as he spoke.
But Kang Han was faster.
Just before Jung Je Hwa’s fingers could touch the bottle, he pulled it back slightly.
“What?”
Kang Han didn’t answer Jung Je Hwa’s somewhat sharp question; instead, he looked at me.
“I mentioned it beforehand. You can’t touch it without buying it first.”
“Yeo Joo.”
“Your discernment skill works better with direct contact, doesn’t it?”
“How did you…know that?”
“You always did it whenever I visited the Workshop.”
I shrugged as if to say I’d picked up on it.
The truth was I knew from reading the Sejong Chronicles.
Jung Je Hwa had never hidden his habit of directly handling items whenever he wanted to examine their internal structure—not in front of me, anyway.
Even if Jung Je Hwa were to discover the recipe for this tonic, I knew he wasn’t the type to copy it.
But there’s no harm in being cautious in this world.
“So, you’re saying you want to consign this concentration potion to Maestro for sale?”
Jung Je Hwa leaned back in his chair as if resigned, then asked.
“Yes. What do you think?”
“It’s a fine product. Boosting concentration for 15 minutes—there’s definitely demand for something like that.”
“M-Master’s right, that’s, that’s true. J-just our guild alone, if we, if we….”
Geum Eun Dong spoke, unable to hide the gleam of greed in his eyes.
It was the same direction I’d been thinking when I first discussed the concentration-boosting potion with Im Chung Soo.
For crafters who were almost always hitting creative walls, a potion that heightened concentration would be like a refreshing glass of ice water on a sweltering summer day.
But if it were merely something of that caliber, I wouldn’t have come all the way to Maestro in person.
I could simply summon the crafters to the Guild and have them compete like last time—the price would naturally rise on its own.
“Guild Master.”
“Yes, Yeo Joo?”
“I’m asking for your help.”
Kang Han nodded once, then uncapped the potion and drank it in one gulp.
“Oh, ah! W-what a waste!”
Geum Eun Dong cried out with a pained expression.
But the transparent tonic had already been swallowed by Kang Han.
A few seconds later, Kang Han spoke.
“…This is excellent.”
At the same moment, a lightning-shaped electrical condensate materialized in Kang Han’s palm.
Crackle—!
The skill that had earned him the nickname Zeus was different this time.
It was far larger than usual, and instead of yellow, a blue current surged with an ominous, threatening vibration.
There was a change in his green eyes as well.
Normally during attacks, the electrical current would flicker briefly like a shooting star crossing his pupils before vanishing, but now it orbited like the rings of a star.
It was all the effect of the concentration potion.
“It’s a shame this isn’t inside a Dungeon.”
I said, gazing down at my hand as sparks danced with each clench and release.
“So even non-crafters can experience the potion’s effects.”
“Yes, that’s right. Combat-type hunters can absolutely feel the tonic’s benefits too. And while 15 minutes might seem short as a duration, every hunter knows what 15 minutes means inside a Dungeon.”
Jung Je Hwa and Geum Eun Dong both nodded simultaneously at my words.
Not just S-rank hunters like Kang Han.
Even C-rank and below awakened individuals—who make up the vast majority of the awakened population—could display abilities exceeding their own rank during those 15 minutes under the concentration tonic’s influence.
‘That was the real goal, after all.’
It was why I’d suggested Im Chung Soo create the concentration potion in the first place.
To increase the number of awakened individuals capable of fighting, even if only temporarily.
It might sound callous, but it couldn’t be helped.
From now on, every single awakened individual who could fight would become precious.
At that moment, Jung Je Hwa, who had been quietly observing Kang Han, opened his mouth.
“Your excellent eye for talent was spot on. It’s certainly worth making a sudden call to arrange a meeting. You’re truly something special, Yeo Joo.”
“Thank you for the compliment, President. But I should mention this beforehand—I’m here today not as someone with a personal connection to you, but as the operator of the Justice Guild.”
I voiced the resolution I had made when I first called Jung Je Hwa.
“So during negotiations, please don’t give me any special consideration. I won’t be giving you any either.”
“Do we really need to call it a negotiation? Whatever it is, as long as it’s what Yeo Joo wants….”
“No, this won’t do. Today’s negotiation for the concentration-boosting elixir will be handled with Vice Guild Master Geum Eun Dong. President, you stay quiet—or better yet, leave entirely.”
“…I’ll stay quiet.”
And Geum Eun Dong, who had been waiting for my conversation with Jung Je Hwa to end, seized this opportunity without hesitation and blurted out eagerly.
“W-we’ll sell it for you! Let’s sign a consignment sales c-contract right away!”
It seemed Geum Eun Dong was even more desperate, having witnessed the concentration-boosting elixir’s effects demonstrated directly by Kang Han.
His proposal was quite bold.
“W-we’ll take only 10% of the sales amount and you can have the r-rest!”
“Hmm, wait a moment.”
“Oh, no, 8%! And we’ll give Maestro priority supply…!”
“Hold on, Vice Guild Master Geum Eun Dong.”
I raised one hand sharply to stop Geum Eun Dong’s runaway momentum.
“I think there’s been some misunderstanding. Or perhaps I didn’t hear you correctly.”
“M-misunderstand?”
“You said you’d take 8%? What do you mean by that?”
“W-why are you asking? If 8% is too much, th-then how about 5%….”
“No. You should be paying us.”
At my words, Geum Eun Dong’s round face tilted to the side in confusion.
He clearly didn’t understand.
I pulled the empty potion bottle that had been sitting on the table back toward me and spoke.
“In exchange for granting you the exclusive right to sell the concentration-boosting elixir, you should be paying us.”

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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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