The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 182

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

Yeo Joo Saves the World
Part 2, Episode 3

Looking back on everything that had transpired, I had always been at Sa Ma Young’s mercy.
Ever since that man suddenly appeared in the middle of the Market Floor and tried to erase me, I had done nothing but flee, desperate to avoid him.
I had exhausted myself trying to keep my distance, refusing to become entangled with him.
But somehow, the threads had become so hopelessly tangled that there was no way to avoid him unless he suffered amnesia.
‘So I need to seduce him properly.’
Whether I liked it or not, I needed to raise his affection toward me.
His heart might be pitch black, but he was still an S-rank hunter and the guild master of the Sama Guild, commanding an enormous number of hunters.
I never knew when, where, or how I might need to purify his darkness.
Irritating as he was, he was someone I needed to keep close for the sake of the future.
I naturally slowed my pace and checked Sa Ma Young’s affection level.

《 ♥ 3 》

A pathetic number.
It had risen slightly since we last met, though I didn’t know why.
And yet he smiled at me with such warmth and ease.
Enough that the people around us watched us with wide, curious eyes.
A terrifying man.
“I’ve been waiting, hoping you would come today, Yeo Joo.”
In the past, I would have shown obvious displeasure by now, making my discomfort abundantly clear.
But today, I had no intention of doing so.
“Ah, yes.”
I nodded naturally and met Sa Ma Young’s gaze.
Showing neither hostility nor favor.
“….”
Then, for just a moment, confusion flickered across his eyes.
It was brief, but I saw it clearly.
I had been troubled ever since the Awakeners Association scheduled a meeting to address the Guild Coalition for Coexistence and the Justice-Dongbaek Alliance.
Wondering what method could raise Sa Ma Young’s affection.
Then it occurred to me.
He was the embodiment of desire itself.
He was honest about his own desires, always heeding their call.
Then I needed to become the object of that ‘desire’.
“Hello, Guild Master Sa Ma Young.”
I offered a polite nod, the kind I gave to countless strangers, then immediately averted my gaze.
Taking hold of Kang Han’s elbow, I guided him in the opposite direction and spoke.
“That must be our seats. Let’s go.”
With each step, the distance between me and Sa Ma Young grew.
Please work, please work!
I offered up a silent prayer, my heart trembling with anticipation.
Ding—

《 ♥ 6 》

It worked!
‘The things we cannot have are always the ones we desire most.’
I’d harbored a nagging worry that this approach might fail.
I swallowed a sigh of relief that no one else could hear.
“There are far more people here than I expected.”
I smiled at Kang Han as if nothing were amiss, but Sa Ma Young’s gaze—piercing from across the room—made my face burn with heat.
Ding—

《 ♥ 8 》

His affection had risen again.
Keep staring like that, and see if I don’t turn around.
I fought desperately to suppress the smile threatening to spread across my face, steeling my resolve.
I would become Sa Ma Young’s S-rank Awakener, no matter what.

When the appointed time arrived, the meeting began.
The Association Director presided over the proceedings.
“Ahem. Well then, let us commence the meeting.”
I wouldn’t have to see that irritating face much longer.
I recalled my mental checklist and forced myself to look straight ahead rather than glare at the Association Director.
‘Who arranged these seating assignments?’
With the Association Director at the head seat, the conference table was arranged in an elongated D-shape that positioned the representatives of the Jung Dong Alliance and the Gong Gil Yeon Alliance facing each other directly.
Meanwhile, representatives from smaller guilds were lined up in the back rows like courtroom spectators.
This setup made it look like people who despised each other had been forced to come negotiate a peace treaty.
I couldn’t help but lament the Awakeners Association’s lack of tact.
Still, there was one advantage to this seating arrangement: I could see the faces of all the Gong Gil Yeon guild representatives at a glance.
From my position, going left to right, they were seated in the order of Sama Guild, Fantasia, Utopia, and Cheongmun.
Essentially, every top-tier guild except Dongbaek was sitting over there.
Looking at all the Awakeners as a whole, the Gong Gil Yeon Alliance was actually larger than the Jung Dong Alliance.
“The first agenda item is how we should respond to the temporarily shelved Awakener legislation bill. Does anyone have opinions?”
While his words seemed to grant everyone free speech, the Association Director was looking toward the Gong Gil Yeon side as he spoke.
Just like during the Pangyo incident, he’d been watching those guilds’ reactions while standing idle.
The first speaker turned out to be Sung Ro Sa from Fantasia.
“I believe we need to take a hardline stance. If we get swayed by the government’s intentions like last time, the Awakeners’ position will narrow in an instant. We can’t act carelessly like Dongbaek Guild and Justice Guild did before.”
At Sung Ro Sa’s attitude of pointedly singling out the two guilds sitting right in front of him, Yoo Myung Hwa’s eyebrows twitched once.
They seemed so friendly with each other normally.
So much for character.
As expected, the first speaker from the Jung Dong Alliance was Yoo Myung Hwa, the Dongbaek Guild Master.
“Even a hardline response has boundaries that must be observed. Careless response? If collective action by Hunters had resulted in tens of thousands of casualties, it would have actually encouraged the legislation instead. Who exactly is calling whom careless?”
She had a point.
Considering public opinion at that time, by now there probably would have already been laws restricting where Awakeners could live in effect.
But the Gong Gil Yeon’s counterargument was equally firm.
“So you’re saying we should just stand by and watch non-Awakeners strip away Awakeners’ freedom? We need to do whatever it takes! Whose side is the Jung Dong Alliance even on?”
Ha Young Hyun, the middle-aged female Guild Master of Utopia, raised her voice as she spoke.
Yoo Myung Hwa was about to respond, but Kang Han’s calm voice beat her to it.
“Did you say sides?”
As the Guild Masters engaged in heated debate, the previously chaotic conference room fell silent for a moment.
“Please watch your words. Dividing and treating non-Awakeners and Awakeners as adversaries could inadvertently misrepresent the meaning of this gathering.”
“…I apologize. But my opinion remains unchanged. If the government tries to unreasonably restrict Hunters’ human rights, we must express our position by any means necessary.”
“But not by holding lives hostage.”
I added my own comment.
“There’s no need to divide Awakeners and non-Awakeners—aren’t we all just people? Even if someone falls on the street, we naturally go help them up. I agree with the Dongbaek Guild Master. We shouldn’t cross that line, not as human beings.”
After several more exchanges, the floor was opened to the other Hunters seated in the back of the conference room.
“So realistically, how do you propose we respond?”
“We should form a response team with people who can represent the Awakeners and engage in dialogue.”
“No, they’re treating us like beasts right now—what conversation are we supposed to have!”
“So they treat us like beasts, and we’re supposed to act like real beasts and show off our strength? What’s that about!”
The voices rising in pitch was inevitable.
A few words exchanged wouldn’t bridge the chasm of disagreement stretching from one end of the room to the other.
Instead, it was becoming a gathering where we merely confirmed our opposing positions.
“So next time the government acts like that, we should just sit back and take it?!”
“Why can’t you think about resolving the situation before it even gets there?”
“Ugh, you’re being such a hypocrite!”
“Stop showing off your ignorance, would you?”
This was going to turn into a fight.
Since everyone here was a powerful Hunter, every time someone slammed the table in frustration, I found myself worrying about the poor furniture’s safety.
At this point, you’d expect the Association Director, who was hosting this meeting, to step in.
The previous Association Director had stepped down due to an unfortunate accident, and the current one—installed through lobbying by the Sama Group—was an Awakener.
So regardless of what outcome emerged from this meeting, it didn’t matter to him.
That’s why he wasn’t even watching the proceedings, just fiddling with his phone instead.
“Hey! What’s your rank!”
“B! What about you!”
Eventually, the conversation devolved into rank comparisons.
At this rate, someone might even end up arranging a duel inside a Dungeon.
I tapped Kang Han’s leg lightly as he sat beside me.
He naturally leaned toward me, and I spoke softly into his ear.
“Let’s take a brief recess and move on to the next agenda.”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
Kang Han, who responded in an equally quiet voice, stood up smoothly.
As if by magic, the people who had been arguing so fiercely fell silent, turning to look at Kang Han and closing their mouths.
“Let’s take a 20-minute recess.”
There was technically a moderator, but no one bothered confirming with the Association Director.
People naturally rose from their seats and continued their heated discussions with members of their own faction.
I stood up, pretending to stretch, and confirmed that no one was watching me before I began walking slowly.
My destination was the table across from where the Gong Gil Yeon Alliance representatives were sitting.
I carefully tapped the shoulder of a man who was lost in deep thought, unaware of my approach.
“Oh….”
Startled, he looked up at me, his water-blue eyes widening, and I greeted him as warmly as I could.
“Hello, Cheongmun Guild Master.”

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