The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 205
—————
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 26
[“The Justice Guild’s popularity continues to soar. The cumulative viewership for the five-day broadcast of the Gapyeong City A-rank Dungeon conquest has surpassed 8.7 million…”
“Crowds welcoming the Justice Guild’s safe return following their successful Gate clear at 7:21 AM yesterday have gathered at the Doksan Gate Branch…”
“Hunter Yeo Joo, who displayed severe signs of exhaustion, is currently receiving treatment at the Korean Awakener Hospital…”.]
“Hehehehe. Hehehehehehe.”
I lay in the hospital bed, hugging a pillow and rolling around with laughter.
Every time I changed the news channel, the words “Justice Guild” echoed endlessly.
“Ah, I wish I could read the articles already.”
I rubbed my eyes, which felt as dark as if the light had been extinguished.
As payment for my excessive use of stamina potions, I’d been robbed of my sight for forty-eight hours.
When that cursed roulette wheel was spinning, I’d been anxious.
I’d braced myself for coughing up blood again, or at the very least falling into a coma for several hours.
I’d prayed so desperately that at least I wouldn’t suffer any pain.
Somehow, luck was on my side.
Of course, my vision had gone completely dark, so I’d had to escape the Gate cradled in Kang Han’s arms.
Still, I was getting off relatively cheaply for downing six bottles of stamina potion.
My eyes, which had been working perfectly fine, were now pitch black, so naturally it was inconvenient and boring.
“This is pretty lucky. Really lucky.”
“Please don’t say such things.”
“Ah, you startled me!”
I jolted upright at the sudden sound of Kang Han’s voice.
But the place where I expected the bed to be was empty.
“Whoa.”
Feeling my body tilt to one side, I squeezed my already-sightless eyes shut.
Thud.
A firm hand gripped my shoulder tightly.
“…Yeo Joo.”
Startled by my own panic, Kang Han’s breathing—steady even when facing apartment-sized monsters—was now ragged.
“I thought I was falling.”
“Please be more careful.”
“…Why are you upset?”
They say that when you lose one sense, the others become heightened—and it was truly the case.
The sound of Kang Han’s breathing and the tension in his fingertips as they gripped my shoulder.
A flood of information poured in from every direction.
“I’m not upset.”
“Liar. Are you ignoring me just because I can’t see right now?”
“How could I ever ignore you, Yeo Joo? It just… happened that my eyes stopped working.”
Kang Han, who had been angry moments before, now sounded sorrowful.
I hadn’t noticed it when I was only looking at his expressionless face.
So he was someone whose emotions shifted so dramatically.
“It just happened while working. Besides, it won’t last much longer.”
“…Why didn’t you tell me sooner that drinking more than five potions would incur a penalty?”
The moment we exited the Gate and arrived at the Hospital, Kang Han insisted on running every test imaginable, so I had no choice but to tell him the truth.
Apparently, consuming more than five stamina-boosting potions triggers a drug abuse penalty status effect, and the symptoms are random each time.
“Then you wouldn’t be allowed to drink them.”
“Are you seriously saying that right now…!”
Oh no, he’s angry again.
I gently tugged at the hem of Kang Han’s shirt to placate him as I spoke.
“Even if Jang Su Ho is as durable as an A-rank combat awakener, that situation was genuinely dangerous.”
“He would have managed until transport to the Hospital.”
“Maybe so. But when I actually saw the kid turn completely blue right before my eyes, I couldn’t just stand by. Anyway, Jang Su Ho is fine, and I’ll be back to normal in just a few hours.”
“…Sigh.”
As Kang Han exhaled deeply, I felt his solid chest rise and fall.
This is actually kind of fun.
Thinking I’d tease him one more time, I spoke with a playful grin.
“By the way, how long are we going to keep holding each other like this? Don’t tell me you’re planning to keep this physical contact going just because I can’t see for a bit?”
“…”
Huh?
I expected Kang Han to panic and quickly release my shoulders by now.
“…Perhaps we should.”
“W-what do you mean ‘perhaps we should’!”
He’s lost his mind!
It was I who hastily pushed Kang Han away instead.
As I tried to calm my frantically racing heart, I heard a stifled laugh.
“Pfft.”
“Ugh, seriously!”
He got me.
I take back everything about not being able to see being fun.
Not being able to see his face is absolutely maddening.
And I don’t appreciate how my ears tingle every time I hear Kang Han’s voice.
“Now, the patient should lie quietly in bed and rest.”
“I’m not a patient.”
“You can tell me that once your eyes work again.”
“Hmph.”
In any case, after going through two Dungeons back-to-back, I was indeed exhausted. I obediently rested my head against the pillow as Kang Han laid me down.
“But Guild Master, aren’t you busy?”
“I am. I stopped by to say goodbye since I was about to leave anyway.”
“Thanks to your help, I had a good dinner and brushed my teeth. Thank you for helping me.”
“Think nothing of it.”
His brief response carried a hint of laughter in it.
“Yawn… I guess a few days of hard work caught up with me. My eyes get heavy the moment my head touches the pillow.”
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning. Rest well until then. If you need to use the Restroom, make sure to press the nurse call button.”
“Got it. Yawn… see you tomorrow then.”
My vision was already dark, so there was no need to turn off the lights.
I didn’t bother fighting against my increasingly heavy eyelids.
As I welcomed sleep’s invitation with my entire body and reached that hazy boundary between reality and dreams.
Softly.
With that pleasant sensation of someone gently stroking my head as the last thing I felt, I fell completely into sleep.
* * *
Four days had already passed since clearing the Desert Dungeon.
Yet public interest in the Justice Guild showed no signs of waning.
“It seems like the government is fanning the flames even more.”
For them, it would be more advantageous for guilds affiliated with the Jung Dong Alliance, which was at least friendly to the government, to leave a stronger and more lasting impression on people than guilds belonging to the Gong Gil Yeon Alliance.
“Should we release another press statement this afternoon, Team Lead?”
Kim Ji Hee from the quick-witted administrative team asked me.
She was certainly an exemplary employee.
“Good thinking. Let’s strike while the iron is hot. Don’t forget to subtly emphasize how hard we worked in the Desert Dungeon.”
“Yes, leave it to me!”
“Oh, and the preparations for ‘that’ are all done, right?”
Goo Eun Ah answered my question.
“Of course. This time I made sure to emphasize that the server shouldn’t crash.”
“Still, just to be safe, make another call around 5 o’clock and double-check.”
“Yes, understood!”
I nodded in satisfaction and checked my watch.
3 o’clock in the afternoon.
That drowsy hour when coffee and something sweet sounded appealing.
But today, there was no need for coffee.
My heart was already racing with anticipation.
“Phew, I’m nervous.”
To explain today, I’d have to go back to right after the Pangyo incident, which already felt like ancient history.
The Doksan Gate Branch was in the midst of constructing its new building, so my first meeting with the administrative team took place in the Conference Room of the Jongno Branch.
The staff members whose affiliation had changed overnight from Magma Guild to Justice Guild due to the merger were just as tense as I was.
“Hello, I’m Yeo Joo. I look forward to working with you.”
“We, we’re the ones who should—”
“We’ll do our best going forward.”
“Please take care of us!”
After that chaotic first greeting, we began the meeting.
I already knew that the Magma Guild’s employees were competent.
But seeing their reports firsthand gave me a definite conviction.
Working with these people, I could truly accomplish something remarkable.
I had intended to keep the first meeting brief, just enough to become familiar with each other’s faces, but I changed my mind.
“Let’s wrap up the status report here and move on to discussing our future plans.”
“Future plans, you say…?”
“I’m thinking of launching a merchandise business for Justice Guild.”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————