The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 216

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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
Part 2, Episode 37

We approached the ruins of the temple.
“This has never happened before… Why all of a sudden…?”
Ryu Do Kyung stared at the double dungeon with disbelief, letting out a low whistle.
I had a feeling I knew the reason.
I turned to Ryu Ja Kyung first.
“Ryu Ja Kyung, how much recording capacity is left on the camera you brought?”
“About two hours remaining. But if we delete the other files, we can record for over five hours.”
“Then delete everything.”
Ryu Ja Kyung complied without hesitation.
After a few camera button clicks, the red recording light came on.
“You asked earlier why the double dungeon suddenly appeared.”
I pulled the statue in question from my subspace and held it up for everyone to see, making sure it was clearly visible to the camera.
“It seems to be because of this item.”
“Oh, that statue… isn’t that the one we got as a bonus at Garak-dong Market?”
Im Chung Soo recognized the statue and exclaimed in surprise.
“Yeah, that’s right. I just got a system notification. It said a hidden dungeon opens because of this statue.”
“It appears double dungeons open when certain conditions are met.”
Han Ji Sung immediately deduced the answer.
This was the first stage of a fundamental shift in gate mechanics.
A hidden route that opens when specific conditions are fulfilled, rather than the simple clear method of entering a dungeon and defeating the boss monster.
That was the phenomenon people had begun calling a “double dungeon.”
‘Though I never expected this statue would trigger a double dungeon.’
If I had known, I would never have carried it around.
It was at that moment I squeezed the statue in my hand with frustration.
Crack—
A fissure appeared across the statue’s surface with a sharp sound.
“Wait, why is this…?”
I’m not even that strong!
“I’ll hold it.”
Kang Han took the statue from my hand.
With just that slight contact as it passed between us, the stone encasing the statue crumbled to dust.
As Kang Han brushed away the debris with his hand, a golden statue was revealed.
It depicted a massive hand gripping what appeared to be a temple pillar.
And Im Chung Soo spoke in a trembling voice.
“That… the item description changed. It was C-rank, but now it’s A-rank. And… the name is ‘Proof of Faith’.”
Startled, I pulled up the Item Information, and Im Chung Soo was right.

[ Proof of Faith (A)
: Only those who prove their faith can reach it. ]

By any measure, it looked like the key to the nested Dungeon.
…If it had been written like this from the start, I never would have brought it into the Dungeon!
“Sigh… what should we do?”
I exhaled and asked Ryu Do Kyung.
The nested Dungeon had opened because of the item I was carrying, but this was ultimately inside a Gate owned by Cheongmun.
The decision rested not with me or Kang Han, but with Ryu Do Kyung.
Ryu Do Kyung received everyone’s gaze as he cautiously brought his hand toward the nested Dungeon.
“…There is a time limit.”
“Pardon me.”
Just as Ryu Do Kyung had done, I brought my hand to the Gate.

[ Do you wish to enter the Gate? ]
[ Time remaining until Dungeon boundary collapse: 03:54:23 ]

“I’m uncertain what ‘Dungeon boundary collapse’ means, but we cannot ignore it.”
“Let’s enter.”
Ryu Do Kyung and Ryu Ja Kyung spoke decisively, as if their minds were already made.
Even so, they clearly explained their position to Kang Han.
“If we enter the nested Dungeon like this, it will constitute defiance of the Awakeners Association’s official notice. We fully understand if the Justice Guild chooses not to accompany us.”
Kang Han brought his own hand to the Gate and asked.
“The system indicates roughly four hours remain. Could we bring personnel from the Cheongmun Guild from outside in that time?”
“…It should be possible.”
It should be possible, as Ryu Do Kyung said.
One hour to exit the Underwater Dungeon, then another hour to summon Cheongmun’s hunters and arrive back at the nested Dungeon entrance.
Given the circumstances, even moving with maximum urgency would likely require at least an additional hour.
That much time would be lost from clearing the nested Dungeon.
Kang Han’s gaze turned toward the Justice Guild hunters.
Yang Hwa Yeon, catching the meaning, shrugged her shoulders.
“It doesn’t seem like a situation where we’d back down out of fear of the Association.”
“I’m uncertain how much help we’ll be in an A-rank nested Dungeon, but we’ll do what we can.”
The team leader of the three teams composed of B-rank and C-rank hunters answered calmly.
After hearing the team leaders’ opinions, Kang Han spoke to Ryu Do Kyung.
“The Justice Guild will assist you.”
“…Thank you. I won’t forget this kindness.”
“Chung Soo, Choi Su Won will stay here. And Team 3 will remain to guard these two and the dual Gate perimeter. Who’s the fastest mover in Team 3? Go out now and request support from Cheongmun Guild, then bring the reinforcements back.”
“I’ll go and return.”
Lee In Gyu, the swiftest member of Team 3, began sprinting toward the Gate leading out of the Underwater Dungeon.
Kang Han watched his retreating figure, then turned to Ryu Do Kyung with a question.
“What will you do with Cheongmun’s recruits?”
“The two of them stay here. While I’m gone, follow the instructions of the Justice Guild Team 3 captain.”
“Understood.”
Cheongmun’s two recruits answered with faces that couldn’t hide their tension.
Kang Han confirmed the hunters drawing their weapons, then unsheathed his own silent blade and spoke.
“Let’s go.”

* * *

[ You have entered the ‘Pilgrimage Path’. ]
[ Time Remaining: 03:52:01 ]

Though it was a Gate formed within the Dungeon, the sensation of entry felt no different from one that appeared on the surface.
It was equally viscous and unsettling.
The dual Dungeon was also an Underwater Dungeon identical to the one outside.
But differences existed.
“Retreat is impossible.”
The moment everyone except the two non-combatants and Team 3 left outside entered the dual Dungeon, Ryu Do Kyung, who had checked the Gate, spoke.
Normally, the Gate should have allowed passage just as it had on entry, with hands slipping through smoothly.
But Ryu Do Kyung’s pale hand, pressed against the entrance, would not advance further—as if confronting a wall.
The door behind us had closed.
There was no choice but to move forward.
The narrow path, or Pilgrimage Path as it was called, stretching from the Gate’s entrance spoke the same truth.
“I’ll take the lead.”
With those words, Ryu Do Kyung walked ahead first, with Kang Han and Jang Su Ho following behind.
Naturally, Yoo Jin Rok guarded the sides of myself and Han Ji Sung, while Team 2 surrounded that perimeter.
Despite the palpable tension, nothing happened for a while.
We simply continued along the narrow path.
But the peace didn’t last long.
It was when the path widened slightly.
“Gasp!”
“Ugh.”
Groans erupted simultaneously from all directions.
Gravity had suddenly multiplied several times over, and our bodies grew heavy.
At the same time, a system window in crimson text flickered before our eyes.

[
Obey!
]
[
Revere!
]
[
Obey!
]
[
Revere!
]

“What the hell is this nonsense…!”
The others seemed to be holding out reasonably well, but I couldn’t manage it.
Following the system’s command to obey and revere, I found myself already on my knees on the ground.
It felt as though someone were pressing down on the back of my head with tremendous force.
What was screaming at us through the system had made its intentions abundantly clear.
Crawl on all fours and ascend the Pilgrimage Path.
The same malevolent entity that had sent Je Hwa into a rampage merely for attempting to peer inside the statue was now wreaking havoc on those who had entered the nested Dungeon.
“Damned bastards.”
As I forced my head up with difficulty, I caught sight of Ji Sung, who was struggling much as I was, though not quite as severely.
“Who do you think you are, demanding obedience like this!”
Gritting my teeth and pouring all my strength into my legs, I managed to force myself upright.
My legs trembled uncontrollably, but I had no intention whatsoever of crawling on the ground like that damnable thing wanted.
Just as I was thinking this and took my first step forward—
“Let me help you.”
A firm arm lifted me effortlessly into the air.
Kang Han spoke, his face rigid with barely contained rage.
“Bear with it a little longer, even if it’s uncomfortable. You shouldn’t be on your knees, Yeo Joo.”

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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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