The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 217

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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 38

The Pilgrimage Path was a trial of suffering.
Unlike before, we couldn’t even swim.
The farther we walked along the Pilgrimage Path, the heavier the weight of the water surrounding us became.
This change proved far more devastating for Team 2, whose ranks were relatively lower.
“Huff, gasp….”
“Breathing is… starting to feel difficult.”
“It’s like altitude sickness or something….”
Our pace naturally began to slow.

[ Time Remaining 03:03:17 ]

Of course, the timer’s countdown continued mercilessly.
Finally, Yoo Jin Rok spoke up.
“Those in better condition should go ahead, Guild Master Kang Han.”
Yoo Jin Rok’s own condition wasn’t particularly good either.
Leaning on his weapon like a staff and barely managing each step, it seemed unlikely he’d be in any shape to fight even if we reached the end of the Pilgrimage Path.
“…That would be best. Those who judge themselves unable to fight should follow behind.”
At Kang Han’s command, Yang Hwa Yeon from Team 2—who, like Han Ji Sung, was a mage with relatively weaker stamina—fell back from the formation and began walking behind.
I spoke to Yoo Jin Rok, who continued walking silently beside me.
“Teacher, don’t push yourself too hard.”
“…I’m ashamed.”
“Don’t say that. Besides, Team 2 is here with us anyway, so I’ll be fine.”
Despite my words, Yoo Jin Rok, who had been breathing heavily and trying to persist a few more times, finally leaned on my shoulder before dropping out of formation.
“Ji Sung, get on.”
“…Thank you.”
In the end, Han Ji Sung also had to rely on Jung Yi Do, the shield user from Team 2.
The number of hunters walking the Pilgrimage Path dwindled steadily, and so did our words.
Compared to the others who walked directly and labored for breath, I was in far better shape, but even held in Kang Han’s arms, I couldn’t escape the ever-increasing weight of the water pressing down.
“Sigh.”
As I took a deep breath, Kang Han adjusted his grip on me, holding me a bit tighter.
My abilities would be needed if combat broke out, but the fact remained that I was a burden, and with an awkward feeling gnawing at me, I spoke in a slightly sullen tone.
“…I’ve been eating whatever I wanted lately, so I’ve gotten a bit heavier. Sorry.”
Kang Han let out a soft chuckle.
“All you need to do is breathe properly, Yeo Joo.”
He didn’t tell me to stay behind like the others.
He understood my sense of responsibility for the Double Dungeon opening.
“…Thank you.”
That was when Kang Han pulled me closer into his embrace.
“The path widens ahead.”
Ryu Do Kyung, walking at the very front, called back to us.
True to his word, the narrow trail ended not long after.
Instead, a well-maintained road of flat stone emerged.
And at the end of that path, a vast open space revealed itself.
“…It looks like a plaza?”
There were no notable structures around the plaza.
Only a statue in the shape of a hand gripping a pillar jutted out abruptly from the desolate plaza’s center.
It was the same shape as the sculpture that had been the key to opening the Double Dungeon.
“It doesn’t seem to be just a statue. Four monsters are guarding the area around it.”
Ryu Do Kyung spoke with a rigid expression.
True to his words, four monsters—shaped like sharks but massive as whales—swam around the statue.

[ Ferocious Whale Shark ( A ) ]
[ Malevolent Whale Shark ( A ) ]
[ Vicious Whale Shark ( A ) ]
[ Violent Whale Shark ( A ) ]

It was as if they’d gathered only the worst specimens of whale sharks.
Yet my gaze was drawn not to them, but to the statue at the center.

[ ??? ( ? )
: The shell of a being that failed to become divine. ]

Even the shark-like monsters were so massive that I questioned whether humans could actually fight them.
As I sighed, Kang Han set me down on the ground and gave me instructions.
“Yeo Joo, stay here. If it gets dangerous, retreat further back.”
I grabbed Kang Han’s arm as he turned away.
It was a simple movement, yet even that left me breathless.
“Not the sharks—that thing. Be careful. There, in the center, that hand.”
At my words, Kang Han examined the statue and nodded.
“Don’t worry. Rest here for a moment. I’ll be back soon.”
The hunters quickly prepared for battle.
Seeing that Han Ji Sung was still being carried on Jung Yi Do’s back, it seemed they planned to venture deeper, considering the range needed for magical attacks.
“We’re going in.”
Kang Han, gripping a dark spear in one hand, stepped into the plaza.
A deafening roar erupted—!
At the same moment, four sharks came rushing through the water at tremendous speed, and the battle began.

* * *

Crash—!
Kang Han thrust the snout of the leading shark away with his spear shaft, sending it flying, while checking the remaining time.

[ 02: 54: 44 ]

Based on the force and speed of their collisions, the four shark-type monsters were undoubtedly A-rank.
Among the hunters who had entered the plaza, eleven were capable of combat.
It was sufficient personnel to handle four A-rank monsters, but there was no room for complacency.

“Not the sharks—that thing. Be careful. There, in the center, that hand.”

Yeo Joo’s warning and the S-rank hunter’s instinct continued sounding their alarms.
The time limit of roughly three hours remaining would never be sufficient.
Boom—!
It was the moment Kang Han was about to leap forward to help Jang Su Ho, who had been driven back by the shield-wielding collision with the shark, when I witnessed him being pushed far backward.
Rumble.
The ground shook violently, as if an earthquake had struck.
Rolling across the floor once, I quickly rose to my feet and looked toward the center of the plaza.
Crack, crackle.
A colossal hand was gripping the earth.
Its goal was not to split or shake the ground.
Boom—!
The ground trembled once more, and the massive forearm beneath the giant hand rose upward.
Something wearing the guise of a stone statue was attempting to emerge from beneath the earth.
“Damn it, what is that!”
The hunters who witnessed the emergence of something like I did cried out in shock.
It was the moment fear threatened to consume them at the appearance of a colossal entity unlike anything encountered in any Gate before.
Crash—!
“Sang Eun!”
Team 2’s A-rank hunter Ryu Sang Eun was struck by the monster’s tail and sent flying far away, crashing into the plaza floor.
He had erased his presence using his specialty invisibility skill, then failed in his attempt to approach the statue at the center.
“Ugh….”
Ryu Sang Eun’s face flashed with despair at the unimaginable impact that stole his breath.
It was because he had discovered the monster bearing down right before his eyes, its jaws gaping wide open.
It was when Ryu Sang Eun braced himself, preparing for the terrible pain about to descend upon him.
Crash, crackle—!
Jang Su Ho threw himself forward alongside Ryu Sang Eun, blocking the monster’s snout with his shield.
Despite the fierce impact that shattered the shark’s sharp teeth, the shield bearing only long scratches charged once more, successfully pushing the monster backward.
Yet the shark with the distinctly largest body among the four refused to retreat, spraying black ink-like blood.
It thrashed its colossal tail convulsively, charging at Jang Su Ho’s shield to bite it.
That was its fatal mistake.
Whoosh—!
Thunk!!
Lee Yu Chan’s massive arrow, producing a far heavier sound than when cutting through air, pierced the shark’s gills.
At last, the hunters began their counterattack.
“Yo Na! Drive them to one spot!”
At Kang Han’s shout, Sung Yo Na unleashed her skill toward the center of the three sharks.
“Ugh!”
As the pressure intensified and the monsters struggled to escape the skill’s radius, bloodshot veins appeared in Sung Yo Na’s eyes.
Splash!
And finally, when her hands collided together, the sea compressed and pulled the monsters backward.
Shin Dan Ju and Lee Yu Chan’s arrows pierced through the three monsters suspended in the water like taxidermied specimens, unable to move.
The monsters’ black blood, spreading like ink through water, grew darker and darker.
“Ice Spear.”
An ice lance, slower than usual but far more massive in size, completely split open one monster’s belly.
“We’re almost done now….”
It was just as Lee Yu Eul, who had severed the fin of the slowing shark, smiled with satisfaction.
Boom! Rumble, rumble—!
A tremor incomparably stronger than before shook the ground beneath us.
Something with one arm and shoulder already exposed was pounding its fist against the earth.
Bang! Bang! Boom!
Finally, the surface of the plaza cracked with a sharp sound and split in half.
And from that crevice, an enormous eye emerged and grinned wickedly.

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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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