The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 249

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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 70

“What is this?”
It sounded like a human voice, yet also like a beast’s growl.
Disturbed by the strange sound, I rubbed my ears frantically, and then I heard it again.
“[Baek Ho.]”
“Baek Ho? You just said that?”
Na Baek Ho nodded at my question.
“You can talk?”
“[Now. Possible.]”
Na Baek Ho lifted his small black nose proudly as he spoke.
He was being smug about it.
Even though he’d grown larger, he was still a baby at heart. I stroked his head and muttered absently.
“So this is what a Familiar’s voice sounds like….”
I’d often wondered what voice a Familiar would have when communicating with their master in 【Sejong’s Records】.
So I’d been curious about when Baek Ho would be able to speak.
Now that I’d finally heard Na Baek Ho’s voice directly, it was less a sound and more of a ‘resonance’ transmitted straight into my mind.
Yet it wasn’t entirely without character.
In fact, it suited Na Baek Ho perfectly.
“Na Baek Ho, what’s my name?”
“[Yeo Joo.]”
“Oh, you rascal.”
I pulled Na Baek Ho’s head close and hugged him tightly as he fit snugly in my arms.
Hearing my name in his voice stirred an emotion I couldn’t put into words.
Then a question suddenly occurred to me.
“But your voice—can only I hear it?”
“[No.]”
“Oh, so you can talk to other people too?”
Na Baek Ho lifted his nose proudly again as he answered.
“[I. Special.]”
“Really? So Baek Young Ee, Hong Joo, and Maeng Yi will never be able to talk later?”
Caught off guard by my question, Na Baek Ho flinched for a moment, then spoke in a slightly deflated voice.
“[…All. Special.]”
Thinking I should cheer him up, I patted his head gently.
“Well, well. You’re all special. But since you evolved like this first, that makes Na Baek Ho the most special, doesn’t it?”
“[That’s right.]”
Fortunately, Na Baek Ho perked up immediately at my words.
“But why did you suddenly evolve?”
In the book, Familiar needed a special catalyst to evolve.
Consuming a specific item, winning in battle, clearing a Quest, and so on.
But Na Baek Ho had none of those.
He’d simply been sleeping in bed and came to greet me.
As I tilted my head in confusion, Na Baek Ho provided the answer.
“[Yeo Joo. Qualification. Appeared.]”
“Qualification? You mean… ah, are you talking about the synchronization rate?”
My synchronization rate had increased once more after narrowly escaping death this time.
“[That’s it.]”
“Really? The synchronization rate is a ‘qualification’?”
I’d thought the synchronization rate was simply the degree to which I was becoming attached to this world.
But to think it was a ‘qualification’ that could cause Baek Ho to evolve.
I felt I needed to contemplate this more deeply.
Then Na Baek Ho nuzzled his head against my body and made a soft whining sound.
“[Promise. Keep.]”
It was what he’d said the moment he could speak after successfully evolving.
“Yeah, that. What promise are you talking about?”
At my words, Na Baek Ho looked up at me intently, then murmured softly.
“[…Wound.]”
As he did, his front paws scratched at the ground without much force.
…I’d tried to play dumb, but it wouldn’t work.
I let out a small sigh and gently stroked Na Baek Ho’s head.
“You really want to go into the Dungeon that badly?”
“[Liar!]”
“No, I just thought if I played dumb, we could move past it.”
Na Baek Ho, both indignant and pleased, rubbed his head all over my stomach while making continuous rumbling sounds.
With Na Baek Ho now weighing five or six times more than me, his affection caused my body to sway, so I simply sat down on the ground.
Then his eyes were positioned higher than the top of my head.
“[…Small.]”
Na Baek Ho gazed down at me for a moment and muttered something presumptuous, then lowered his head to roughly match our eye level.
“You know, Na Baek Ho.”
“[Yeah.]”
“The Dungeon is incredibly dangerous. You understand, right?”
“[I know. Yeo Joo. Always hurt.]”
“No, not always. Anyway, you’re all grown up now, but I’m still a bit worried, you see?”
At my honest confession, Na Baek Ho quietly met my gaze with his blue eyes.
“What if we enter the Dungeon together and you get seriously hurt? What would I do then?”
I gently stroked his large but still soft face here and there as I spoke.
“But can I still avoid regretting this?”
I know it well.
Familiar, especially a combat-type Familiar like Na Baek Ho, are incredibly powerful.
Even now, before completing his full evolution, he must possess strength comparable to an S-rank Hunter.
But no matter how strong he becomes, my heart will remain the same.
The image of Na Baek Ho suffering terrible wounds from a monster seemed to flash before my eyes.
Eventually, a white paw rested against my shoulder as I let out a long sigh.
“[Baek Ho. Take me with you.]”
Na Baek Ho rubbed his head against my cheek again as he continued.
“[At least. We. Together.]”
It meant that even if we were hurt and struggling, we wouldn’t be alone.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I buried my face in Na Baek Ho’s neck fur.
As I pressed my skin against the soft, white fur, I remembered the small, blood-soaked tiger that had been in that cage.
“Yes, let’s do that.”
I stretched out both arms and pulled Na Baek Ho into a tight embrace.
He had grown large and strong, and no matter how much force I applied, he didn’t flinch in pain.
Instead, he simply let out a deep, rumbling purr.

* * *

The early winter sun was frustratingly short.
Looking at the darkening sky, I left my room and arrived at the Guild Dining Hall where my discharge celebration party was being held.
I deliberately arrived a bit late, and it turned out to be a good decision.
“Hahahaha!”
“Auntie, the braised short ribs are so delicious!”
“Oh my, really? I made plenty, so everyone eat until you’re full!”
Cheerful voices, drunk and caught up in the festive atmosphere, were spilling out beyond the dining hall.
Though we had gathered sporadically in the Break Room before, this was the first time everyone was together in one place, so everyone seemed even more excited.
“It feels like my discharge was just being used as an excuse.”
Well, what does it matter? As long as everyone’s having fun.
As I pushed open the dining hall door, familiar voices greeted me from all around.
“Yeo Joo, congratulations on your discharge!”
“Healer Yeo Joo, we’re so glad you’ve returned safely!”
“Yeo Joo! Come here!”
It was Team 2 and Team 3 members gathered at tables near the door.
I waved my hand and bowed repeatedly as I passed through them.
“It’s been a while.”
“How’s your body doing?”
“Yes, I’m perfectly fine now.”
“I was genuinely shocked watching the strategy broadcast!”
“Things just happened to turn out this way. Since I’m all better now, that’s what matters.”
They still didn’t know exactly what had transpired inside the Dungeon.
I had only asked Kang Han to explain the full details to Team 1.
After all, the fact that I consumed stamina to use skills and couldn’t drink more than five potions were weaknesses, and if too many people learned about it at once, there’d be no stopping the rumors from spreading.
Besides, I was planning to reveal my skill window to the rest of the Justice Guild members soon anyway, so there was no harm in them finding out all at once then.
Amid the flurry of discharge congratulations, I finally arrived at the area where Team 1 had gathered.
“I’m here.”
My voice carried an unavoidable hint of tension.
The Team 1 members waited for me without touching the food laid out on the table.
And from their demeanor, I sensed something.
‘I might be in trouble.’
They probably had plenty to say.
Unless they were like Im Chung Soo and had already figured it out beforehand, they must have been shocked by my sudden collapse during the strategy and my irregular breathing, and then shocked again when Kang Han told them about my skill’s limitations.
“I, um, I’m sorry for not telling you in advance.”
Still, I felt I owed them a proper apology, so I lowered my head as I spoke.
“And I’m sorry for scaring you all… Oof!”
Something came rushing at me, and a heavy impact struck my side.
And that wasn’t even the end of it.
Immediately after, the other side was hit too.
“Noona!”
“Unnie!”
The ones who had charged at me like mini trucks were the twins Lee Yu Chan and Lee Yu Eul.
“Y-yeah, you two.”
Had they grown taller while I was away?
Clutching my aching ribs, I barely managed a response when Lee Yu Eul, seeing my face, suddenly cried out.
“Yeo Joo Unnie said she was fine!”
“Kang Han Hyung, did you lie to us?!”
Lee Yu Chan also looked at Kang Han with a sense of betrayal.
Just then, Kang Han, who had walked over, grabbed the napes of Lee Yu Chan and Lee Yu Eul’s necks and lifted them away from me, saying.
“You two are the ones hurting Yeo Joo right now.”

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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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