The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 26

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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 – Episode 26

As Yoo Myung Hwa approached me, Kang Han stepped into her path.
It seemed like an instinctive move.
Though one of his skills had awakened, if Yoo Myung Hwa came at him with serious intent right now, he couldn’t win.
A fatal wound was inevitable, and he might have to prepare for worse.
But Kang Han’s back, shielding me, remained resolute.
“I simply wanted to have a conversation with you, Yeo Joo.”
“State your business first.”
“Well, isn’t it obvious?”
Through the gap between Kang Han’s arm and torso, I could see Yoo Myung Hwa’s fingers flicking a business card.
“Kang Han, I think it’s fine.”
So move aside a bit.
With you standing there like a refrigerator, I can’t see anything ahead.
“…Understood.”
Kang Han stepped to the side.
Then he handed the car keys to Lee Yu Chan, who had been awkwardly hovering nearby, and gave him instructions.
“Wait in the car.”
“Yes! Sister Yeo Joo! Hurry up. I’m hungry.”
Ah, we can’t have him going hungry.
Since this conversation wouldn’t take long anyway, I waved Lee Yu Chan off toward the car.
But Kang Han didn’t go with Lee Yu Chan.
He remained standing vigilantly beside me like a tree with roots planted deep, ready to protect me as I spoke with Yoo Myung Hwa.
“Well then, let me introduce myself properly. I’m Yoo Myung Hwa, Guild Master of the Dongbaek Guild.”
Yoo Myung Hwa extended a business card to me—elegant, thick Korean paper with a large camellia flower drawn on it.
“Yes, but I don’t have any business cards. I have nothing to give you.”
“That’s fine. I already know quite a bit about you, Yeo Joo.”
The nuance of her words was peculiar.
But I’d already suspected she’d investigated my past from the moment she came rushing to recruit me.
I shrugged and accepted it without concern.
“I think I know what you’re going to say without hearing it. You want me to join the Dongbaek Guild, right?”
“You’re quite perceptive. I’m prepared to offer you the best terms of any guild. That’s why I reached out to explain those conditions, but I couldn’t get through to you.”
“I’m simply not interested.”
Honestly, even if she brought hundreds of billions in currency, it would only be digital money to me.
Money that would disappear if I didn’t help Kang Han save this world from its end.
So there was no reason for me to be interested.
“You certainly are resolute.”
Yoo Myung Hwa tilted her head slightly to one side with a smile.
Wow, this older sister is quite a dangerous woman too.
Beyond her external appearance, it’s her sexiness and the composure unique to the strong that’s particularly captivating.
If she wanted to, she could probably seduce anyone?
But not me.
“I have to be resolute. That way, you won’t waste any more time on me either.”
“I find it hard to understand. Wouldn’t it be better to work comfortably with us at Dongbaek Guild, or really any of the other Four Major Guilds, rather than wallowing in a cesspool like Justice Guild?”
“That’s a fair point.”
I felt Kang Han flinch slightly beside me.
“I’m aware that you’ve invested a considerable portion of your lottery winnings into Justice Guild so far. However, if you were to sign a contract with us, I’m willing to provide that amount immediately as a signing bonus. Of course, that’s separate from your salary, living expenses, and Dungeon conquest rewards.”
The contract terms were staggering.
If I didn’t know the end of this world, I would have taken her hand right then and there.
So she couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t even raise an eyebrow at her proposal.
“Is there perhaps another reason? Something that requires you to be specifically in Justice Guild?”
It wasn’t a simple question.
This older sister has good instincts too.
But I answered lightly, as if I didn’t understand such implications.
“I have a debt to Justice Guild—a debt of the heart.”
“Hmm, a debt of the heart.”
“Actually, every Korean citizen has a debt to Justice Guild.”
When the Gate opened, they saved a country that was on the verge of complete collapse.
In reality, many countries have disappeared from the map.
“But it’s infuriating how ungratefully everyone treats Justice Guild like the bottom of the barrel.”
“That’s because of Guild Master Kang Young Won’s reckless Dungeon conquests….”
I raised a hand to stop Yoo Myung Hwa from continuing.
If I heard any more, I’d really lose my temper.
It’s a misunderstanding that will eventually be cleared up, but knowing that future makes me even more frustrated.
“And you’re only recruiting me so you can use me as just another cog in Dongbaek’s machine, right?”
“Not quite a cog, but yes—we hope you’d become a member of the guild and shoulder one of its pillars.”
“That’s the same thing.”
“I like your honesty, Yeo Joo.”
Ding—

《 ♥ 10 》

Yoo Myung Hwa’s favorability had increased.
That was good.
I’d likely need Dongbaek Guild’s assistance in the future, and with someone as decisive in her preferences as Yoo Myung Hwa, it was wise to build goodwill in advance.
She didn’t seem to dislike directness, so I could afford to be more candid.
“But honestly, I’m not the type to be anyone’s accessory, am I?”
“Haha!”
Yoo Myung Hwa burst into genuine laughter.
Her smile made her even more beautiful, so I stated my position once more with absolute clarity.
“I appreciate the offer, but I have no intention of joining Dongbaek Guild. I must decline.”
I’d said everything I needed to say.
“And another thing—I’ll be incredibly busy for the foreseeable future, so please don’t call me constantly. I won’t answer.”
With that, I gently pushed Kang Han’s shoulder toward the Parking Lot and turned to leave.
Then I heard that peculiar sound again.
I spun around in surprise, only to find that Yoo Myung Hwa’s favorability had risen once more.

《 ♥ 12 》

What? Does she actually enjoy being rejected?
While I was processing this unfamiliar personality type, Yoo Myung Hwa flashed that characteristic captivating smile of hers.
“See you again, Yeo Joo.”
She’s pretty, but there’s something odd about her.
I pushed Kang Han’s back firmly, noticing his reluctance to move.
I can’t let him get involved with someone like that.
He’ll be corrupted.
This is serious.

* * *

After returning to the Justice Guild headquarters in Jongno, I stopped Lee Yu Chan as he tried to head upstairs to his room.
“Lee Yu Chan.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve accepted your apology for today, but you know you didn’t do anything right, don’t you?”
“…I know.”
Lee Yu Chan answered dejectedly.
Still, since he showed signs of genuine reflection, I didn’t need to launch into a lengthy lecture.
“School violence is wrong. If something like this happens again, don’t jump in—find a teacher instead. Since I’ve already flipped the situation once, they won’t be able to sweep it under the rug like this time. Tell Lee Yu Eul the same thing.”
“Yes, I’ll make sure nothing like this happens again…”
“Fight outside.”
“Huh?”
“What do you mean ‘huh’? If you irritate me, I’ll remember it and beat you when we meet at a Dungeon or Training Facility.”
It was the same thing I’d told Kwak Ji Hyun, but the moment you step outside the school’s walls, even minors are nothing but Awakeners.
Any fights or conflicts that happen then fall under the jurisdiction of the Awakener Association, not the school.
And the Association is lenient toward disputes between Hunters, generally staying out of them.
As long as an excessive number of people aren’t involved.
For example, if Guilds brawl with each other, the Association intervenes and mediates because the country loses resources either way.
“You just have to not fight inside school, that’s all.”
“Y-yes, that’s true.”
“And don’t ever forget what happened today.”
Lee Yu Chan’s large eyes looked up at me.
“This one incident won’t change the school’s atmosphere. And the outside world goes without saying.”
Without major incidents or accidents, the world doesn’t change so easily.
“But don’t be discouraged. You just need to become stronger.”
In a world of survival of the fittest and rank-based hierarchy, strength is everything.
“Make sure your precious people never get disrespected again. Understand?”
Lee Yu Chan nodded.
At the same time, there was a change in the affinity notification.
Ding—

《 ♥ 9 》

What a cute kid.
Watching the door close with a soft click, a bit faster than usual, I couldn’t help but smile.
“Thank you.”
Kang Han, standing beside me, spoke suddenly.
“For not going to the Dongbaek Guild?”
It was a comment laced with half-joking humor.
But Kang Han seemed serious.
“Today, I learned so much. Perhaps the Guild Master should be you, Yeo Joo, rather than me.”
Oh.
Kang Han was actually joking.
I deliberately exaggerated my response to match his tone, feigning horror.
“Don’t say such frightening things! Just imagining it is dreadful!”
Then, something unexpected happened.
Ding!
The notification sound was the same.

《 ♥ 10 》

Affinity was rising as well.
But at that moment, different text appeared beside it.

《 ♥ 10 : Ally 》

A sort of keyword had emerged.
But what surprised me even more was something else entirely.
“Let’s do better going forward.”
It was the faint smile that bloomed across Kang Han’s face.

* * *

Tomorrow is finally the day the Training Facility will be completed.
The guild’s weekday mornings always looked the same.
After seeing off the twins heading to school, Kang Han and Jang Su Ho would head to the Mountain for training.
And that left me and Han Ji Sung.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him the last couple of days?”
Even before that, he rarely ventured out of his room.
He said he was busy with some research.
“I’m bored.”
Hating the oppressive silence, I turned on music through my phone.
One song passed.
A strange sensation tickled the back of my head.
Two songs passed.
No, nothing’s going to happen.
Three songs passed.
I snapped my eyes open and sat up from the sofa where I’d been lying down.
“Damn it! My gut feelings are never wrong!”
That’s what makes me so frustrated!
I grabbed only my phone and headed down to the second floor where Han Ji Sung’s room was.
Yeah, my intuition could be complete garbage, but still.
I knocked gently on the door first.
Knock knock.
“Han Ji Sung, are you alive in there?”
There was no response.
He could be in the Restroom.
I waited a moment and knocked again.
But still, there was no answer.
“Damn.”
This time I tried calling him.
“I can hear the ringtone.”
I could faintly hear his phone ringing from beyond the door, but Han Ji Sung didn’t pick up.
‘I never thought I’d have to use this.’
I pulled out the master key I’d received on moving day from my phone’s wallet.
It’s issued to all guild members in case of emergencies.
After hesitating until the last moment, I held the card key against the lock, and it clicked open.
“I’m coming in.”
I announced loudly as I opened the door, and then I saw him.
Han Ji Sung, lying unconscious on the floor.
And suddenly I realized how cold the room was.
Cold enough to see my breath.
Han Ji Sung hadn’t simply collapsed from overwork.
This was the appearance of someone on the verge of a rampage caused by symptoms of darkness addiction.

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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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