The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 260

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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 81

“Outside? Right now?”
[ “Yes, I’ll be waiting. Take your time coming out.” ]
Suddenly being told to come outside—I had no idea what was going on.
I acknowledged the request and hung up the phone, then pushed through the cushioned protective barrier Kang Han had created around me and got to my feet.
Kang Han looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“Did someone come looking for you outside?”
“Yes, the owner of Sugar Workshop.”
“…At this hour?”
“I know. It must be something urgent.”
Jung Je Hwa, who was usually easygoing, had come all the way to the Justice Guild at this late hour.
My heart began to race a little.
“Guild Master, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The moment I turned to say goodbye to Kang Han, he grabbed my wrist.
“Yeo Joo.”
It seemed like this had been happening more often lately.
Seeing Kang Han with such an unfamiliar expression.
His emerald eyes were dark.
The face still sitting on the sofa, looking up at me, clearly showed an anxiety he couldn’t conceal.
“What is it?”
Did he have something on his mind too?
If so, it was probably something serious.
I waited for his response, tense with anticipation.
“…It’s cold outside. Wear this.”
Kang Han released my wrist and stood up, draping his jacket over my shoulders.
The cardigan I was wearing alone wasn’t quite enough, but Kang Han’s large coat would definitely keep me warm.
I thanked him and, with his help, slipped my arms into the jacket sleeves and asked.
“Wasn’t there something you wanted to tell me?”
“It’s late at night. We can talk tomorrow. So don’t stay out long talking—hurry back and get some rest.”
“Okay, I will.”
I nodded at Kang Han’s familiar nagging and headed outside where Jung Je Hwa was waiting, though something tugged at my attention.
When I glanced back, Kang Han was still standing there in the same spot.
Among the guild members gathered in small groups discussing the strategy broadcast, he stood alone watching me, and his lonely figure stirred something in my heart.
“Sleep well.”
I waved my hand with an inexplicable sense of apology, and Kang Han waved back in return.
His face was smiling, yet somehow he seemed lost in thought.
I tilted my head curiously and slipped out of the Break Room.

* * *

Je Hwa was waiting for me in front of the Dormitory Building.
His shadow, cast beneath a streetlamp positioned a short distance from the entrance, appeared unusually elongated.
“Boss, what brings you here at this hour?”
“You weren’t coming from the Dormitory.”
“Right, we were all gathered watching the Gong Gil Yeon Alliance strategy broadcast together.”
“So that’s why you’re wearing the Kang Han Guild leader’s jacket.”
How did he know this belonged to Kang Han?
While I tilted my head in confusion, Je Hwa’s gaze lingered quite noticeably on Kang Han’s jacket I was wearing.
“But there isn’t actually something wrong, is there?”
“No. Though it seems something did happen to you, Yeo Joo.”
I could immediately understand what Je Hwa meant.
From where he stood, the deplorable state of the First Floor Cafeteria would be clearly visible.
“Ah, that.”
Looking at the gaping hole that had been hastily patched with wooden boards since construction hadn’t yet begun, I couldn’t help but laugh sheepishly.
“There was just a bit of an accident….”
“Who was it this time?”
Je Hwa clearly hadn’t believed the gas leak accident story for even a second.
“Since I saw Sa Ma Young at the Hospital Room last time, it wasn’t him, and with you here, it couldn’t have been a rampage either. Did perhaps another guild from the Gong Gil Yeon Alliance attack?”
“…Boss, you seem to have surprisingly good instincts.”
I had decided from the start to be honest with Je Hwa.
He was someone I could trust, and besides, Maestro would soon become entangled with the Apocalypse Cult anyway.
“Have you ever heard of the Apocalypse Cult?”
Je Hwa stared at me in silence for a moment, his eyes filled with disbelief.
“…Now we’ve come to cults of all things.”
“No, I didn’t summon them! They snuck in to spy, and when they got caught, they suddenly punched a hole in the wall and fled.”
“I’m worried because strange things keep getting tangled up with you, Yeo Joo.”
Je Hwa looked genuinely exhausted as he said this, so I responded with spirited determination, grateful for his concern.
“You don’t need to worry, Boss. I can handle the Apocalypse Cult just fine on my own.”
“You must have gotten hurt again.”
Since he was right, I averted my gaze instead of answering, and Je Hwa let out a short sigh before retrieving a familiar necklace from his Subspace.

[ Necklace of Absolute Defense III ( S )
: Absorbs all physical and non-physical attacks directed at the owner for up to 5 uses. ]

Je Hwa approached from behind and familiarly fastened the necklace around my neck.
“I’m sorry. The performance is identical to last time. I didn’t have time to upgrade the necklace itself.”
“I’m the one who should apologize, boss. I’m always just receiving like this.”
The gifts Je Hwa gave me weren’t burdensome in a way that even I found strange.
Rather, I felt only gratitude.
And naturally, I found myself wanting to give something good in return someday.
As I fingered the necklace, wondering how I could repay this kindness, Je Hwa drew closer and placed both hands on my shoulders.
And spoke with unprecedented seriousness.
“I’ve never regretted not being a combat-type more than I do lately. So please don’t say things like that. I’m genuinely grateful that I can at least give you things like this.”
“Boss….”
I grasped Je Hwa’s hand firmly and cautioned him.
“If anyone asks you to buy them a jade mat, absolutely don’t. Understood?”
Even as I gave the warning, my heart felt uneasy.
Sigh, Je Hwa would probably buy one out of curiosity about how jade mats work to keep the body healthy.
“A jade mat?”
Je Hwa looked momentarily confused at my words, then let out a soft laugh and replied.
“If you sell it, I have to buy it.”
Then he pulled something from his pocket and placed it in my hand.
“I didn’t have time because of this. I’ll give you a better necklace soon.”
“A wristwatch?”
What Je Hwa handed me was a black wristwatch.
It was a model commonly used by hunters to check the time when entering Gates—waterproof and durable against impacts, so Kang Han always wore one as well.
“Wait a moment.”
The watch that passed from my hand back to Je Hwa wrapped around his wrist.
Then, with a beep, the electronic screen lit up.
The date and time displayed were the same, but I could see ten boxes drawn along the circular screen.

[ Darkness Addiction Scanner 13.4v (S)
: An item that displays the wearer’s darkness addiction rate.
Wristwatch type. ]

“Wait, this is… is this a scanner?”
“Yes, that’s right. Want to check it out?”
I quickly pulled up Je Hwa’s status window.

Je Hwa S
.
.
.
Abnormal Status – Darkness Addiction 27%

“Right now, the boss’s addiction rate is at 27%.”
I pulled Je Hwa’s hand closer and checked the watch screen.
Three bars were filled.
“It looks right!”
“It seems to be working properly, which is a relief.”
“Boss, you really are a genius. How were you able to improve the accuracy this much in such a short time?”
It was an incredible advancement compared to the silk bracelet that had simply displayed status using three colors like a traffic light.
“So that’s why you were so busy.”
“It was fortunate to have something to focus on. It kept my mind from wandering. Anyway, next time I’ll develop a model that can display the numbers precisely.”
“Really, wow….”
My admiration continued to pour out.
It was an even more impressive result than the scanner that had been created in the latter half of the Sejong Era.
That scanner back then wasn’t in a form that could always be carried on the body like this.
It was a method of storing it in the Subspace and pulling it out like a thermometer whenever needed to measure.
Je Hwa had put that much more care into this.
“I think it’s even better because it doubles as a wristwatch.”
I couldn’t let go of Je Hwa’s wrist as I spoke.
“Since it’s something always worn when entering a Gate, the distribution rate will be higher too. Je Hwa, you really have great abilities.”
“It will take about a month before formal sales are possible.”
“Only a month?”
I was startled, but then I recalled the large-scale production line that Maestro possessed, and my head nodded naturally.
But then, Je Hwa smoothly withdrew his hand from mine.
Feeling suddenly empty-handed, I looked up, and Je Hwa was gazing down at me from close range.
“Once this scanner begins to be distributed, it’s only a matter of time before your abilities become known, Yeo Joo.”
“Mm, I suppose so.”
Until now I’d pretended to increase stamina, but soon it would be obvious that my skill actually reduces the darkness addiction rate.
Je Hwa let out another small sigh at my response and spoke.
“Before proceeding with mass production, there is one final condition.”

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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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