The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 269

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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 90

“What? What did you just say?”
“Am I some caught fish now?”
“No, when did I ever—! What do you mean caught fish!”
If anyone heard this, they’d think I was the type who played around with people’s hearts!
Indignant, I spun around to protest, but Oh Young In had already vanished from where he’d been standing.
For such a massive frame, he certainly moved fast.
So this is what it feels like to be utterly exasperated.
Still fuming, I gazed up at the Dungeon sky where dark clouds were gathering, when Sa Ma Young gently tugged my arm and spoke.
“Let’s head over there. We’ll rest for a bit before continuing.”
Too drained to argue, I followed where Sa Ma Young led.
But in a clearing just off the path—where moments ago there had been nothing—several Tents now stood erected.
“Wait, when did you even set up Tents?”
“While Yeo Joo was distracted by Oh Young In.”
“Are you going to keep saying things like that? It’s really not like that!”
“I know. Go inside and take a look.”
Like you know anything.
I shot Sa Ma Young one more glare before stepping into the Tent.
“Wow, so it was a Subspace item.”
From the outside, it appeared to be an ordinary three or four-person Tent, but once inside, the space opened up far more expansively.
It resembled a nomadic dwelling, with a conical ceiling that rose gracefully and was made of transparent material so you could see the sky.
With simple beds and chairs and other furnishings perfectly arranged, it felt less like Gate clearing and more like glamping.
If the price wasn’t too steep, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to buy one for each clearing team.
For medium-sized Dungeons and larger that might last several days, adequate rest was crucial.
“How much do items like this cost?”
“Do you like it? Want me to give you one?”
“You’re always giving things away.”
Sa Ma Young chuckled softly at me shaking my head.
“It’s an exclusive product from the Sama Hunter Market. I’ll have some sent to the Justice Guild.”
“I can’t accept it for free. I can’t take gifts from the Sama Guild without compensation.”
“You can accept it.”
“No, I’m telling you I won’t.”
Whether or not he understood my words, Sa Ma Young nodded and guided me toward the bed.
“You must be exhausted. Get some rest.”
To be honest, I was tempted this time.
I’d stayed silent and endured without complaint, not wanting to burden another guild, but my entire body ached from hours of continuous walking without rest.
I couldn’t afford to waste stamina potions either, not knowing what might come next.
But no matter how much his favorability had risen, Sa Ma Young was still Sa Ma Young.
I shook my head.
“I’m fine. I’m not that tired… I’m not tired at all!”
I struggled to escape from Sa Ma Young’s arms as he casually scooped me up, but he merely snorted in response.
Despite his demeanor suggesting he might throw me onto the bed that very instant, his hands were surprisingly gentle as he laid me down.
Though I hadn’t intended to lie down, my honest body began to relax the moment it touched the soft mattress, contrary to what my mind wanted.
I desperately wanted to close my eyes and sleep for just one hour.
“Yeo Joo.”
Sitting at the edge of the bed, Sa Ma Young didn’t withdraw even after tucking the blanket around me.
Instead, he braced his hands on either side of my head and leaned closer, speaking in a whisper.
“Are you afraid I might do something to you?”
“…Why are you like this?”
I seized the opportunity to ask the question that had been nagging at me all along.
“Just go back to how you were. I can’t get used to this.”
Sa Ma Young’s attitude had changed far too much since we’d reunited.
Gone were the days when he’d strangle me, threatening to kill me, or set fires—now he was strangely gentle and affectionate.
Like a rose with all its thorns removed.
Sure enough, Sa Ma Young brought up that day.
“You said it yourself back then—that I can’t kill you.”
“Well, that was…”
Because your favorability was high!
“Right, I can’t kill you. And.”
Sa Ma Young brushed aside a strand of my hair that had fallen across my face and pulled back, speaking softly.
“Now I’m afraid of being hated by you.”

* * *

Beep beep.
I checked the alarm ringing from my wristwatch and spoke.
“It’s already been 24 hours since we entered the Gate.”
I was fairly exhausted, but not to the point of collapsing like before.
Though it was only a few hours, I’d gotten enough rest in the Tent.
I glanced at Sa Ma Young with fresh eyes.
‘I never thought he’d actually leave so I could rest properly.’
It wasn’t just talk—Sa Ma Young really had changed somewhat.
That said, I hadn’t completely let my guard down.
As I’ve said repeatedly, Sa Ma Young is Sa Ma Young.
If anything, my wariness toward him had only heightened.
“Once we cross this river, we should reach the area with the Temple.”
Sa Ma Young handed the map to Woo Jun Kyung as he spoke.
I agreed with his assessment.
Unlike this side with its dense trees, the far bank looked quite pleasant.
But there was a separate concern.
“Are we really sure that bridge is safe to cross?”
I couldn’t tell how deep the river was, but it was quite wide.
The bridge’s condition, however, was questionable.
It looked like nothing more than several large logs lashed together, which didn’t inspire confidence.
“We’ll find out once we try.”
Sa Ma Young answered briefly and started crossing the bridge ahead of us.
It was true—we couldn’t know for certain until we attempted it.
Uneasy as I felt, I followed Sa Ma Young and stepped onto the bridge.
Despite its appearance, the bridge felt quite sturdy beneath my feet.
Just as I relaxed and reached the middle of the bridge, it happened.
Boom!
“Ahhh!”
The bridge shook violently with a tremendous sound.
I knew something felt wrong!
I thought the bridge was collapsing and looked down, but the actual situation was far more dire.

[ Chronicle River Giant Crocodile ( A )
: A crocodile found in the Chronicle River basin.
Ferocious in temperament, intelligent, and moves in groups. ]

While not quite as large as the Crocodile King that the Justice Guild had slain before, the swarm of crocodiles attacking the bridge was clearly massive, judging by the portions visible above the water’s surface.
The largest among them brought down its tail—thick as a wooden barrel—across the bridge.
Boom!
The impact was so violent that my knees buckled beneath me.
Sa Ma Young, who had been leading the way, turned toward me, and in the next instant, I found myself cradled in his arms. Just as the sensation of weightlessness made me squeeze my eyes shut, my feet touched solid ground.
“Stay here.”
With those brief words, Sa Ma Young turned and sprinted back toward the river.
Yet his shoe-clad feet weren’t treading on earth—they were stepping through empty air.
It appeared to be an item with levitation capabilities.
Sa Ma Young descended behind the swarm of crocodiles that were attacking the bridge from low altitude and issued an order to Woo Jun Kyung.
“Jun Kyung, poison
them.”
“do it.”
Despite the river teeming with countless crocodiles, Woo Jun Kyung plunged his hand into the water without a moment’s hesitation.
Soon his submerged hand turned violet, and the surrounding river water took on the same hue.
Meanwhile, all the crocodiles that snapped their jaws at Woo Jun Kyung were dealt with by Sa Ma Young and the other hunters.
Before long, crocodiles twice the height of a man began floating to the surface one by one, their pale bellies exposed.
It wasn’t long before they crumbled to ash and vanished—easily over thirty of them.
Just when I thought we could finally catch our breath—
Snap!
I thought we’d overcome the crocodile assault, but I noticed the rope anchoring the bridge to the ground had snapped.
“The bridge is about to break! Cross now!”
At my cry, all five hunters except Sa Ma Young, who remained suspended in midair, began sprinting at full speed.
The moment Oh Young In, running at the rear, touched the ground on the far side, the bridge was swept away by the current.
We had narrowly avoided the disaster of hunters plummeting into the murky river, where who knew what else might be lurking.
“That was close.”
Even though I had merely been watching from a safe distance, the tension drained from my body and my legs wavered.
But thanks to my lowered perspective, something caught my eye.
It was Woo Jun Kyung’s hand, dripping blood—whether from a crocodile bite or something else.
“Woo Jun Kyung, let me see your hand. I’ll heal it for you.”
“…I appreciate that.”
Woo Jun Kyung didn’t feign politeness or insist he was fine.
He understood well enough that receiving timely healing from a healer was far more advantageous than trying to push through with an injured hand and potentially compromising the dungeon’s conquest.

[ Activating skill ‘Body Restoration’. ]
[ Consuming 20 stamina to treat the target’s external wounds. ]

As my synchronization rate increased and I leveled up, even with such serious injuries, the stamina consumed was surprisingly minimal.
“…Thank you.”
Woo Jun Kyung bowed respectfully.
“It’s only natural, after all.”
I tried to coolly nod and move past it, but a hand suddenly thrust itself in front of me.
“What is it?”
“I’m hurt too, Yeo Joo.”
Sa Ma Young extended his uninjured hand, and when I squinted to look closely, there was indeed a hairline fracture on the back of his hand.
“Does Sa Ma Young have no sense of shame?”
“Not in front of you, Yeo Joo.”
“Sigh.”
I carelessly treated the barely visible wound and spoke firmly.
“I’m doing this because you’ve been behaving well lately.”
After all, even training a golden child requires carrots as incentives.

* * *

Crack.
The phone screen clutched in Kang Han’s hand finally fractured.
The green eyes watching the strategy broadcast had long forgotten how to blink.
A cold, seething rage—one he’d never felt before—bubbled like molten lava.
Jung Je Hwa, standing beside Kang Han and likewise glaring at the screen, spoke.
“Why did you let Yeo Joo go in the first place?”
“Jung Je Hwa.”
A voice devoid of inflection and chillingly cold—one never heard in Yeo Joo’s presence—flowed from Kang Han.
“To me, you and Sa Ma Young are no different, so let’s keep quiet.”

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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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