The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 271

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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 92

I merely twisted the tail of the crocodile sculpture, yet it felt as though I had traversed dimensions themselves.
Not only did several Temple buildings suddenly materialize, but the torrential downpour vanished without a trace.
“Even within a Gate, this is absurd. How could something so massive have remained hidden?”
I let out a hollow laugh, muttering in disbelief.
The sharp spires of Temple structures jutted irregularly above the dense jungle canopy.
Between those stone edifices—comparable to pyramids in both appearance and scale—flowed an expertly constructed open aqueduct, through which water cascaded ceaselessly, evoking an atmosphere of profound mystery.
It would have been truly magnificent.
Had it not been for the oppressive mist blanketing the ground, casting an ominous pall, and the blood-soaked corpses scattered throughout.
“How horrifying…”
Ju Sa Eun whimpered softly.
Even I found the sight difficult to bear; for someone as timid as Ju Sa Eun, it must have been far worse.
Sa Ma Young, by contrast, didn’t so much as blink.
Examining the bodies with the detached gaze of one viewing film props, he proceeded forward without a word, his entourage from the Sama Guild following closely at his heels.
I hesitated for a moment.
I already had a rough idea of what awaited us, which made me even more reluctant to proceed.
“Sigh.”
Come on, Yeo Joo—as a possessed vessel, I should move forward with resolve.
I exhaled deeply, refilled my lungs with a deep breath, and took my first step.
Yet summoning courage and actually being able to stomach the gruesome sights were entirely different matters.
The deeper we ventured, the more corpses we encountered.
The mist itself grew denser in proportion to the number of bodies.
At one point, the fog became so thick that it was nearly impossible to take another step forward.
“Something’s off.”
Sa Ma Young, who had been leading, came to a halt.
“The more corpses we encounter, the more intense the mist becomes.”
With that observation, Sa Ma Young extended his hand toward a corpse sprawled at his feet.
But Woo Jun Kyung was faster.
“My lord, allow me.”
Just let Sa Ma Young handle it.
While S-rank Sa Ma Young might be fine, A-rank Woo Jun Kyung could be in danger.
I tilted my head and spoke without thinking.
“There appears to be something coating the bodies?”
“…”
As expected, Woo Jun Kyung had sharp instincts.
Sensing something amiss in my words, he used the tip of his foot rather than his hand to nudge the corpse over.
“Ugh!”
“Gasp!”
It was like watching a horror film where you know something grotesque is coming but still jump in terror.
Despite bracing myself mentally, the sight of the exposed corpse’s face made me recoil.
Dozens of pale mushrooms had sprouted through the dead Priest’s eyes, nose, and mouth, forcing their way outward.

[ Phantom Mushroom
: A poisonous fungus that grows by absorbing nutrients from corpses.
Its spores drift through the air and take root upon detecting blood.
Ingestion causes instant death; even contact alone induces excruciating pain. ]

“Mm.”
I couldn’t help but take a half-step back, retreating.
Seeing my reaction, Sa Ma Young quietly ignited a flame.
The fire that began at his gesture spread swiftly with a crackling sound, consuming everything around it.
When the flames subsided moments later, the corpses blooming with Phantom Mushrooms were gone.
The Temple’s corridor, where the sound of water flowing through the irrigation channel echoed, was now as peaceful as if nothing had ever happened.

* * *

“Not exactly a complete jungle animal collection set, but they sure do come in quite the variety.”
I murmured while treating the wound on Oh Young In’s shoulder.
The Temple’s structure was bewilderingly complex, with large and small shrines and buildings erected around a central corridor where water flowed.
Moreover, each time we opened a door in the Temple, a different type of monster would leap out, making it feel like we were opening some kind of monster mystery box.
From the first room came poison frogs with bright red bellies, and from the second room came spiders with fluffy fur.
And the master of the third room we had just finished clearing was an enormously massive serpent.
Still, Sa Ma Young’s subordinates all possessed high attack power, so the conquest itself was progressing swiftly.
In fact, Oh Young In had even subdued the colossal serpent that appeared last entirely by himself with his bare hands.
When he suppressed the serpent’s neck with his thick, muscular forearms as it coiled around his body to strangle him, I nearly burst into spontaneous applause without thinking.
He did sustain some injuries in the process, but they were light enough for me to treat effortlessly, so there was no problem.
I gazed at Oh Young In’s now-pristine shoulder and asked somewhat casually.
“What kind of exercise do you normally do?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m just curious what kind of training gives you such incredible strength.”
I should try having Jang Su Ho do the same thing.
With that thought, I was pressing him with what wasn’t quite an interrogation, when Sa Ma Young abruptly interjected.
“Yeo Joo, stop once you’re done treating.”
“No, I’m just asking out of genuine curiosity.”
Sa Ma Young was like a pest.
He was glaring at me with blazing eyes, worried I might uncover Guild secrets.
I clicked my tongue and closed my mouth, following Sa Ma Young toward the next room.
On a door far larger than any we had encountered before, there was writing in a language I had never seen.
Yet mysteriously, whether through the System’s ability or something else, I could understand the meaning of those characters.
“Prayer Chamber?”
Sa Ma Young seemed to have the same experience, for after reading the characters, he wasted no further time and pushed the door open.
Unlike all the previous instances where monsters would burst out the moment we entered, the interior was silent.
“Is it empty?”
It was when Bang Ri Ri tilted her head in confusion and spoke.
Boom!
The door behind us slammed shut.
And immediately after, a deafening sound reverberated loud enough to make our ears ring.
Vroooooom—!
The source of that roar, which sounded like a massive machine’s motor spinning to life, was soon revealed.

[ Female Bloodsucking Mostic (A)]
[ Male Bloodsucking Mostic (B)]
[ Female Bloodsucking Mostic (A)]
[ Female Bloodsucking Mostic (A)]
.
.
.

Mostics were just oversized mosquitoes—each one the size of a compact car.
In the brief moment it took me to dismiss the dozens of system windows cluttering my vision, Sa Ma Young and his associates had already drawn their weapons.
Whoosh—
Sa Ma Young dragged his blade downward, wreathing it in flickering crimson flames, and issued an order to Bang Wi Jin.
“Protect us.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Bang Wi Jin responded with crisp deference, erecting a blue barrier around me and himself.
Sa Ma Young cast a satisfied glance at me, now caged like a bird in a birdhouse, before launching forward—the remaining hunters surging after him.
“Oh, they’re handling this well.”
Fortunately, Sa Ma Young, Woo Jun Kyung, and Oh Young In had excellent matchups against the mosquitoes.
After all, insects are best dealt with by burning them, spraying them, or crushing them.
Meanwhile, Ju Sa Eun, paired with Bang Ri Ri who wielded dark magic, was struggling considerably.
“Ugh….”
Ju Sa Eun in particular seemed to have a genuine fear of insects—she could barely stand upright.
A mosquito the size of a fingernail is merely annoying, but one the size of a compact car would naturally be terrifying.
Watching the Mostics buzz frantically about, trying to drive their needle-like proboscises into her even as she was under attack, sent shivers down my spine.
Seeing Ju Sa Eun’s legs trembling like those of a newborn fawn, I cautiously made a suggestion to Bang Wi Jin, who continued pouring strength into the barrier.
“Couldn’t we bring Ju Sa Eun inside the barrier too? Since she’s a debuffer, she should be able to use her skills effectively from a distance.”
“…I must follow my lord’s command to protect the healer Yeo Joo.”
“He said to protect me, not to abandon Ju Sa Eun.”
“Still, I must prioritize the primary order….”
As Bang Wi Jin’s rigid response drew a hollow laugh from me, disaster finally struck.
“I-I can’t take it anymore!”
Ju Sa Eun, surrendering, cried out loudly and began sprinting toward the barrier where Bang Wi Jin and I stood.
And the monsters did not miss the exposed back of a fleeing enemy.
Bzzzzzz—!
Ten Mostics that had been circling and waiting for an opening dove after Ju Sa Eun as she ran toward my side.
Seeing this, I pressed myself against the barrier wall and reached out my hand.
“Ju Sa Eun!”
It was just as Bang Wi Jin lowered one section of the barrier to let her through.
“Kyaaah!”
Ju Sa Eun, who had barely reached the barrier’s edge, was suddenly grabbed by someone’s hand, lifted into the air, and hurled directly into the thick of the battle.
A dozen Mostics descended upon the defenseless new prey without hesitation.
Woo Jun Kyung and Bang Ri Ri rushed to attack from nearby, but two managed to slip through and plunged their snouts into Ju Sa Eun’s body.
Bewildered by the sudden turn of events, I heard Sa Ma Young’s frigid voice cutting through the chaos.
“Bang Wi Jin, I told you to protect her properly.”

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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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