The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 275

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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 96

“You’ve worked hard, Yeo Joo.”
“Did you watch the dungeon broadcast?”
Kang Han adjusted his scarf more carefully as he answered my question.
“Of course. I watched the entire thing. Not a single moment missed.”
So he had been watching all along.
Though we couldn’t enter together, knowing that a reliable ally had been with me the whole time made me smile.
“Those insectoid monsters were really gross. We should try to avoid jungle-type dungeons whenever possible.”
“Perhaps so.”
I watched Kang Han’s slightly relaxed expression for a moment before speaking.
“I need to say hello to the Sama Guild. Wait for me a moment.”
“Yes, of course.”
Sa Ma Young was still standing in front of the Gate, watching me.
It seemed he had heard our entire conversation.
As I approached, Sa Ma Young’s attendants stepped back respectfully, clearing the way.
“You’ve worked hard, Sa Ma Young. I’ve treated all your wounds, so go home and get some proper rest.”
“And you?”
“I need to head home now too.”
“Home….”
Sa Ma Young’s sharp gaze turned toward Kang Han behind me.
He seemed displeased that I was returning with Kang Han.
I stepped sideways to block his line of sight and spoke.
“I’ll give the dungeon mining rights to the Sama Guild.”
“Didn’t I say everything, including the mining rights, belongs to you?”
“You did.”
That was why I had agreed to come along in the first place.
But the situation inside the Gate had changed my mind.
“This Gate was awarded to the Sama Guild in the first place. Besides, since the guild master and the elite raid team all moved together, the Sama Guild should at least take the mining rights so they don’t suffer losses.”
“Losses, you say.”
Sa Ma Young’s expression turned cold.
“I have no intention of calculating profit and loss with you, Yeo Joo.”
“I do.”
I spoke once more, lest my words be lost in the wind.
“I do.”
“Why all of a sudden…?”
“It’s not sudden—it’s only natural. It has to be this way.”
“Yeo Joo.”
“While we’re settling accounts, let me make this clear. Sa Ma Young nearly died in my place this time. Even though he was wearing defensive gear, he still got hurt because of me. So I should take a hit once too…”
“Go ahead and try.”
Sa Ma Young spoke with a fierce scowl darkening his features.
From his expression alone, I thought he might swing at me—but I knew he wouldn’t.
No, he couldn’t.
I deliberately ignored the affection gauge floating above Sa Ma Young’s head and shook my head.
“Who gets hurt on someone else’s behalf? I’m fragile—I’d die if that happened. What I meant was, if Sa Ma Young ever gets injured badly enough to be in mortal danger, I’ll definitely treat him. Anyway, the mining rights and gathering rights go to the Sama Guild. I’ll consider it compensation for the mercenary work.”
I retrieved the box containing Hemeres’ Blessing from the Subspace and showed it to him, then stepped back and bowed.
“Take care.”
“…Yeo Joo.”
Leaving him with words still unsaid, I turned and walked away immediately.
Faster than usual, without stopping, I exhaled silently in relief.
I was grateful Sa Ma Young hadn’t grabbed me.
“The conversation is over, Guild Master.”
Kang Han, still standing where he had been waiting for me, said nothing.
He must have heard the entire exchange with Sa Ma Young, yet he made no mention of it.
He simply followed behind me as I walked ahead, as if guarding my back.
The steady sound of Kang Han’s footsteps assured me I wasn’t walking alone.
I could still feel Sa Ma Young’s gaze on me from behind, but I didn’t turn around.
It was time to return to where I truly belonged.

* * *

Christmas had passed several days ago, yet the Break Room still held a decorated tree.
As white snow fell heavily from the dark sky, the members of the Justice Guild gathered together in one place.
Sung Yo Na greeted me with a warm mug of hot chocolate as I stepped into the space, where the air was heated in stark contrast to the cold outside.
“Yeo Joo, happy New Year!”
“Thank you, Yo Na. Happy New Year to you too!”
“Didn’t Baek Ho come with you?”
“He hates moving in the cold, so he wouldn’t get out of bed.”
As I sipped the hot chocolate with white marshmallows floating on top, it suddenly struck me that this was truly the last day of the year.
Then came a loud crash as something collapsed.
Looking toward the screen, I saw Lee Tae Yoon, the Team 3 leader, standing with both hands raised in triumph in front of a toppled Jenga tower.
“Woohoo!”
“Yes! Yang Hwa Yeon, get your revenge from earlier!”
“Hey, take it easy, take it easy!”
It seemed Yang Hwa Yeon was the one who knocked over the Jenga tower.
Moments later, as I heard the sound of Yang Hwa Yeon’s wrist being slapped repeatedly, I asked Sung Yo Na a question.
“I thought everyone would head home, but quite a few stayed?”
Though the guild members usually lived in the dormitory, they typically returned to their families at year’s end.
Im Chung Soo, who had gone down to the Rural Area early around Christmas, was an example of that.
So I had expected the guild to feel empty today, the last day of the year, but the Break Room was surprisingly bustling.
“Guild members whose hometowns are in the provinces often just stay in Seoul. Oh, and Ji Sung will be back tomorrow.”
“Telling him to take a few days off—honestly.”
“He was grumbling this afternoon while packing that his research flow on mana stones was being interrupted by the year-end.”
“That guy’s a serious case too, a serious case.”
“Since the cooks won’t be here tomorrow, I’ll make tteokguk. I’ve already prepared all the ingredients.”
“Will you be okay? It’ll be tough with such a large quantity.”
“It’s nothing fancy, just making tteokguk. And Team 2 said they’d help.”
While I chatted with Sung Yo Na at a table far from the Jenga group, the twins Lee Yu Chan and Lee Yu Eul joined us.
“Today’s training was so intense.”
“Kang Han has been relentless lately. I thought since Instructor Jinrok is on vacation, we’d get away easy today, but—”
“I think I’m already getting sore all over.”
The twins, pouting their lips like duck bills and complaining, suddenly turned toward the entrance and jeered.
“Ooh, here comes the culprit of our muscle soreness!”
“If you don’t grow taller this way, your brother will have to share his height with you!”
Kang Han, brushing snow from his shoulders as he entered the Break Room, let out a quiet laugh at Lee Yu Chan’s remark.
“You grew two centimeters just this month.”
“If you hadn’t thrown me around, I could’ve grown three centimeters maybe.”
As I gently patted the head of Lee Yu Chan, who had returned to his duck-bill pout, the scent of winter wind and fresh shampoo wafted from Kang Han as he sat beside me.
“Now that I think about it, it’s true. Guild Master, you’ve gotten bigger?”
I hadn’t noticed from seeing him every day, but Kang Han’s silhouette had definitely changed.
Even with his thick winter coat on, the difference was noticeable.
Her entire silhouette had taken on a sharp, honed edge.
“Aren’t you training a bit too hard, based on what the kids are saying?”
“I’ve grown fond of training lately.”
“…Isn’t that an addiction?”
He already practically lived at the Training Facility, and now even more?
Despite my worried gaze, Kang Han simply smiled quietly.
“Sister, please talk some sense into him.”
“We’re going to die at this rate.”
As I was actually considering whether I should intervene at the twins’ groaning, Kang Han spoke up.
“You’re adults now, so you should be training harder too.”
“Ah!”
I felt like I’d forgotten something!
I slammed my hand on the table and asked.
“Why are you two still here now that you’re adults?”
“…Can’t adults be at the Guild?”
Lee Yu Chan still had no idea what I meant.
“No, that’s not it! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime day becoming an adult—why aren’t you out there having fun!”
“Oh, I see.”
“That’s what you meant?”
The twins exchanged a glance with each other before answering indifferently.
“Becoming an adult doesn’t really change anything.”
“Going outside just means more people. It’s annoying.”
While Lee Yu Chan had always been somewhat old-fashioned, Lee Yu Eul’s answer about disliking crowds was genuinely shocking.
At the same time, I felt a twinge of guilt.
“Guild Master, don’t you think we’re kind of bad adults?”
The twins were the type to chirp and follow me and Kang Han around for every waking moment.
Yet here I was, letting them waste away such a special day!
“The kids in our class did ask us to go listen to the New Year’s bell, but we just stayed home because we were lazy.”
“That’s exactly why you need to go out and have fun!”
“Ow, ow, ow!”
I was rubbing Lee Yu Eul’s cheeks roughly and considering whether to kick them out the door to go play, when—
“How about you two take the kids out and buy them some drinks?”
“…Drinks?”
At Sung Yo Na’s suggestion, my ears perked right up.
I jumped to my feet and exclaimed.
“That’s it! You have to learn how to drink properly from adults!”

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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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