The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 288
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Yeo Joo Saves the World
Part 2, Episode 109
Han Ji Sung, holding a laser pointer he’d procured from somewhere that advanced slides with a simple button press, exuded the commanding presence of a renowned master instructor.
Thanks to him, the Justice Guild members’ focus was piercing through the ceiling.
Lee Yu Eul and Lee Yu Chan had even brought notebooks and pens they’d used at school last year and were taking notes.
Everyone’s enthusiasm was bolstered in no small part by Han Ji Sung’s razor-sharp lectures—delivered without unnecessary elaboration, each word landing precisely where it needed to.
“The Guild Cup rules are as follows. In the Round of 16 and quarterfinals, five hunters per guild may enter a Gate, and mid-match substitutions are not permitted. Given the limited numbers, it’s crucial that no one falls into combat incapacity during the conquest, wouldn’t you say?”
Considering that typical A-rank Gate conquests involve anywhere from a dozen to dozens of hunters, ten hunters combined from both teams was admittedly a modest force.
However, since the top-tier guilds selected only their elite to participate, high-ranking hunters were abundant, making this a carefully considered regulation to ensure individual matches didn’t conclude too swiftly.
After briefly outlining a few additional rules beyond the personnel limit—such as the mandatory wearing of wristwatches distributed by the Association—Han Ji Sung advanced to the next slide.
“According to the draw results, our Justice Guild will face the Cheongmun Guild from Incheon in the Round of 16. As you all know, being a regionally-based guild, they’re characterized by a thick roster of hunters. The five expected to compete in this Round of 16 are as follows.”
Beep.
As the slide advanced with a soft click, two familiar faces appeared across the screen.
“First, these two—Guild Master Ryu Do Kyung and Sub-Guild Master Ryu Ja Kyung.”
Being siblings, they bore a striking resemblance to each other, yet the auras they projected were entirely different.
If Ryu Do Kyung possessed a gentle impression, Ryu Ja Kyung leaned toward something far more austere.
“Both are A-rank, but their abilities are completely different. Let’s refer to the status windows publicly disclosed to the Association.”
Ryu Do Kyung A
1. Wind Pressure Control (A)
2. Forced Gravity (A)
3. Sealing (B)
Ryu Ja Kyung A
1. Swift Blade Chaos (A)
2. Answering Snow Untroubled (A)
3. The Deer Dies Without Choosing Sound (A)
I’d seen Ryu Do Kyung fight before in the Cheongra Double Dungeon.
He’d bound the movements of the colossal statue, buying time for Kang Han and the others to attack.
Unfortunately, his younger sister Ryu Ja Kyung hadn’t received much mention in the Sejong Report, so I’d been curious about what kind of person she was, but looking at her skill window gave me a rough sense.
She possessed entirely direct and aggressive skills.
“Shall we watch Cheongmun Guild’s recent clear footage?”
Thorough as always, Han Ji Sung hadn’t merely shown us their skill windows—he’d prepared audiovisual materials as well.
It was a short YouTube video edited and uploaded by Cheongmun’s supporter, and the Ryu siblings’ performance within it looked impressive, though not solely because of the fan-filled editing.
“Phew, Cheongmun didn’t land that sixth-place position for nothing.”
Jung Yi Do, Team 2’s shield, shook his head and let out a hollow laugh.
I completely agreed with him.
Ryu Do Kyung and Ryu Ja Kyung’s combat power was formidable.
Cheongmun Guild certainly had skilled hunters beyond just those two, but now I understood at once why those two held the positions of guild master and sub-guild master.
Especially after watching the clear footage, Ryu Do Kyung, faintly smiling in the photograph, looked somewhat different to me.
“Guild Master Ryu Do Kyung’s area-of-effect skill is pretty… brutal. Even if they’re just small goblins, he crushes several at once.”
Recalling how the ‘Gravity Enforcement’ skill that had bound the S-rank statue’s movements in the Double Dungeon was used against ordinary monsters, I shuddered, and Lee Yu Eul chimed in agreement.
“Wouldn’t Ryu Ja Kyung, who just sweeps them away in one go, be much, how should I say, cleaner?”
“Hmm, no. That one’s also plenty… yeah.”
Ryu Ja Kyung always severed the limbs of monsters charging toward her first.
It seemed like she was trying to immobilize them, but whether it was caution or a lack of mercy in her technique remained ambiguous.
“And the other three…”
The three people Han Ji Sung mentioned after the Ryu siblings were all A-rank hunters as well.
Moreover, they were seasoned A-rankers in their late thirties who each led their own clear teams, he said.
Hearing that, I thought there might be a weakness in their lack of experience coordinating together, but apparently that wasn’t the case either.
“Those three are founding members who’ve been with Ryu Jin Kyung, the Ryu siblings’ aunt and Cheongmun’s first guild master, since the beginning.”
Yoo Jin Rok smiled bitterly, saying “Cheongmun was really impressive back then.”
The Ryu siblings, still young and relatively inexperienced, were supported by these pillars of Cheongmun who’d been consistently active since the previous generation.
It was something the Justice Guild, having only recently risen from the ashes, could never emulate, which made me envy them all the more.
The atmosphere in the Break Room grew somewhat somber, and I wasn’t the only one thinking this way.
But Han Ji Sung adjusted his glasses with his long fingers and spoke firmly.
“That doesn’t mean our Justice Guild has no chance of winning. First, the competition arena will be the Jeonju A-rank Small Glacier Dungeon. What’s important here is that it’s a ‘small’ dungeon. Now, what happens when high-ranking hunters pack into a small dungeon?”
“Me!”
“Yes, Hunter Yang Hwa Yeon.”
“It’s cramped!”
“Exactly right. I’ll let the Guild Dining Hall know that Hunter Yang Hwa Yeon got the answer correct, so you can pick up an extra yogurt after the meal.”
“Yes!”
“Especially in a match where victory is determined by Gate clear achievement points, you’ll be competing over a limited number of monsters. So what matters is ‘speed.’ Essentially, if we defeat more monsters faster than Cheongmun, we win.”
Beep.
As Han Ji Sung advanced the slide, photographs of Kang Han and Han Ji Sung appeared side by side.
“I don’t think anyone will object to our Guild Master Kang Han entering the squad, but does anyone have an issue with me being included?”
As if that were possible.
For Han Ji Sung, the Glacier Dungeon was nothing less than a prepared stage.
Han Ji Sung smiled with satisfaction at the people shaking their heads, then pressed the remote. Another beep sounded, and three blank squares appeared on the screen.
“The Justice Guild’s sixteen finalists will be selected through a preliminary tournament to be held shortly.”
“Ooh!”
“A preliminary tournament!”
“Me! I want to try!”
While some simple-minded people immediately raised both hands in cheers, others tilted their heads in confusion.
Lee Yu Chan, one of them, poked my side and asked.
“Yeo Joo, aren’t you really going in?”
“I hate the cold, Lee Yu Chan.”
One experience in the Glacier Dungeon—where even wearing winter clothes and running a heater left my bones aching from the chill—was more than enough.
“And didn’t you just hear what Han Ji Sung said? It’s a speed tournament. How could I do a speed tournament if you brought me along?”
“Ah, that’s true.”
“Yeo Joo is kind of slow, isn’t she?”
“She even breathes slowly. They say when she’s napping, they sometimes check to make sure she’s not actually dead.”
I glared at the Team 3 members joking about me before explaining.
“If the dungeon were even medium-sized, I’d consider going in. But this match will be over in a few hours anyway. If you get hurt, we’ll pour healing potions on you. If you get tired, drink some of Chung Soo’s tonic and push through. I’ll take proper care of you once the match ends.”
A kind of outsourced healer arrangement, you could say.
“So, who wants to participate in the preliminary tournament?”
When Han Ji Sung asked, seven people immediately raised their hands.
It was Jang Su Ho, Lee Yu Eul, Seo Yi Do from Team 2, Yang Hwa Yeon, and three members from Team 3.
Yang Hwa Yeon wanting to participate in the preliminary tournament was somewhat unexpected, but everyone else was as anticipated.
“Then with these seven people for now….”
“Teacher, I have a question!”
I quickly raised my right hand and shouted.
“What’s your question, Yeo Joo?”
“Do you accept recommendations?”
“The most important thing is whether the person themselves wants to participate in the preliminary tournament, but give it a try.”
I jumped up from my seat and pointed at someone sitting in a comfortable chair in the corner of the break room, leisurely sipping yuzu tea, and spoke loudly.
“Yes! I recommend Sung Yo Na!”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————