The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 294

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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 115

Did I see that wrong?
I’d only caught a glimpse of him through the crowd, so I wasn’t certain.
I wondered if it was just someone who looked similar.
But that drab face was definitely Bishop Yi’s.
I tried to follow the man whose back was now disappearing into the distance to confirm for certain, but it wasn’t possible.
People who had been taking photos from a distance began approaching one by one and striking up conversations.
“Wait, just a moment…!”
“Hunter Han Ji Sung, could we take a photo together?”
“I’d like one with Hunter Sung Yo Na….”
I couldn’t push through these people who were cautiously gathering their courage and run after him.
While I hesitated, the man who resembled Bishop Yi slipped away down an alley.
“Ah….”
“Is something the matter?”
“Well….”
Normally I would have told the truth, but the approaching Guild Cup Round of 16 weighed on my mind.
It wasn’t even certain, so there was no need to make people anxious over nothing.
“It’s nothing. I just thought I saw someone I knew.”
“…Doesn’t seem like it.”
Kang Han leaned in close, studying my expression.
This man had surprisingly sharp instincts.
He didn’t have mind-reading abilities, but at this rate he’d soon notice something was off.
I grabbed Kang Han’s face and turned it toward the approaching fan, speaking quickly.
“Wow, Guild Master Kang Han, you’re getting an autograph? Guild Master, let me help you with that right away.”
“Ah, yes. Please do.”
Watching Kang Han accept the paper the fan offered, I quietly released a breath I’d been holding.
Fortunately, my uneasy feeling didn’t get exposed after that.
Since it was a popular restaurant with no reservations available, we had to wait in line, and the chaos made everything blur together.
“Unnie, they say the kalguksu here is really delicious.”
“Is that so?”
“I heard they even sell meal kits, so let’s buy some when we go to Seoul and eat them all together!”
“When did you start having such thoughtful ideas?”
“Lee Yu Chan said he wanted to come here too.”
Ah, only an older sister would look after her younger brother like that….
“I need to show you one by one how different the taste is between eating a meal kit at home and eating at a real restaurant.”
Well, of course.
I stroked Lee Yu Eul’s head as I spoke.
“Our Yu Eul never changes.”
“Hehe.”
It was right then that the long line stretching ahead of us began to gradually shrink.
The people around us started murmuring.
“Huh?”
“Hey, look over there.”
The Justice Guild members, including myself, soon sensed the shift in atmosphere and glanced around.
And what we discovered was.
“It’s Cheongmun?”
While many people in the middle of Jeonju Hanok Village wore borrowed traditional Korean clothing, it was rare to see someone who looked like they were born wearing a jeogori straight from the womb.
The five members of the Cheongmun Guild, including Ryu Do Kyung and Ryu Ja Kyung, certainly stood out.
“Yeo Joo the healer?”
“Huh?”
It seemed they had spotted us as well, and the eyes of the Ryu siblings widened before they approached with quick steps.
“Whoa, what is this? Are you fighting?”
“Camera, camera!”
With the Round of 16 matches just around the corner, people seemed to be anticipating some kind of tension between the two guilds.
“It’s been so long! To meet like this here!”
“Are you waiting to eat?”
The kind and gentle Ryu siblings would never pick a fight with us.
Han Ji Sung shook hands with Ryu Do Kyung and smiled.
“We usually only see each other in Seoul, so running into you like this in Jeonju makes it even more delightful.”
Since everyone had become acquainted through the Cheongna Double Dungeon incident last time, the atmosphere became even more warm and friendly.
It was only after Ryu Do Kyung and Ryu Ja Kyung’s seniors leisurely followed behind them.
“Nice to see you, Park Song Hwi of Cheongmun. I’m Won Sang Hoon, and this is Jung Jin Won.”
“Even waiting in line at a restaurant. Tomorrow’s the match, and you young folks seem so carefree, really.”
Though they were smiling as if they were good-natured people, anyone could tell that what Jung Jin Won said wasn’t meant kindly.
The lively and cheerful atmosphere from moments before—like running into an old classmate by chance on the street—naturally became awkward.
“Uncle….”
“Oh, I meant it as a compliment, so don’t take it to heart! Haha!”
Ryu Ja Kyung tried to quiet him, but Jung Jin Won showed no signs of stopping.
Instead, he went further, patting Kang Han’s shoulder and making light remarks.
“Your recent activities as the Kang Han Guild Master are impressive! Who would have thought the Justice Guild would rise again like this, hmm?”
No matter how young he was, he was still the guild master of a competing guild.
Not only was he treating Kang Han like a child, but he was even bringing up painful history.
This was practically throwing down a gauntlet in his face.
I quietly pulled Kang Han back and stepped forward half a pace.
Move aside.
The trash talk specialist before the match is stepping up.
“Hello, Hunter Jung Jin Won. I’m Yeo Joo, a healer from the Justice Guild. It’s such a pleasure to meet you.”
“Oh, Yeo Joo the healer! Of course I know you—our A-rank healer!”
“Wow, a senior of your caliber knows who I am! I’ve always held great respect for you, Hunter Jung Jin Won.”
“Is that so? Well, I’ve stepped back from active duty lately, but…”
“Exactly. Given your age, participating in the Guild Cup must have been quite a difficult decision.”
He’d approached me unprovoked and started trouble with someone minding their own business, yet he never expected me to strike back—the way his mouth twitched was truly amusing.
“I’m only in my mid-forties, so calling that ‘age’ seems a bit much…”
“Oh, mid-forties makes you an elder in the hunter world, sir! The times have changed several times over since then!”
“Listen here, Yeo Joo. That was just a greeting—isn’t your sarcasm going a bit too far?”
Won Sang Hoon chimed in late to scold me, but the damage barely registered.
If they were going to get upset over this much, they shouldn’t have started in the first place.
“Sarcasm? I was merely expressing my respect as a junior toward my senior. Please don’t take offense, elders.”
When I threw their own words back at them, the two old-timers fell silent with uncomfortable coughs.
The final word in this brief battle of wills came from Park Song Hwi.
With eyes bearing the traces of fine wrinkles befitting his age, he fixed me with a steady gaze and spoke.
“You’re quite an interesting person, Yeo Joo.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Senior Park Song Hwi.”
Did he think I’d cower at that?
There are different kinds of adults.
I had no reason to tolerate these fossils who not only started with casual speech on first meeting but also enjoyed needling their juniors by wielding their age like a weapon.
Park Song Hwi and the two elders moved on after that exchange.
They seemed to be murmuring something among themselves, but judging by Jung Jin Won’s lingering glare, it was clearly nothing complimentary.
Do Kyung, who had been watching the guild elders with a troubled expression, finally apologized.
“I’m sorry, Yeo Joo.”
“Come on, Guild Master Do Kyung, what do you have to apologize for? I’m not entering the Gate anyway, so let’s just have a good match tomorrow.”
“We wish the Justice Guild good fortune as well.”
See? The Ryu siblings are far more mature.
The other Justice Guild members cheered “Fighting!” toward Do Kyung and Ryu Ja Kyung, and the meeting with Cheongmun came to an end.
As they waved goodbye, Ryu Sang Eun quietly approached and whispered.
“Those two must have had a rough time of it.”
“What can you do?”
They must have suffered tremendously under those three fossils throughout the Guild Cup preparations.
And I’d wager that if those elders had encountered the Sa Ma Guild in downtown Jeonju, their attitude would have been entirely different.
They just think the Justice Guild is an easy target.
As I ground my teeth thinking of those three Cheongmun fossils who were now out of sight, Kang Han spoke to me in a quiet voice.
“Don’t be too angry, Yeo Joo. Tomorrow’s match will show them exactly how costly carelessness can be.”
When did Kang Han, who used to bear bruises all over his face, grow up like this?
With a proud heart, I patted his solid shoulder and spoke softly, just loud enough for him to hear.
“I’ll make sure to cleanse every trace of darkness from your body, so I’ll see you this evening.”
“…Should I come to your room?”
“Well, that way there won’t be any prying eyes.”
“Sounds good.”
Watching Kang Han’s bright smile, my spirits lifted considerably from the depths of despair.
After all, the protagonist never loses!

* * *

“Damn, that was close.”
Bishop Yi, who had returned to the hotel room booked under an alias, breathed heavily.
Of all people, to run into that woman.
Bishop Yi splashed himself with water so cold it stung his skin, then gazed at his reflection in the mirror with a bitter smile.
“Ignorant fool, thinking you can prevent the apocalypse?”

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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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