The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 314

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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 135

…I think I just heard something absolutely extraordinary.
Fortunately, there was nothing wrong with my ears.
“A difficulty level that didn’t exist before?”
“How is something like this even possible…?”
The guild members murmured, unable to hide their shock.
“Master, are you certain of this?”
[ “Data does not lie. Or are you suggesting that the system I created is faulty?” ]
Master responded with visible displeasure to the question posed by Ji Sung, the sub-guild leader of Fantasia Guild.
“That’s not what I meant, but given the gravity of the situation, I believe we must proceed with caution.”
[ “…Sigh.” ]
It was a sigh so deep it seemed the very earth might collapse beneath it.
The way Master pressed against his forehead revealed an exhaustion that could not be concealed.
It appeared to be mental fatigue rather than physical exhaustion.
It was the kind of weariness any modern person living a hectic life might display.
Yet why did I find his exhaustion so heartbreaking?
My hands clenched and unclenched uselessly, yearning to go offer him a comforting touch on his shoulders.
[ “The problem is that the Gate prediction data is completely unreadable.” ]
After a brief moment to collect himself, Master explained in a noticeably calmer voice.
[ “What kind of dungeon it is, what lies within it—nothing is visible.” ]
A heavy silence fell over the room.
“That means… we have no way to prepare for it whatsoever.”
Sung Ro Sa, the guild leader of Fantasia Guild, spoke while drawing a sharp breath.
S-rank dungeons are dangerous.
However, when multiple guilds gather for a joint assault like this time, it becomes possible to clear safely and close the Gate.
That is, provided information about the Gate is given in advance so preparations can be made.
For example, if it’s the Flame Dungeon, one prepares fire-resistant armor; if it’s the Maze Dungeon, one stockpiles sufficient provisions.
Yet despite such precautions, S-rank dungeons always claim a considerable number of casualties.
[ “I will continue attempting to extract data. Should I discover anything new, I’ll contact you through the Justice Guild. Then.” ]
Indifferent to the increasingly grave atmosphere of the conference room, Master ended the meeting without hesitation.
If he failed to properly close an S-rank Gate, his own life would be forfeit.
Yet his demeanor suggested he cared little for such consequences.
The hologram faded away, and somehow it appeared fragile.
As if Master might vanish from this world at any moment.
“….”
Even after the Master’s hologram that had materialized in the center vanished, no one spoke.
The atmosphere was that oppressive.
Gone were the relaxed expressions everyone had worn before the meeting began, as if they’d just stepped out of that dinner party.
All of them were lost in deep thought, with only Sa Ma Young, the guild master, exchanging whispered words with Woo Jun Kyung, the sub-guild master seated beside him.
It was Ha Young Hyun, the guild master of Utopia, who finally broke the prolonged silence.
“I attended thinking it would be a casual joint operation with the Justice Guild after so long, but I never expected such a thunderbolt to strike.”
As an S-rank buffer capable of temporarily boosting hunters’ abilities, she was also renowned for her particular affection toward her own guild members.
Because of this, I could predict what would come next from her lips.
“Utopia will be withdrawing from this joint operation.”
“Guild Master Ha Young Hyun.”
Kang Han, whose face had hardened like stone, tried to stop her, but it proved futile.
“I cannot push my guild members into an S-rank Gate where the internal situation isn’t even properly understood.”
Yet Kang Han did not yield easily.
“Among everyone gathered here, there’s not a single person who doesn’t cherish their guild members. But isn’t it true that as hunters, we must accept the risks of entering Gates? This seems like excessive caution.”
“Call it caution if you like. It’s precisely because of that caution that we’ve come this far. In any case, Utopia has no intention of entering the Gate unless safety is guaranteed….”
“We’ve gained another healer, so safety is partially secured anyway.”
All eyes turned to the person who had cut into the bickering between Ha Young Hyun and Kang Han.
It was Sa Ma Young, sitting with one leg crossed and tilted to the side.
“One A-rank healer already in Fantasia Guild, and another new healer who just joined the Justice Guild.”
The tip of his pale, slender finger pointed directly at me, sitting there blankly.
“Uh… Me?”
I had only attended as an observer, hadn’t I?
While I was flustered by the sudden concentrated attention, Kang Han shook his head in objection.
“Yeo Joo is a guild member who has only recently completed her probation. Since she has no experience entering high-risk Gates, there are no plans for her to accompany us to this S-rank Gate.”
“Then she can gain that experience this time.”
His tone was casual, as if he were saying, “You haven’t tried that yet? You can give it a try this time.”
…This bastard?
Fortunately, Kang Han confronted Sa Ma Young on my behalf.
“Starting a first official Gate at S-rank? The Sama Guild may treat their members that way, but the Justice Guild does not.”
“Then the Sama Guild will also be withdrawing from this joint operation.”
“Understood. Then the Sama Guild will withdraw from this operation….”
“Yeo Joo will be participating in this operation.”
“Guild Master.”
Guild Master Kang Young Won, silencing Kang Han’s objection by not even glancing his way, smiled at Sa Ma Young as if drawing a line and spoke.
“It’s not because she’s our guild member—Yeo Joo is an exceptionally talented resource, nearly on par with S-rank.”
…Me?
“Not only the Justice Guild, but hunters from other guilds will also protect Yeo Joo from harm within the Gate, so she’ll be able to perform safely in this operation as well.”
…Perform?
“Isn’t that right, Yeo Joo?”
Sitting in the same space as these S-rank Hunters was suffocating—their piercing gazes left me speechless.
I’m Yeo Joo. I’ve never been the type to be pushed around.
I’m not someone who would walk into a life-threatening Gate just because of pressure.
Yet somehow, the word “no” wouldn’t come easily from my lips.
‘What if the joint operation falls apart because of me?’
Of course, even if the Sama Guild and Utopia withdrew, the Justice Guild alone could still ensure this S-rank Gate wouldn’t be a complete failure.
But the absence of Sa Ma Young and Ha Young Hyun would undoubtedly be a significant loss to the raid team.
The difficulty of clearing this already challenging Gate would skyrocket.
Naturally, the casualty count would rise accordingly.
I chewed my lip, deliberating for a moment before speaking with a heavy voice.
“I’ll… I’ll go in as well.”
“So you will. What about the positions of the Sama Guild and Utopia?”
“If the A-rank Healer Yeo Joo enters, the Sama Guild will participate in the joint operation.”
Sa Ma Young answered readily to Kang Young Won’s question.
But to the Utopia Guild Master, who seemed to hesitate a bit longer, Kang Young Won spoke in a soothing tone.
“I understand Ha Young Hyun’s feelings better than anyone. You don’t want to expose your valued colleagues to dangerous situations. But without prior information about the internal environment, it’s still an S-rank Gate like any other.”
“…”
“S-rank Gates are rare. The byproducts and items that come from there will make Utopia far more solid. Sometimes, taking risks is the way to seize opportunities, isn’t it?”
Ha Young Hyun, who looked ready to bolt from her seat at any moment, listened in silence.
Her eyes wavered noticeably at the mention of byproducts and items.
And finally, her lips, which had been firmly closed, parted.
“…Utopia will join as well.”
“Excellent. Now that decisions have been made, we’ll discuss the details later as usual. For today, let’s focus on the important matters—the number of personnel and such.”
Kang Young Won smiled brightly and began the formal meeting in earnest.

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After the first meeting ended, only Kang Han and Kang Young Won remained in the Conference Room.
“Why did you do that, Guild Master?” Kang Han asked his mother in a low voice.
“We could have simply given them a few more pieces of armor equipment as usual. You must have known from the start that their mention of Yeo Joo was just a pretext to bring up that topic.”
“It would have been fine if you had just thrown a few more defensive items as usual. You must have known well that the reason they mentioned Yeo Joo from the start was to bring up that story.”

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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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