The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 320
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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 141
It was an hour when pedestrians on the street were a rarity, yet Cheonho-dong was teeming with crowds.
The throng evoked memories of Myeongdong on Christmas or Jonggak at dawn on New Year’s Day, but unlike the real world, there was no struggle pushing through the masses.
“Oh, I rather like this.”
It was because the Justice Guild wielded considerable influence in this world, so the employees who had come to fetch me from home had already secured a passage through the crowd.
“It’s definitely a neighborhood where the Awakeners Association has weak influence.”
This was evident from the sight of Justice Guild employees standing guard in a wide perimeter to prevent people from gathering near the planned Gate opening site.
Originally, this would have been the Awakeners Association’s responsibility.
But here, since the Justice Guild served as the focal point for Awakeners, the Association’s power had failed to grow significantly.
In any case, as someone belonging to the Justice Guild, it was convenient for me.
“Yeo Joo.”
The moment I arrived at the open ground ahead, Kang Han greeted me with a nod, as if he’d been expecting me.
“Did you have any trouble getting here?”
“The ride was smooth. I came comfortably thanks to you.”
“It’s only natural treatment for a Healer belonging to the Justice Guild.”
“….”
To hear such words from Kang Han’s mouth.
It felt strange for a Healer who once drove a used car and raided a dog farm to hear such a thing.
“It looks like I was the last to arrive.”
I spoke while observing the people already gathered in front of the site.
Kang Han, misunderstanding my words slightly, responded.
“For an S-Grade Gate, the personnel is rather modest.”
Is that so?
There were a total of fifteen Hunters in preparation.
Nine of them, including myself, belonged to the Justice Guild, while only the Guild Masters and Sub-Guild Masters from Sama Guild, Utopia, and Fantasia were scheduled to enter the Gate.
“But everyone here has high ranks. I think I’m probably the weakest.”
Only I and another Justice Guild Hunter were A-Grade.
A total of thirteen S-Grade Hunters had mobilized.
It was uncommon for a raiding party of this caliber to move for a single Gate.
Perhaps because of this, the faces of the people crowded around the area were visibly excited about this rare event.
Whether here or in reality, everyone was equally fearless.
I clicked my tongue inwardly and continued observing the surroundings when I tilted my head.
“The broadcast cameras… haven’t they finished setting up yet?”
By this point, the camera crew should have been busy filming the assembled Hunters, but they were nowhere to be seen.
“A camera? If you’re talking about reporters, they’re gathered over there.”
“No, not that camera. I mean the broadcast cameras for inside the Dungeon.”
“You mean Hunters clearing the Dungeon are filmed and broadcast? I’m hearing about this for the first time.”
What? It doesn’t exist?
I was flustered to discover a discrepancy between this world and reality in such an unexpected place.
But that feeling was fleeting—I could easily guess the reason.
‘Kang Han hates cameras.’
Kang Han, whose handsome face was wasted on his aversion to being filmed, disliked both the cameras that entered the Gate alongside the broadcast team and being captured by the media.
Either way, this world was tailored to Kang Han’s preferences, so something like broadcast cameras could easily be omitted.
“It looks like you’ve prepared well.”
“Since you mentioned it was a large Dungeon, I brought change of clothes and things like you instructed, but carrying all this around seems like it’ll be a hassle.”
“Oh, I forgot to mention this. This bag is an Item. If you just put it in your inventory like this, everything inside the bag can be stored as well.”
I’d forgotten too.
Kang Han was wealthy in this world.
A bag worth easily over a billion won was cleanly tucked into the inventory.
I should have brought more snacks if I’d known.
As I smacked my lips with slight regret, I heard Kang Young Won calling everyone together.
I walked forward with Kang Han toward the designated Gate opening location and stood facing the crowd.
“When the raid party enters the Gate shortly, please begin evacuation following the Awakeners Association personnel. We will do our best to clear the Gate and return safely, but we must prepare for the possibility of mission failure. Your safety will be the greatest driving force that allows us to risk our lives fighting monsters.”
“We’ll pray for you, Hunter Kang Young Won!”
“Please don’t get hurt!”
“Thank you for protecting us! Please come back safely!”
It was a brief speech, but the people seemed quite moved.
It was the result of Kang Young Won’s presence stepping forward as representative, and the people’s trust in the Hunters.
The reporters in the front row were busy snapping photos of Kang Young Won, their flashes popping continuously.
Then Kang Young Won bowed deeply before them.
I hesitated, wondering if I should do the same.
As if it were a staged moment, a Gate appeared behind the raid party.
But the appearance of the Gate tearing through the air was unexpected.
‘A golden Gate.’
Like the Dream Dungeon that had opened in Yeouido, brilliant light flowed from the rift.
Among the calm crowd, only I stiffened my expression, as if the sight were familiar.
It wasn’t simply because the Gate was golden.
The moment I saw it rippling solemnly in the empty air, I understood.
‘This Dungeon is the last chance to bring Kang Han back to reality.’
Just as every story has an ending, that Gate was the terminus of the Dream Dungeon.
It was a natural realization, like seeing the few remaining pages of the book I was reading.
At the same time, that Gate was also the Dream Dungeon’s last chance.
To eliminate me.
My back tensed with apprehension.
“Clearing your first Gate is frightening for anyone. I’m not sure if these words will bring you comfort, but…”
Kang Han whispered beside me, apparently thinking my fixation on the Gate stemmed from nervousness and anxiety.
“If anything happens, I will protect you.”
It was something Kang Han said frequently whenever I entered a Gate.
No matter how much the circumstances around us changed, the essence of a person remained constant, it seemed.
I stared at the face of a man incapable of uttering falsehoods, then nodded slowly.
“It’s not nervousness because it’s my first clear. It’s just…”
“Just?”
“Anything can happen inside a Dungeon. For example, everything we experience in there might be nothing but an illusion?”
A large question mark seemed to appear on Kang Han’s face, but I smiled as if it were nothing and gestured toward the Gate.
“Let’s go in now.”
Something Kang Han had said moments before seemed to have touched something deep within me.
Danger didn’t matter.
I would wake from this dream and return to reality soon.
The tycoon Kang Han was nice, but I wanted to see the real Kang Han more.
+++
I sensed something amiss the moment I submerged my body into the shimmering golden Gate.
Based on my previous experiences, this transition should have been instantaneous.
I had barely taken a single step from outside the Gate, yet an entirely new landscape unfolded before me.
But when I opened my eyes, what I saw was a space shimmering entirely in gold, as if I had entered molten liquid itself.
“What is this…?”
My voice reverberated as if I were speaking underwater, and I hesitated for only a moment.
Suddenly, a System window appeared before my eyes.
[ ERROR! ]
[ ERROR! ]
[ Unable to read data from the Dream’s owner, ‘Kang Han’. ]
[ Data detected from companion ‘Yeo Joo’! ]
[ Constructing Dungeon based on collected data. ]
What nonsense is this?
I tilted my head in confusion, unable to grasp the meaning of the text streaming endlessly before me.
The space rippled and distorted, and suddenly I found myself standing in an entirely different place.
I had entered a Dungeon.
The first thing I felt was a scorching heat, as if I had stepped into a Jungle Dungeon.
Looking down at my feet, I noticed thick gray ash piled high like snow around me.
‘A Volcano… Dungeon?’
This wasn’t good.
Je Hwa’s data had ruled out an Underwater Dungeon, but I never expected a Flame Dungeon with such a high danger rating to appear.
Just like when I had entered one in reality, a Volcanic Dungeon was prone to sudden catastrophes, so I couldn’t afford to let my guard down.
Could I use my Heal skill on my wounds here as well?
As volcanic ash swirled with each gust of wind and I blinked against the narrow slits of my eyes, I spotted Kang Han approaching me.
[ ! WARNING ! ]
The Volcano will erupt shortly, and the supreme entity will reveal itself.
Time remaining until eruption: 09 : 59 : 59
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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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