The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 337

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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 158

I had momentarily forgotten.
The immutable law that ‘enthusiasts understand each other.’
“I can’t believe such a reaction came out.”
“I was the same way at first, you know? But this actually makes sense….”
Ever since Je Hwa discovered the true nature of the mana storage stones, the audio chat had not been silent for even a single moment.
After a few exchanges of difficult words I couldn’t properly comprehend, the two of them had already fallen into their own world.
Even after Je Hwa learned that he was two years older, he naturally dropped his formal speech.
Ji Sung seemed genuinely delighted that his conversation partner was being so casual with him.
“Hmm.”
For hours now, I had become nothing more than a picture hanging on the wall, swallowing back my yawn and wiping away tears.
I tried several times to excuse myself so they could talk comfortably, but each time Je Hwa would stand up and bring me various snacks, foiling my attempts.
I was also worried that if I left, Ji Sung—who was so incredibly delighted his cheeks were flushed—might become awkward again.
“I’m not sure what to do in situations like this.”
“Among the methods I use….”
Whenever Ji Sung expressed his various concerns, Je Hwa generously shared his own expertise.
Honestly, it was unexpected.
Sharing techniques that were practically his weapons.
I thought he’d be more guarded.
It’s natural for crafting-class hunters to be.
Watching Je Hwa hold a pen and earnestly sketch something on paper while explaining, I felt a sense of wonder.
The Je Hwa I knew was just one of many facets of him.
“Boss, you’re truly amazing.”
Ji Sung expressed genuine admiration.
“Now I understand why the items you’ve made for me have been so good.”
“I’m glad they’re being put to good use.”
Je Hwa spoke with satisfaction while looking at the earring he’d crafted from ice crystal.
“Of course. Since Yeo Joo gave it to me as a gift, it’s even more special.”
“…Right.”
Je Hwa, who had been thinking about something while stroking his lower lip with a strange expression, suddenly extended his hand toward Ji Sung.
“Ji Sung, can I have your phone for a moment?”
“Oh, here you go.”
Je Hwa, with his unusually large hands, tapped away at the keypad and returned the phone, saying:
“It’s my personal number. I’ll contact you from time to time.”
“Yes! My number is….”
I watched quietly in amazement as the two of them exchanged numbers without the slightest hesitation.
Master’s personal contact information, no less.
Of course I had it too, but I couldn’t help wondering if this was really okay.
If I were to convert the value of those eleven digits into money, how much would it be worth?
Unaware of my thoughts, Ji Sung was too busy grinning from ear to ear.
“Thank you so much today, sir. It’s been ages since I’ve had such an enjoyable conversation.”
“Same here. Feel free to contact me anytime if you hit a wall.”
“Really? Then I’ll be careful not to disturb your work, sir.”
“No, don’t worry. I’ve been thinking about mana storage containers lately while making defensive equipment for Yeo Joo anyway.”
“Wow, our Yeo Joo really is blessed with good fortune!”
“Didn’t I tell you the sir was a good person?”
I nudged him in the ribs as I spoke, and Ji Sung burst into laughter again.
“Right. I was worried for nothing. Sir Je Hwa really is a good person….”
But his words gradually trailed off.
His bright blue eyes darted back and forth between me and Je Hwa several times.
Then his expression shifted as if he’d realized something.
“Ah.”
“Ji Sung?”
“It’s nothing. Really… you, um, take good care of Yeo Joo. Haha.”
But the laughter that followed felt strangely awkward.
Why did he suddenly seem shy again?
“I should hurry and try the method you taught me. You’re coming with me, right, Yeo Joo?”
“No, I have something to discuss with the sir for a moment.”
“I see. Then I’ll head out first….”
Ji Sung bowed once more in gratitude to Je Hwa, then added a final word as he opened the door to leave.
“Come find me when you’re done talking, Yeo Joo.”
Click.
With the door closed and only the two of us remaining in the room, I asked Je Hwa a question.
“Sir, didn’t Ji Sung seem a bit strange just now?”
“I’m not sure.”
Je Hwa, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, glanced toward the door where Ji Sung had exited, then let out a soft chuckle.
“I’ll ask him about it later. But what did you want to talk to me about, Yeo Joo?”
“Oh, right.”
The reason I’d come here suddenly returned to my mind, momentarily forgotten because of Ji Sung.
“It’s difficult to discuss here. Can we go to the Secret Workshop?”

* * *

The moment I arrived at Je Hwa’s Secret Workshop—a place no one could simply walk into—I approached him directly.
“Yeo Joo?”
“Boss, why are you pretending everything’s fine?”
I grabbed his hands, which were clasped behind his back, and dragged his massive frame toward me.
“You’ve accumulated so much.”
“Accumulated what….”
“What do you think? Darkness.”
I checked both his wrists, but as expected, Je Hwa wasn’t wearing a Scanner.
He’d deliberately hidden it because his condition wasn’t good.
“I can see everything even without a Scanner, you know?”

[ Abnormal Status – Depression, Darkness Addiction 90% ]

It was fortunate I’d checked when I noticed him sighing softly during my discussion with Ji Sung.
I narrowed my eyes and looked up at Je Hwa.
“Why were you trying to brush past this?”
“Hmm.”
“If you’d told me during our call yesterday, we could have met before the meeting. Why are you making things harder for yourself?”
“Are you angry?”
“It’s not anger, exactly.”
It was closer to hurt.
“I’m hurt because I understand why you didn’t tell me.”
“You understand the reason…?”
“Yes. You were worried it would be hard on me since I drain my stamina to use skills, weren’t you?”
Je Hwa was one of the few people I’d opened up to.
But that didn’t mean I wanted him to bear the burden I had to carry.
When I stared at him seriously with that sentiment in mind, Je Hwa let out something like a hollow laugh.
“That’s one of the reasons, yes.”
“I knew it. It’s all unnecessary worry. Just drink a stamina potion and it’s done.”
I took out Chung Soo’s medicinal tonic potion and drank it.
Then I grasped Je Hwa’s hand again and activated my skill.

[ Activating skill ‘Darkness Purification’. ]
[ Target’s Darkness Addiction Rate: 90% ]
[ Purification efficiency increases due to target’s special constitution 【Precarious Muse】. ]
[ Purification efficiency increases due to high affinity. ]
[ Darkness Purification successful! ]
[ Target’s current Darkness Addiction Rate: 10% ]

“Phew, all done.”
His condition was worse than expected, so it took longer than I thought.
“How is it? Should be better now….”
“Wait, excuse me for a moment.”
I tilted my head in confusion before remembering something I’d momentarily forgotten.
“Oh, I don’t need to hold hands anymore.”
This is why habits are so terrifying.
Since I’d finished what I came to do, I’d just greet the owner when they returned and leave.
With that thought, I began leisurely exploring the Secret Workshop.

* * *

“Haa, haa.”
Je Hwa leaned against the closed Restroom door, catching his breath.
“Haa, damn it.”
His pounding heart showed no signs of settling.
When he unconsciously lowered his head, the stark reality of his physical condition made his eyes squeeze shut.
“Pathetic bastard.”
She was pure-hearted.
I was ashamed of how my body reacted this way every time to her pure kindness meant to ease my suffering.
I couldn’t honestly answer her question about why I tried to hide the accumulated darkness.
Better to die than admit that desire wells up inside me every time she uses that skill.
If revulsion reflected in those clear eyes that pulled me out from the murky depths where I was rotting away.
To stop the horrific imagination, Je Hwa forced his eyes open instead.
Yet even as he deliberately counted the dizzying floor tiles, countless questions he wanted to ask Yeo Joo cascaded like an unstoppable chain reaction.
Does everyone who receives the Purification skill end up like this?
Or is there something wrong with me specifically?
Was there anyone else like this besides me?
If so, what about those two men….
Grrk.
Je Hwa unconsciously ground his teeth.
The image of Sa Ma Young’s face flashed through his mind—the one who made no effort to hide his sticky gaze directed at Yeo Joo.
I was beginning to understand.
He said he’d stopped the rampage.
If my hypothesis was correct—that this was a side effect of purifying large amounts of darkness at once.
‘So that’s why he….’
Once the domino began to fall, it quickly extended to another person as well.
I wanted to burst through the door right now and ask Yeo Joo.
‘Have you ever stopped Kang Han’s rampage too?’
The mere thought of it was ugly and pathetic.
“Sigh.”
After several deep breaths, Je Hwa finally managed to suppress the heat rising within him. He wiped his hands with feigned composure and stepped out of the Restroom.
However, his footsteps toward the Secret Workshop came to a halt at the end of the corridor.
Yeo Joo was peering at something inside the display case.
But that didn’t sit right with me.
It wasn’t about me asserting ownership as the object’s proprietor.
It was quite the opposite.
I wished that curious gaze were directed at me instead.
I wished she would wonder about me.
‘About me, and only me.’
Je Hwa furrowed his brow.
He found comfort in things that were systematic, clear, and whose principles became apparent with a little examination.
That’s why he had thrown himself so deeply into creation.
Ever since surpassing his predicted awakening grade from childhood and reaching S-rank, crafting items had been his sole driving force in life.
But at some point, even that became impossible, and he had accepted that standing still was his fate.
All the vast wealth he had accumulated, the honor of the name Master—none of it mattered.
Then one day, Yeo Joo appeared.
She arrived suddenly, revealing that light still existed in the space resignation had consumed.
She returned to him the joy of creating something from his fingertips.
Even as he rose to his feet again, he feared that without her, he would sink back into the depths.
So he tried to be useful to her in every way, to protect her.
Yeo Joo was his benefactor, his muse, the source he needed to safeguard.
“Boss?”
At the sound of her voice calling to him, I could only acknowledge it.
‘Now, I don’t know anymore.’
Je Hwa’s world, once filled only with clarity and precision, had derailed its orbit because of Yeo Joo’s existence.

* * *

It was when she tilted her head in confusion at the sight of Je Hwa standing motionless, frowning and keeping his distance.
Ding—
Along with the bell chime of affection rising, a fluffy speech bubble appeared above his head.

《 ♥ 50 : Error 》

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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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