The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 339

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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 160

“Finished it quickly. And here I thought it was an Underwater Dungeon.”
When I heard it was an A-rank Gate opening near Paldang Dam, I expected things to get rough.
In a water-filled Underwater Dungeon, it was inevitable that flame-type Hunters would struggle—a simple matter of elemental matchups.
“It was no joke. Sa Ma Young’s skills worked underwater too.”
The highlight reel playing at that moment confirmed Im Chung Soo’s words.
The flames burned brilliantly even underwater, which looked almost grotesque.
Since the aquatic monsters had no resistance to heat, the difficulty had actually decreased.

[ “Guild Master Sa Ma Young, could we get a brief interview?” ]

An excited reporter’s voice rang out as the soaking wet Sa Ma Young filled the screen.
He looked somewhat exhausted, as if he’d exerted more power than usual.
“His personality is absolutely rotten, but there’s nothing to criticize about his appearance, which is infuriating.”
Lee Yu Eul clicked her tongue and muttered in displeasure.
…I was startled, thinking she’d read my mind.
Lee Yu Eul, who showed so little interest in others’ appearances that she’d sooner compliment a pebble on the roadside for its sharpness than admire a beautiful person, spoke this way—testament to how violently beautiful Sa Ma Young looked with water clinging to him.

– Sa Ma Young;;;;;
– I guess I’m a sucker for smiles
– Legend-tier visuals updated lol
– Sa Ma Group stock’s gonna skyrocket tomorrow, easy gains
– Sa Ma Young raising market cap with just his face lol
– The one thing perfect Sa Ma Young lacks = personality
– Literally nothing else to criticize
– A-rank cleared in 4 hours wtf
– New record?
– Nah, Justice Guild did it in over an hour back in the day
– When was Justice Guild even relevant
– The reason why I can’t let go of Sima Young despite all the hate stories ㅠㅠ

The moment Sa Ma Young’s one-shot kill was confirmed, the flood of comments scrolling upward moved so rapidly that I couldn’t even read them properly.
It was a natural reaction for anyone with eyes.
But separate from that, I found myself worrying about the safety of the reporter who had thrust the microphone toward Sa Ma Young.
‘He doesn’t seem to be in an ordinary bad mood.’
From his profile as he swept back his wet, dripping hair, I could sense a venomous malice lurking beneath that deceptively charming exterior, creeping through like poison.

[ “The overwhelming performance you displayed today has truly captivated so many people! Could you share your thoughts?” ]
[ “My thoughts?” ]

Sa Ma Young’s lips, crimson as cherry syrup, twisted upward in a smile.

[ “I hope the next match won’t be this tedious.” ]
[ “Ah….” ]

“Look at that, look at that.”
Lee Yu Eul clicked her tongue disapprovingly on behalf of the flustered reporter who had lost her words.
“Goodness, not a shred of humility.”
Unlike Lee Yu Eul’s displeasure—which rivaled that of a Joseon-era scholar—the public’s reaction was decidedly positive.

– Sa Ma Young is truly the princess (princess of terror)
– So arrogant!!!
– Hurry up and get to the semifinals!!
– But honestly, he’s right
– It was a bit anticlimactic for the quarterfinals though;;
– Real talk, even in an Underwater Dungeon, Sa Ma Young completely dominated
– The entire quarterfinals was basically a Sa Ma Young highlight reel
– But who’s his next opponent?
– Group C quarterfinals haven’t happened yet
– The final quarterfinal match is Muwoon vs Justice
– It’ll be one of those two
– It’s definitely Muwoon;;
– Muwoon would just get crushed by Sa Ma anyway?

Fortunately, the reporter regained her composure and asked about the next match.

[ “Ha ha…. Truly, you embody the confidence of a first-ranked guild’s master! So, excluding the Sama Guild, which has already secured a spot in the semifinals, which of the remaining three guilds do you predict will claim the other spots?” ]

It was a blunt and difficult question.
Group B, known as the Group of Death, would see the championship favorites Dongbaek Guild and Utopia clash in the quarterfinals.
Sa Ma Young, who had been blinking slowly, finally opened his mouth.

[ “Fantasia, Dongbaek, and Justice.” ]

“Wow.”
“No way.”
“Us?”
The guild members who had been listening to the interview widened their eyes in surprise.
To think he’d pick Justice Guild, who had entered the Guild Cup as a wild card from the very beginning.

– Justice?
– Not Muwoon?
– Justice out of nowhere?
– That’s impossible;;;
– Justice Guild has been doing well lately lol
– But Justice still isn’t it
– How does Justice beat Muwoon!!!!
– Disrespecting Busan
– Why Dongbaek??? Why Dongbaek?? Why Dongbaek???
– Sa Ma Young is annoying;;

As expected, the comments were filled with nothing but question marks.
“I didn’t think Sa Ma Young was like that.”
“Right, his personality seems decent.”
Lee Yu Eul and Lee Yu Chan, who had been cursing about Sa Ma Young’s character just moments before, nodded in satisfaction.
I turned my head to look at Kang Han, who was sitting in the very back seat of the bus.
His long legs were crossed, and his head was tilted toward the phone that Chung Soo was holding.
His expression seemed both displeased and simultaneously shocked.
The interview between Sa Ma Young and the reporter was gradually drawing to a close.

[ “So, you predicted that Justice Guild would make it to the semifinals. Watching this broadcast, Muwoon Guild supporters might feel disappointed…”
“Muwoon?” ]

After using his skill, his eyes—now distinctly crimson—turned toward the reporter.
Sa Ma Young laughed, his gaze seeming casual yet somehow looking down at the reporter all the same.
The effect of what fell from his black hair appearing not like water from Paldang Dam but like morning dew was amplified further by his characteristically languid voice.

[ “Muwoon… Where?” ]

No matter how much of a star you had to be to captivate both the enthusiasts and the casuals simultaneously.
I couldn’t bear to watch the comment section scrolling upward at an accelerating pace in response to Sa Ma Young’s statement, so I covered my eyes and shook my head in dismay.

* * *

As midnight approached.
The Justice Guild bus arrived at a quiet roadside on the border between Gyeonggi Province and Chungcheong Province.
By then, Yoo Jin Rok’s lecture to the juniors—”You must never do something like that”—delivered in the aftermath of Sa Ma Young’s shocking interview, had concluded at precisely the right moment.
“The air feels different just stepping outside, truly different.”
With the mountain drawing near, I savored the cooler and fresher night breeze as I walked toward the distant lights.
It was where the Association Staff member guarding the Gate was stationed.
“Hello. Thank you for your hard work.”
As I greeted them and stepped into the Temporary Medical Tent, the Association Staff member who had been dozing restlessly with drool on his chin suddenly lifted his head.
“Huh. Ah, yes. Hello….”
His eyes widened as he recognized Kang Han and me, who had entered as representatives given the cramped space.
“Huh? Aren’t you hunters from the Justice Guild?”
“Yes, we were assigned to this Gate today. You didn’t know?”
“It was definitely a guild name I’d never seen before….”
This man’s updates were slow.
“That guild had circumstances arise. We took over last night.”
“Oh, I see. Well, that’s a relief then. It’s been open for a while now, so we need to clear it quickly, but there’s only 30 hours left before the break….”
“Yes, we’ll close it before then. So, may we enter?”

* * *

They called it the Fairy Tale Dungeon, but the interior of the Gate that opened at the foot of a wild hill connected to farmland resembled a deep mountain valley.
It was fortunate that while outside was the middle of the night, inside was bright as midday.
“Through the jungle, through the forest, let’s go—♬”
Lee Yu Eul took the lead, hacking through overgrown brush to clear a path while singing.
It was a landscape that reminded me of the Jungle Dungeon we’d entered during the early days of rebuilding the Justice Guild.
The jungle that Lee Yu Eul still favored was also where she’d acquired items back then.
“[Dungeon! Love it!]”
Whoosh!
Na Baek Ho beside Lee Yu Eul was constantly shouting “Love it!” and adding his cheers, and Baek Young coiled atop his head was equally delighted.
“Look at the color of that whirlwind grass, Soo Won.”
“Yeah, plants grown in nature really are better than those from the greenhouse!”
The potion-crafting duo had already pulled out their gathering bags and lit up with excitement.
“Is that whirlwind grass? Wow, that’s amazing. Oh, that’s medicinal herb too!”
Even Lee Yu Chan, who had been throwing a fit about wanting to enter a dungeon, was busy testing his information skill.
Team 4 and the juniors were simply observing their surroundings or carefully examining their information windows just the same.
Yet we’d entered a C-rank Gate, and not a single person seemed nervous.
“Peaceful, isn’t it.”
I felt the same way.
At the same time, I felt a sense of pride.
The Justice Guild that had been so tense entering the D-rank Crocodile King Gate—when did it grow to be like this?
‘This is how it should be.’
For a guild filled with S-rank and A-rank hunters, a dungeon like this was merely a matter of travel time.
I found myself reflecting anew on how difficult the Justice Guild’s situation had truly been back then.
“Yeo Joo.”
Kang Han, walking in step beside me, suddenly held something out.
“A flower?”
“Yes, it’s pretty.”
It was just a weed with no Item Information displayed, but the white petals resembled geraniums.
I took it and tucked it behind my ear, then asked.
“How does it look?”
“It suits you well.”
I’d done it expecting a bewildered reaction.
But seeing him nod sincerely without a trace of jest left me momentarily speechless.
Following Kang Han’s gaze forward, Lee Yu Eul’s footsteps stopped.
“Oink, oink.”
“Grrrr.”
Stretching my neck and rising on my toes, I spotted five boar-like monsters at the edge of the grass.
I tapped Kang Han’s lower back playfully and laughed.
“Go warm up a bit, Guild Master.”

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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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