The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 347

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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 168

I’d held the Muwoon Guild in fairly high regard, but their petty, childish attitude was beginning to wear on my patience.
‘Have I really become so poor at reading people?’
I stared intently at the Muwoon Guild members who were so desperately avoiding my gaze, absently scratching the inside of my cheek with my tongue as I pondered the question.
To think they’d maintain such a cold demeanor even in a public setting like this.
Honestly, I couldn’t understand it.
Unlike what I’d been told earlier about a “simple pre-event gathering,” the stage the Awakeners Association had prepared was quite elaborate.
“Go, Muwoon!”
“Justice Guild, fighting!”
The supporters cheering enthusiastically for each guild, their eyes gleaming with fervor, numbered well over a hundred at a glance.
“Could it be that pride is controlling them?”
There was no other explanation for their behavior.
As I shook my head in disbelief, my eyes met someone’s from the opposing side for the first time.

Bae Do Yoon A
Lux Flare
(Lux Flare)
(A)
Second Light
(Second Light)
(A)
Light Severance (B)

Bae Do Yoon was a light-attribute magic hunter newly recruited by the Muwoon Guild.
Like a delicate white lily among the generally burly Muwoon Guild members, befitting a martial arts-style guild.
Even the style and color of his clothing reflected this.
‘But why is he glaring like that?’
Muwoon’s pride had been wounded by Sa Ma Young’s remarks and the media’s attitude, but this person had just joined—why would he harbor resentment?
The confusion aside, I refused to lose in this staring contest, meeting the man’s pale eyes without flinching.
Then Kang Han, sitting beside me, poked my puffed-out cheek as he rolled his tongue.
“Who are you looking at like that, Yeo Joo?”
“Bae Do Yoon. Why does he seem to dislike us so much?”
At my words, Kang Han’s gaze shifted to the opposite side before returning to me.
“It’s probably because of Sung Yo Na.”
“Yo Na?”
“Bae Do Yoon originally belonged to Fantasia. He said they were childhood friends.”
“But why would he dislike us?”
If he resented anyone, shouldn’t he be grinding his teeth at Fantasia for abandoning Yo Na?
As I tilted my head in confusion, Kang Han explained with a faint smile in his eyes.
“After Sung Yo Na joined our side, he kept submitting transfer applications. However, the transfer fee Fantasia set was too high, so we didn’t see much merit and kept rejecting them. During the four-team recruitment, you excluded him.”
“Ah, now that you mention it, I think I remember.”
In short, he kept applying because he wanted to eat from the same bowl as his childhood friend, but when things didn’t go his way, he harbored a grudge.
I had to reconsider my earlier thought that I lacked judgment in reading people.
The fact that I’d filtered out such a shallow vessel just from documents meant my eye wasn’t completely useless.
“The event is beginning! Live broadcast in 30 seconds!”
With the staff’s loud countdown, the main event officially started.
“We will reveal the first interior photographs of the Gate where the quarterfinal matches will take place!”
As the skilled host introduced them, photographs of the ruined Ancient Castle filled the large screen.
The fortress built atop a hill and the town sprawling around it in concentric circles hinted at its former glory.
Yet with half-crumbled walls that appeared to have been abandoned for centuries and unnamed plants grown tall to fill the spaces left by people, the scene carried an eerie, desolate quality.
“Ooh!”
“It looks like a movie set!”
The crowd’s reaction was positive.
Showing a preview like this beforehand, rather than having hunters discover the Gate’s interior environment only upon entry, actually heightened expectations for the match.
Much like releasing a trailer before a film’s premiere.
While everyone else widened their eyes at the photographs, I focused on the Muwoon side’s reaction.
‘They already knew, as expected.’
Their pretense of surprise was laughable.
The glances exchanged between Shin Se Hee, the sub-guild leader and team captain for this quarterfinal, and the other guild members leaned more toward smugness than genuine surprise.
Information about the Gate where the match would be held had leaked.
And whether by choice or circumstance, Muwoon, having obtained that information, had recruited Bae Do Yoon.
If we could only prove it, it was clear-cut cheating without any room for debate.
My insides churned, but since we were broadcasting, I mechanically nodded along to the host’s various explanations.
“We’ll be distributing new competition items! Specifically, a device that displays real-time merit scores!”
The small item, about the size of a pager that the staff had handed over, passed through Kang Han’s hands and came to me.
It was a device with no buttons whatsoever, displaying only the numbers [0 vs 0] in red and blue on a screen about two fingers wide.
“Since the merit scores of both teams are displayed in real-time, it’s a device that adds tension to the match!”
That’s true.
If the merit scores are confirmed numerically, it could have a significant impact on the hunters’ psychology and strategy.
‘The power gap will become glaringly obvious too.’
This match is perfect for it.
“Since only one is distributed to each team, we kindly ask that you return it safely!”
As laughter erupted among the audience at the host’s quip, I raised my hand and asked a question.
“Is this score shared on the live broadcast as well?”
“As expected of Yeo Joo, the healer from the Justice Guild! Just like someone who’s been active recently at Gangnam Station, you really hit the nail on the head! That’s right! The score is also provided to our viewers watching the match!”
As I nodded at the satisfactory answer, a question came from across the way.
“The numbers are accurate, right?”
Shin Se Hee, apparently unfamiliar with this item, asked while furrowing her brow.
“Of course! We’ve put so much effort into the accuracy of the merit scores that you don’t need to worry about that! Ha, actually, that’s why it’s being distributed for the first time starting this match!”
The reason for staging this was obvious.
They wanted to draw viewers in by showing information from inside the Gate, and they wanted to showcase the Awakeners Association’s technology with this newly distributed item.
Now that all the main content was finished, the event was winding down.
“Well then, before the match begins, let’s hear a word from each guild about their resolve!”
At the host’s words, Shin Se Hee took the microphone.
“I’m sorry to the Justice Guild for making it this far with such difficulty, but Muwoon will be advancing to the semifinals. Thank you for your hard work so far.”
Cheers and jeers erupted simultaneously from the crowd.
“Now it’s the Justice Guild’s turn!”
There are already predetermined words to say before a match.
I smiled brightly at Shin Se Hee and spoke.
“I hope this match between Muwoon Guild and Justice Guild will be fair and square, befitting our names.”
You should be ashamed, Muwoon.

* * *

When I opened my eyes, the silhouette of the Ancient Castle stood tall beneath a sky so overcast it looked ready to pour rain at any moment.
Since I’d already seen this landscape in photographs, there was no surprise.
“Phew.”
But the moment we entered the Gate, Jang Su Ho’s blood began to surge uncontrollably, and he took a long, deep breath.

[ ! Quest ! ]
The walls had crumbled, and ‘Noscraine’ sat upon the nameless throne.
The beast of night held its breath beneath the castle.
Awakened one, end the night with light.

It was a Quest message whose meaning couldn’t be fully grasped from a single reading.
Even less so with a mind burning hot from the current fervor.
Throne, night, light.
Brushing aside the words that caught my eye, I focused only on the chill transmitted through my shield and Kang Han’s instructions.
Protect Yeo Joo.
My objective was simple.
Maintain my sanity until the end and protect Yeo Joo.
After all, losing this match would be harder than winning it.
As I steadied my resolve by recalling Kang Han’s prowess that I’d witnessed firsthand, the map was completed.
There were only two entrances leading into the walls encircling the base of the hill—one to the east and one to the south.
The Gate had been generated near the East Gate.
Then, Muwoon Guild made their move first.
“Let’s go!”
“Run!”
Muwoon surged forward, kicking off the ground toward the East Gate as if to claim it first.
“Tsk.”
Lee Yu Chan clicked his tongue softly.
Based on the map, the East Gate appeared more advantageous.
The Quest had mentioned the name of a boss monster called ‘Noscraine’ and a throne.
Ultimately, the destination was the castle atop the high hill.
The eastern entrance was close to a route that led directly up to the castle through the underground.
In contrast, the South Gate connected to a gentle hillside path that wound through various buildings, including a sprawling town.
Naturally, the travel distance was longer, and some form of urban combat seemed inevitable.
Should we follow Muwoon and enter from the east despite the overlapping routes?
“This works out well. We’ll enter from the south.”
It was a statement that naturally made one tilt their head.
Yet no one raised an objection to Yeo Joo’s words.
‘Yeo Joo must have her reasons.’
Once inside the Gate, the guild master Kang Han holds command over the strategy.
But if Yeo Joo steps forward regardless, then there must be a good reason for it.
Lee Yu Chan shrugged and grabbed the bow slung across his shoulder.
Kang Han also nodded at Yeo Joo’s words and led the guild members toward the South Gate.
Lee Yu Eul took on the task of parting through the reeds that had grown tall like cattails, carving a path forward.
The movement was cautious yet swift, with senses heightened to their maximum as we advanced, vigilant in all directions.
Swish, swish.
The only sounds were the crunch of broken grass beneath my feet and the whisper of wind.

[ Night falls upon you. ]

A message materialized in my mind, and the world plunged into darkness.
It was as sudden as a total eclipse.
Kik.
Lee Yu Chan nocked an arrow, ready to fire at a moment’s notice, when yellow eyes converged from all directions.

[ Break Hound
(Break Hound)
(B)
A canine-type monster born from the bones and fragments of dead creatures, consumed by darkness. ]

Those yellow eyes were not a single pair.
At least ten pairs gleamed between the swaying brush.
‘B-rank is manageable.’
As Lee Yu Eul assessed the information window that activated upon entering the Gate, absolute darkness descended completely.

[ Night has begun. ]
[ All monsters’ ranks increase by one tier. ]

‘What kind of nonsense is this!’
Lee Yu Eul cursed silently.
The rank increase at nightfall was irritating enough, but the complete loss of visibility was far worse.
‘How am I supposed to fight what I can’t see!’
Then the East Gate where the Muwoon Guild had gone brightened.
It was a light-attribute magic skill.
What was almost laughable was how pathetically weak the light was—nowhere near A-rank intensity.
Deliberately weak enough that the Justice Guild, positioned at a distance, couldn’t benefit from it.
I understood the competitive logic, yet I couldn’t help but smirk at their pettiness.
‘If I can’t see them, I’ll just cut everything down anyway!’
As I steeled my resolve and waited for Kang Han’s signal to attack, it happened.
Whoooosh—!
Something fired through the air, and the surroundings blazed bright as noon.
My pupils contracted sharply from the sudden light, and when I turned to look, Yeo Joo was waving a flare gun with a grin.
“Oops! I bought this for rescue requests, but I never thought I’d use it like this!”

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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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