The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 348

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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 169

An A-rank Gate opening in Mokpo Sanjeong-dong.
Night falls at unpredictable intervals, and each time it does, the monsters grow stronger—a Dungeon that originally claimed many casualties.
With high-ranking hunters flooding in because of the Guild Cup, such incidents shouldn’t occur this time.
When I received word that the quarterfinals would be held here, the first thing that came to mind was this flare gun.
[ Flare Gun (C)
: An item that fires illumination rounds.
Designed for securing visibility and requesting rescue. ]
Of course, I’d considered bringing Yang Hwa Yeon, a fire-attribute hunter, inside, but I immediately dismissed the idea.
It was simply inefficient.
Even a simple skill would inevitably consume mana continuously.
But having an A-rank hunter not properly participate in combat and merely serve as a streetlight?
‘An item would do the trick.’
Since it’s a C-rank item, it wasn’t that expensive.
Moreover, with enough illumination rounds, I could use it as much as I wanted without worrying about mana.
So when I heard that Mun-un had recruited Bae Do Yoon and finally got his name on the quarterfinals roster, I found it somewhat amusing.
It seemed they understood the characteristic of Sanjeong-dong Gate where light disappears, but that was all they knew.
I’d wondered if they also knew the ‘secret’ I was aware of.
‘I was needlessly worried.’
The possessor’s privilege truly is the best.
Superficial knowledge is useless!
“Grrr….”
The Break Hounds that had been about to attack us flinched and retreated as the scorching light shot up into the sky.
They were exactly the type to attack under the cover of darkness.
“Is it not enough?”
Boom—!
I fired the flare gun once more.
Instantly, the surroundings became as bright as if filming lights had been installed everywhere.
“Screech!”
Thanks to that, the monsters still lurking in the grass were additionally exposed.
With just a flick of my finger, such an effect.
It felt as if I were wielding light-attribute magic like Bae Do Yoon.
Of course, if that were actually the case, I would’ve made it as bright as a midsummer White Sand Beach and reduced the monsters’ ranks back to B-rank.
But visibility was secured, so there was no problem with combat.
Of course, including the broadcast.
Kang Han had finally gone through a super ultra re-awakening, and if it didn’t come across properly on air because of the darkness, he’d be so frustrated he wouldn’t sleep for three days straight.
I spoke to the guild members, who were still staring blankly.
“What are you all doing? Aren’t you fighting?”
“Ah, seriously….”
Lee Yu Chan chuckled and muttered something under his breath.
Yeah, I’ve got your back too, Lee Yu Chan.
Kang Han, whose amusement was equally evident, shook his dark spear once with great force and issued orders to the twins.
“Lee Yu Eul, Lee Yu Chan, secure a safe distance.”
Keep the Break Hounds from approaching too closely.
In other words, he was saying he’d handle the rest himself.
Crackle—!
Around the spear, as black as the night sky, peculiarly bright yellow sparks erupted upward.
Go, Kang Han, strong and free!
* * *
Lee Ki Dae, the face representing South Korea’s dungeon conquest streaming broadcasts, sat in the studio with two commentators who were former hunters.
While maintaining an outwardly cheerful smile, he straightened his back sharply at the signal from the PD behind the camera with the red light, indicating the broadcast had officially begun.
“Hello! I’m Lee Ki Dae, providing commentary for the quarterfinals of the Korean Awakener Association Director’s Cup Inter-Guild Tournament!”
There was one request that had been repeated whenever meetings were held regarding the Association and the Guild Cup.
To stabilize the public’s anxious psychology as much as possible, given the recently increased frequency of Gate occurrences and frequent incidents.
Some say Gates are humanity’s second chance.
It was because of the energy that magic stones provided.
Moreover, thanks to awakeners with diverse abilities, humanity was enjoying unprecedented prosperity.
Especially Korea, which had occupied an ambiguous position—neither developed nor underdeveloped—became a superpower with the emergence of Gates.
While other nations floundered, hunter Kang Myung Heon established a guild and coordinated with the government to respond systematically, quickly quelling the chaos.
As a result, talented people from around the world immigrated to seek safety, capital poured into the secure market, and a new virtuous cycle began.
But all of that was ultimately built on the foundation of Korean society’s stability.
In other words, if people began to fear Gates again, it would mean a house of cards that would crumble.
Lee Ki Dae was someone who took great pride in his profession, bearing responsibility for such a crucial task.
“The quarterfinals held in Mokpo Sanjeong-dong! The moment I speak, hunters enter the Gate and the real match begins!”
The fact that monster ranks increase when night falls, the newly implemented merit point comparison system, and the Quest details being shared as breaking news—
While rapidly conveying various information so people could comfortably enjoy the Gate closure process like a sport, Lee Ki Dae checked the real-time comments.
Real-time Comments ▼
– I have a feeling Mun Un will win lol
– No matter how high the rank, dungeon conquest is all about experience right
– Justice Guild fighting!
– But what does it mean when night comes?
An A-rank Gate, and its rank is going up even more? That’s crazy.
– Huh ㅠㅠ Then isn’t it the same as S class?
‘This is bad.’
Several sharp-eyed viewers were beginning to show signs of anxiety.
Lee Ki Dae internally clicked his tongue and extended a helping hand to Jo Tae Seok, the hunter he’d been coordinating with for so long.
“Justice versus Muwoon, Muwoon versus Justice! Our hunters are looking quite impressive, aren’t they, Jo Tae Seok?”
“Indeed. Looking anywhere in the world, there’s no place with as many high-rank hunters relative to population as our country!”
Of course, it was Jo Tae Seok.
When things get tight, nothing beats national pride!
Live Comments ▼
– Well, that’s true lol
– Look at the US though, they have plenty of hunters but they’re all about individual plays
– Unity!
– I’m proud of hunters who serve our citizens^^
– Yeah how many S-rank and A-rank hunters do they have anyway lol
Fortunately, the audience’s reaction was following the intended direction.
Lee Ki Dae, the caster, thought he’d have to buy a round of drinks after the broadcast ended.
Even after the interior of the Gate darkened and combat began in earnest, the good momentum continued.
But Lee Dong Soo, the hunter specially invited for the quarterfinals, was becoming a problem.
“Isn’t it convenient that Muwoon’s newly recruited hunter Bae Do Yoon has a light attribute? This is exactly the kind of foresight that comes from the experience of a guild with proper roots. A guild with shallow foundations like Justice Guild simply can’t compete at that level.”
He’d been active at Muwoon for over a decade, and after recently retiring, he’d asked for an opportunity to start a commentary career, so I gave him the chance!
But every time he opened his mouth, he was tearing down Justice Guild and deflating the tension I’d worked so hard to build.
Live Comments ▼
– Lee Dong-soo talks too much ㅠㅠ
– It’s not a national competition, so favoring one side isn’t cool;;
– Biased commentary what do we do?
– Lee Dong Soo’s spicy lol
– For real lol
– The consensus is that Justice still can’t match Muwoon lol
“Haha, Bae Do Yoon is really showing an excellent performance in his first match with Muwoon!”
Then, the Justice Guild’s screen suddenly brightened.
The image that had been broadcast in infrared mode due to the darkness returned to normal, and a flare gun held in the hands of healer Yeo Joo came into view.
Live Comments ▼
– I knew you could do it!
– Isn’t that what squishy hunters carry around for distress signals? lol
– A flare gun being used like that lol
– Now we can actually see something
– Yeo Joo is literally light! (actually shooting light up lol)
– You didn’t know that? lol
Though clearly somewhat startled, Lee Dong Soo shook his head.
“Justice Guild… a flare gun? It seems the healer just happened to have an emergency item, but such a shallow tactic won’t work at all.”
Then what, was Muwoon just lucky to happen to have a light-attribute mage?
Lee Ki Dae, who’d been watching the proceedings and had subtly become a supporter of Justice Guild, muttered dully to himself.
“Bae Do Yoon is providing perfect support from behind, and the rest of the guild members are taking down the Break Hounds one by one. The way they’re moving in perfect synchronization without any wasted motion is impressive. And that’s exactly what makes Shin Se Hee, our sub-guild leader, so exceptional—her ability to control the pace without rushing.”
Because Lee Dong Soo was openly taking Muwoon’s side, Lee Ki Dae the caster had to maintain even stricter neutrality. Instead, Jo Tae Seok the hunter stepped up to the microphone.
“But I have to say, Yeo Joo’s flare gun technique caught me completely off guard! The resourcefulness she displayed there is truly remarkable! Yeo Joo really does have impressive composure!”
“Well, you could look at it that way. But even with clear visibility, they still have to face a horde of monsters that have been upgraded to A-rank, right? No matter how strong the guild leader is, even if they’re S-rank…”
“The moment I speak! Justice Guild’s attack begins!”
Lee Ki Dae deliberately cut off Lee Dong Soo’s words and shouted loudly.
At the same time, he clasped his hands together beneath the desk and prayed earnestly.
‘Please, show us something good!’
If Justice Guild showed even the slightest sign of being pushed back by Muwoon here, he’d have to endure Lee Dong Soo’s boasting throughout the broadcast—for hours, maybe even days.
“Jang Su Ho is protecting Yeo Joo! Lee Yu Eul and Lee Yu Chan are covering both flanks… wait?”
Forgetting his duty to maintain seamless commentary, Lee Ki Dae craned his neck toward the streaming screen before him.
“Huh.”
Jo Tae Seok was also at a loss for words.
Lee Yu Chan and Lee Yu Eul were only occasionally dealing with the Break Hounds that charged at them, not taking an active role.
The vast field, wide as a reed marsh, was Kang Han’s solo stage.
It wasn’t even a fierce battle.
Every time the spear wreathed in golden sparks moved lightly within the screen flickering with flare light, a ragged mongrel fell.
Each thrust of his weapon was practically eliminating an A-rank monster in a single strike.
‘No matter how you look at it, does this even make sense?’
The viewers were equally bewildered.
Live comments ▼
– ?????
– ??
– What is this??
– The difficulty is completely different for him????
“S-so, Kang Han is displaying an absolutely magnificent performance!”
“Y-yes! Though we should still be careful! These are B-rank Break Hounds, but given the dungeon’s characteristics, they’re practically A-rank… huh?”
His attempt to find something else to say fell flat.
“Is it… already over?”
Live comments ▼
– Lolololol
– He’s like a monster eraser lol
– Is this a highlight reel and not a live broadcast lol
– S-rank form is insane;;;;
– Experience? Skill? Why would he need that?
– Kang Han: I’m not confident. I’m confident I won’t lose.
– Muwoon is still fighting lol
– S-rank slaughtering civilians too much; lololol
– There were monsters but now there aren’t
– Lee Dong Soo has nothing to say now, right?
Among the comments rising as explosively as the reaction itself, Lee Dong Soo the hunter glanced at one particular comment, and Lee Ki Dae the caster had to clench his lips tightly to suppress a burst of laughter.
His face, still staring blankly at the screen as if he couldn’t believe it, was pitiful.
It seemed he needed some time to recover.
With a suddenly generous heart, Lee Ki Dae the caster delivered a clean one-liner.
“The Justice Guild is displaying overwhelming military might!”
It seemed today’s broadcast would end earlier than expected.
* * *
“It’s like a movie set.”
After firing off a few flares, we’d already passed through the city gates and entered the village.
By then, night had ended.
Though it had brightened, the eerie weather persisted, and now a light drizzle had begun to fall.
“Perfect for shooting a horror film.”
“Ah, don’t say stuff like that!”
Lee Yu Chan, who absolutely hated anything ghostly or creepy, slapped Lee Yu Eul on the back in irritation.
“It seems the monsters don’t move during the day, so let’s advance quickly.”
Kang Han swept his sharp gaze across the ruined street as he spoke.
Creak, creeeak—
Whenever the wind blew, the half-detached wooden doors wailed like sound effects from a horror film.
Still, it wasn’t particularly frightening.
Rather, thanks to the emptiness, I even had the leisure to check on the guild members’ conditions.
But Kang Han’s condition was particularly poor.
[ Status Abnormality – Darkness Addiction 38% ]
I’d definitely reduced it to single digits before entering?
Unlike the other guild members who remained in similar condition to when we started, Kang Han’s darkness addiction level had suddenly spiked.
‘Did something change when he re-awakened?’
I decided to discuss it with him once the match ended and activated a skill.
There was nothing to do besides the clicking of the flare gun trigger anyway.
[ Skill ‘Darkness Purification’ is activated. ]
[ Purification efficiency increases due to special constitution 【 Separation Anxiety 】. ]
[ Purification efficiency increases due to high affinity. ]
But suddenly, I saw Kang Han’s broad back ahead of me flinch.
Not only did he stop in his tracks, but his earlobes and the nape of his neck flushed red.
…What’s wrong with him?

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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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