The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 373

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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 194

Just as I thought.
A satisfied smile spread across my face unbidden.
Even dried squid yields water when squeezed.
I’m not sure if that’s actually true, but it seemed I had been underestimating this ridiculously-named skill all along.
I’d simply assumed it was a skill that increased the number and grade of items dropped by monsters.
But it literally had the effect of “squeezing out” the mana contained within mana storage stones.
‘System bastard, you never thought of this, did you?’
Currently, the System had imposed a restriction preventing me from drinking more than five health potions to prevent “drug abuse.”
But I possessed the “Song of Life” skill I’d obtained from my negotiation with the intermediate administrator last time.
It was a C-rank skill that burned mana and converted it into an equivalent amount of health.
If I absorbed mana through the squid skill and then used Song of Life, I could replenish my health countless times with the mana that entered my body.
In other words, Han Ji Sung’s mana storage stone was essentially my backup battery.
“Ji Sung.”
“Hmm?”
“Is making these mana storage stones… really that difficult?”
“It’s not easy.”
Han Ji Sung scratched his cheek as he answered.
“Since I’m still not used to it, the failure rate is higher. If I attempt ten, only one or two succeed.”
So it really was quite a difficult task.
I grasped his dejected hand firmly and asked.
“Should I share the medicinal tonic that Chung Soo made?”
Ideally, I’d like to tell him to take it easy, but this was far too important a matter.
Han Ji Sung blinked for a moment, reflecting on what I’d said, then burst into laughter and replied.
“I don’t have the courage to steal your portion, but I should ask Chung Soo to prepare a stamina-replenishing tonic. I want to produce proper mana storage stones quickly.”

* * *

I wondered how much longer this bone-chilling cold would persist, but before I knew it, the days had turned warm and sunny at midday.
Bishop Yi climbed the Back Mountain behind his residence once again today.
Since I didn’t know its real name, I called it the “Back Mountain,” but it was quite tall with no proper hiking trail, so by the time I reached the halfway point, sweat dripped steadily from my chin.
Yet Bishop Yi climbed this mountain every day lately.
“Ugh! I’m so bored!”
There was absolutely nothing to do.
In this mountain village where even my phone barely had signal, let alone internet, reading books or playing board games only lasted a day or two.
Unable to bear the tedium any longer, I’d resorted to hiking on my own.
But lacking the stamina to reach the summit, I planted myself on the large boulder I’d discovered on the first day, just as I did today.
“This is exhausting.”
Bishop Yi grumbled out of habit.
It was more of a muttered complaint to myself, but there was someone listening.
Jang Jin Su, my bodyguard who shadowed me like a constant companion.
My right arm, which had been torn off by Baek Ho after my identity was exposed to the Justice Guild before, had already regenerated and was perfectly intact.
“Vice Cult Leader, where did he go?”
“I don’t know.”
It wasn’t a question I’d asked expecting a real answer, but Bishop Yi grew irritated immediately.
“Why won’t you ever tell me!”
“Bishop Yi.”
“I’m the Cult Leader of the Apocalypse Cult! So why does that gloomy Vice Cult Leader act like he’s something more!”
I shouted indignantly, but Jang Jin Su offered no proper response.
“Be honest with me. You look down on me too, don’t you? You actually follow that Vice Cult Leader more!”
Jang Jin Su shook his head at Bishop Yi, who was throwing a tantrum like a petulant child, his voice strained.
“You’re the one who can see the future—the oracle. No one else can be the foundation of the Apocalypse Cult but you.”
“…But all I ever see are bad things anyway, so what’s the point.”
Bishop Yi’s momentum deflated.
“The world’s doomed anyway, so I don’t understand why that bastard Vice Cult Leader is always so busy.”
“…”
Jang Jin Su fell silent again.
He simply gazed at Bishop Yi steadily.
When a cool breeze swept in and cooled my sweat, my mood improved slightly, and I carelessly plucked at the dry grass sprouting sparsely like thorns in the crevices beside the boulder.
This mountain was covered entirely in such nameless weeds.
The world I saw was no different from this withered grassland.
Parched and desiccated, it would burn to ash the moment fire touched it.
My hand, which had been pulling out dead grass for a while without minding the small cuts forming on it, suddenly stopped.
Beneath the dead growth, I’d discovered a faint green shoot emerging.
“…Do you want to die? Is that why you’re waiting for the end?”
“Yes.”
Jang Jin Su answered Bishop Yi’s question flatly.
“But then why does Choo Ji Hee want the end?”
It was the real name of the space-displacement ability user who had saved Bishop Yi and Jang Jin Su during the last infiltration of the Justice Guild, allowing them to escape.
A-Rank Awakener, Choo Ji Hee.
“Ji Hee has a similar reason to mine.”
“But that woman doesn’t have the same immortality as you do. So couldn’t she just die instead?”
That would be far easier and cleaner.
Among those who came to the Apocalypse Cult for their own reasons, many believers ultimately couldn’t endure the waiting and took their own lives.
“…Ji Hee.”
Just as I was beginning to think I’d be ignored again, Jang Jin Su opened his mouth heavily.
“She lost someone she loved at a Gate.”
“And?”
“I don’t know the details, but it seems it wasn’t a justified death. That’s why she can’t bear this world that curses and points fingers at that person.”
“What is that.”
Bishop Yi’s nose twitched.
“In this day and age, who doesn’t have some sob story like that? Quite the dramatic romance.”
It’s a world destined to collapse anyway.
“I wish this boring world would just fall apart faster….”
Bishop Yi’s body went rigid as he muttered the words he habitually spoke.
Sensing something amiss, Jang Jin Su, who had been standing several paces away, quickly moved to the side of a rock.
However, he did not rashly call out Bishop Yi’s name or touch him.
“Huh….”
From Bishop Yi’s gaping mouth came a sound that was neither quite laughter nor quite a moan.
It was a symptom of his precognition skill activating beyond his control.
Jang Jin Su stood watch over the defenseless Bishop Yi.
It was a familiar occurrence.
Bishop Yi’s precognition ability was unpredictable.
Sometimes he saw the near future, and sometimes he saw the very distant future.
“….”
But Jang Jin Su was not curious about the content of the future that only Bishop Yi could see right now.
Plop.
Large teardrops were falling from Bishop Yi’s eyes, which had widened in shock.

* * *

Yoo Jin Rok had been absorbed in teaching the junior hunters lately.
As a result, Yu Ga Young was spending more time at the Justice Guild.
Yet the young girl waiting for her father to return from work had no opportunity to feel lonely.
Yu Ga Young was someone who received abundant affection from countless uncles and aunts.
Among them, Han Ji Sung in particular was especially attentive, keeping Yu Ga Young by his side, helping with her homework, and taking meticulous care of her.
“But why aren’t you going to Ji Sung’s Research Lab these days? You’re in the Break Room instead?”
“I thought I might be in the way. Ji Sung has wrinkles forming between his brows lately, you know.”
Yu Ga Young pointed to her own brow and let out a small sigh.
“That’s just what happens when you reach that age. Wrinkles form and all that. I’ll help you with your homework today. Go ahead and take it out.”
At my words, Yu Ga Young pulled several books from her bag, which had a cute tiger character drawn on it, and stacked them on the table with a thud.
“What? Why does elementary school homework have so much of it?”
“There’s not that much today, is there?”
“Kids should be out playing! This country’s education system is really problematic, truly problematic.”
“Hehe, you’re saying the same thing Ji Sung says.”
As I helped Yu Ga Young with her homework, time flew by.
Noticing the sky had grown dark early since the days were still short, I stretched and suddenly thought of something curious.
“Yu Ga Young.”
“Yes?”
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
“A doctor.”
Yu Ga Young answered without the slightest hesitation.
“A doctor? You’ll need to study hard. But you’re smart enough that I think you could get into medical school.”
“I hear that a lot.”
“But why a doctor? You’re a designated awakener. Shouldn’t you want to become a Healer instead?”
Though I hadn’t told anyone yet, Yu Ga Young’s predicted awakening rank was at least A-grade.
While choosing a profession was ultimately her own freedom regardless of what ability she awakened, wasn’t it still a bit of a waste?
As I tilted my head at this thought, Yu Ga Young spoke firmly.
“After seeing how hard Yeo Joo works, I don’t want to become a Healer anymore.”
“Heh.”
I was at a loss for words and gently stroked Yu Ga Young’s head.
“Alright then, since you’re going to awaken anyway, let’s aim for a strong and sturdy combat-type ability.”
“I think that would be good too. I heard that you need good physical stamina to be a doctor.”
After finishing the homework, I was waiting for Yoo Jin Rok to come up from the Underground Training Facility when it happened.
A news alert suddenly appeared on the Break Room TV, which had been playing background music.

[ Apocalypse Cult Prophesies: “Hunters Will Die at the Guild Cup” ]

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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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