The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 374

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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 195

“What absolute nonsense.”
I ground my teeth so hard they creaked and switched to a news channel.
As expected, the Doomsday Sect was the lead story.
“Just moments ago, the Doomsday Sect made their first official prophecy announcement. For viewers unfamiliar with this organization….”
Following a brief explanation, the Doomsday Sect’s statement filled the screen with verbose declarations.
Perhaps because it was their first official move, they certainly had plenty to say.
But I remained motionless, glaring at the television and absorbing every word from beginning to end.
To summarize briefly, it was as follows.

1. The Doomsday Sect’s great prophet has long prophesied that this world will soon meet its end.
2. The Double Dungeon is the most certain sign of that apocalypse.
3. The process of the end has already begun, and humanity cannot stop it.
4. As proof, powerful hunters will perish during the Guild Cup semifinals.
5. Those who wish to prepare for an end without suffering—come to the Doomsday Sect without fear.

“Damn it… those lunatics.”
With Yu Ga Young nearby, I filtered my language as much as possible before muttering under my breath.
The Doomsday Sect and I shared one thing in common: knowledge of the approaching future.
But while I desperately tried to prevent it, the Doomsday Sect stood in perfect opposition—spreading fear among people and recruiting followers.
Yet the fury and disgust churning inside me stemmed from something more than that.
“How dare they exploit the Justice Guild?”
With the reinvestigation into the Fifth Dungeon Break, discussions of the Double Dungeon were drawing intense public attention.
And now, at precisely this moment, they invoked the Double Dungeon as evidence of the apocalypse.
‘And what about that ominous prophecy?’
From what I knew, the two Gates that would serve as the semifinals’ arenas showed no unusual phenomena.
Could I be mistaken?
I was swallowing a sigh against the creeping anxiety when—
“Those Doomsday Sect people are really strange.”
Yu Ga Young, watching the news with me, shook her head and grumbled.
“If you only speak badly, of course only bad things happen. My mom always said that words become reality.”
“Words become reality…?”
It was something people said casually, but at the same time, a forgotten fact suddenly surfaced in my mind.

Bishop Yi’s S
1. Foresight (S)
2. As Spoken (S)
3. Hierarchy (A)

Bishop Yi definitely possessed a powerful word-command skill.
There was a possibility that with the Foresight ability, I had genuinely witnessed the tragedy that would unfold in the semifinals, but what if the announcement itself was meant to use the “As Spoken” skill on a massive scale?
Bishop Yi was foolish, but if the Vice Cult Leader—whose identity remained hidden until the very end of the Doomsday Sect—then he possessed a cunning mind capable of orchestrating such a scheme.
“Yeo Joo, don’t worry too much. Everything will be fine.”
Yu Ga Young patted my knee gently with her small hand as she spoke.
“Since you’re here, no one will die, but… well, I’m not sure about winning the championship, though?”
The way she added that last part with a giggle made it sound like a joke mixed with reassurance, but for some reason, I found myself checking Yu Ga Young’s status window.

[ Yu Ga Young ??
Unawakened (!Awakening Imminent!)
Status Abnormalities – Darkness Addiction 12%, Darkness Vulnerability, Runaway Syndrome ]

She was still in an unawakened state.
The thought that Yu Ga Young’s words might be some kind of foresight like Bishop Yi’s made me laugh at my own delusion, and the tension melted away.
“Right, just trust me.”
I stroked her round head and steadied my resolve.
There was no way to know whether the Doomsday Sect’s sudden announcement was to use a word-command skill, was genuine foresight, or merely attention-seeking provocation.
Either way, the Doomsday Sect had vanished without a trace, evading the Awakeners Association’s search net.
But that didn’t mean I could just sit idle and do nothing—that wasn’t my nature.
I pulled out my phone and called Ji Jung Hwi, the Association Director.
“Director, you saw the breaking news just now, right? There are a few things I’d like to ask for your help with.”

* * *

Everyone’s Forum – [ Free Board ]
The person who just saw the breaking news about the Apocalypse Church ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ | Views 30001
I’m so scared right nowㅠㅠㅠ
What do I do if the end is real?
Honestly, I’d forgotten about it because of the Guild Cup, but when the Double Dungeon first appeared, there were tons of people saying wasn’t this basically the end of the world…
No matter how many S-class people entered, it was barely possible ㅠㅠ
And if that Cheonho-dong Dungeon back then was also because of the Double Dungeon
Isn’t it already way too late?
If this goes on, it’ll be a disaster ㅠㅠ
It must hurt when I search, all I can think about right now is ㅠㅠ
If the apocalypse really does happen, I’m just gonna give up…

Comments
– So ㅠㅠㅠ I thought it was a cult of the apocalypse.
I’ve been seeing a lot of proselytizing going on in our neighborhood lately, it’s creepy.
– Let’s just wait and see if Hunters actually start dying in the semifinals
It’s never too late to think seriously about it then.
– What;;; Are the comments above real? It’s just a cult being a cult;;
– Right, aren’t those comments above a bit much? Am I the only one?
The Gate was originally dangerous lol, that’s why hunters made so much money for nothing.
That’s real, it’s a disease that makes you eat money.
– Even in communities with lots of women, mentioning “giving up” crosses the line;; You’re reported
– I reported it too
– The flow of the first comments is so weird; something smells off
– Hey poster, you’re with the Doomsday Sect, aren’t you?
.
.
.

[ This post has been deleted. ]

* * *

A few days later, in Busan.
The Seo Myeon Gate was scheduled to open around 10 AM.
Because of this, we had come down to Busan the day before and gotten a full night’s rest at the hotel, so our condition was nearly at its peak.
Except for Kang Han.
I was the first to step off the bus, and I sidled up to Kang Han, who was cautiously surveying the surroundings, and poked him right in the middle of his broad back.
“Guild Master, you’re incredibly tense. I feel like I might get pricked.”
“Me?”
Perhaps he hadn’t even realized it himself.
But I could see it clearly.
Ever since the day the Doomsday Sect’s prophecy came to light, Kang Han had been growing sharper and sharper, like the point of a needle.
“The Awakeners Association has already sealed off the entire perimeter anyway, so why do you keep looking around like that?”
Despite being known as one of Busan’s most vibrant commercial districts, Seo Myeon was completely devoid of people.
Though it was still relatively early in the morning, there wasn’t a single passerby, and with no shops open, the scene resembled a carefully constructed film set.
“Still, you never know what might happen.”
Though he lifted the corners of his mouth into a smile as if acknowledging my words, Kang Han still looked far from at ease.
But I didn’t reproach him for it.
‘The Korean Awakener Association’s Busan branch is doing a good job.’
In the first place, it was I who had ordered the complete lockdown of the Seo Myeon area.
It was something I had requested during my call with Association Director Ji Jung Hwi.
Because of this, the Association had taken some flak for implementing measures that seemed to target a pseudo-religious organization, but thorough preparation was far better than regretting it later.
“It really feels weird having absolutely no one in this neighborhood.”
Ryu Sang Eun, who was from Busan, stepped off the bus with wide eyes.
“Wouldn’t it be a nice memento if we took a photo?”
“Is that okay?”
At my words, Ryu Sang Eun glanced around before immediately dashing toward the empty street.
“How about we swap you with Ryu Sang Eun instead?”
Originally, I wasn’t supposed to be among the five people entering the Gate.
But last night, I had replaced Ryu Sang Eun and put my name in that slot.
It was a decision I made after watching Group A’s competition taking place in Seoul.
The A-rank Gate that had opened on Gwanak Mountain was a Maze Dungeon, just as I had expected.
The difficulty level appeared unchanged.
‘Which means something could happen in our Group B as well.’
If that was the case, I needed to enter the Gate myself.
That way, in the worst scenario, I could keep any injured person alive until help arrived from outside.
“Is there a particular reason you absolutely must go in?”
At Kang Han’s question, I nodded, and he let out a small sigh.
“Understood.”
“This is going to start rumors about guild discord. Someone might think you really hate me going in with you, Guild Master.”
“It’s not a misunderstanding. I do hate it—the idea of you being in any danger at all, Yeo Joo.”
Kang Han spoke with unmistakable firmness.
“…Still, you’re not going to stop me, are you?”
“If I tried to stop you, could I change your mind, Yeo Joo?”
“Well, no.”
“Then there’s nothing I can do. I’ll just have to protect you.”
I laughed awkwardly, feeling a bit guilty, when the opposite side of the street suddenly stirred and a group of people appeared.
“The Sama Guild has arrived.”
Led by Sa Ma Young at the front, the Sama Guild’s participants appeared unchanged from the roster.
Sa Ma Young, Woo Jun Kyung, Oh Young In, Bang Wi Jin, and even Ju Sa Eun, the debuffer.
Sa Ma Young walked straight toward the Justice Guild with the sharp click of dress shoes, his brow furrowed as he asked bluntly.
“Are you going in too, Yeo Joo?”
…He’s perceptive, I’ll give him that.
“That’s how it turned out.”
“No. Stay outside.”
It was a rare sight—Sa Ma Young and Kang Han thinking the same thing.
But the way they expressed their displeasure was completely opposite.
“I don’t want to. What’s wrong with a healer entering a Gate?”
“Is today like any other day?”
“What difference does it make? You’re not actually believing the nonsense the Apocalypse Cult is spouting, are you?”
“You….”
Sa Ma Young closed his mouth and irritably brushed back his wavy black hair.
He seemed quite frustrated at not being able to act on his nature.
Though he didn’t speak, Sa Ma Young’s eyes burned with irritation as he suddenly turned his gaze toward Kang Han and declared.
“We need to finish this match within three hours today.”
“If you’re so eager to lose that quickly, then try your best.”
Between Kang Han and Sa Ma Young, sparks seemed to crackle and fly.
An S-rank fight with a healer present—this was about to explode.
I was just about to step back a few paces when it happened.
Beep beep beep—beep beep beep—!
A loud alarm-like sound was ringing from the Awakeners Association staff member’s phone.
The man who appeared to be in charge looked momentarily flustered before quickly answering.
“Yes, Association Director! …What? Ah, understood!”
Then he approached the gathered Justice Guild and Sama Guild members and abruptly held out his phone.
Association Director Ji Jung Hwi’s voice came through the speakerphone.
[ “A Double Dungeon has occurred in the Gate that Group A entered.” ]
…What did he just say?
[ “Cancel Group B’s match and all of you come up to Seoul.” ]
It was a measure far removed from the existing protocol of mobilizing the nearest S-rank Hunters.
There’s something more to this.
My eyes narrowed at the ominous premonition, and the Association Director added in a grave voice.
[ “Guild Master Sung Ro Sa and Guild Master Yoo Myung Hwa are showing signs of going berserk.” ]

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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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