The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 376

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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 197

Hunters gathered in front of the Gwanak Mountain Gate where Group A’s match was being held.
There were fifteen in total.
Six who had come from Busan, Seo Yu Baek, Awakeners Association hunters, and the filming crew combined.
The briefing led by the Association Director was brief.
But there were still points that needed to be addressed.
“Director Seo Yu Baek has joined on the condition that he will not enter the second Gate, so please keep that in mind.”
At Association Director Ji Jung Hwi’s words, Seo Yu Baek’s complexion darkened.
But among those gathered, no one seemed puzzled by the news.
It was unavoidable.
The fact that the Association Director, who had opposed Seo Yu Baek’s Gate entry itself, had permitted him to pass through the first Gate was practically a miracle.
Even that was only because the Maze Dungeon had lengthy routes, making it difficult to quickly transport the wounded outside the Gate.
‘I’ll have to leave all the wounded treatment to Director Seo.’
As I formulated such plans while thinking of the hunters whose feet were bound within the second Gate, I felt a gaze so intense it stung.
‘Shin Tae Jung.’
From a distance, he was staring directly at me.
It could be that he was glaring out of resentment at being suddenly dragged from Busan to Seoul and forced into a Double Dungeon because of me, but still.
There was something oddly irritating about it.
Even now that our eyes met, he didn’t avert his gaze.
It seemed that this silent confrontation between Shin Tae Jung and me had drawn the attention of others.
“Hunter Shin Tae Jung.”
“Yes, Association Director.”
“I heard you readily agreed to the sudden request. It must have been a difficult decision, and I apologize that the Association’s thanks came late.”
“Not at all. It’s naturally something I should do. But I’m not sure if I’ll be of much help.”
He spoke well for someone who hadn’t wanted to come, feigning humility.
I had brought one of the Shin brothers along with the thought that I couldn’t let them enter the Seo Myeon Gate as they wished, but honestly, Shin Tae Jung’s presence was a variable.
A variable that might even be connected to the Apocalypse Cult.
“Don’t worry about that. Hunter Shin Tae Jung will be able to play a very significant role.”
“…Yes?”
“The ones at risk of going berserk are S-rank hunters, aren’t they? If we try to suppress them through force alone, both sides could be seriously injured. But since Hunter Shin Tae Jung also possesses mental-type skills, he’s perfect for the job.”
Association Director Ji Jung Hwi continued with a somewhat regretful expression.
“Originally, I was planning to enter with them, but being A-rank, there are bound to be limitations. Thanks to Hunter Shin Tae Jung, I can now command with peace of mind from outside the second Gate alongside Director Seo Yu Baek.”
“Ahem.”
I stifled the laughter threatening to escape with a cough.
The Association Director must have felt equally uneasy about Shin Tae Jung’s presence.
Yet by entrusting him with this task so publicly, the Director had effectively prevented him from causing any trouble.
“…I will do my best, Director.”
With Shin Tae Jung finally under control, all preparations to enter the Gate were complete.
Despite the various complications, less than thirty minutes had passed since I received the Association Director’s call in Seo Myeon.
“Let’s go.”
Association Director Ji Jung Hwi led the way, stepping into the Gate first.
I followed close behind.
When my eyes opened again, I found myself standing within a Maze Dungeon constructed entirely of gray stone.
Even when I tilted my head back to gaze upward, the towering walls seemed to stretch endlessly, and for a moment, my breath caught in my chest.
An Association Staff member with a grim expression, who had studied the maze’s layout through the recorded footage, spoke up.
“From here on, we’ll guide you.”

* * *

Crash! Boom—!
A vine as thick as a human torso rained down relentlessly upon the protective barrier.
“Ugh!”
“Just hold on a little longer! The rescue team will be here soon!”
The mage-type Hunter from Fantasia Guild strained to hear the voices calling out to her from the surrounding chaos.
Most of the Hunters who had been pulled into the suddenly-formed second Gate owed their survival to the protective barrier she had conjured.
Since this calamity had struck while the two guilds were crossing paths in the maze, some of the Hunters under Fantasia’s protection were members of Dongbaek Guild.
“Damn it, of all things, a plant-type…”
Lee Cho Rok from Dongbaek Guild glared at the monster attempting to shatter the barrier, muttering through gritted teeth.
The matchup was hopelessly unfavorable.
Dongbaek, composed solely of pure combat-type Hunters who relied on physical prowess, and Fantasia, whose members lacked both stamina and agility, were ill-suited to face this plant-type monster with its hundreds of rapidly-moving tendrils.
And on top of that.
“Spores! It’s releasing spores! Be careful!”
Lee Cho Rok, spotting a flower bud suddenly blooming in the distance, shouted loud enough to be heard even beyond the protective barrier.
His warning was meant for Yoo Myung Hwa and Sung Ro Sa, who were still engaged with the monster.
Boom—!
With a sound like a massive balloon bursting, the flower bud expelled black spores in all directions.
The confined space began to darken as the spores spread.
“Sung Ro Sa, get inside!”
Yoo Myung Hwa shouted as she threw herself into a corner where the spores wouldn’t reach.
Sung Ro Sa, who had been positioned in the rear as a mage-type, fortunately managed to retreat into the protective barrier before the spores fully dispersed.
“Ugh!”
Trapped within the black haze as if in a dark fog, Sung Ro Sa coughed up black blood, his vision severely limited.
“Damn it.”
The camera recording everything from within the protective barrier was right beside him, but there was no room to worry about appearances now.
My consciousness flickered as though I might collapse at any moment.
“G-Guild Master….”
“For now, I’m fine.”
Sung Ro Sa’s voice trembled pathetically as he answered the terrified guild member.
A rampage was imminent.
I wasn’t entirely certain, but the black spores were undoubtedly the cause.
After hesitating briefly, Sung Ro Sa opened his mouth—a mess of black blood—toward the guild member.
“If I can’t hold on and I rampage, then perhaps….”
That was when it happened.
Beep—! Beep—! Beeeep—!
A loud, piercing sound resembling a disaster alarm blared through the air.
As the spores began to dissipate, a round red light flickered in tandem.
“Yoo Myung Hwa….”
The source of the sound and light was on Yoo Myung Hwa’s wrist—specifically, the watch the Awakeners Association had distributed.
I had wondered if it was some kind of tracking device, unsure of its actual purpose.
It was now blaring loudly, as though commanding everyone to evacuate.
“G-Guild Master!”
“Myung Hwa Unnie!”
The Dongbaek Guild hunters called out to Yoo Myung Hwa in despair.
Though they seemed ready to burst through the barrier and rush toward her at any moment, Sung Ro Sa raised one arm to stop them.
“Krrgh.”
An inhuman, grotesque sound emanated from Yoo Myung Hwa’s mouth.
Supporting herself on both hands, Yoo Myung Hwa slowly rose to her feet.
Her eyes had turned completely black, devoid of any white, and an endless stream of black, ink-like tears flowed from them.
The true rampage was beginning.
Grind.
Grinding his teeth as he watched her, Sung Ro Sa pulled out a supreme-grade mana potion from his subspace and drained it in one gulp.
Then he issued a command to the bewildered hunters.
“Everyone, get out.”
“…Guild Master?”
“There’s no point in you staying here any longer. Leave while you still can.”
Sung Ro Sa’s hand quietly gripped the shoulder of the guild member who had been deploying the barrier.
“Kugh.”
The guild member’s face contorted with frustration, but soon he lowered his head and withdrew his mana.
The blue barrier dissipated, and Sung Ro Sa stepped toward Yoo Myung Hwa.
“Go.”
At the final command, the hunters finally began to move.
Against an S-rank in complete rampage, they would only be a burden.
Confirming that the hunters had safely escaped—fortunately, it wasn’t a sealed dungeon—Sung Ro Sa frowned upon spotting a filming drone that the camera crew had stubbornly left behind.
No hunter wanted their rampage to be recorded and broadcast.
“Kerrrgh.”
Especially those like Yoo Myung Hwa who lost all reason and transformed into something no better than a beast.
Ssshhh—.
The plant-type monster, which had been continuously dispersing black spores, retreated as if it had accomplished its purpose with Yoo Myung Hwa’s rampage.
“Yoo Myung Hwa.”
The Dongbaek Guild Master who, when she went berserk, sought to slaughter every human around her.
Sung Ro Sa hoped that the final image of his longtime friend would not remain in people’s minds like this.
“I won’t let you die by my own hand, you cursed thing.”

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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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