The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 382

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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 203

“Those lunatics!”
After settling the commotion on the first floor, Yoo Myung Hwa burst into my hospital room, her frustration boiling over.
When we first met, she seemed somewhat frightening and peculiar, but after seeing her a few times, I realized she was fundamentally cheerful and bright—now she reminded me of a successful older sister. First impressions truly are deceptive.
It’s remarkable how they can transform.
I retrieved a cold bottle of water from the refrigerator and handed it to Yoo Myung Hwa.
“Have some water.”
“Thanks. But seriously, Yeo Joo the healer—doesn’t this anger you at all?!”
“There’s no point getting angry if nothing will change.”
As I shrugged in response, Yoo Myung Hwa pounded her chest with the expression of someone who’d just eaten a hundred sweet potatoes.
“Goodness! There’s a limit to being this virtuous!”
…It was quite a misunderstanding, but there seemed no need to correct her.
“But I can’t make sense of this. They should be trying their hardest to impress you, yet suddenly they’re demanding custody of a new recruit? What could they possibly be banking on?”
“They’re probably just throwing caution to the wind because they’re desperate.”
Ji Jung Hwi, the Association Director, who had been calmly sipping warm green tea even in this situation, spoke briefly and turned on the hospital room’s television.
[ “…According to current reports, those who caused the disturbance on the first floor of the Awakened Hospital appear to be awakened soldiers under Captain Yoo Se Ran’s command, belonging to the military….” ]
[ “…Internet sentiment is quite serious. Users are questioning whether the government should be allowed to disregard individual human rights like this, even if it’s the military….” ]
Every channel being broadcast was busy reporting the incident that had just occurred, each emblazoned with a bright red “Breaking News” banner.
“Fortunately, public opinion doesn’t seem to be against us.”
“The internet is in an uproar too. People are saying the government’s gone mad.”
At Yoo Myung Hwa’s words, Lee Cho Rok, who had been monitoring the online atmosphere on his phone, exclaimed.
“Breaking news just dropped! It looks like the government’s official statement…. They’re denying involvement. They admit Captain Yoo Se Ran is military, but they’re claiming this was just a result of poor personal judgment….”
“That’s impossible.”
Kang Han, who had been standing beside my bed and watching out the window as if keeping guard, shook his head.
“The awakened unit is a direct command unit under the supreme military commander. They don’t move without orders.”
“But that makes even less sense. The supreme military commander is the Blue House, right? It’s obvious public opinion would turn sour—so why would they take such a reckless gamble?”
In the quiet hospital room, I could almost hear the sound of everyone’s minds racing furiously.
There were far too many considerations for this to be simply about coveting my abilities.
But as is often the case, the more complicated something appears, the simpler the answer usually is.
“They have something to rely on—something that could overturn public opinion.”
At my words, a large exclamation mark seemed to appear above Yoo Myung Hwa’s head.
“Yeo Joo the healer, do you perhaps have some kind of criminal record?”
“I’ve never even received a jaywalking fine.”
“It’s unthinkable that Yeo Joo would commit any unlawful act.”
I answered indifferently, but Kang Han made no effort to hide his displeasure.
The expressions on people’s faces were worth seeing.
Lee Cho Rok muttered as if he’d witnessed something he shouldn’t have.
“…I’ve never seen Kang Han Guild Master like that before….”
“Whenever it involves Yeo Joo the Healer, he’s always like that, so everyone should get used to it.”
Association Director Ji Jung Hwi also clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Ahem, anyway, my point is that today’s events can easily be framed as ‘Yeo Joo’s selfish behavior.'”
“Selfish behavior.”
The Association Director’s face darkened as if he grasped what I meant.
But the others still seemed confused.
“How can risking your life to save people be twisted into selfish behavior?”
“You see, Guild Master Yoo Myung Hwa, my abilities could certainly benefit the vast majority of hunters, right? So isn’t it perfect for pushing the narrative that ‘if only Yeo Joo sacrifices herself, many people can be saved, yet she refuses’?”
Humans are capable of turning a blind eye to others’ rights whenever their own lives and safety are at stake.
“Still, no matter how you look at it….”
Of course, the members of the Dongbaek Guild, known alongside the Justice Guild as the ‘upright ones’ of the hunter world, seemed completely unable to agree.
“With that kind of logic, it’s only a matter of time before hunters’ human rights are trampled. Everyone has different abilities that could be used for the greater good anyway.”
“Right, ultimately it could mark the beginning of a trend where all hunters’ abilities fall under state control.”
At Seo Yu Baek’s words, Yoo Myung Hwa spoke with firm conviction.
I could see anew just how righteous the people gathered in this room truly were.
This was the hopeful chapter of hunter life in preparation for the apocalypse.
I nodded in satisfaction and spoke to Yoo Myung Hwa.
“Could you possibly have a conversation with Guild Master Sung Ro Sa?”
“Sung Ro Sa? Why him all of a sudden?”
“Because the positions of the Justice Guild and Dongbaek Guild have become clear through today’s events.”
My gaze turned toward the muted news screen displaying the exterior of the Awakened Healer Hospital.
“I said hunters wouldn’t agree, but if people like that emerge, public opinion will shift quickly.”
“…Are you talking about the Gong Gil Yeon Alliance right now?”
“Exactly.”
It was an ironic situation.
The Pangyo incident had begun with the rampage of Lee Cho Rok, a hunter from the Dongbaek Guild present in this room.
And there was the Jung Dong Alliance, which had maintained the position that awakeners’ rights shouldn’t be asserted at the cost of civilians’ lives, and the Gong Gil Yeon Alliance, which had stepped forward with strong criticism of government intervention.
“No matter how much of an awakener Sung Ro Sa is, he won’t recklessly step forward about this. He’s not the type to be ungrateful. Besides, if he wants to avoid rampages in the future, he knows better than anyone that he needs to stay in my good graces as a healer….”
“Still, we can’t be too careful.”
“…I understand.”
The atmosphere inevitably grew heavy.
While everyone fell into thought, Seo Yu Baek approached me and asked.
“How’s your condition, Yeo Joo?”
“I’m fine, just a bit tired.”
“It’s more than a bit. You should rest properly, but something like this had to happen.”
“I can manage, sir.”
I meant every word sincerely, but Seo Yu Baek clearly didn’t take it that way.
Watching him ruffle my hair with a bitter smile told me everything.
Looking into those eyes brimming with genuine concern for me, someone suddenly came to mind.
“Guild Master.”
“Yes, Yeo Joo?”
“What happened to Sa Ma Young?”
Kang Han fell silent for a moment.
With an expression I’d never seen before—one that seemed both angry and at a loss for words—he sighed quietly before speaking.
“He didn’t die.”
“Is that so?”
Then that’s good enough.
I pressed Sa Ma Young’s number on the screen.
I thought if he hadn’t died, he’d answer the phone.
“[The phone is turned off. Connecting to voicemail….]”
It was something I could have brushed off as him still being unconscious, but my instincts were telling me otherwise.
That wasn’t the reason.
After pressing the end call button, I saw my reflection in the darkened screen and spoke to Kang Han.
“I’d like to go home for now, Guild Master.”

* * *

It had already been four days since I cleared the Double Dungeon and was discharged from the hospital.
Through the gap in the curtains, I watched the reporters still swarming around the Justice Guild grounds.
The moment I left the Awakened Healer Hospital and returned to the Justice Guild, the reporters caught my scent like bloodhounds and descended upon us.
The hunters weren’t even intimidated—they were launching drones to film, so I installed temporary protective barriers along the perimeter of the grounds.
Thanks to that, I didn’t have to worry about drones or intruders, but I couldn’t use Awakener services either, so I was essentially under house arrest.
“[Humans are so noisy.]”
Na Baek Ho buried his head in the blankets with a pained expression, muttering irritably.
With such keen hearing, the stress must be even worse for him.
I gently patted his head sympathetically.
“I’m suffocating from frustration too, honestly.”
This really isn’t the time for this.
Even now, a Quest window from the Double Dungeon lingered in the corner of my vision.

[ ! Quest !
I can’t provide a translation for this text as it appears to be corrupted, contains random characters, and symbols rather than actual Korean words.

A Quest broken so badly meant a system error.
It was absolutely impossible if a mid-level administrator was functioning properly.
Moreover.
‘Why is the Dark Spore Dungeon appearing already?’
Dark Spores—the very threat that appeared in the novel’s latter half, slaughtering countless high-grade Hunters, including the remaining Justice Guild members.
Yet it had manifested not only as a Double Dungeon but with a broken Quest to boot.
“This won’t do. I need to get out of here.”
I would have to meet with Shane, the mid-level administrator.
If this wasn’t a critical error but rather administrative negligence stemming from the Dream Catcher I’d recovered last time, I deserved appropriate compensation.
I was carefully drawing the curtains again, preparing to temporarily deactivate the barrier and summon the spatial transfer service, when it happened.
Knock, knock.
Someone was tapping on my door.
I glanced at Baek Ho, whose ears perked up as he stared toward the entrance.
So it wasn’t anyone from the familiar Justice Guild.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me.”
An utterly unexpected voice came from beyond the door.
The door swung open.
Startled, I found myself facing a man so massive the narrow hallway seemed to shrink around him.
“Boss?”
“It’s been a while, Yeo Joo.”
“But how did you…?”
No one was supposed to be able to enter the Guild grounds right now!
Je Hwa smiled softly at my shocked expression and shrugged.
“The door installed in the Workshop isn’t affected by the barrier.”
“Ah!”
Right, that existed!
Je Hwa seemed to glow with an almost divine radiance.
I seized his hand firmly.
I grabbed Je Hwa’s hand tightly and cried out.
“Please get me out of here!”

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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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