The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 398

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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 3, Episode 2

The aroma seemed even more enticing today!
I quickly placed a piece of meat into my mouth.
“…Boss, is there anything you can’t do?”
I furrowed my brow in frustration—the food was so delicious it was almost infuriating—and Je Hwa, who had been cutting his steak, let out a soft chuckle.
“It’s just grilling, really.”
“Not just today! Last time you made papillote, and before that you hand-folded dumplings! They were absolutely delicious!”
The crispy exterior and moist interior had been almost violently delightful.
“I’ll make them again next time.”
“Is it because cooking is done by hand? How do you make everything taste so good every single time?”
“Perhaps it’s because the kitchen equipment is quite good. A well-equipped environment is crucial for producing excellent results.”
“I see.”
The better the craftsman, the more their tools shine.
I took another piece of steak and glanced around the space anew.
The interior, with its ceiling soaring three stories high and a balanced use of light-colored wood and stone, conveyed both luxury and comfort.
Beyond the expansive windows that opened without reservation, the mountain landscape gradually darkening in the evening light held an almost mystical quality.
Though I saw this view every day now, it felt somehow unreal, and I found myself gazing blankly out the window—a sight Je Hwa misinterpreted, as he pushed his chair back as if to stand.
“Yeo Joo, if the steak isn’t to your liking, I can prepare something else right away.”
“No! I was just lost in thought for a moment.”
I answered quickly and resumed eating, and Je Hwa, his expression relaxing, cut the accompanying garnish and placed it on my plate.
After that pleasant dinner, just as large green grapes were being brought to the table as dessert, I heard a faint sound.
Turning my head, I saw Kang Han and Sa Ma Young entering.
The two men approached our table and naturally took their seats.
Kang Han sat across from me, while Sa Ma Young took the seat to my right.
It seemed they had even showered in the meantime, as different fragrances wafted from each of them.
“I’m back, Yeo Joo. Did you eat well?”
Kang Han greeted me first.
“Did you have fun while I was away?”
Sa Ma Young plucked a grape and placed it in my mouth, smiling mischievously.
But that was all.
Each had said what they wanted to say to me, yet neither made eye contact with Je Hwa.
Still, there was no discomfort or awkwardness in the air.
Looking at the three different pairs of eyes fixed on me, I found myself wondering.
…How did things end up like this?

* * *

It was April, when the spring breeze had fully awakened the world.
I stroked the soft fur of Na Baek Ho, still blissfully unaware of the world as he slept, while my gaze pierced through the empty air above.
Of course, I wasn’t idly staring at a blank ceiling with nothing else to do.

[ ! WARNING !
An irreversible choice.
Do not speak of the apocalypse process. ]

It was the system window that had appeared last winter, the moment I tried to tell Association President Ji Jung Hwi about the coming apocalypse.
Shane, the middle manager, could not see this eerie and ominous message.
“So that means only I can see it….”
I felt deeply unsettled.
A system message that even the administrator didn’t know about.
As if to prove it was neither hallucination nor delusion, it remained unchanged even now, months later.
I had tried every conceivable method.
I had even spoken to empty air like a madwoman, and spent days and nights racking my brain to see if there was any clue hidden within the contents of the 【Sejong’s End】 that I had read.
Yet there had been no real progress thus far.
“We’ll see how this plays out.”
I glared at the system window one last time before rising from bed.
Preparing for the accelerating apocalypse process was far more urgent than investigating this mysterious, possibly erroneous system window.
‘I knew things would get busy.’
But I never expected it to reach this extent.
“Good morning.”
“Welcome!”
“Hello, Team Leader Yeo Joo!”
The Justice Guild’s Administrative Team, which once consisted of merely five people including myself, had now swelled to a full fifteen members.
Yet despite this growth, we were still desperately short-handed and actively recruiting more staff.
As expected, work poured in the moment I arrived at the office.
The first thing awaiting me was a stack of requests from various countries piled high on my desk.

[ …We wish to research countermeasures against dark matter with your assistance…. ]

I swept aside more than ten documents in one go, brushing them to the side.
Kim Ji Hee, who had been helping manage my schedule lately, approached and let out a wry laugh at the sight.
“You’re not even surprised anymore.”
“I wish I could help with everything, but it’s not just domestic—it’s international.”
After my skill for purifying darkness addiction became known, several countries moved with particular swiftness.
However, the government, mindful of public opinion to “absolutely protect Yeo Joo,” was handling it well on their own.
After attempting to use soldiers to do something about me and facing a massive backlash, they were now playing it safe.
‘They haven’t completely secured control over that yet.’
Thinking of the fox-like Vice Cult Leader—no, Shin Tae Jung—I clicked my tongue softly.
If he would just make one more reckless attempt like he did with the Awakener Unit, but that sharp-eyed bastard had an uncanny sense of when to strike and when to retreat.
“Team Leader, you need to look at this too.”
“New guild member applications?”
The Administrative Team wasn’t the only one actively recruiting.
“Yes, that’s right. There’s the matter of transfer fees, so I need you to review it once more.”
“Since Guild Master Kang Han selected them, there shouldn’t be any problems, but….”
As I scanned through the list, I found myself nodding involuntarily.
Indeed, Kang Han had a discerning eye.
When Shane mentioned that the apocalypse process was accelerating, the first thing I prepared was additional guild recruitment.
Originally, I had intended to maintain a small, elite force with overall balance in mind.
But that was only feasible when we had sufficient time.
To effectively prepare for emergencies, it was advantageous to have as many high-ranked hunters as possible within the Justice Guild.
And Kang Han, as if reading my thoughts completely, had compiled a list focused primarily on A-rank hunters who could be deployed immediately.
It was a completely different approach from the last recruitment, where we had selected based on potential regardless of rank.
“Then I’ll read through the new guild member documents whenever I have a moment. What’s my schedule for today?”
“First, there’s a meeting for the newly established item crafting department at 10 AM. And….”
I began working while listening to Kim Ji Hee recite my schedule.
Before I knew it, it was already 8 PM.
I arrived at the Guild Dining Hall having burned through the entire day, reduced to ash, but dinner service had already ended.
“I should grab a sandwich or something… Ah, what a hassle.”
I needed sleep more than food, so why had I come here?
I chided myself belatedly, but I didn’t even have the energy left to climb to the Dormitory.
“Let me just rest for a moment.”
I laid my head down on the table and closed my eyes.
I thought I had taken a few deep breaths and opened my eyes again, but outside it had grown as dark as the middle of the night.
“How many hours did I sleep… Oh my! What are you all doing here?!”
I thought no one was around because it was so quiet, but three large men were sitting like statesmen, staring down at me.
“One hour.”
Kang Han checked his wristwatch and spoke curtly.
“Pardon?”
“You slept for one hour. With your head on the table.”
“Ah, I didn’t sleep as long as I thought?”
Based on how my body felt, I must have gotten around three hours of sleep, and it seemed like I’d slept deeply and soundly.
The thought of returning to the Dormitory, washing up refreshingly, and lying down made me feel good, and I laughed.
But their expressions weren’t quite as pleasant.
Even Sa Ma Young, whose default expression had always been a smile whenever he was in front of me since joining the Justice Guild, looked cold.
“Do you know how many days it’s been since we last saw each other?”
The way he asked that question was quite sullen.
“Two days…?”
“Four days.”
“Come on.”
“Seriously.”
“Has it really been that long?”
As I stood there dumbfounded, Kang Han and Je Hwa spoke up in turn.
“It’s been four days for me.”
“We just saw each other briefly at this morning’s meeting—a week ago.”
I realized I’d been living in a daze lately.
“No wonder everyone seemed so happy to see me.”
Again, I was the only one smiling.
At this point, I couldn’t help but notice.
“Ha ha, don’t tell me I’m being scolded right now?”

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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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