The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 40

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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 – Episode 40

I recalled the conversations I’d had with Seo Yu Baek over time.
At our first meeting.

“He kept holding onto me and insisting right up until he collapsed.”
“What? What did he say?”
“That now that he has plenty of money, I absolutely must put him in a private room.”

When he was brought in the second time.

“You certainly live quite dynamically, Yeo Joo.”
“I suppose I have a rather turbulent fate.”

And that wasn’t even the extent of it.

“I apologize, but I already have a guild in mind.”
“Is there truly no room for negotiation with any guild but that one?”
“No.”

It burst open, it did.
I should have made a better impression!
But I, Yeo Joo, possessed too much willpower to give up here.
I quickly sat up and flashed the smile I’d perfected during my café part-time job days—the kind of smile that made it impossible for anyone to spit in your face—as I spoke.
“Still, seeing Doctor again like this makes me happy, you know?”
“Cough!”
Who was that? Who coughed?
Ignoring the guild members’ questioning gazes, I kept my eyes fixed solely on Seo Yu Baek.
“…Yeo Joo, did you hit your head again this time?”
Seo Yu Baek flipped through the chart, muttering, “That’s strange. There’s no record of that.”
I wanted to kick him once, but I held back.
Seo Yu Baek looked like the type who’d immediately pull out his wallet if a stranger on the street asked, “Could you lend me just ten thousand won?” Yet he was surprisingly ruthless.
Or rather, his distinction between “my people” and “everyone else” was remarkably clear-cut.
So the important thing was to become one of “my people” first.
That’s why I ignored Seo Yu Baek and the surrounding reactions, continuing to smile brightly.
“…Now that the patient is conscious, everyone else should head outside.”
“Is that really necessary?”
It’s not like I’d be undressing for an examination.
Does their presence really matter?
But Seo Yu Baek was firm.
“Patient medical information is private.”
When the doctor insisted, Kang Han led the others out.
“We’ll wait outside.”
As everyone obediently left, only Jang Su Ho hesitated, glancing back and forth between Seo Yu Baek and me.
Then he left some oddly wistful parting words before being dragged out by Lee Yu Eul.
“Call me if anything happens!”
Click.
A brief awkward silence fell.
Jang Su Ho, that useless guy.
Right when I needed to make a good impression on Seo Yu Baek!
“I’m sorry. He has a bit of an… unusual side to him.”
Well, his affinity keyword is “Master,” so unusual is putting it mildly.
“Not at all. It seems your guild members care for you very much, Yeo Joo. It’s nice to see.”
Seo Yu Baek smiled as he spoke.
He truly exuded the composure of a mature adult.
I tapped my lower back, which ached from sleeping too long like a high schooler on summer break, and asked.
“Did you come to discharge me like last time?”
“No, I’m afraid discharge won’t be possible today.”
“What? But I’m perfectly fine?”
I had no memory of being injured inside the Dungeon, and all my limbs moved without any problems.
Seo Yu Baek let out a low sigh as he watched me fidgeting with my fingers and toes.
“For the past 16 hours, you’ve been in a state of unconsciousness.”
“What? Oh, I must have just been tired.”
“You’re not understanding me. For 16 hours straight, you showed no response to external stimuli and remained ‘continuously’ unconscious.”
“Ah.”
There was no way out of this one.
Since it was a forced unconsciousness imposed by the system, of course I would have just lain there like a breathing corpse, unresponsive to any external stimulus.
“None of the healers in the hospital, myself included, could help you with our healing skills.”
“So that’s what happened.”
At this point, there was only one option left.
“I’m not sure what happened either.”
When you’ve caused trouble, feigning ignorance was the second-best excuse after claiming amnesia.
What could anyone do if I didn’t know myself?
“Hmm, I thought as much.”
Surprisingly, Seo Yu Baek seemed to have expected this, and without pressing further, he simply nodded with a more serious expression on his face.
What was that about?
I stared intently at Seo Yu Baek’s eyes visible beyond his glasses, but there was no sign of him hiding anything behind them.
He genuinely believed my excuse.
‘What is this comfort?’
Had I somehow already stepped inside Seo Yu Baek’s protective circle without realizing it?
“Let’s try once more.”
With those words, Seo Yu Baek took my hand.
Just as I was thinking how remarkably pale and delicate his hand was, with its slightly cool temperature, I felt a warm energy flowing in through our joined hands.
At the same time, the system window responded.

[ You have received the healing skill ‘Oath of the White Coat (S)’. ]
[ Your health is fully restored immediately. ]
[ Current Health 100/100 ]

“Wow, that’s incredible.”
Is this the power of an S-rank Healer?
I gazed up at Seo Yu Baek in awe.
The 33-year-old man with light brown hair and pale skin was South Korea’s most exceptional S-rank Healer.
But that wasn’t all.
In fact, the Awakened Healer Hospital was a Healer Guild that had named itself.
To counterbalance the influence of this Guild, which gathered the most renowned Healers, the government deliberately attached the title “National” and provided astronomical funding every year.
And Seo Yu Baek was this Guild’s second Guild Master.
It was Seo Yu Baek’s uncle who had founded the Guild, if I recalled correctly.
“The skill effect is quite remarkable.”
“It’s a skill called ‘Oath of the Hundred Physicians.'”
Truly a skill name befitting a successor from a lineage of legendary Healers.
“It’s also a skill that doesn’t work when someone is unconscious.”
A harsh system indeed.
To make even S-rank healing ineffective.
“At least it’s fortunate. I was worried that Yeo Joo might be in a state where no one else’s healing skills could reach her, but it seems that’s not the case.”
“You’ve healed me before, haven’t you?”
“We went into a Dungeon and came back out. In a place like that, anything can happen without surprise.”
“That’s true.”
I couldn’t agree more.
After all, my 16-hour unconsciousness was something the system had imposed on me as well.
“I can roughly guess what happened inside. It was because of Jang Su Ho, wasn’t it?”
“That’s… yes?”
“Yeo Joo.”
Why did I suddenly feel like I was about to be scolded?
“The most important thing a Healer must care for is not others, but themselves.”
“Yes.”
“If Healers recklessly exhaust their healing skills because their allies are injured, they’ll eventually burn out. Sometimes, like this time, they’re fortunate enough to merely lose consciousness, but if luck isn’t on their side.”
I didn’t need to hear the rest.
I’d already read about the fate of a Healer who sacrificed themselves completely for others in novels before.
“So for the sake of your Guild members, take care of yourself.”
It was golden advice from a senior Healer.
“Thank you for the advice. I’ll keep it close to heart.”
“You’re a good one.”
Seo Yu Baek gently patted my head.
And an affinity notification appeared.

《 ♥ 16 》

Every time affection arose, or whenever it increased, I could never fully understand the reason behind it.
But this time, I felt like I understood Seo Yu Baek’s feelings a little.
‘It must be affection toward a Healer who moves for others, just like he does.’
It made even more sense because I knew Seo Yu Baek’s future.
At the same time, my conscience—which I thought had died long ago—stung sharply.
To be compared to someone like Seo Yu Baek? Even if I died and came back to life, I could never be of the same caliber.
“Well, since the healing skill is effective, that’s reassuring. I’ll step out and prepare some nutritional supplements. Please wait a moment.”
The moment Seo Yu Baek said that and left the hospital room, the Justice Guild members waiting outside came flooding in.
“What did the Doctor say?”
“Is she okay? No problems?”
“Shouldn’t we run more detailed tests?”
“No problems at all. She’s in perfect health.”
I answered them while casually turning on the TV.
“Oh?”
By coincidence, the news channel was on again, and my photograph was plastered across the screen in large letters.
But this time, it showed me unconscious, cradled in Kang Han’s arms like a princess.
“That’s cool.”
I quickly grabbed my phone and took a screenshot of the screen.
This was definitely worth keeping.
“Why would you… take a picture of that?”
Kang Han said something from beside me, but I waved my hand dismissively to silence him.
Except for the fact that it was me being held, Kang Han looked less like a Hunter and more like a perfect hero.
The news anchor’s commentary was also consistently favorable.

「 “In particular, netizens’ reactions are intense. Some are even suggesting that the Justice Guild might be reclaiming its former glory….” 」

“Oh, that’s good. Very good.”
“Good? What’s so good about it?”
Lee Yu Eul plopped down on my bed with a reproachful huff, settling her weight on the mattress.
“Why do you always pout like that?”
“Do you have any idea how worried we were when you suddenly collapsed?”
“Ah, you’re right. I’m sorry about that.”
“Sorry about that?!”
My apology only seemed to infuriate Lee Yu Eul further.
“You’re a Healer, unnie! You should take care of yourself first!”
“Ah, that…”
It was the same kind of nagging Seo Yu Baek had just given me moments earlier.
I hadn’t argued with him because I needed to maintain a good impression, but there was something I needed to be honest about with my guild members.
“Technically, you’re right, but realistically speaking, it doesn’t work that way, Lee Yu Eul.”
“Unnie…”
I spoke clearly to Lee Yu Eul and to all the Justice Guild members gathered around my bed, each wearing expressions of varying concern.
“I have no intention of throwing my life away in some grand sacrifice for my guild members. But put another way, as long as my own life isn’t in danger, I’ll give everything I have to keep the Justice Guild fighting and moving forward.”
It might sound cold, but this way my guild members wouldn’t burden themselves with unnecessary guilt.
The system’s machinations seemed to extend far beyond that cursed spinning wheel anyway.
“That’s my role in this guild.”

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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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