The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 45

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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 45

I participated in the Mining Dungeon auction once more.
It was the same Auction House and the same auction hall as before.
But there were differences.
“The Justice Guild again?”
“What? I thought they’d completely moved on to clearing Guerrilla Dungeons?”
“What else can you do when you need to survive?”
We were receiving far more attention than before.
“Why are you here again if you keep running Guerrilla Dungeons?”
“Ugh, the Justice Guild is so annoying.”
There were many reactions tinged with envy and jealousy.
While the number of people who looked down on us as before had diminished, other aspects had actually worsened.
“Since when does the Justice Guild walk around with their head held high? Have they no shame?”
“The fifth dungeon break happened because of them.”
“Exactly. So many people died, and the Justice Guild dares to act like a guild again?”
“They’re called the Justice Guild in name only. They don’t even know what shame is.”
“If I don’t want to see that pathetic sight, I should just leave this place. Ptui!”
More and more people were crossing the line.
I couldn’t say I didn’t understand their feelings.
The circumstances of the Awakened gathered here to mine were probably not much different from what the Justice Guild had faced before.
Their ranks were lower, and they had to prepare expensive mining equipment themselves.
Moreover, not being Hunters, they didn’t receive treatment as Awakened either.
Compared to high-rank Hunters who easily earned salaries in the hundreds of billions, their financial situations were naturally strained.
But seeing the Justice Guild—who had been in the same predicament not long ago—receiving attention and advancing to places they could never reach naturally fueled their jealousy.
The sight was both pathetic and pitiful.
But there were limits to how far one should go.
Worried, I turned to look back at the Justice Guild members walking behind me.
As expected, the twins seemed quite intimidated.
I needed to say something to them.
Or maybe I should call out that bastard who was spouting off about the dungeon break and teach him a lesson.
That’s what I was thinking.
“Raise your head.”
For a moment, I thought I had spoken.
But those words came from Kang Han’s mouth.
“You’ve done nothing wrong.”
It’s a hundred times, a thousand times the right thing to say.
Setting aside the fact that I still don’t know the truth behind the Fifth Gate Break, none of the Justice Guild members gathered here had any connection to what happened back then.
The clearing team that people held “responsible” all died inside the Dungeon.
Moreover, I myself disposed of not only the Justice Guild’s assets but also my family’s fortune simply because I am Kang Young Won’s son, compensating all civilian casualties and material damage to the surrounding area.
This despite the law that no one is held responsible for damages caused by Gates.
‘Yes, I must endure. I must bear this.’
I know the truth.
But I must remain silent.
The truth about Kang Young Won and the Fifth Gate Break must not be revealed yet.
It’s something that should come to light naturally when the time is right.
Society isn’t ready to face the reality that lies ahead.
“Walk forward with confidence.”
Even Kang Han, who speaks such words.

* * *

The list of Mining Dungeons up for auction was more impressive than last time.
“So that’s why there were so many people.”
I spotted several who, like the employment office where Kang Han once worked, were bidding to win Dungeons for group entry.
“Hmm, which one should I choose?”
This time, I hadn’t come with any particular Dungeon in mind like before.
The guild’s cash reserves were genuinely running low, so I needed to mine.
But that wasn’t all.
“Money aside, I need to experience various types of Dungeons.”
“Huh?”
Jang Su Ho and Lee Yu Eul made strange sounds simultaneously from beside me.
When I turned around, both had their eyes wide open—one was scratching his ear while the other placed his hand on my forehead.
“You’re not sick somewhere, are you?”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
Though you do eat grass well enough yourself.
“Otherwise, there’s no way you’d say something like ‘money aside.'”
“This bastard.”
…Well, they’re not wrong.
From the past few experiences, I’ve learned what matters more than money in Dungeon clearing.
‘The hints of the apocalypse I sensed were hidden earlier in various places than I thought.’
Like that question-mark-covered Holy Grail I obtained after killing the Crocodile King last time.
“What about that one?”
Kang Han pointed to a Fairy Tale Dungeon near the beginning of the list and asked.
A Fairy Tale Dungeon refers to a type of Gate that mimics the surrounding environment where it manifests.
They’re vicious ones trying to delay discovery and increase the probability of a Dungeon Break.
But we had the Gate prediction system created by the great Jung Je Hwa, and because of it, these Dungeons were largely abandoned after we dealt with the monsters inside.
Especially in the case of underwater Fairy Tale Dungeons with entrances located in the sea or rivers, Awakeners would occasionally use them only for fishing or scuba diving.
“A mountain in Chungcheong Province would be perfect for camping.”
“Idiot, you should be thinking about mining instead.”
“Why not do both? It’s not like we’re making frequent trips anyway, so since we’re going, we might as well enjoy some camping vibes while we’re there.”
The twins had a point.
Summer was approaching soon anyway.
“Should we go get some fresh air?”
“…That sounds like a good idea.”
This guy really does love camping.
Even if the Justice Guild isn’t a major corporation yet, we can still provide these kinds of benefits.
Besides, a Fairy Tale Dungeon in the mountains might have quite a bit worth harvesting.
I won the bid for the unpopular Fairy Tale Dungeon with a light heart.
“What, a Fairy Tale Dungeon?”
“Guess they’re going to dig up some wild vegetables or something.”
“Pfahahaha!”
Various loud voices echoed behind us as we left the Auction House, but I was too busy searching for the exact location of the Dungeon I’d won.
“It really is in the middle of nowhere.”
And don’t underestimate mountain herbs from Dungeons.
They’re all potion materials—you have no idea how much the Crafting Guild kids love them.

* * *

“Little goats grazing on grass, playing away♪ With faces as bright as the sun♬”
The day we set out for the Mining Dungeon in Chungcheong Province.
The twins were already buzzing with excitement from inside the car.
Even the usually quiet Lee Yu Chan joined in, singing such a peculiar song.
“Quiet. If you don’t pipe down, you might end up like those baby goats, eating nothing but grass for a while.”
“Come on, unnie! You’re excited too! I saw you preparing all the camping gear yesterday!”
“I feel like I’m moving into our dungeon.”
“Jang Su Ho, how much longer until we arrive?”
“Almost there. About twenty minutes more by car?”
I redirected my attention to Jang Su Ho, who was handling all the driving today.
“Oh, changing the subject, changing it!”
“Unnie, sing with us if you’re excited too!”
“That’s enough. You’re both on mandatory vegetarian rations for the next week.”
How dare they mock the dignity of a guild master just because I bought some camping supplies?
Honestly, it wasn’t even that much.
After all, with five of us needing to eat and sleep in the dungeon for about two nights and three days, some preparation was necessary.
So I bought a tent, sleeping bags, and camp beds.
Oh, and about six chairs and a table for eating.
Because if one breaks, is someone supposed to sit on the ground and eat?
Of course we need spare chairs.
Plus, in case it gets cold and we want something hot to eat, a mana stone kettle and a camping stove for making campfires.
It was really nothing special.
“We’re here.”
Jang Su Ho turned off the engine as he spoke.
And for good reason—we could no longer drive any further.
Fortunately, there was a mountain path with flattened grass, a trace of where people had passed, so that was a relief.
“Mmm, the scent of phytoncides.”
“My body, rotting in the city, feels purified.”
“So we really are countryside types after all.”
“You two were both born and raised in Seoul.”
The two colts with Seoul as their origin began racing up the mountain path first.
“Yeo Joo, are you really sure you’ll be okay?”
Han Ji Sung quietly approached from behind, looking down at me with worried eyes.
“Ah, this much is fine, really. It’s just a backyard hill, what’s the big deal?”
The three men seemed to think of a healer as something fragile as a withering leaf.
“If it gets hard, tell me right away. I brought plenty of stamina potions too.”
“Should I carry you?”
Kang Han went even further.
And judging by that serious expression, it wasn’t even a joke.
This is all because of that cursed system’s roulette from last time.
I deliberately took the lead on the mountain path and called out.
“Ah, this much is totally fine!”

* * *

It was not fine.
“Oh my, I’m dying.”
At first, it really was manageable.
After all, I’d awakened and my stamina had improved considerably, and the mountain terrain wasn’t particularly treacherous.
The problem began after about an hour, when the path itself disappeared and the real “mountain climbing” started in earnest.
“What kind of—rocks—are there—huff—so many!”
So many! —so many! —so many!
My cry echoed back as a reverberation through the mountains.
This is maddening.
“This won’t do. Please, let me carry you.”
Kang Han presented his broad back and dropped to one knee.
Just looking at it promised a comfortable ride.
“Su Ho, how much further did you say we need to go from here?”
“Uh, I’m not really sure. The thing’s been dead silent since earlier.”
In the mountains where cell phone signals were impossible to catch, I’d specially prepared a Gate tracking item.
Even that had broken down.
This is why items should always be from Maestro, no matter the cost.
Buying whatever was cheap turned out to be a mistake.
“But the last time I checked, it was in that direction, so I think we need to go around that rock face and climb up.”
“A rock face?”
It was hopeless.
Would I be a living Yeo Joo or a dead Yeo Joo after climbing up that rock face on foot?
“Then let’s just rest here for the night.”
Han Ji Sung suggested.
I was honestly tempted.
It seemed like we’d half-lost the path, and the sun was nearly setting.
If we continued like this, we might end up wandering the mountain in pitch darkness.
Kang Han, Jang Su Ho, and the twins might be fine, but Han Ji Sung and I wouldn’t be.
And we couldn’t exactly have them carry us both by force.
“Let’s do that. There’s no rush anyway.”
Kang Han nodded and wandered around the area a few times before finding a suitable spot.
“That place up there would be good.”
It was flat ground with a rock face at its back.
I quickly pulled out the camping gear I’d prepared in my subspace.
“If you listen to Yeo Joo, even dreams come true.”
“If you hadn’t been here, I might’ve just gone ahead alone….”
“Quiet, Baby Goat Number Two. Go set up the tents.”
I pointed to the stack of semi-automatic eight-person tents and gave the order to Lee Yu Chan.
Rustle.
“This should be enough for now.”
In the meantime, Kang Han had gathered dry branches and kindling from the surrounding area.
And a frightening amount of it at that.
As I stared at the towering mound of branches stacked in a neat pile, it struck me how much it resembled a burial mound in a cemetery.
“I think it would be safer to use a fire pit rather than building it directly on the ground.”
“Understood.”
Just as I was about to hand Kang Han a camping fire pit after he nodded in agreement, something happened.
Whoosh.
The grass in the distance rustled slightly.
At the same moment, the atmosphere around the Justice Guild shifted.
Kang Han’s eyes, which had been engaged in conversation with me, sharpened instantly as he positioned himself in front of me.
The twins had already drawn their machetes and bows, aiming them toward the rustling grass.
And a few seconds later.
“…A person?”
As Kang Han muttered softly, someone burst through the rustling grass.
It was a boy who looked to be around fifteen or sixteen years old.
Dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and shorts in the middle of the mountains, he looked at our campsite with a somewhat sullen expression and spoke.
“You probably shouldn’t light a fire here.”
…Was he a wild man living off the land?

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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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