The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 78

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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 78

“I don’t think Sung Yo Na would be here.”
Since I was the one who insisted we come to Gwanghwamun today, I spoke with a hint of awkwardness.
“Well, since we’re already here, let’s at least take a look around.”
Unlike yesterday, we moved together as a group.
Since this was a protest site, it wasn’t unusual for several people to walk together.
That said, it wasn’t easy navigating through the throng of people.
Thud.
I accidentally bumped into the shoulder of a man chatting with his friend.
“Oh, I’m so sorry—”
“Keep your eyes open when you’re walking!”
What the hell is this guy’s problem?
Since I was the one who made the mistake first, I was trying to swallow my anger and move on, but someone suddenly stepped between me and the hostile pedestrian.
“In crowded places, both parties should be careful.”
“Huh? Oh, yes.”
He’d been acting like he was about to take a swing at me.
The moment Kang Han—tall and well-built—said a single word, the man immediately tucked his tail between his legs and whimpered.
The man even quickly grabbed his friend and fled far away.
“Tsk. Maybe I should build up my physique too. Don’t you think?”
Normally, Lee Yu Eul would have shot back with something like “You’re too short even if you build muscle,” but she was unusually quiet.
“Yu Eul, are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
She answered readily enough, but her face was rigid and tense.
When I turned to look around, the other guild members didn’t look much better either.
“Sigh.”
I hadn’t thought this through.
The eastern side of Gwanghwamun where we were standing was where the apocalypse cultists had gathered.
“The end times are approaching! Awakeners must submit and obey the Cult Leader!”
“Glory belongs only to the faithful!”
This pseudo-religious organization, which calls itself the “Apocalypse Cult,” operates around a single figure known only as the “Cult Leader.”
At first, it was a small group that no one paid attention to, but at some point, it began steadily growing in numbers.
What they preach is literally: “The end times are approaching, so hunters must surrender their freedom and obey the Cult Leader to meet a glorious death in preparation for it.”
‘They start with something true and then completely drift off into nonsense.’
It’s true that the end times are approaching in this world.
But the way to prepare for it is for hunters to abandon all free will and submit? That’s absurd.
They’re not even trying to prevent the apocalypse.
The doctrine is that if you accept the inevitable future and trust the Cult Leader, you’ll go to heaven after death.
But since the Cult Leader must be the last to die while praying for all sentient beings, hunters have to protect that charlatan.
‘So it all comes down to protecting himself.’
I shook my head in disbelief.
That so-called Cult Leader and all these people who believe in that con artist—they’re all completely insane.
“Noona, you saw that investigative broadcast, right? You need to be careful.”
Lee Yu Chan squeezed my hand and pulled me toward the center of the guild members, whispering urgently.
“Oh, that one.”
I’d seen that heavily edited video on YouTube while killing time.
It was an undercover exposé by some awakener-turned-journalist who risked his life infiltrating the Apocalypse Cult.
“It really was strange.”
The footage quality was poor since the hidden camera was concealed somewhere on his body, but the shocking scenes came through crystal clear.
It showed B-rank and C-rank awakeners actually obeying the Cult Leader.
They treated every trivial word from the masked Cult Leader like divine revelation.
As if they possessed no free will whatsoever.
“Chung Soo, come here.”
I called Chung Soo over and linked my arm firmly through his.
Even though he acts smart, he has a soft side and seems like the type who’d easily fall for strange things.
After thoroughly sweeping the eastern side of Gwanghwamun, we concluded that the disguised Sung Yo Na wasn’t there and moved to the western side.
The situation on the western side, where anti-awakener groups had gathered, was far more serious.
“Isolate awakeners from society!”
“Protect society and citizens from rampaging monsters!”
Their arguments were just as inhumane as the apocalypse cultists’.
No—they didn’t even view awakeners as human beings.
They treated us like time bombs waiting to explode.
That’s why they spouted nonsense about isolating awakeners on some island and managing us like animals.
Unaware that these ‘animals’ are the only thing protecting them from Gates and the monsters within.
“We’re not a plague or anything….”
Jang Su Ho muttered quietly, his expression deeply wounded and bitter.
I couldn’t blame him.
Rampaging hunters are dangerous.
But they don’t rampage unless they enter Gates.
In reality, awakeners who survive into old age mostly retire to rural regions where Gates open infrequently.
That way, they can maintain normal lives with bodies healthier than ordinary people’s.
In other words, rampaging hunters are sacrificing their bodies to protect this nation’s people.
Not to mention the supply of mana stones, which replace environmentally destructive fossil fuels.
That’s why the government reduces taxes for awakeners, guarantees minimum compensation above a certain level, and encourages continued activity.
“The Awakeners Association must disclose awakeners’ skill lists!”
“Disclose them!”
“Prevent hunters from monopolizing all assets!”
“Prevent it!”
This movement had even more supporters than the Apocalypse Cult.
“Come on, let’s go.”
If I stayed here any longer, I’d die of rage before the apocalypse even arrived.
They had no idea that everything they enjoyed right now existed because of us.
The guild members seemed to share my sentiment—they all followed silently without a word.
Or perhaps they were biting their tongues, afraid that if they opened their mouths, harsh words would spill out.
Thus, our second day of searching for Sung Yo Na ended, leaving only a bitter taste behind.

* * *

The third day was different.
Early in the morning, an urgent call came from Fantasia Guild.
“Sung Yo Na was spotted at Ewha Womans University.”
Ewha Womans University was one of the universities located in Sinchon.
Then today was the day.
Today, Sung Yo Na would die.
There was no way Fantasia had given this information to us alone.
By now, every guild that had accepted the request would be moving toward Sinchon, and no matter how crowded the area was, Sung Yo Na wouldn’t be able to hold out for long.
“Let’s hurry.”
We quickly set out for Sinchon.
Since it was still early, Sinchon was quiet on this Sunday.
But by lunchtime, it began to bustle with students and people out for leisure.
“Huh? There’s the Magma Guild.”
Jang Su Ho, who was tall, spotted hunters searching near the front gate of Ewha Womans University in the distance and spoke up.
I rose onto my tiptoes to confirm them as well.
“They’re heading inside.”
Since the last sighting had been at Ewha Womans University, they seemed to have decided to search the campus interior itself.
“Should we go too?”
Han Ji Sung asked Kang Han and me.
“No.”
“That doesn’t seem like a good idea.”
We both shook our heads simultaneously.
“No matter how large the campus is, it’s not easy to escape from inside.”
Kang Han explained.
He was right.
While it might be fine to blend in naturally at a women’s university with so many female students, in a situation where hunters were searching intensely for just one person, it wasn’t a good option.
“Let’s try heading toward areas with more streets and more people.”
Following my suggestion, we headed toward the heart of Sinchon.
But I hadn’t gleaned anything of substance.
Except for spotting Ragna’s guild members lurking about—pretending to sip coffee, feigning cigarette breaks in corners while surveying their surroundings.
“Everyone’s gathered here, it seems.”
Lee Yu Chan rubbed his weary eyes as he spoke, exhausted from scrutinizing faces all day long.
“Right. We should have found her first.”
I replied while gazing at the sky, which had already begun to darken with the approaching dusk.
Though I hadn’t expected finding Sung Yo Na would be easy.
“What if she’s already moved to a different area?”
Han Ji Sung ventured his opinion cautiously.
I hadn’t dismissed that possibility myself.
There was a chance Sung Yo Na had made a choice different from the original story.
“Then….”
I was about to suggest we relocate our search elsewhere.
“Hwacheon?”
I caught sight of the Hwacheon Guild—disguised with masks like us, yet unable to abandon those modified hanbok—hurriedly disappearing into an alley.
“Follow them.”
Something felt off.
My instincts were screaming it.
I bolted forward without even confirming the other guild members were following.

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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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