Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: The Heroine Saves the World
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‘Hwacheon? Is it Hwacheon?’
The guild that kills Seong Yo-na?
In Sejongmak, Seong Yo-na’s death wasn’t covered in much detail.
It was just a few lines about how an A-rank Awakener, the sister of Seong Rosa, died while resisting capture.
Still, readers remembered it as the trigger for Fantasia Guild’s downfall.
I quickened my steps and racked my brain.
Hwacheon, blinded by the reward and hastily assuming Seong Yo-na was the murderer, attempts a rough takedown.
Seong Yo-na resists.
In the chaos, as she tries to escape using her skill, one panicked hunter attacks her back.
It would’ve been a fatal blow for most, but one a standard space manipulation Awakener could easily dodge.
Yet for some reason, Seong Yo-na takes it head-on.
And drops dead right there.
A pointless death.
‘Should’ve searched the back alleys from the start!’
I’d been too complacent.
This could really end with Seong Yo-na dead.
The sudden certainty grew stronger as I followed Hwacheon around the corner into the alley.
‘An evening as the sun sets, a back alley in Sinchon where even the bustling streets grow deserted.’
The description of where Seong Yo-na died was starting to match the situation perfectly.
“Thank you for entrusting me with the job!”
The image of Seong Yo-na saying that and bowing flashed through my mind amid my ragged breaths.
“Haa, heuk.”
But as an A-rank healer, I couldn’t keep tailing Hwacheon—all combat types—for long.
“Follow them, them.”
I pointed at Hwacheon’s group disappearing around the corner to my guildmates, who had caught up to me.
“Rest for a moment.”
Kang Han took off first after Hwacheon.
“Haa, should’ve... exercised... earlier.”
I clutched my cramping side, bent double, trying to catch my breath.
‘Should I have just approached her back then and acted like I knew?’
I’d figured if I blurted out, “You’re Seong Yo-na, right?” she might bolt.
So instead, I’d tried casually building rapport by calling her over now and then for training ground maintenance.
Truth be told, I’d been so swamped lately that I’d half-forgotten about her.
“Argh, damn it.”
I should’ve stayed sharper.
Regret didn’t suit me.
Then, through my blurred vision, I spotted a woman emerging from the opposite alley.
I couldn’t see her face through her hair, but her profile felt familiar.
I shot forward before my thoughts could catch up.
“W-wait, Seong Yo—no, Gu A-ri-ssi!”
I called her fake name, worried nearby hunters might overhear.
But the woman, head bowed, didn’t turn.
“Eek!”
My side cramp turning into a full knot, I started running.
And the moment I finally caught up to her...
“......Who are you?”
It wasn’t Seong Yo-na.
I apologized to the startled woman.
“Ah, sorry. I thought you were a friend.”
“Yeah.”
She seemed unfazed—like it happened all the time in the college district—picked up her phone again, and walked off talking to someone.
“Haa.”
The instant I confirmed it was a face totally unlike the Gu A-ri I knew, all strength drained from my body.
“Just... rest a bit.”
I wetted my dry mouth and finally braced my hands on my knees.
I wanted to recover my stamina fast and catch up to the others.
But even then, my eyes scanned the women walking the street.
Hwacheon might’ve chased the wrong lead, after all.
And no way to know the range, but Seong Yo-na—with her teleportation—might’ve slipped their net.
“Tsk. Fine.”
After a few deep breaths, I was about to set off in the direction the others had gone.
Bzzz—
Until my phone buzzed.
“Je... Jeju?”
Ah, right—she’s A-rank.
Never dreamed Seong Yo-na, who’d been circling Seoul, would suddenly hop to Jeju.
“Aigoo.”
All motivation gone.
I leaned back against the wall and stared up at the sky.
“Chase her to Jeju?”
Head to the airport now, and I might arrive by dawn.
But I quickly scrapped the idea.
With Fantasia terminating her contract, Justice Guild chasing her to Jeju would look way too suspicious.
Better to stop here.
“She won’t stay on Jeju forever.”
Jeju’s small.
And an island.
If she’d dodged Fantasia’s searches so nimbly until now, she wouldn’t linger there long.
Dodge well and come back to Seoul, Seong Yo-na.
“But where the heck am I?”
My 23 years had kept me far from college districts, so I’d gotten lost smack in the middle of Sinchon.
And that’s when I heard Jang Su-ho calling me.
“Nayeo-ju-ya!”
I lowered my head from blankly sky-gazing and saw my guildmates approaching.
Yeah, when you’re lost, best to stay put.
“Did you get the message?”
Kang Han asked, somehow finding me.
“Yes.”
“What do you want to do?”
“Withdraw, obviously.”
Kang Han nodded silently—clearly thinking the same.
Honestly, I had no strength left to walk, but I scraped together enough to reach the parked van.
“Aigoo, I’m dying.”
Finally sitting, I felt a glimmer of relief—but my heart felt empty.
Not just that our days of hardship with the guildmates bore no fruit.
‘I was worried about you, Seong Yo-na.’
Even without her being an A-rank space manipulator, I’d wanted to help.
Her resilient life, with nowhere to turn—like mine.
Plus, her status window from our last glimpse stuck with me.
Fear, anxiety, guilt, social phobia.
How must it feel to keep hiding like that, hunted by all those hunters?
“We’re here!”
Jang Su-ho—who drove again today—announced, and sure enough, the van had reached Justice Guild’s building.
“Good work, everyone. See you tomorr...”
As I waved casually and reached for the building door, Kang Han stopped my hand.
Then brought a finger to his lips.
What? What’s going on?
I shut my mouth as ordered, but had no clue.
Kang Han silently cracked the door.
Then tilted his head toward the interior, listening before frowning slightly.
‘A burglar?’
But our guild had nothing worth stealing.
Money was all in the bank.
Even if we seemed like a joke, would any thief dare hit a guild building?
Yet oddly, Kang Han wasn’t heading to the guild office upstairs.
His black combat boots turned toward the basement.
With each step down the stairs, the guildmates’ expressions shifted subtly.
And I sensed it too.
Faint, but unmistakable—signs of life.
As we descended, the guildmates naturally positioned me and Cheong-su at the rear.
And the moment Kang Han flipped the basement wall light switch...
“Huh?”
There, in front of the training room door, someone was curled up in a ball, squatting.
And as she lifted her head amid soft sobs...
“P-please... help me...”
It was Seong Yo-na—who was supposed to be on Jeju.