Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 11

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 011

 

 

“So, what exactly does Field Team Na do?”

 

When I asked during the [Tell me your dreams!] time, Kwon Hae-seong only gave vague answers to my question.

 

 

Clearly, it seemed like there was more to say, but after glancing at Seo-ro, he mumbled and didn’t continue.

 

Right now Seo-ro also seemed too busy playing to pay attention, and I had some free time.

 

“Do they do dangerous work? From what I heard, it sounds like they come back injured every day.”

 

Hunter.

 

A profession where you get officially certified by the country based on manifestation status and grade selected like hitting a jackpot, and earn money using your abilities formally.

 

And among them, the most popular job category was naturally the field work that involved direct action.

 

‘The salary is the highest too.’

 

Isn’t it the number one dream job for kids and teenagers these days?

 

The mere fact that you could become a hero with abilities that science couldn’t explain was enough to make the hearts of growing youngsters race.

 

Moreover, the gates that appeared 30 years ago along with Awakeners had also been stabilized through countless experiments and manuals, making the current era peaceful enough to be called the ‘Age of Peace.’

 

So peaceful that people sometimes forgot about the existence of terrible and cruel monsters in the space called dungeons beyond those gates.

 

I too had never seen a gate or monster even once in my entire life.

 

‘They say in the old days, many hunters died fighting monsters.’

 

But now they say there are hardly any deaths inside dungeons.

 

Kwon Hae-seong’s lips twitched as if he was pondering an answer to my question. Then he furrowed his brow slightly and gave his response.

 

“…It’s dangerous. Among hunters, field teams are people who do all sorts of things… But among them, Team Na and a few other teams get assigned particularly dangerous jobs.”

 

“Dangerous work? Are there other dangerous jobs besides entering dungeons?”

 

“Yes… Civilians might not know, but besides entering dungeons, they take on all sorts of miscellaneous requests. Since it’s the Age of Peace, dungeon exploration alone doesn’t pay well.”

 

“Ah… I see. But is there a specific reason why Team Na gets assigned more dangerous work?”

 

“…There is a reason, if you could call it that.”

 

“…?”

 

Kwon Hae-seong made a face like he’d eaten shit and groaned to himself before hesitantly spitting out his words.

 

“Including Team Na, Field Team Ga and Team Ra have particularly many high-grade Awakeners within the field teams.”

 

“I see.”

 

“…Ah, um. The team leaders of these teams all have quite the personality. Team Ra’s leader position has been vacant for two years, but even the deputy leader isn’t an easy person.”

 

“Does the team leader’s personality become a problem?”

 

Maybe it’s because I’ve never worked at a company, but I don’t really understand how a superior’s personality directly correlates to work difficulty.

 

“…Unfortunately, yes. At BOND, when work comes in, it first goes to the assignment department where they judge the difficulty, required personnel, and scale of the task, then decide which field team is suitable. The problem is in the assignment department…”

 

“…?”

 

“There are all sorts of weird bastards there.”

 

Huh?

 

“There are parachutes who came down through Board of Directors connections… And there are guys with good specs but personality problems. Oh, just… there are just a lot of weird bastards. Half the department has director connections, so if they develop bad feelings toward someone on a field team… Yes.”

 

Kwon Hae-seong swallowed his remaining words, but I could roughly understand.

 

‘So there are idiots with connections who adjust work difficulty based on their personal feelings and backing?’

 

…That’s the worst.

 

But the team leaders of Teams Ga, Na, and Ra also have strong personalities, so this vicious cycle continues.

 

…This won’t work.

 

‘I need to schedule that career counseling sooner.’

 

I thought I should move up the counseling date and asked a question that suddenly occurred to me without much thought.

 

“But how do you know all this, teacher?”

 

How could a kindergarten teacher under their subsidiary know the internal affairs of Headquarters in such detail?

 

‘Maybe they have a friend among the staff.’

 

“…”

 

At my question, Kwon Hae-seong unnaturally turned his head away. His eyes fixed on a distant maple tree trembled slightly.

 

…How can I not notice when you’re being so obvious?

 

Hey, even if I tried not to know, I’d still figure it out.

 

Kwon Hae-seong froze stiff like someone who had been caught with some tremendous secret.

 

“….”

 

What was certain was that I could tell the information he had given me wasn’t obtained through the obvious route of a friend.

 

I gave up on getting answers from him.

 

Everyone has their circumstances.

 

Besides, I wasn’t that curious about the circumstances of a fully grown adult man.

 

 

A cool afternoon with a refreshing breeze.

 

Children were running around and playing in the kindergarten’s outdoor playground.

 

I enjoyed the comfortable silence while watching the children play happily.

 

The kids from our class and the Seal Class children were getting along well, playing according to their respective preferences.

 

…How peaceful.

 

“Um, I also…. have something I’m curious about.”

 

Kwon Hae-seong still kept his gaze fixed on the maple tree.

 

‘So this guy has things he’s curious about regarding me too.’

 

“Yes, please ask.”

 

“Well…. During study time, the kids asked you too. What your dream was. I was wondering if you were…. originally a kindergarten teacher.”

 

Ah.

 

He’s talking about what Tae-jae had asked.

 

“I couldn’t hear it because the Principal called at that time…. Ah, if it’s awkward to answer…. you don’t have to tell me.”

 

? What, it’s nothing big.

 

There’s no grand reason behind why I became a kindergarten teacher.

 

It’s just annoying because I’d have to dig back to when I was still wet behind the ears.

 

“It wasn’t my original dream, but in my second year of middle school….”

 

Still, considering the sincerity of the person who asked, just as I was about to dig up past memories and tell the story.

 

-Emergency notification announcement.

 

“…?”

 

-Eeeeeeeeeee!!!

 

Along with the AI voice transmission, a piercing siren sound echoed.

 

-Four injured personnel are returning. Injury level is Stage 3.

 

-A-rank healing/recovery Awakeners please gather at the main building emergency center immediately.

 

Despite the sudden noise, Kwon Hae-seong didn’t move a muscle. The children also seemed accustomed to the situation, pausing briefly before resuming their play.

 

“Large speakers are installed inside and outside the company building…. Sometimes there are people who don’t check their mobile phones or Watches during emergency situations.”

 

-Four injured personnel returning, injury level is Stage 3.

 

-Repeating once more.

 

“The kindergarten building has good soundproofing design so you can’t hear it inside, but when you go outside, it can’t be helped….”

 

I nodded absently at Kwon Hae-seong’s additional explanation.

 

From the atmosphere, it seems like this happens often.

 

Then I guess I don’t need to worry about it.

 

-Injured personnel, Field Team Na all members have returned.

 

-A-rank healing/recovery Awakeners please gather at the main building emergency center immediately.

 

-Injured personnel, Field Team Na all members….

 

“…!”

 

Field Team Na.

 

The field team that the twins’ guardian belongs to.

 

I reflexively shot up from where I was sitting. Then immediately focused my attention forward.

 

…I heard it.

 

I could be certain.

 

Because the twins’ movements…. had stopped completely.

 

***

 

“We’re screwed.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

My mind was spinning faster than ever before.

 

To summarize, Lee Seo-hyeok’s team had returned from a mission injured, and the situation was urgent enough that they needed treatment from an A-rank healing Awakener.

 

‘This is serious.’

 

I silently stared at the twins who were standing a little distance away. And before long, I noticed one thing.

 

It was quiet.

 

Eerily so.

 

Kwon Hae-seong peered at me from the front, trying to check my complexion.

 

However, my gaze remained fixed and unwavering.

 

The swing that had been swaying wildly enough to put a Viking ride to shame suddenly stopped, and the small shovel that had been busily carrying sand also ceased its work.

 

It was as silent as the eye of a typhoon.

 

Only me and the twins.

 

I barely managed to collect myself and think.

 

First, if I go over and calm them down…

 

“Huh…? Seo-ra, are you crying?”

 

Too late.

 

Tae-jae crouched down to look at Seo-ra’s face as she hung her head low.

 

She’s about to cry.

 

“Huh? Lee Seo-ra, are you crying? Teacher!! Lee Seo-ra is crying~!”

 

“…That’s strange. Seo-ro isn’t crying? Seo-ra, are you hurt somewhere? Should we go to the hospital together?”

 

“Lee Seo-ro isn’t crying? Teacher! Lee Seo-ro isn’t crying~! Hey, Seo-ro, dig some sand here too!”

 

See? Wasn’t I right?

 

The twins clenched both fists tightly and maintained their silence.

 

Shortly after, sobbing sounds began along with labored breathing.

 

One, two, three…!

 

“Big brother, big brother is…!”

 

“…!”

 

I almost ran over and caught Seo-ra as she tried to bolt in a random direction.

 

Her breathing was unstable and she was panting – it seemed like she had fallen into a panic state.

 

To make matters worse, her ability was leaking out.

 

I calmly grabbed Seo-ra’s shoulders and turned her toward me.

 

Despite thinking I should speak as gently as possible, a rather firm voice came out instead.

 

“Seo-ra, no. You can’t use your ability.”

 

“…Gasp!”

 

“Look at me. Now is not the time to use your ability.”

 

Naturally, the younger they are, the less developed their emotional regulation abilities.

 

Especially around this age, children can’t control their emotions, which get expressed outwardly.

 

Physical symptoms like fever or hyperventilation… I’d heard that young Awakeners like Seo-ra sometimes experience ability overuse.

 

“It’s okay. Big brother will be fine. So let’s calm down first.”

 

I deliberately maintained persistent eye contact to hold Seo-ra’s attention.

 

Fortunately… before long, her breathing began to stabilize. The rippling fire afterimage also disappeared like a ghost.

 

“Good. Look at me. It’s okay. It’s okay.”

 

I picked up the child who was shedding tears and immediately tried to go inside the kindergarten to find out what was happening.

 

‘I did, I tried to.’

 

“Seo-ro…?”

 

If only Seo-ro hadn’t come running right past me toward the main gate.

 

I urgently shouted at Kwon Hae-seong, who was standing there looking at us blankly.

 

“Catch Seo-ro!”

 

Kwon Hae-seong was slightly flustered but cleanly scooped up Seo-ro’s body as he ran toward the main gate with a few simple movements.

 

Dangling. The child with short little legs floating in the air began to struggle and scream in Kwon Hae-seong’s arms.

 

“Let me go! Let, go!!”

 

“…I caught him, but.”

 

The child’s struggling didn’t seem to affect him much as he looked at me with a troubled expression.

 

“I said let me go!!”

 

Unlike Seo-ra, Seo-ro was just stamping his feet, forgetting to even use his ability.

 

Despite my complicated thoughts, I was careful not to show any sign of it outwardly.

 

And in that state, I quietly watched.

 

Until Seo-ro exhausted himself in Kwon Hae-seong’s arms.

 

…I pretended not to notice the continuous pleading looks Kwon Hae-seong kept sending me.

 

‘Just bear with it a little.’

 

After some time had passed like that.

 

Only after confirming that his arms and legs had gone limp did I take Seo-ro from him.

 

“Thank you. I’ll handle it from here.”

 

As the warm and cozy body temperature wrapped around my neck, a sigh naturally escaped.

 

I stroked Seo-ro’s back as he was. Then, along with sniffling sounds, I felt my shoulder area gradually getting wet.

 

“…Teacher Hae-seong, please take care of the kids in my class. It’s almost snack time, so please just give the kids their snacks.”

 

While glancing at me from time to time, Kwon Hae-seong took the remaining children and went inside the kindergarten.

 

After confirming everyone had disappeared from the playground, I set Seo-ro down on the floor.

 

‘Both their eyes are a complete mess.’

 

“Are you worried about your brother?”

 

I quietly held each of the two children’s hands and waited. Then, swallowing back tears, he began to speak.

 

“Brother… last time too… and in the past too, he keeps getting hurt.”

 

“He said it was okay… but I can’t believe what my brother says! Mom and Dad said they were okay too… but they died.”

 

…Ah.

 

Now… I’m beginning to understand one by one.

 

The unusually mature thoughts of the two children I felt during drawing time and their deep affection for Lee Seo-hyeok.

 

There were various situations I could guess at, but on the other hand, I hoped it wasn’t true.

 

One of them was the absence of their parents.

 

The absence of parents doesn’t necessarily turn into affection and obsession toward other guardians.

 

However, children instinctively come to know.

 

Who remains around them.

 

But if even that remaining person comes home injured every day…

 

One fact adults don’t know is that children know more facts than they think.

 

No matter how much their brother, their older brother tries to hide it, they can’t help but know he’s doing work that puts his life in danger.

 

“You want to go see your brother, right? Seo-ra wants to see her brother too.”

 

That’s why I have a slightly different thought.

 

If I think about it purely rationally, I shouldn’t do this, but…

 

“…Yes!”

 

“…Can we see him?”

 

Humans can’t always be rational, can they.

 

“Of course. So stop crying and let’s get up bravely.”

 

I helped the two children who kept trying to sit down on the floor stand up and tidied their clothes.

 

I brushed off the sand from their cheeks and neatly smoothed down their messy hair.

 

Then I… tucked the twins under each arm and ran!

 

I didn’t want to imagine the worst, but when the dangerous requests Kwon Hae-seong had subtly mentioned came to mind, it was hard not to imagine.

 

 

…I just hoped Lee Seo-hyeok had all his limbs intact.

 

I lifted my chin and ran with the twins in my arms until my feet were on fire.

 

Thanks to that, I reached the headquarters lobby in an instant.

 

As I hurriedly scanned the Access Card hanging around my neck and ran, my cheeks… stung.

 

Somehow, a bizarre scene unfolded where a man wearing an Apron was sprinting while carrying two children among people dressed in business suits and work clothes, making the situation quite amusing.

 

‘I must look like a crazy person.’

 

However, even though people passing by looked at me with strange eyes, I didn’t care.

 

“Emergency center, emergency center. No, where the hell is the emergency center?”

 

Do you think running at full speed while carrying two kids is easy?

 

I was out of my mind from running so hard that my breath was coming up to my chin.

 

 

So I didn’t see it.

 

The status window spouting such crazy nonsense.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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