Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 116

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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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Chapter 116

 

Hunter Kindergarten Dolphin Class! Chapter 116

 

A good company loved by the people.

 

A next-generation Hunter Company catching up to BOND.

 

One of the subsidiaries of Republic of Korea’s top 3 conglomerate companies, ‘Museon Construction’.

 

(Mugang)

 

That was the image of ‘Mugang’ that I had created through all kinds of hardships.

 

Even if I might be called a parachute appointment figurehead representative.

 

“I can’t ruin that entire image because of this incident.”

 

Mugang’s representative, Kang Mu-jin, gritted his teeth hard.

 

At the young age of 25, this was the position he chose instead of Museon’s successor position. It was certain that his desire to do well was that much greater. It was certain, but….

 

If that bastard Baek Cheonhyeong hadn’t suddenly taken office as representative, this kind of thing wouldn’t have happened.

 

‘He said he wasn’t interested in the representative position…’

 

After he became representative, BOND’s trashy image had been gradually changing.

 

‘Even doing donations and Police cooperative investigations that they never did before.’

 

Already behind the scenes, good rumors were circulating that a new wind was blowing at BOND.

 

Was that why…. In his impatient heart, he recklessly carried out such an act.

 

Aside from its public-friendly image, Mugang still had nothing that could rival BOND.

 

Therefore, Kang Mu-jin carried out one plan in secret from the company executives.

 

Though strictly illegal, recently the practice of secretly purchasing Dungeons from Overseas was becoming popular again.

 

‘I shouldn’t have fallen for those rumors…!’

 

An A-grade Dungeon said to be discovered in the Desert.

 

A Dungeon that had an Item Production Machine within it, and moreover had an extremely low mortality rate…. If true, it was a Dungeon that was nothing short of a jackpot.

 

Of course, according to what the contractor—now revealed to be a fraud—had explained.

 

Kang Mu-jin clutched his head.

 

They had poured a considerable portion of their budget into successfully transporting a gate entrance from overseas and storing it in the Underground Dungeon.

 

With great expectations, they removed the Special Gate Anchoring Item that was formally there to fix the gate entrance in order to enter the Dungeon.

 

However, the problem occurred after that.

 

Suddenly, a ‘gate anomaly’ that occasionally occurs only in A-grade or higher dungeons had manifested.

 

This meant the gate changing to an abnormal state, such as the entrance temporarily disappearing or its location shifting.

 

‘And of all things… the anomaly where the gate entrance location changes had to occur!’

 

But not knowing this, they had done the stupid thing of removing the Special Gate Anchoring Item in advance… Thus, currently nothing exists in the Underground Dungeon where the original gate should have been.

 

‘Damn… At least the fortunate thing is that we confirmed with an Item that the gate entrance is still somewhere inside the underground.’

 

However, when the gate’s location changed, they had already sent multiple field hunters and Researchers into the Dungeon. To make matters worse, for some reason they couldn’t return to reality.

 

It had literally become an isolated Dungeon where no one could enter and no one could exit.

 

“Haah…”

 

Although they were blocking media exposure as much as possible, he couldn’t deny that the inquiries and anger from the families of the Researchers and hunters trapped in the Dungeon had reached its peak.

 

‘Some crazy woman has her child enrolled in the Kindergarten here and uses that excuse to storm around the company every day.’

 

At this rate, it was only a matter of time before the media found out.

 

The Executives who belatedly learned the truth from the flood of inquiries to the company naturally held him responsible.

 

Thus, Kang Mu-jin ended up making another mistake in trying to make up for his error.

 

A few weeks ago, one voice message came through the Watch of a Research Team member trapped in the Dungeon.

 

-Happy SOL Citizens everyone… Hello, this is A-grade Dungeon… How are you. Can’t hold out much longer. Please send people… This is SOL Community Center Building 1.

 

And there was someone listening to this alongside him… It was an Employee from the Item Research Team who had transferred to Mugang from BOND.

 

After hearing the contents of the voice message, he seemed to have found a clue and immediately told him about what he had previously experienced at BOND.

 

-“When I worked at BOND, I was managing a dungeon similar to what you described. Called C0520. It had a machine that self-produced jelly-type items, and the dungeon’s danger level was so low that we installed a research base inside the dungeon to conduct research. Although it was disposed of, we also had communication device items made for smooth communication between the inside and outside of the dungeon.”

 

-However, the boss suddenly disappeared, causing item production to halt and auto-clear to proceed, so we didn’t gain much from it… But the communication device we used back then occasionally picked up error transmissions from a channel called ‘SOL 15’.

There were so many wild rumors circulating about the dungeon and items that an employee’s muttering could be heard about how they even attached the words ‘SOL’ and ‘jelly’ to the item names when creating them.

 

It was a case that fit the current situation so perfectly it was chilling.

Kang Mu-jin knew intuitively.

 

That we need BOND’s information.

However.

 

Asking BOND for cooperation was unthinkable. After revealing his illegal activities to a competing company, he’d have to grovel and beg for help?

For Kang Mu-jin, who had nothing but pride, it was impossible.

 

In the end, that evening Kang Mu-jin made a phone call somewhere.

 

In the end, that evening Kang Mujin made a phone call to somewhere.

…Spy infiltration was truly a last resort.

 

…Spy infiltration was really a last resort.

They failed to bring the confidential data he asked them to steal, and in the process, they engraved ‘Mugang’s name on the external hard drive to identify the client.

 

They couldn’t even obtain the classified data they were asked to steal, and in the process, they engraved the name “Mugang” on the external hard drive to identify the client.

‘I leaked it to the media first to make BOND look like idiots and ended it there, but…’

 

‘They leaked it to the media first to make BOND look like an idiot and that was the end of it…’

And there was no way Baek Cheonhyeong wouldn’t notice these clumsy antics.

 

-Why did you make such a stupid choice? Did you think I wouldn’t know?

 

And there was no way Baekcheon-hyung wouldn’t notice such clumsy behavior.

Baek Cheonhyeong had sent it to Kang Mu-jin right after sending Na Hwi-yeon to Mugang.

 

A single photo of himself making contact with a spy wearing a hat pulled down low, along with a short card delivered by express delivery.

This was sent to Kang Mujin immediately after Baekcheonhyeong sent Nahuiyeon to Mugang.

That’s right.

Baek Cheonhyeong already knew this vaguely.

 

Anyway, even if he sent Na Hwi-yeon to Mugang, he wouldn’t be able to find the ‘Spy’.

 

He had simply carried out this plan because he wanted to throw the potential bomb called Na Hwi-yeon into Mugang.

 

The only regrettable thing was that if he had received the photo tip earlier, he wouldn’t have needed to play along even for that brief moment.

 

“Damn… I need to find at least the entrance somehow.”

 

Kang Mu-jin’s efforts to somehow steal information from BOND and find a way to salvage the situation had completely failed.

 

He lowered his head, conscious of the sweat flowing down his back.

 

The company was peaceful, but he knew this peace would soon come to an end.

 

Meanwhile, something that hadn’t existed before appeared on the floor where the Underground Dungeon’s elevator was located.

 

A small gap between where the platform and the underground ground met.

 

The entrance to the A-grade Dungeon gate revealed itself again.

 

And there were those who had passed through that small gap from the elevator with the extremely unlikely probability of falling.

 

***

 

I stood up, brushing off the sand from my body. My feet sank deep into the ground.

 

A vast desert.

 

All I could see were sand dunes and a dim sky like early evening.

 

On the endlessly stretching sand dunes, several people were each positioned at document desks, holding telephones in front of old computers.

 

‘They’re all taking phone calls.’

 

The lines they were saying were also identical.

 

“Hello, happy SOL Citizens…”

 

“Press 1 for civil complaints, press 2 for residency registration…”

 

“Emergency dispatch incurs additional fees.”

 

And this is a voice message I recognize.

 

One of the discarded products that Section Chief Lee Won-woo gave me.

 

‘SOL Jelly Store Phone!’

 

It was an item that came in handy when escaping from the EX-grade Dungeon that erupted at Neverland.

 

An MP3-shaped telephone that, when you call the unregistered ‘SOL 15’ number that the Research Team doesn’t register, provides advice or relief supplies perfectly suited to the situation… That’s exactly the product I’m talking about.

 

And from there, they sent me ‘Pinocchio Lemon Jelly’ which I used.

 

‘So this was the source?’

 

I frowned as the sandstorm swept across my head.

 

“It’s an A-grade Dungeon.”

 

In the midst of this, Kang Ho-won declared.

 

The eyes of the two Field Team members who opened their helmet visors and looked around were far from ordinary.

 

‘I sent Nabi to the Kindergarten, and I didn’t bring any items in case they might do a belongings inspection…’

 

I looked at them, then bent my legs and waist to face Noah at eye level.

 

I carefully opened the visor of the helmet the child was wearing.

 

It was slightly crooked, probably because I had hastily put it on him, worried he might hurt his head during the fall.

 

“Isn’t the helmet too big and heavy?”

 

“…I’m okay!”

 

“Alright, the sandstorm is strong so it’s better to keep wearing it.”

 

Even with his eyes all swollen, he answers well.

 

‘That’s so like Noah.’

 

“You were scared, right? It seems like we accidentally entered somewhere wrong when we fell from the elevator… We’ll probably be able to get out soon.”

 

It was something I said to reassure the child, but it was also something I said to comfort myself.

 

‘Where is this place now?’

 

I fell from the elevator, but suddenly what’s with this dungeon?

 

“One, two.”

 

I took the child’s hand and helped him stand up. I looked down at our two feet sinking deep, then raised my head again.

 

“Teacher… It seems like this place is probably a dungeon that Mugang manages as a special target. Otherwise, this scene would be difficult to explain.”

 

“I think we need to survey the surroundings first, and those people over there in plain sight also look like they’re in a strange state.”

 

Following Lee Seo-hyeok’s explanation, Kang Ho-won pointed to one place.

 

People answering phones without wavering while keeping their gaze fixed on computer screens.

 

The sight of people who were completely oblivious to our arrival felt eerie.

 

‘Are they even human?’

 

“…Dad?”

 

“Did you say Dad?”

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Suddenly, Noah shook off my hand and started running up the sand hill.

 

I also frantically followed behind him.

 

“Noah!”

 

Noah stopped in front of one computer desk.

 

“Dad!! You were here?! Why didn’t you come see me!”

 

“Complaint requests are number 1…”

 

The child shouted while pulling at the pants of the man sitting in the chair, but the man didn’t react.

 

“Dad!! Mom cries every day! Why won’t you answer?? Dad, can’t you hear me?!”

 

“Noah.”

 

“You didn’t even come to my birthday! You don’t come home! Do you hate me now?! Is it because I ask you to play with me every day?!”

 

When I glanced at the man, his eyes were unfocused and his complexion was pale.

 

He looked like someone who had exhausted all his energy.

 

“Noah.”

 

“…I, I missed Dad though…”

 

“Noah!”

 

I grabbed the child and turned him around. He had already cried once, but seeing Noah crying again made me let out a pitiful sigh.

 

But I couldn’t let myself get shaken here too.

 

‘Pull yourself together. Don’t show it.’

 

“…Oh my, Noah, your father must be tired from working too much. Let’s try talking to him again in a little while.”

 

“…”

 

Desperately trying to comfort Noah, I spoke one-sidedly as if performing a monologue.

 

“I’m sorry for disturbing your work, sir…”

 

Then, I noticed a memo pad displayed small at the corner of the computer screen.

 

-Escape as quickly as possible. The longer you stay in this place, the more you fall under Brainwashing Magic.

 

-We failed to escape. The Monster presumed to be the boss is nowhere to be seen, and the hunters have also fallen under Brainwashing Magic.

 

-This place is a Dungeon that devours ‘Mana’.

 

“…Kang Ho-won! Lee Seo-hyeok! Please look at this!”

 

Both hunters who came running at my call looked at the contents written in the memo pad for a long time, then began conversing with serious expressions.

 

“We need to escape immediately.”

 

“Of course. But you know. My Teleportation can’t move us outside the Dungeon. Besides, we can’t even see the Gate Exit right now.”

 

“…If I don’t have an opponent to fight, my ability is practically useless too.”

 

Did two BOND field hunters suddenly become completely useless?

 

However, Kang Ho-won quickly hid his sharp expression, then looked at me and Noah in my arms with a bitter smile and said.

 

“I think the hunters who came in with us were probably in a similar situation to us… But we can’t give up. For now, let’s look for things that might give us hints for escaping.”

 

After that, we split up and thoroughly searched the surroundings.

 

To find anything that might help us escape somehow.

 

During this time, I eventually approached a machine that had been continuously catching my eye.

 

A cylindrical machine with a small Conveyor Belt that sat alone among the Document Desks, constantly rotating.

 

The end of that belt was connected to a Basket with a completely open bottom.

 

‘I can’t tell where it’s headed…’

 

The machine was covered in Sand dust and its exterior was old and shabby, but it was still operating.

 

As if it wouldn’t stop until the phone call ended.

 

I picked up a box that had just come out of the Conveyor Belt.

 

‘Pinocchio Lemon Jelly’

 

It was the Jelly I had used in the EX-grade Dungeon.

 

The next one, and the one after that were the same.

 

‘Popping Song Talk Talk’

 

‘Alice of the Eternal Kingdom’

 

The titles were different, but they were definitely snacks that had special effects when eaten.

 

‘Something feels unsettling.’

 

Wait a minute…

 

As I was examining them one by one, I remembered something Kang Ho-won had said in passing.

 

-“Humanity has conducted countless research, but they haven’t completely revealed the ecosystem of dungeons. Just as we cannot know the ends of the ocean and space, dungeons are the same. By the way… it’s a dungeon that devours mana, making it the worst dungeon for Awakeners.

 

All humans possess mana.

 

The difference between Awakeners and ordinary people is simply the amount of mana and whether it’s been opened.

 

What happened when I used the ‘SOL Jelly Store Phone’ connected to this dungeon?

 

‘I coughed up blood and collapsed.’

 

The typical symptom of mana depletion is fainting accompanied by bleeding.

 

So if I were to speculate, previously when I received help from this dungeon through the call connected via the ‘SOL Jelly Store Phone’, the dungeon might have stolen my mana without me knowing as payment…

 

‘There’s still no special way to detect mana depletion. You only realize it when you cough up blood and collapse… Ah, so it was mana depletion.’

 

‘If this is a dungeon that runs on mana… Yeah, that makes sense.’

 

A dizzying realization washes over me.

 

And at the same time, I decided on an escape method.

 

I quickly approached Lee Seo-hyeok and Kang Ho-won.

 

“There’s only one way to escape. Dungeon Clear.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“If we can’t find the boss, we need to call the boss out.”

 

This place is definitely a dungeon where a ‘boss’ exists.

 

Moreover, it’s a place managed by an intelligent entity capable of high-dimensional thinking.

 

To escape from this place, we must call out the dungeon boss.

 

“…What method do you have?”

 

“Yes, but it’s not me.”

 

I gazed with a serious expression at Noah, whose face was still stained with tears.

 

“Noah has it.”

 

“Huuuung, Dad is acting strange… His head, his head must hurt… Sniff!”

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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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