Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 139
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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 139
Let me turn back time a bit, to when I was just assigned as a representative and joined the PR Team.
“Bow down and serve!! Get a chair ready right now! This is Teacher Na Hwi-yeon who saved us from overtime hell!!”
It was a welcome as if they were greeting a savior who had descended into overtime hell.
Of course, I did actually have a track record of catching an industrial spy and pulling them out of overtime hell… But the PR Team employees’ reactions seemed particularly intense.
“…Please, let’s just keep things normal.”
I half-closed my eyes at the overwhelming welcome and waved my hand, but…
“Wow! Hello! Hello!”
On the other hand, Nabi, who came to the PR Team with me, was excited.
“Oh my~ Who is this baby?”
“Hello! I mean, hello! I’m Nabi! I’m Hyung’s younger brother!”
When did he become so talkative?
“Teacher Hwiyeon, you had such a late-born younger brother too?”
“Late-born? I’m just a younger brother!”
“Hahaha! How cute~!”
After responding appropriately to the flood of welcoming greetings, when I came to my senses, Nabi was being held by some employee eating snacks.
And I ended up sitting under a tent on what was called a ‘plastic chair’ but seemed to actually be the ‘most honored seat.’
“Um… Is it okay for me to sit here?”
“Hehe! Of course! More importantly, Teacher, my wife packed some cassia seed tea saying it’s good for health, so please have a cup!”
No, but the department manager is sitting on a picnic mat on the floor…
I felt uncomfortable with the excessive treatment and my bottom naturally fidgeted… But seeing the PR Team manager sitting across from me with a face full of pride, I had no choice but to nod.
“…Yes, thank you.”
Then, I drank the cassia seed tea from the tumbler as the manager poured it for me and looked around.
“But the PR Team has quite a lot of people, doesn’t it?”
The other team tents were just as noisy, but the PR Team seemed to have particularly many people.
‘They’re even using four tents.’
Then, just at that moment, an answer came back with a familiar voice.
“Our team has the most employees among general office workers, so we were decided as the representative team. And besides that, employees from HR, management, finance, and legal teams who wanted to participate all flocked over here, so it’s right that there are many.”
“…Assistant Manager Park, have you been well?”
Right, Assistant Manager Park was in the PR Team!
The person who ran through the hallway in the middle of the night saying she’d catch an industrial spy with me!
Meeting someone I knew, I felt my uncomfortable feelings ease a little.
“Yes, it’s been a while. But anyway… Teacher, you seem to have lost even more weight than before?”
“…Oh, really? I have lost some weight lately.”
Maybe it’s because I’ve been incredibly busy recently without a moment to breathe.
“You should get some herbal medicine made, Teacher…”
“Oh my! Teacher, when it comes to herbal medicine, I know it well! Do you happen to know about Dotori Oriental Medicine Clinic at that intersection over there?”
The manager, who had been listening to my conversation with the assistant manager, slipped into our conversation and the story began to drift off topic again.
‘But why does this person like me so much.’
“The oriental medicine doctor at that Dotori Oriental Medicine Clinic is my high school classmate! That guy used to be terrible at studying back then, but suddenly…”
“Oh, really?”
…Like that, after carelessly mentioning herbal medicine once, Assistant Manager Park and I ended up having to listen to the friendship story between the oriental medicine doctor at Dotori Oriental Medicine Clinic and Manager Park.
“Please give me more snacks!”
“Kyaak! So cute!”
Meanwhile, Nabi was… having the time of his life.
Fortunately, just when I felt like managing my expression was becoming difficult, the MC on the platform grabbed the microphone again.
‘I almost had to hear the story of Dotori Oriental Medicine Clinic’s opening too.’
“Ah, I haven’t talked about the most important prize money and award distribution method! By the way, I was surprised once again~ BOND’s scale is truly worthy of being the undisputed number one hunter company in the Republic of Korea, right?”
It was an enticing comment that even the directors who were secretly drinking in the corner perked up their ears to hear.
When the MC lightly waved his hand, large and small boxes lined up on the platform.
“Now, now, G company air conditioner, H company refrigerator, A company headset… Ah, but you probably feel like this level is ordinary, right? Now?”
Really…?
Looking around, everyone had indifferent expressions.
As if they’d received things like this many times before.
“As expected. But of course, everyone, this isn’t the end. An amazing Dream World Department Store gift certificate worth 1 million won for 10 people! 2 million won for 5 people! And of course, there’s prize money given to only one outstanding employee…!”
Gulp.
“The prize money is an amazing 10 million won in cash!!!”
At that resounding statement, reactions poured out from here and there.
“Wow, this time they’re really going for it.”
“Mom, I’ll show you what filial piety means!”
“The prize money comes to me? No, nope. I go to the prize money.”
“I’m getting that and changing my laptop.”
Ten million won?
…That’s two months of my salary.
But I can receive that as a sports festival prize?
“What are you thinking about right now, Teacher?”
“Deep contemplation about how I can get that prize money into my hands.”
That thing, I’m getting it into my hands by any means necessary.
My desire to win blazed up after a long time.
“…It shows.”
Assistant Manager, you seem to see me as someone crazy about money.
To make an excuse, I’m not a person crazy about money, but money makes me crazy.
Nabi has been eating an incredible amount of snacks lately. I should be able to buy snacks for our kid without burden too.
From then on, I opened my ears and concentrated on what the MC was saying.
“Prizes will be distributed through a lottery. You received numbered slips of paper when you entered, right?”
That thing is in my pocket right now.
‘I’ll keep this safe.’
The most important thing is…
“Now, now, I’ll tell you the most important selection criteria for the Dream World Department Store gift certificates and outstanding employee prize money!”
I quickly organized what the MC was saying in my head.
1. You must absolutely win as a team. (When the team wins, all team employees receive 50,000 won in prize money)
2. Gift certificate selection is given to only one person among all employees who stood out in each competition event.
3. The outstanding employee is given to the MVP within the winning team.
Therefore, the way to grab the most prize money would be…
‘Stand out in each event while leading the team to victory.’
…Would that be possible?
‘It seemed like the Field Team hunters are competing together too, so would it be a real fight?’
And sure enough, a penalty came in here.
“Ah! And of course, the Field Team hunters need to have a penalty, right? Since it would naturally be unfair if they competed under the same conditions~”
As soon as the MC’s comment ended, the Field Team hunters all looked down at the bracelets on their wrists in unison.
“These are items set to immediately sound a warning alarm when abilities are used. And of course, if it sounds, you’re immediately disqualified!”
“Ahh… Tsk.”
Disappointed expressions flashed by, but everyone seemed to accept it as inevitable.
‘Right, with this much…’
“It’s worth trying!”
“We were second place last year too! We can win this time!”
“Let’s go! PR Team!”
Everyone seemed to think similarly, as they blazed up again after confirming the possibility.
‘First, the outstanding employee prize money can only be received if the team wins anyway.’
Like that, the BOND company sports festival opened amid the heated atmosphere created by adults blinded by prize money.
And, the very first competition event that began with such anticipation was…
Dodgeball.
‘It’s the most manageable among ball sports.’
With so many people, I wondered if I’d even get to participate… But thanks to the enthusiastic cheers and encouragement from the employees, I was able to join the dodgeball lineup without any trouble.
“This person took down a spy with his bare hands!”
“That’s right! His reflexes, agility, and strength have all been recognized!”
Rather than taking him down, it was more accurate to say we just fought back and forth until things dragged on… But either way, the atmosphere was set for me to participate, so I kept quiet.
‘I’m only entering for the prize money too, but I hope I’m not going out there just to cause trouble.’
But regardless of these belated worries, I accomplished something even before the match started.
“Wow! Amazing rock-paper-scissors skills!! So, this means… the PR Team advances to the finals with a bye!”
I looked down at my fist.
With my insane luck stat, I had won consecutive rounds of rock-paper-scissors to secure the bye position.
‘This actually works.’
“Waaaah!! Na Hwi-yeon!! Na Hwi-yeon!! Na Hwi-yeon!!”
The PR Team members chanted my name while letting out enthusiastic cheers.
In contrast, I could see the faces of my colleague teachers on the platform changing in real time…
They had confirmed the tournament bracket that was automatically arranged due to the PR Team’s bye.
Shark Team (Medical) VS Seal Team (Research)
Jellyfish Team (Assignment) VS Turtle Team (Field)
‘The lineup is artistic.’
Medical versus Research seems like it’ll be close.
Assignment versus Field… looks like it’ll be a one-sided massacre no matter how you look at it.
Voices of concern were already coming from here and there, which seemed ominous.
“Aren’t the Assignment Team employees going to die getting hit by dodgeballs?”
“Let them die.”
Wait, maybe it’s not concern but everyone’s just looking forward to it.
Anyway, dodgeball began amid worry and anticipation.
I returned to the Assignment Team’s upper seats and began leisurely watching the dodgeball games unfold.
And my impression after watching the dodgeball tournament that determined which teams would make it to the finals is this.
‘What a mess.’
***
Shark Team (Medical) VS Seal Team (Research)
Throughout the dodgeball match, Kwon Hae-seong covered the Research Team’s stamina issues, while Kang Sa-gwa handled the Medical Team’s safety sensitivity.
“Everyone, please get behind me first…”
“Just because you got hit by a dodgeball doesn’t mean your bones are broken.”
However.
“P-please save me! Huff, I’m dying… Everything in front of me seems to be spinning.”
“Hey, if you throw that hard, people get hurt!”
There wasn’t much effect, and in the end, it concluded somewhat anticlimactically with the Seal Team’s victory thanks to Kwon Hae-seong’s physicality and speed.
And the next match that proceeded, ‘Jellyfish Team (Assignment) VS Turtle Team (Field)’, well.
I ate various fruits and snacks handed to me by PR Team employees while voicing my thoughts.
“At this rate, won’t the Assignment Team people develop dodgeball PTSD?”
“They’d deserve it.”
‘…That’s true. But everyone seems to dislike the Assignment Team.’
The field hunters, who supposedly rarely participate in company sports events, were charging in with fire in their eyes.
Moreover, Yu Jin-chae, who’s on the same team…
“Ahhh!! Why are you hitting me?!!”
“Well, who told you to be there?”
Was committing team kills. Heh heh.
“Can a representative do this?!!”
“If you don’t like it, dodge.”
She was absolutely flying around.
The representative was hitting her own team members with dodgeballs.
And within the same boundary, purely because she wanted to hit them.
‘That ball doesn’t eliminate you even if you get hit.’
Thus, with the pure physicality of the Field Team hunters and Yu Jin-chae’s sabotage cooperation, the Turtle Team (Field) easily achieved victory.
‘Teacher Jin-chae seems to have achieved her goal somehow.’
I could see her leaving the dodgeball court with a completely relieved expression, rolling her shoulders.
In the semifinal match between the Seal Team (Research Team) and Turtle Team (Field Team) that followed, the Turtle Team won as expected.
‘Kwon Hae-seong, who could be considered the Research Team’s main force, used up too much energy in the previous match.’
It was understandable since he had done the work of 20 people alone, substituting for researchers whose stamina was worse than 5-year-old children.
I did some light neck stretching and finished preparing for the match.
Now it’s our turn.
Dolphin Team (PR) VS Turtle Team (Field)
“Nabi, you have to cheer for hyung.”
“Yeah!! Hehe… Give me more snacks!”
Receiving Nabi’s half-hearted support as she was distracted by snacks, I entered the match.
I saw familiar faces on the opposite side.
‘Lee Seo-hyeok, Choi Un-seong, Kang Ho-won.’
Everyone except Team Leader Moon Chae-yeong participated.
Moreover, that Park I-deun managed to participate too.
Park I-deun, squeezed between the Field Team hunters, waved at me while bouncing around, so I returned a similar greeting.
And just before the start, when Lee Seo-hyeok spotted me and bowed 90 degrees in greeting, I also gave a light bow in return.
‘Seo-hyeok, I told you we should just wave and greet each other…’
As soon as I felt the puzzled stares of several people due to Lee Seo-hyeok’s respectful greeting.
“Alright, get ready! Beep-”
The dodgeball match quickly began.
Surprisingly, in the dodgeball game where eliminations proceeded at lightning speed, only one person from each team survived.
Me and… Kang Ho-won.
‘I managed to survive by desperately dodging around, but…’
However, there’s a limit to this kind of evasion.
Actually, anyone here could probably guess.
The moment Kang Ho-won makes up his mind, the game ends immediately.
Already, cheers and final encouragement could be heard from the Turtle Team (Field) side, confident of victory.
And eventually, as I was running away, I twisted my foot, and at the same time, Kang Ho-won caught the ball.
Point-blank range.
At a distance where he could definitely hit if he threw, just as Kang Ho-won was about to move his arm.
I looked at him and grinned.
“How are you doing?”
“…Haha, yes, I’m doing well.”
“Why, are you well?”
“…Excuse me?”
I can see Kang Ho-won’s pupils shaking mercilessly.
You bastard, you haven’t forgotten what you did to me, have you?
‘I still have nightmares about that day when you drugged me with truth serum and threw me on the underground floor, you bastard.’
I smiled while gritting my teeth.
And whispered quietly.
“Stop.”
-Ding
『 Kang Ho-won (A) has received a command. 』
“Let go.”
『 Kang Ho-won(A) has received a Command. 』
The ball that fell from Kang Ho-won’s hand slowly rolled toward me.
I naturally picked it up and without delay struck it toward his shoulder.
-Bang!!
After a brief silence.
“Hunter Kang… Ho-won is eliminated!”
Elimination confirmed.
“Well done. Now, Command end.”
Then I turned around.
“The PR Team has won the dodgeball game!”
I’m not even a field site Hunter, and I’m not wearing a bracelet.
‘So it’s not against the rules, is it?’
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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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