Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 143

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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 143

 

“Do you have any leads?”

 

Baek Cheonhyeong, who had just exited the Kindergarten Main Gate ahead of me, asked.

 

I quickly and quietly tucked Nabi, who had returned to being a Baekgu doll, into my jacket pocket while closing the kindergarten door.

 

‘I did train Nabi in advance, but she’s particularly good at following this instruction.’

 

“Well….”

 

Actually, while taking a taxi home the previous day, I had caught a glimpse of where the vehicle Cheonji got into was heading.

 

When the signal changed, my taxi and theirs went in different directions so I couldn’t observe closely, but one thing was certain….

 

‘It was in the direction of the highway leading to the Provincial Area.’

 

Of course, at the time I had assumed there would be separate routes home before entering the highway, but thinking about it now, this was also suspicious.

 

‘But with just this one clue, I can’t pinpoint exactly where Cheonji disappeared.’

 

After briefly gauging Baek Cheonhyeong’s mood, I hurriedly hailed a taxi.

 

“First, since this is urgent, let’s talk while we move.”

 

Getting into the first available taxi, I asked the Driver to take us to the intersection where I last saw Cheonji.

 

Then, I pulled out one item from Nabi’s bag.

 

‘So the day has finally come to use this.’

 

< Trace Radio >

 

A pale blue, worn radio-shaped item.

 

This toy-like radio has a speaker attached to the handle for communication, with 4 yellow dial buttons above it.

 

< Trace Radio >

 

*Disposal Reason: Originally created to find rare items within Dungeons, but only finds trivial objects or people instead of items. (In short, decided for disposal due to uselessness)

 

*Precautions: Do not change the person holding the radio midway. Must possess traces of the target you’re searching for. (Ex: toothbrush, powder, hair, glasses, etc….)

 

*Turn dial 1, and immediately turn dial 4 when you find your target. (I don’t know why! That’s just how you use it…. But if they’re going to dispose of it anyway, why make me write this stuff?)

 

*Use of dials 3 and 4 is not recommended. (Sometimes it recommends routes to strange places!)

 

*Made by extracting waves from B-rank Clairvoyance Awakener Bae Je-il + Made by extracting waves from special class Awakener ■■■

 

I had read the manual beforehand.

 

I pulled out a fluffy doll from my jacket pocket.

 

‘Cheonji’s wolf doll.’

 

I found this while cleaning the classroom today, and it looked like it had been torn from Cheonji’s bag before.

 

‘If I’m lucky, is this good luck?’

 

Anyway, I had traces of the Target Subject in my possession as written in the manual.

 

Therefore, all preparations were complete.

 

Without hesitation, I turned dial 1 inside the moving taxi.

 

“What is that?”

 

“Just a moment.”

 

Then, a light on the small bulb attached to the radio’s cover started blinking….

 

A beam of light shot into the air like a laser and suddenly displayed a red arrow.

 

“…!”

 

The arrow spun around in place for a while, then finally seemed to find its direction and stopped pointing in one spot.

 

‘For now, it’s saying go straight ahead.’

 

Just then, I shouted to the Taxi Driver who was about to stop at the intersection.

 

“Driver! Please keep going straight!”

 

“Huh? What? You’re not getting off? Ah, I was planning to go home early and rest today….”

 

“I’ll pay you double!”

 

“I’ll drive you safely!”

 

I swallowed and looked out the window.

 

Now that we were seriously taking the highway, there was no turning back.

 

With just the items I habitually carry around…. and the Status Window.

 

With these two things, I should be able to find the missing Cheonji.

 

That’s how I steeled my resolve, or rather, my thoughts.

 

‘Now the key is to find Cheonji as quickly as possible.’

 

…But first, I should give an explanation.

 

Given the situation, Baek Cheonhyeong didn’t forcefully demand an explanation from me.

 

He was simply observing my every action as if taking it all in.

 

But keeping my mouth shut here wouldn’t be a good choice either. The topic would come up again somehow later.

 

…After hesitating about how to explain this item, I finally blurted it out.

 

‘Let’s be honest and straightforward.’

 

If I tried to hide things here, it might only create unnecessary suspicion and interfere with finding Cheonji.

 

Instead, I’ll only say what I can say.

 

“This is an item I obtained. It’s an item that can find lost people or objects.”

 

“Where did you get such a thing?”

 

“I received it as a gift….”

 

From your Employee, that is.

 

“….”

 

Fortunately, Baek Cheonhyeong didn’t ask about the source.

 

I kept my eyes on the glowing red arrow and continued speaking.

 

“In a situation like this, saying I’ll find a child with something that looks like a toy might make me seem crazy…. Please trust me.”

 

Hey, please believe me.

 

I’ve used items like this several times to overcome dangerous situations, and I have other things to rely on besides this.

 

Since I wasn’t expecting an answer, I concentrated and checked my Status Window.

 

『 Loading official Target Subject ‘Baek Cheonji.’ 』

 

『 Baek Cheonji(A): Target does not exist in the vicinity. 』

 

‘No change on this end.’

 

I confirmed that the arrow direction had just turned right and looked up.

 

“Driver, please turn right!”

 

The Taxi Driver had a face that said ‘What is this, some midnight Kart Rider game?’ but seemed to be enduring it thinking about the double taxi fare.

 

‘Hang in there! The person next to me will pay for everything!’

 

Outside had become completely dark, and scenery that seemed far removed from the City Center was passing by.

 

I thought I could occasionally hear sounds resembling roe deer cries.

 

“…I believe you.”

 

“What?”

 

I had been concentrating elsewhere when I unconsciously turned my head at Baek Cheonhyeong’s words.

 

“You asked me to trust you, so I’m saying I trust you.”

 

“….”

 

“Usually people who cause trouble a lot are also good at cleaning up messes.”

 

…Is he taking a jab at me?

 

“This time it seems like I caused the trouble, so help me out. As a Senior.”

 

“…Got it, junior.”

 

“…?”

 

I immediately regretted saying it, but seeing Baek Cheonhyeong’s eyebrows twitch, I thought it was good that I said it.

 

Even if it doesn’t show, seeing him say things he’d never normally say, he must be quite anxious.

 

‘Your joke sense was pretty terrible, but how about that? It’s about the same level as yours, right?’

 

As time passed, the arrow changed rapidly. I was busy giving directions following that direction, and the Driver was frantically driving according to my instructions.

 

Thus, after driving and driving through mountain roads, we arrived at our destination.

 

After Baek Cheonhyeong emptied all the money from his wallet to send off the Driver, we climbed the Mountain in the dead of night following where the arrow pointed….

 

We discovered something alien halfway up the Mountain.

 

A circular cluster of light reminiscent of aurora.

 

Even a passing deer would recognize it for what it was.

 

“A gate…?”

 

The red arrow points at the gate, blinking.

 

“Why is there a gate here?”

 

***

 

Just one day ago, at the moment Baek Cheonhyeong had just realized his younger brother’s disappearance.

 

Meanwhile, Baek Cheonji was thrown somewhere along with the Man’s rough handling.

 

“If we throw him inside the Dungeon, he’ll die eventually.”

 

“Finding an abandoned Dungeon is also work, you know. Anyway… our job ends here-”

 

Their conversation that cruelly pierced through was the last memory he had of the outside.

 

Unable to overcome the speed at which he was thrown, he rolled and tumbled across the ground, then suddenly came to a stop.

 

The first thing he smelled was the bitter scent of grass and Earth.

 

“…?”

 

When he raised his head, the warm Wind that brushed across his face washed away all the fear he had felt just moments before.

 

And then, the amazing scenery that came into view.

 

A Field full of flowers and grass.

 

A small village visible in the distance and bustling people.

 

‘It’s like a picture I’ve only seen in fairy tales.’

 

“!!!”

 

Curiosity welled up inside him.

 

So much so that he couldn’t even care about the small wounds from rolling on the ground or the grass stuck to his head.

 

Baek Cheonji squirmed up from the floor and took a step forward, feeling the Wind with his whole body.

 

‘Just a moment ago it was a dark Forest?’

 

Why, why is it like a fairy tale now?!

 

“Wo, wow…! This is so amazing!”

 

His steps quickened. Then, he suddenly started running.

 

Right now, with no Friend beside him, and no family either.

 

Baek Cheonji felt an unprecedented sense of liberation as he ran across the Field!

 

He almost fell in the middle, but it was okay.

 

Even if he fell, it would be okay!

 

‘There’s no one to scold me!’

 

“Wahaha!!”

 

A feeling of his chest opening up completely.

 

After running like that, feeling the Wind with his whole body, he found himself in another fairy tale.

 

The beginning of what appeared to be the village Entrance.

 

It was full of quaint shops and people wearing all kinds of animal Headbands on their heads.

 

“…Wow.”

 

Just as he was about to fearlessly step into the village.

 

Baek Cheonji reflexively remembered what he would have been doing around this time.

 

A routine that had become habit since childhood.

 

“I need to take my Medicine…!”

 

Taking his Wave Adjustment Medicine once in the morning and once in the evening.

 

“I forgot this morning too! Wh, what should I do?”

 

This morning he had forgotten in his excitement about going to the sports festival and rushing around… The evening Medicine was at Home.

 

This was the first time he had missed both morning and evening doses, so Baek Cheonji was worried.

 

But…

 

Looking at the village Entrance once.

 

Stamping his feet once.

 

Looking at the village Entrance again once.

 

After stamping his feet twice.

 

Baek Cheonji nodded his head.

 

‘It’ll be fine! Missing it for one day shouldn’t matter!’

 

Not entering this picture-perfect village over a problem he couldn’t solve immediately seemed like a foolish choice to Baek Cheonji.

 

Therefore, the child boldly entered the Fairy-tale Village.

 

Completely unaware of what kind of ripples his unintentionally leaked ability would cause.

 

***

 

We stood briefly in front of the gate.

 

The arrow’s direction was still pointing inside the gate.

 

“It seems like Cheonji is inside here.”

 

But anyway… why is it a Dungeon again?

 

“…A gate in a place like this.”

 

Baek Cheonhyeong lowered his head, pretended to think for a moment, then immediately stuck his foot into the gate.

 

“Ah, no! Wait a minute! You’re going to go in just like that?”

 

I reflexively grabbed his arm.

 

No, the situation is urgent, but just like this?

 

“Shouldn’t we request other Hunters to go in together?”

 

Regardless of Baek Cheonhyeong being an S-rank Hunter, I’m a D-rank Awakener.

 

I’ve been putting off thinking about this side of things because I didn’t want to…

 

‘Cheonji’s disappearance probably isn’t just a simple missing case.’

 

It’s probably a disappearance due to kidnapping.

 

Moreover, clearly a kidnapping case with a definite reason targeting BOND’s successor.

 

‘But in a situation where we have no idea who might be waiting inside that gate, is it okay for just me and Baek Cheonhyeong to go in?’

 

What if we go in with just the two of us and get overwhelmed?

 

For someone like me who had never personally experienced the combat power of an A-rank or higher Hunter, it was a reasonable worry.

 

Others might scoff at it though.

 

Sure enough, Baek Cheonhyeong looked down at me with a face that seemed to say ‘Why am I even looking at this guy.’

 

Then, he grabbed me by the collar and jumped into the gate.

 

Without giving me a chance to stop him.

 

“This crazy-”

 

Thud.

 

Not long after the falling sensation, I felt a soft and… spine-chilling touch.

 

‘It’s cold.’

 

I quickly sat up, recalling a sensation I had experienced somewhere before.

 

White, cold crystals falling on my nose bridge instantly melted and disappeared.

 

“Everything is white.”

 

That’s right.

 

We had fallen into a world covered in snow.

—————
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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