Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 156

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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 156

 

Hunter Kindergarten Dolphin Class! Chapter 156

 

“…Just like Section Chief Kwak Cheol-man.”

 

Section Chief Lee Won-woo from the Product Development Team swallowed hard, feeling goosebumps crawling up the back of his neck.

 

‘First, I need to get a clear understanding of the situation.’

 

With only that thought in mind, he began questioning the researcher in front of him who was on the verge of panic.

 

“Do you know where Section Chief Kwak Cheol-man went missing? No, before that, is the missing person investigation still ongoing?”

 

Lee Won-woo, who had been part of BOND’s Dungeon Research Team until February this year, had transferred departments along with his promotion.

 

Busy adapting to his sudden promotion and department transfer, he hadn’t noticed the absence of Section Chief Kwak Cheol-man from the existing Product Development Team.

 

‘Come to think of it, he was already on leave when I transferred to this department.’

 

Then at some point, news of his resignation naturally came through, so he just thought ‘I guess that’s how it is’ and let it pass… He didn’t sense anything strange.

 

‘So there was a reason why the team members were reluctant to bring up Section Chief Kwak Cheol-man.’

 

“The missing person investigation is ongoing, but there’s been no progress. There aren’t many clues either… Above all, the section chief originally had some depression… So.”

 

“I see… I roughly understand what you mean.”

 

He didn’t need to hear the rest to understand.

 

When there are no clues to help with the search and the subject has depression… it’s usually processed and closed as suicide.

 

‘It’s probably heading in a similar direction now.’

 

“The company also deployed field team hunters to investigate. They confirmed that the section chief last took bus 700 from in front of the company and got off at the terminal…”

 

“Bus 700 terminal… Isn’t there only one museum there?”

 

“Yes… That’s right. That’s why it’s even stranger…”

 

Moreover, that museum had been abandoned for more than 10 years.

 

Around the museum… there was only an abandoned residential area that had entered redevelopment.

 

Even that had been mostly demolished, so there would only be barren land left.

 

“It’s stranger that they couldn’t find anything.”

 

“At the time, there were so many products being made and discarded that there wasn’t any capacity to think about connecting the section chief’s disappearance with the side effects of the trace radio… The police also kept focusing on the depression.”

 

Section Chief Lee Won-woo nodded slowly.

 

That was understandable enough.

 

Even now, more than 10 items are discarded daily.

 

Between the overwhelming work and research, who would have had time to properly investigate a superior’s disappearance?

 

‘If we hadn’t brought up this topic, I probably wouldn’t have even thought about it in the future.’

 

That aside…

 

The problem they were currently facing was that they had stored items with side effects exceeding certain standards, like the ‘trace radio,’ instead of immediately discarding them.

 

And because of that.

 

‘The biggest problem is that I unknowingly gave it to someone as a gift.’

 

They had created the possibility of secondary damage occurring.

 

Lee Won-woo pressed his forehead through his long hair falling down.

 

“Um… Section Chief, if you really gave that to someone, we need to retrieve it quickly…”

 

“I know. I’ll handle it. And what else did you say? That the phantom gun also has side effect issues?”

 

“Oh, the phantom gun doesn’t have such dangerous side effects.”

 

“Really? Then, I’ll handle this for now, so get back to work.”

 

“Uh… Yes, understood.”

 

He sighed and straightened his back. Then he immediately contacted someone using his mobile phone from his lab coat pocket.

 

None other than the person who had the trace radio.

 

***

 

After finishing the ‘Healer Grand Festival’ and coming home, I found a fruit basket on the dining table in the living room.

 

‘Is this the fruit that Baek Cheonhyeong sent?’

 

I had already checked the text message in the taxi on the way home.

 

-Baek Cheonhyeong : Oh, eat the fruit I sent to your house. I heard you like fruit, so I sent it instead of health supplements. ^^

 

A fruit basket that looked like it would have been displayed on the first floor of a department store.

 

‘He really sent this.’

 

“Your company gives you fruit too? That’s nice.”

 

“Would you believe me if I said this was payment for my hard labor in the dungeon for several days…?”

 

My labor value for going through hell in the dungeon searching for Cheonji is a fruit basket… Should I cry or laugh?

 

Of course, since it was voluntary participation, I suppose receiving even this much is something.

 

“Does your company make kindergarten teachers enter dungeons too?”

 

At Hyung’s innocent question, I gave a rotten smile.

 

“Sometimes.”

 

More precisely, it seems like I’m the only teacher who goes in, which is the problem.

 

“Hey, you should quit. I recommended it, but it doesn’t seem right. How about you just join the kindergarten at our company?”

 

“…The kindergarten in Mugang?”

 

“Yeah, yeah. It hasn’t been around long either. Hwiyeon, the salary is also three times more.”

 

“…Forget it.”

 

“No way, man. Ever since you joined Ocean Kindergarten, this guy’s face has become half its size. Going to weird parties in suits like today…! You’re not being threatened into working overtime, are you? That’s strictly against labor laws.”

 

“It’s not like that.”

 

“You, your complexion doesn’t look good either. Are you really okay?”

 

As if hearing nonsense, I waved my hands dismissively and drove Hyung away before going into my room.

 

Only after things quieted down later did I go out to the living room, cut some fruit, and bring it back to my room…

 

‘Once Hyung starts nagging, it’s at least an hour, so avoiding him is the best strategy.’

 

I left some cut fruit on the dining table for Aunt and Hyung…

 

“I’m just going to eat this and sleep today… You just eat that and sleep too.”

 

“Got it!”

 

I said this while looking at Nabi, who was pouring an entire bag of potato chips into her mouth.

 

I usually try not to eat fruit in the evening, but today I absolutely had to eat some.

 

I felt like I needed some sugar to survive.

 

“…But does my complexion really look that bad?”

 

…Well, I haven’t had a day without overworking recently, so it’s natural.

 

I thought while chewing a peach.

 

-Baek Cheonhyeong : By the way, you haven’t gotten a mana examination yet, right?

 

-Baek Cheonhyeong : I’ll contact the Emergency Center for you, so get it done.

 

‘Should I get a mana examination?’

 

An S-rank hunter is telling me to get one, so there might be another reason, and who knows if overworking causes any changes to mana.

 

‘Besides, it seemed free…’

 

After putting the empty fruit plate in the sink and washing it, I lay down on the bed.

 

Looking at the dark ceiling, today’s events came to mind and I felt a sense of satisfaction.

 

‘I did well with the surprise.’

 

I closed my eyes just like that.

 

And the next morning when I woke up.

 

I prepared to embark on another Monday commute.

 

I washed, ate, looked in the mirror…

 

“Hyung!”

 

At the familiar shout, I quickly looked around and saw Nabi holding my hand.

 

And what I saw was…

 

The path leading to the kindergarten.

 

Wait a minute.

 

“…When did I…”

 

Finish getting ready for work?

 

‘I definitely don’t remember opening the front door and going outside.’

 

However, I was already prepared as if it were any other commute.

 

I examined my condition as if checking myself, soon realized everything was perfect, and answered in a dumbfounded state.

 

“Yeah, let’s go for now.”

 

“Does it hurt?”

 

“No… That’s not it.”

 

I safely arrived at the kindergarten. What happened this morning seems like a mishap that occurred while I was momentarily absent-minded.

 

‘How did that happen?’

 

In the midst of being out of it, I managed to do all that preparation and even brought Nabi with me?

 

Is this… the instinct of a working person?

 

I smiled bitterly at my thorough work ethic and looked straight ahead.

 

“Now, friends, shall we do some physical activities for the first time in a while today?”

 

Clapping my hands to focus the children’s attention.

 

Then I took out a dodgeball from the box I had prepared in advance.

 

‘Alright, first let’s start with passing games rather than dodgeball…’

 

Blink.

 

“Teacher? Can I leave this behind?”

 

“…Huh?”

 

Blink. Blink.

 

I blinked several times.

 

What I was holding in my hand was a small spoon.

 

When I shifted my gaze to the side… Cheonji was looking up at me, pointing at the carrots on his food tray.

 

Suddenly it’s lunchtime?

 

I was just trying to play ball a moment ago?

 

“Cheonji, what about our ball game?”

 

“…What? We already finished that this morning.”

 

“Ah, ah… That’s right, of course. Teacher’s mind is elsewhere. Yes, you can leave the carrots. Don’t force yourself to eat them, and when you feel like eating them, tell Teacher…”

 

“Yes.”

 

Even while naturally continuing the conversation, my head was still confused.

 

Again.

 

‘Is it normal to have memory gaps this frequently?’

 

Or am I really in poor physical condition?

 

‘Should I stop by the emergency center or hospital after work?’

 

Blink.

 

“Teacher Hwiyeon? Are you listening?”

 

“Ah? Yes yes, what did you say?”

 

Blink.

 

“I’m thinking about planning next month’s schedule in advance…”

 

“…”

 

“…Teacher?”

 

Again.

 

I felt Kwon Hae-seong grab my forearm firmly.

 

But instead of looking at the person in front of me, I cast my gaze toward the scenery outside the window.

 

“It’s… night.”

 

Just a moment ago, it was daytime.

 

…I can’t deny it anymore.

 

‘I have no memory.’

 

It’s not a mistake. It’s not just intermittent breaks, but chunks of time are disappearing at some point.

 

-Ding.

 

While my head was in confusion, a phone notification broke the silence.

 

I took out my mobile phone from my apron and checked the message that arrived.

 

-Manager Lee Won-woo (Won-gang Father): Hello, Teacher. Sorry for contacting you so late. It’s nothing major, but among the disposal items I gave you before, there was something called a Trace Walkie-Talkie. Have you ever used it?

 

‘…It came yesterday evening.’

 

Since I hadn’t looked at my phone after arriving home, I didn’t know a message had come.

 

More than that…

 

“Trace Walkie-Talkie?”

 

“Teacher, are you okay?”

 

Below the message that arrived yesterday, I can see another message that arrived just a moment ago.

 

-Manager Lee Won-woo (Won-gang Father): If it’s alright with you, I’d like to retrieve the Trace Walkie-Talkie. If you don’t want to, I’d like to explain the side effects we might have missed.

 

-Manager Lee Won-woo (Won-gang Father): Please contact me when you have time. I’ll be waiting.

 

Side effects of the Trace Walkie-Talkie.

 

Suddenly? Wait, I think I might remember something…

 

“Teacher… your face…”

 

“…”

 

“This won’t do… We need to go to the emergency center right now-”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

My mouth moves on its own.

 

My head becomes dazed, and my thoughts cut off.

 

Through my collapsing vision, I saw Kwon Hae-seong frowning with displeasure.

 

‘This won’t do. If I lose consciousness again. I need some kind of plan…!’

 

That’s what I thought, but my mouth won’t open.

 

Cold sweat flows down.

 

And then.

 

Blink.

 

When I came to my senses again, I was on a bus.

 

When I turned around to check, I could see the bus’s license plate.

 

Reading that backwards license plate properly, I can finally confirm it.

 

Number 700.

 

Blink.

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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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