Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 165

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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 165

 

I watched Section Chief Kwak Cheol-man being surrounded and comforted by the children.

 

‘He seems embarrassed.’

 

I’m glad the result of my meddling turned out well.

 

The section chief showing a relieved smile looked truly at ease. I could feel the unique tranquility of someone who had organized their thoughts after long contemplation.

 

“Um… how do you two know each other?”

 

As the atmosphere seemed to be settling down, the Principal, who had been watching from a step away, approached and asked.

 

‘Ah, come to think of it…’

 

-“…Section Chief Kwak Cheol-man?”

 

-“Hwiyeon…!!”

 

In our confusion, we both just blurted out each other’s names first.

 

Looking at it now, the Principal seemed completely unaware not only about me but also about Section Chief Kwak Cheol-man’s disappearance…

 

‘There’s no need to tell him and make him worry unnecessarily.’

 

Let me make something up.

 

“One of my family members is close with the section chief, so after running into each other a few times, I also became acquainted with him.”

 

For a safe cover story, showing off personal connections would be best.

 

“I see… What a coincidence. I’m university classmates with that guy, no, that friend.”

 

So that’s why the section chief was sobbing while calling out ‘Beomseok!’

 

Fortunately, the Principal didn’t ask me any more questions about my relationship with the section chief. Instead, he looked at me with an expression that said ‘you’ve been through a lot’ and said this.

 

“Thank you. I had no idea that friend was having such a hard time. Honestly, I still don’t understand what this situation is about…”

 

I completely understand that feeling.

 

Anyone would be shocked if a university friend they thought was doing well suddenly barged in wearing a patient gown.

 

Moreover, if they were sobbing like a madman while repeating ‘I have to resign’…

 

‘Yeah, I’d be shocked too.’

 

“Still, it’s nice to see… I’m always grateful and sorry to Teacher Hwiyeon.”

 

“Not at all. It must have been a good experience for the children too.”

 

“…How is someone going to live in this world with such a tender heart…”

 

Excuse me?

 

“Teacher, you need to live a bit more selfishly sometimes. I sometimes worry because our kindergarten teachers seem too soft-hearted…”

 

Really… is that so.

 

I had plenty of evidence to refute that, but since I didn’t feel it was necessary, I just smiled and let it pass.

 

“Haha, yes.”

 

While we were having this brief conversation, Section Chief Kwak Cheol-man and the children had also finished their farewells.

 

“Counseling over~! Mister, go home now!”

 

“We have to play now. Bye-bye.”

 

“Goodbye.”

 

“See you later!”

 

The children, thinking their work was all done, mercilessly issued an eviction order.

 

The section chief looked dejected as the warm atmosphere disappeared in an instant.

 

“Come down when you get your head together, you fool.”

 

The Principal threw those words at his dazed classmate and went back down to the 1st floor. And I approached him.

 

“Section Chief.”

 

“Hwiyeon…”

 

“How was the counseling?”

 

I could tell without needing to hear the answer.

 

“It was good. Very clear and… it hurts.”

 

“Raw truth is supposed to hurt.”

 

“Haha! Yes, you’re right… That’s right. But it hurt in a helpful way.”

 

I extended one hand to the section chief.

 

“Congratulations on your resignation, and please make sure to find your happiness from now on.”

 

This time it was sincere without even a bit of selfish motive.

 

Soon he took my hand and responded.

 

“Thank you… I’m also sorry for causing you trouble in various ways. Whew… Yes! I hope you’re happy too, Teacher!”

 

“…Yes.”

 

After that, I stopped the section chief who kept bowing to me and added a few words.

 

“Um, I told the Principal that we roughly know each other, so could you please go along with that story?”

 

While also suggesting he keep quiet about the disappearance.

 

Of course, if Section Chief Kwak Cheol-man didn’t want to, there was nothing I could do about it.

 

“Of course! I’m too embarrassed to tell anyone anyway…”

 

“Well then, thank you.”

 

But he readily accepted my suggestion.

 

‘Good.’

 

And so, with both the Principal and the section chief gone, the Dolphin Class returned to its usual state.

 

The classroom with just me and the 6 children remaining.

 

I looked around at the children while holding the magic wand, still conscious of the glasses perched on my nose.

 

That side was resolved…

 

‘Now the settlement on this side remains.’

 

It was time to check the other results of this counseling session I had conducted with the mindset of killing two birds with one stone.

 

Namely, one of the main purposes for holding this counseling session.

 

Through this counseling, I had hoped the children would learn the attitude of trying to understand others’ hearts!

 

I used the magic wand as a microphone and passed it to each child in turn.

 

“Now, let’s take turns sharing your thoughts about the counseling session.”

 

First, Lee Seo-ro!

 

“It was interesting seeing an adult cry because he hated his company for the first time. And also… it was cool. Because he showed courage at the end.”

 

Oh, he accurately understood another person’s psychological change. Very good.

 

Next, Lee Seo-ra!

 

“He kept crying so it was annoying, but it was still fun! We ate cookies, and the cheering was the most fun.”

 

Even though she said this, I remember she later gave her share of cookies to the section chief too.

 

‘How cute.’

 

“Next, Kim Noah and Baek Cheonji.”

 

“Mister kept crying then laughed, so maybe he grew a horn on his butt later! Wow, then is he a butt unicorn?”

 

“No, unicorns are horses, so even if a horn grows on his butt, he’s still human.”

 

“Then that’s even cooler!!”

 

Indeed, there are some who didn’t get the expected effect from the counseling session.

 

But regardless of their mindset, both were excellent counselors… let’s move on.

 

“Now, lastly, what about our Tae-jae and Nabi?”

 

“Are there more cookies?”

 

Right, never mind you.

 

I’m most curious about the thoughts of our Tae-jae, who delivered the most wise sayings today.

 

-“Happiness originally changes all the time. My grandmother says eating rice is happiness, Jesus is also happiness, and money is happiness too.”

 

-“Mister, my grandmother says if you do stocks, you can live without earning money. Make sure to go into the red. You can even buy snacks with that.”

 

Appropriate words of comfort, and even realistic advice at the end.

 

‘Well, at the end it turned into harsh words due to vocabulary limitations…’

 

Anyway, by my standards, he was the most perfect counselor.

 

Tae-jae, holding the magic wand microphone, hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.

 

“I thought I wanted mister to be happy.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because I didn’t want him to cry.”

 

I want to give him applause.

 

He accurately understood another person’s heart, and furthermore, comforted them in his own way.

 

I nodded slowly.

 

[ Children’s Counseling Center ]

 

Out of 5 stars, it gets a perfect 5.

 

With Tae-jae’s review, this counseling center had fulfilled its purpose.

 

And so the Children’s Counseling Center closed its doors after achieving its goal.

 

***

 

The time when all the Kindergarten children had gone home.

 

I was preparing to wrap up my day by closing the windows one by one that had been open all morning and afternoon.

 

Then, my head turned at the sound of a small whisper coming from far away.

 

“Teacher…!”

 

A face peeking out from around the corner of the hallway waved at me, calling out.

 

“Teacher Jin-chae…?”

 

“Come over here!”

 

“…?”

 

Following Yu Jin-chae like that, I ended up entering the empty Staff Lounge.

 

-Click.

 

The door closed, and the noise subsided.

 

Yu Jin-chae’s face as we stood facing each other was filled with worry.

 

She glanced at me nervously, then roughly ran her fingers through her hair as if feeling frustrated.

 

“Is something wrong?”

 

“Well… about the criminal identity information you requested.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Just from the opening, I could tell what she was talking about.

 

It was news I had been waiting for all along.

 

The researcher with a criminal background I had encountered at the BOND Branch Office.

 

I had asked Yu Jin-chae to look up their identity, saying their face looked familiar.

 

‘I thought they might have known my parents, so I wanted to find out.’

 

However, seeing Yu Jin-chae’s hesitant attitude, I had a hunch.

 

‘Something didn’t go well.’

 

She sighed and said,

 

“I tried requesting an identity check, but since I’m currently on leave… there are restrictions on information access.”

 

“…I see.”

 

“Yes, I still tried to find out through someone I know, but the researcher information itself has been completely transferred to Field Team Na’s jurisdiction, making it more difficult.”

 

Wait, Field Team Na?

 

“…”

 

“Of course, I know someone there too, so asking wouldn’t be a problem. But I thought I should tell you this first… that researcher is currently missing.”

 

“…!!”

 

What, is going missing some kind of trend now?

 

I was speechless at the unexpected news.

 

“They disappeared without a trace, and the Branch Office’s position is that there seemed to be someone among the staff who was in cahoots with that researcher. In other words, it was an inside job.”

 

“Are they looking for them?”

 

“Yes, Field Team Na is handling that too… though for some reason, they seem to have completely excluded the Team Youngest from the operation.”

 

What’s this, it seems like it might be connected to an incident I know about…

 

I was racking my brain with this strong premonition when Yu Jin-chae lightly punched my shoulder with her fist.

 

She looked up at me with a furrowed brow and said,

 

“Teacher, if something happens, please tell me. Don’t get all serious by yourself again.”

 

“…Yes, of course.”

 

“Sigh… You always say the right things.”

 

After hearing Yu Jin-chae say she’d let me know if she heard any other news, I left that place.

 

All the way home from work, my head was completely dizzy with clues that seemed within reach but weren’t quite graspable.

 

Arriving home in that dazed state, I was taking off my shoes as I entered through the entrance when…

 

“You were like this even when you were really young, and you’re still the same.”

 

“I was already worried because Hwiyeon seemed to be in bad shape lately, so I’m glad you came to our house.”

 

The sound of warm, friendly conversation.

 

Following that, I hear the voice of a third party who isn’t Aunt or Hyung.

 

“No, I should be doing better.”

 

I kicked off my shoes and entered the living room.

 

‘There’s no way that could be…!’

 

It’s a voice I know.

 

Ignoring my hair standing on end, I went to the kitchen where the conversation sounds were coming from.

 

And there, Aunt and Hyung welcomed me.

 

“Oh my, you came early today.”

 

“Hey, didn’t you buy anything when your friend who’s going to live with you is coming over?”

 

…Who’s living together?

 

Next to Aunt who was cooking, I can see the back of someone wearing rubber gloves while washing dishes.

 

“!!”

 

Golden hair reaching down to the waist and when they turn around, visible… Golden Eyes.

 

“You’re here? You’re late.”

 

Discernment’s Lieutenant was waving at me while wearing red rubber gloves.

 

‘What kind of ridiculous situation is this.’

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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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