Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 167

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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 167

 

A B-grade dungeon in the form of a labyrinth.

 

Its interior, surrounded on all sides by large stones, was cold and damp.

 

On the floor, monster blood and pre-removed trap devices could be seen scattered here and there.

 

“Clean work, just like Team Ga.”

 

“That side all takes after their team leader. Disgusting….”

 

Kang Ho-won made a disgusted face as he looked around.

 

Usually, B-grade dungeons have so many monsters that saying they “swarm in” would be an appropriate expression….

 

“Isn’t it actually harder to kill them this cleanly without splattering blood?”

 

True to form for a team led by Lee Gyeon, the epitome of following protocol, the scene was chillingly clean.

 

At first glance, it looked as if they had done separate cleanup work.

 

“I think I’m glad I didn’t go to that team.”

 

“To be precise, we didn’t choose not to go—we couldn’t go. Lee Gyeon cut both of us during the interview.”

 

“Ah~ right.”

 

“What did he say again? He said I looked like I wouldn’t listen, and you had no life in your eyes?”

 

They walked along, sharing such trivial chatter and laughter.

 

Since an already cleared dungeon was as good as guaranteed safe.

 

They just needed to follow the path that Team Ga had marked in advance.

 

Since it was quite a distance to their target point, they moved their feet diligently.

 

Kang Ho-won walked through the silent labyrinth, lost in thought.

 

Recently, there had been more and more things grating on his nerves.

 

‘Our headache-inducing team leader alone is more than enough trouble….’

 

Now even the team’s junior member had gotten involved in something bad.

 

The incident where Lee Seo-hyeok was injected with an unidentified drug during a surprise raid on some illegal overseas research facility.

 

Even now, just thinking about that time makes his heart turn ice cold.

 

Still, somehow they managed to identify the drug, and with Na Hwi-yeon’s help, Seo-hyeok woke up, which was good….

 

Really, the problem came after that.

 

Lee Seo-hyeok’s awakening grade had changed.

 

From A-grade to S-grade.

 

He had even developed a Sub Skill that hadn’t existed before.

 

‘We still haven’t figured out exactly what the Sub Skill is, but….’

 

This fact must be taken to the grave. Considering the waves it would cause in society… and being mindful of the group that created that insane drug.

 

‘It absolutely must not be revealed.’

 

Kang Ho-won unconsciously unclenched his tightly gripped fist and shook it out.

 

“By the way, now that the case has been completely transferred to our jurisdiction, we should be able to investigate more easily than before.”

 

Choi Un-seong seemed to be thinking along similar lines as he brought up the same topic.

 

Kang Ho-won forced the corners of his mouth upward.

 

“It’s all thanks to the talented people at the branch office letting the criminals escape.”

 

…The more he thought about it, the more infuriating it became.

 

On the day Lee Seo-hyeok was discharged from the hospital, when Kang Ho-won was about to begin digging into the case in earnest, he received unexpected news.

 

The interrogation target who had been nicely locked away in the headquarters’ basement had been moved to the branch office.

 

The only researcher who had direct connections to the illegal research facility.

 

“The branch office wanted to build up some proper achievements for once, so they took all the criminals with them, and then things went to hell.”

 

“BOND is the best at handling things like shit, anyway.”

 

Who could have known that those branch office bastards, desperate for achievements, would take away all those people without even consulting anyone?

 

And among them was the Korean researcher who had been at the illegal research facility.

 

“I even gave them a hint not to take that person.”

 

“Things got tangled up, but still… we got justification.”

 

Right, instead of losing the only witness and criminal who could provide clues, they used that as an excuse for Field Team Na to take full charge of Lee Seo-hyeok’s case.

 

Of course, officially it was under the pretext of investigating the ‘monster terror that occurred at the branch office’ as directly ordered by the CEO.

 

‘I didn’t expect Representative Baek Cheonhyeong to step forward so openly like this.’

 

Not only that, but he also turned a blind eye to Field Team Na taking away all the related documents and researcher identity information.

 

Thanks to that, they could now investigate without having to worry about anyone’s feelings.

 

“Did you say Seo-hyeok would be assigned other duties for the time being?”

 

“Yes, fortunately he seemed a bit disappointed? But when we piled paperwork on him like a mountain, he sighed and accepted it.”

 

“He probably thought we had put off paperwork as usual.”

 

“That’s right though.”

 

“It is.”

 

When Choi Un-seong showed a wry smile, he also gave a bitter smile in return.

 

‘Right, let’s not worry too much.’

 

Since things have come to this, they could just investigate step by step.

 

‘Though it already feels fucking annoying.’

 

It didn’t make sense that they still couldn’t find even one branch office employee who had been in contact with the missing researcher…

 

While shaking off his anxious feelings with light stretching as he walked.

 

Finally, they arrived.

 

At their destination.

 

The problematic altar that was said to be inside the dungeon.

 

As if there was no more path, there was indeed a small altar at the end of the labyrinth.

 

However, the statement that it couldn’t be reached without a teleportation awakener was true.

 

The altar was on some isolated piece of land with a wide distance between them.

 

Between them was only an endless abyss.

 

“It’s not at a level where we could jump across.”

 

“I’ll go take a look. Stay here.”

 

Kang Ho-won roughly calculated the distance by eye and immediately used his ability.

 

Then instantly, from the stone floor of the labyrinth, an altar with various things placed on it appeared beneath his feet.

 

He could see it.

 

The black form on the small dirt table.

 

Something too large to be human, yet too human-like to be a monster’s.

 

It was a leg.

 

“…!!”

 

His vision swept aimlessly across the altar.

 

Centered around the unidentifiable leg, various gold and jewels were scattered about.

 

Moreover, he could see alcohol and rice arranged similarly to a ritual table.

 

It was bizarre.

 

‘What the hell is this?’

 

Kang Ho-won unconsciously reached toward the altar as he tried to land.

 

However.

 

-Bang!!

 

With a strong recoil, his hand that couldn’t reach the altar was repelled. Kang Ho-won reflexively used his ability again and returned to where Choi Un-seong was.

 

If it hadn’t been for his instantaneous judgment, he would have fallen into the ravine.

 

He was a teleportation awakener, not an awakener with flight abilities.

 

He swept back his sweat-dampened red hair with tension and said.

 

“We’ll probably need to call some other people.”

 

There was no way to reach that altar through normal methods.

 

Kang Ho-won stared at the distant altar.

 

The black leg, gold and jewels.

 

And the familiar-looking totem placed next to the spilled alcohol.

 

***

 

I crossed my arms with my back against my room door.

 

“Both of you, please sit down.”

 

At my words, Nabi pouted but sat down.

 

And Sang-jwa, no, the person claiming to be Yuseong also looked around my room with a displeased face before reluctantly sitting down.

 

-“First, shall we eat and then talk?”

 

Ridiculous, but really, after that we just ate.

 

Without giving me a chance to stop him, Sang-jwa cast Brainwashing on Hyung and Aunt, returned to being my middle school classmate, and shamelessly proceeded with the meal.

 

So much so that anyone watching would think he was the family member here, not me.

 

-“How is Yuseong so handsome. Oh my, I wish Hwiyeon would dress up a little too.”

 

-“Haha, maybe Hwiyeon is just busy. I might end up like that too if I get busy.”

 

-“Hey, with your handsome face, I don’t think that would happen.”

 

Ugh.

 

Thinking about it again makes my blood pressure rise.

 

Anyway, he got to eat the meal he wanted and drink tea too.

 

‘Now please, let’s have a conversation.’

 

Of course, before that, I need to stop these two who seem possessed by fighting roosters.

 

“This room is as small as a chicken coop. Pathetic.”

 

“Then get out! I hate you!”

 

“You’ve been annoying me since earlier, why don’t you drop that childish way of speaking?”

 

“…I don’t want to!”

 

“Tsk tsk. To think I have to face this guy for a while.”

 

“I was here first! You get out!”

 

What, were you two enemies in a past life?

 

I grabbed my throbbing head and raised one hand.

 

“Stop, stop it. Both of you.”

 

“…”

 

“Why should I.”

 

“This is clearly my house. If you came as guests, you should listen to the homeowner.”

 

“…You’re always good with words.”

 

“Yes yes, that’s how I make a living.”

 

Then I carefully looked at the non-human guys sitting on the floor.

 

A.k.a. ‘Eternal Rest is Only Death’ and a.k.a. ‘Seat of Discernment’.

 

…Right now they just look like a ‘snack-obsessed kid’ and a ‘smooth-talking jewelry store owner’ to me.

 

I looked down at them with a deliberately angry face.

 

“You two are going to live in this house from now on, right?”

 

Anyway, these are guys who wouldn’t even pretend to listen even if I begged them to leave.

 

‘From the moment they created such ridiculous concepts just to live here… persuasion was wrong from the start.’

 

Then I need to at least set some constraints.

 

“Yeah! I’m the younger brother!”

 

“For the time being.”

 

“Right, anyway if you’re both going to be in this house, you need to listen to me well from now on. Nabi is already listening well so…”

 

“Yeah! I’m listening well!”

 

You, Sang-jwa, you bastard, you’re the most important one.

 

When I gave him a silent look asking ‘Will you listen to me well?’, Sang-jwa turned his head away sharply and said.

 

“…Fine.”

 

“Good.”

 

I clapped my hands loudly.

 

“Then, first rule: you absolutely cannot fight in this house or in front of me.”

 

I know I can’t stop them from fighting behind my back.

 

Whether you pull each other’s hair or grab each other by the collar behind my back, handle that among yourselves.

 

Both of them nodded.

 

‘They’re not saying they won’t fight even if they die… Okay.’

 

“Second, I won’t tolerate anything that puts Hyung and Aunt in danger.”

 

Nod.

 

“Lastly, maintain your concept well. Even if brainwashing is supposedly harmless, who knows if it might be bad to keep applying it every time it wears off. You might not like it, but… for the time being, both of you should get along well as brothers.”

 

Here, Nabi almost jumped up in protest, but immediately agreed after hearing what I added.

 

“You’ll just need to call him Hyung anyway. Nabi listens well, right?”

 

“…Yeah. I got it.”

 

“You’re just like a little kid.”

 

“Don’t forget that you need to do your part properly too.”

 

“I know without you telling me. I’m the one who started this.”

 

After barely calming the two down, an awkward silence settled in.

 

‘Phew… It’s finally quiet now.’

 

However, I took this opportunity to ask the Seat of Discernment, who was observing my room like looking at a chicken coop.

 

“Last time you said there seemed to be something wrong with my memory. What exactly did you mean by that?”

 

I’m dying from frustration.

 

Please let me hear it now.

 

At my question, the Seat of Discernment crossed his arms and slowly rose from his seat.

 

One step.

 

One step.

 

He’s getting closer.

 

Strangely, I felt like his build had grown larger than what I saw in the kitchen.

 

Then, after a long silence, he whispered like this.

 

“Humans have it so easy, don’t they.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“If you don’t want to remember something, you can just forget it.”

 

“…”

 

“I hate your face so much.”

 

I could instantly read the expression on Sang-jwa’s face as he said those words.

 

He was quietly seething with anger.

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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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