Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 2

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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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Episode 002

 

I stood dazed in thought for a moment in the middle of the commuter rush flowing like waves.

 

To think I’m actually going to work.

 

My heart pounded fiercely with nervousness. Perhaps because of my exhausting job-hunting days, it felt more like worry than anticipation and excitement.

 

“…Phew.”

 

I looked at the access card hanging around my neck, then back at the building in front of me.

 

I was notified of my acceptance on the day of the interview, and at the mention of 5 million won per month, I eagerly promised to join on the spot.

 

It felt like I was under some spell.

 

…Still, it was good.

 

Since it’s a large corporation, they even gave me an access card on the day I passed.

 

Of course, it’s only a temporary access card.

 

They said the official access card takes about a month to receive because it comes equipped with several functions.

 

“Still, this is something.”

 

As I stood there longer, the number of people entering the building was gradually decreasing.

 

I also hurried to move my legs to enter the headquarters building.

 

And that’s when it happened.

 

“Oh, what should I do…. Can you two really go by yourselves?”

 

“We’ve been there more than once or twice, we can go!”

 

“Right, we went every day.”

 

In front of the main entrance of the BOND building, I could see a man with two children who came up to his waist, looking restless.

 

‘Kindergarteners?’

 

As far as I know, Ocean Kindergarten, being under a private company, has all its students wear ‘school uniforms.’ They’re shaped like gym clothes for activity, and the color is probably that yellow, I think.

 

I recalled the information I had gathered in advance and approached the children and the man.

 

“Hello. Are these children from Ocean Kindergarten by any chance?”

 

I waved lightly at the children who were startled by my sudden appearance.

 

Of course, while putting on the characteristic bright smile of a kindergarten teacher.

 

The man wearing a black long-sleeved shirt that came up to his neck and jogger pants had upturned eyes, so he didn’t have an approachable impression.

 

“…Yes, that’s right. But who are you?”

 

He examined my face with eyes subtly filled with suspicion, then his gaze stopped at the access card hanging on my chest.

 

I quickly held up my access card and said.

 

“I’m Na Hwi-yeon, a teacher who will be starting work at Ocean Kindergarten from today. I was just on my way to work too, so I wondered if you were having some trouble.”

 

He clearly looked troubled, but I asked out of politeness.

 

“….”

 

As expected, the man made a troubled face and looked down at the two children before speaking.

 

“I have an urgent matter that requires me to go to a site right now, and a colleague is coming to pick me up. But if I take the kids to kindergarten first, our routes will cross….”

 

“Have you tried contacting your colleague?”

 

“Ah, he’s a teleportation awakener, so he can’t use his phone while moving. Plus, that senior is the type who doesn’t check messages well.”

 

The woes of office workers.

 

I nodded understandingly and spoke with a tone suggesting it was no big deal.

 

“If it’s okay with you, I’ll take care of the kids and go to the kindergarten. I’m on my way to work anyway, so it’s not difficult.”

 

“….”

 

Even after seeing both my access card and face, the man didn’t answer hastily.

 

‘Right, that’s the proper reaction in a way.’

 

After all, I could be a child kidnapper disguising myself as a teacher.

 

No matter how safe it’s become, enough to be called a ‘peaceful era,’ you never know what might happen with people, so I couldn’t just consider the man’s attitude as overly sensitive.

 

Awakener child kidnapping incidents weren’t common, but they did happen occasionally.

 

“If you’re really worried, you can watch me go into the kindergarten with the children. I think you can see it from here.”

 

There was some distance, but since the first and second floors of the headquarters were almost entirely glass windows, the kindergarten building behind the building was clearly visible.

 

Besides, this is just speculation, but.

 

…This person might be stronger than me if anything, but he doesn’t look weak.

 

If he notices even the slightest suspicious behavior while watching, striking the back of my head would be nothing to him.

 

“…Hmm.”

 

Looking at his expression, it seems he’s aware of this fact too.

 

After a moment, the man looked back and forth between me and the children, then spoke with a faint smile on his lips.

 

“In that case, I’m sorry to trouble you, but please take good care of my siblings. I’m Lee Seo-hyeok from the BOND Field Team.”

 

I nodded while taking the children’s hands that the man offered.

 

‘So they’re siblings.’

 

No wonder he looked too young to be a parent.

 

“I look forward to working with you as well. Then, good luck at work, and I’ll head inside with the children.”

 

After exchanging brief greetings with Lee Seo-hyeok, I headed toward the building with the children.

 

“Teacher, are you really our kindergarten teacher?”

 

As soon as we entered the lobby, the girl positioned to my left asked while walking energetically.

 

I answered while matching my pace to the children’s steps.

 

“Yes, I just started today. Dolphin Class! My name is Na Hwi-yeon. What’s your name, friend?”

 

“Wow! Dolphin Class? I’m in Dolphin Class too! My name is Lee Seo-ra!”

 

Oh?

 

Who would have thought I’d be walking to school with a child from my own class on my first day.

 

Then… wait a minute.

 

If these children are in Dolphin Class, that means Mr. Lee Seo-hyeok is one of my assigned guardians.

 

I unconsciously turned around at this series of realizations.

 

…He’s still looking this way.

 

‘Now he’s leaving.’

 

Lee Seo-hyeok suddenly grabbed hands with a man who appeared out of thin air with a ‘pop’ and disappeared in an instant.

 

‘Did that take 3 seconds?’

 

This is my first time seeing a Teleportation Awakener, how fascinating.

 

“Uncle Ho-won is slow every day.”

 

Then the boy who had been quietly listening to my conversation with Seo-ra spoke up.

 

I realized then that the children and I had been looking at the same thing.

 

“Who is Uncle Ho-won?”

 

“Earlier, the teleportation uncle who came to pick up hyung. That uncle is a Teleportation Awakener but he’s slow every day.”

 

Is 3 seconds considered slow? I’m not sure.

 

What’s different about the world as seen through newborn eyes?

 

I worried about my eyeballs that had stopped growing and started aging, then began a proper background check.

 

“Ah, I see. Uncle Ho-won is slow. But what’s your name, friend?”

 

“My name is Lee Seo-ro. We’re twins. I’m the older brother.”

 

Seo-ro said while pointing to himself confidently with his finger.

 

“That’s right! Lee Seo-ro is my older brother and I’m the younger sister. I like being the younger sister!”

 

“I like being the older brother too.”

 

A warm smile naturally formed at the sight of the close siblings.

 

‘Seo-ro and Seo-ra, twin siblings. Lee Seo-ro is the older brother, Lee Seo-ra is the younger sister.’

 

I repeated their names in my head. And as always, after a simple background check was finished, there was something I did.

 

‘Question time.’

 

There’s nothing better for building rapport between teacher and students.

 

“By any chance, do Seo-ra and Seo-ro have any questions for the teacher? I have so many.”

 

At my words, both looked thoughtful for a moment, then unexpectedly Seo-ro spoke first.

 

“Teacher.”

 

“Yes~”

 

“When are you going to quit?”

 

…The first question I received from a student in my class was about my resignation date.

 

As I heard, today’s 7-year-olds really are different from their very approach to questioning.

 

‘This is going to be tough.’

 

***

 

I awkwardly looked at my reflection in the mirror. The stiff teal apron, seemingly newly taken out, clung tightly to my body.

 

On the left chest of the apron was embroidered a cute little design symbolizing each class.

 

Mine was a dolphin jumping above the water’s surface.

 

“….”

 

First impressions are important.

 

Smiles and speech patterns had become habitual, so those wouldn’t be difficult. But my appearance was hard to change immediately.

 

During my job hunting period, I didn’t go to the salon often because it was bothersome, so my hair had grown quite long.

 

‘I look like I’m barely maintaining human form.’

 

As I was trying to make myself look somewhat decent by running my hands through my hair, I heard a voice from outside the door.

 

“Teacher Hwiyeon, are you done changing?”

 

It was the principal of Ocean Kindergarten.

 

I looked down at the navy blue teacher’s activity uniform and the apron worn over it, then answered.

 

“Yes, I’m all changed.”

 

When I opened the door and came out, the principal gestured for me to follow. Following behind the principal, I quickly scanned the long kindergarten corridor.

 

Overall, it was a cozy space, unlike its exterior appearance. The warm pastel-colored wallpaper and furniture sized for children created that atmosphere.

 

‘It’s completely different from the outside.’

 

There are basically two ways to get to Ocean Kindergarten, which is located behind the headquarters building.

 

Either go around the entire building, or come directly through the headquarters lobby.

 

Since I didn’t know the way around, I came through the lobby, and after seeing that ultra-modern building, when I saw this kindergarten….

 

I couldn’t help but think, ‘Isn’t this an abandoned house?’

 

Perhaps because of the ivy covering the entire building, the atmosphere was even gloomy. Plus there were broken windows here and there with blue tape sloppily stuck on them.

 

‘But the interior is surprisingly decent?’

 

“Come in here.”

 

Setting aside my observations, I followed the principal who was guiding me into the staff lounge.

 

It was a brief moment, but as I entered, the conversation that had been faintly audible from the corridor suddenly stopped.

 

Excluding the principal, there were two adult men and two women.

 

Seeing that all four adults were wearing aprons, they seemed to be fellow teachers.

 

“Uh, um…. This is Teacher Na Hwi-yeon who will be joining us starting today.”

 

At the principal’s signal with a nod of her chin, I nodded my head. She didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding her completely uninterested expression and perfunctory tone.

 

‘She was like this during the brief greeting this morning too, but she’s incredibly annoyed.’

 

But the problem was that it wasn’t just the principal.

 

…These people are the same.

 

The fellow teachers were also expressing their annoyance with their whole bodies, rotating their wrists or nodding their heads carelessly and half-heartedly.

 

There was even someone staring blankly at the wall clock with empty eyes.

 

Nevertheless, I pulled up the corners of my mouth into a bright smile.

 

“Please take care of me. I’m Na Hwi-yeon, and I’ll be in charge of the 7-year-olds in Dolphin Class.”

 

Actually, regardless of their reaction, what I need to do is already decided.

 

‘Just get through the greetings.’

 

After my brief self-introduction ended, the scattered gazes gradually gathered toward me one by one.

 

‘Still dead fish eyes though.’

 

“Hmm…. Well, please take care of us! I’m Yu Jin-chae, in charge of the 3-year-olds in Jellyfish Class~”

 

The first person to greet me was a blonde woman with a cheerful voice.

 

Speaking with her palm spread wide open like an amusement park employee, she seemed like a learned machine just as much as I was.

 

Contrary to my concerns, after her bright greeting, others began to greet me one by one, reading the atmosphere.

 

“Please take care of me too. I’m Park I-deun, teacher of the 4-year-olds in Turtle Class.”

 

“5-year-olds, Shark Class, Kang Sa-gwa.”

 

“I’m Kwon Hae-seong from the 6-year-olds in Seal Class. The class next to Dolphin Class….”

 

I see. So you’re the one who was staring at the clock, my neighboring colleague.

 

After we finished going around and introducing ourselves, it felt like we were at least exchanging basic pleasantries, even if the atmosphere wasn’t exactly warm.

 

Once the Principal disappeared without a sound, the conversation continued in a much more relaxed atmosphere.

 

Simple, formal questions about age and motivation for joining the kindergarten were being exchanged when suddenly a strange question came up.

 

“How long can you last, teacher?”

 

The person who asked was Kang Sa-gwa from Shark Class, whose pale white skin was quite striking.

 

“….”

 

Did I hear that wrong?

 

“I was wondering how many days you could last here.”

 

“Sa-gwa….”

 

Thinking I hadn’t heard properly, Kang Sa-gwa spoke again, paying more attention to her pronunciation. Park I-deun from Turtle Class, who was standing nearby, immediately looked troubled and tried to stop her, but….

 

‘Well, this atmosphere just went to shit.’

 

I read the room as the atmosphere suddenly turned cold and started thinking.

 

‘Is asking about resignation schedules trendy here?’

 

At this point, I couldn’t help but think this way.

 

First the Principal this morning, then Sa-gwa.

 

Even Kwon Hae-seong and Yu Jin-chae kept their mouths shut, so the atmosphere was going completely downhill.

 

Only Park I-deun looked troubled as she tried to explain to me.

 

“Sa-gwa, I mean, Teacher Sa-gwa tends to speak rather directly. The thing is, the Dolphin Class teachers before Teacher Hwiyeon changed so frequently that we had quite a hard time. She probably meant it as wanting to work together for a long time this time. Right, Sa-gwa?”

 

…If I only listened to Park I-deun’s words, it sounded like a request.

 

But looking at Kang Sa-gwa’s face, it didn’t seem like that at all.

 

‘Is that hazing or a request?’

 

I held back a sigh and composed my expression.

 

…This feels familiar. This atmosphere, this smell.

 

But even this time, what I need to say is already decided.

 

“I’ll work hard.”

 

“Working hard isn’t necessary though.”

 

“Sa-gwa….”

 

 

It’s hazing.

 

This is definitely hazing.

—————
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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