Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 25

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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 025

 

I couldn’t think of any way to escape. All that remained was just that one emotion—’fear.’

 

That was all.

 

My last remaining rationality and patience were completely exhausted just to keep me from running away immediately. And the remaining eighty percent…

 

Unfortunately, had to be poured into one child who was as mentally intact as I was.

 

“….”

 

Nam Tae-jae.

 

I pulled the pale-faced child into my arms and blocked his view. Then, the trembling gradually subsided.

 

Now, I was the only one who could see that thing.

 

One giant hand walked out from deep within the cave. It moved lightly, as if playfully wiggling its fingers.

 

The thing that resembled a human hand was black. Even blacker than the darkness inside the cave.

 

‘This is driving me crazy.’

 

My mouth went completely dry.

 

…As it gradually closed the distance, I could spot something peculiar about it.

 

Characters covering the hand. The black hand was covered with what looked like characters carved in white ink.

 

Though confused, I tried to read those characters. I just felt like I had to.

 

Chinese? No, Roman letters?

 

Characters and numbers from various countries mixed together and writhed. The white characters scattered like grains of sand, then gathered again.

 

I drew in a breath. Suddenly, something invisible layered itself over me.

 

Wow, this…

 

Fog, School Uniform, time, door

Doll, Aunt, Rest, thread

 

Words mixed chaotically in my head. And along with crushing pain, I felt my mind gradually clearing.

 

“…!”

 

The moment I thought I’d rather lose consciousness.

 

I felt Tae-jae in my arms tugging at my clothes.

 

…No, I can’t.

 

I barely managed to… grasp my fading consciousness. I bit down hard on the inside of my mouth. I tasted the salty flavor of blood.

 

Get it together.

 

Even if I’m going to die, I should at least struggle.

 

With trembling hands, I fumbled around my ear. After several failed attempts, I finally felt a familiar sensation between my fingers.

 

-Ding… ring.

 

 

 

“…!!”

 

I almost bit my tongue. I exhaled very quietly.

 

“Hoo…”

 

It seems like the hypothesis I established earlier is proving correct. I need to somehow make use of this…

 

「 ——- 」

 

Just then.

 

A voice came from deep within the cave.

 

Hazy and chilling. The cold air of a winter night spread throughout the entire cave along with misty fog.

 

‘What is it saying?’

 

Incomprehensible foreign languages and all sorts of unknown languages that couldn’t even be called foreign languages reached my ears, until finally a language I knew pierced through.

 

「 One adult, one child. 」

 

“…What.”

 

At my reflexively uttered words, the Palm Entity stirred slightly.

 

As if it couldn’t contain its joy.

 

 

“….”

 

What? Friend?

 

The Status Window was spouting nonsense. I racked my brain even more desperately.

 

R-right, the hypothesis….

 

If this was the case, then my hypothesis could be considered correct. The biggest premise of the hypothesis I set up started with doubts about my own ability.

 

Was I really a Tamer?

 

The ability to communicate with animals and furthermore train them.

 

No, this could be considered half right and half wrong.

 

『 Lower Open Source 』

 

Until now, I had been using this to employ abilities similar to a Tamer. Only limited to ‘animals’.

 

But why would it be called Lower ‘Open Source’?

 

If I translate this term literally….

 

A lower version of something. And it means nothing more than ‘ability code opened for anyone to use’.

 

The assumption I made here.

 

If my real ability exists separately, and I think of this as a kind of additional service that comes with the main program….

 

It makes sense.

 

The order fits too.

 

And this ‘Open Source’ cannot be used unless the owner of the source permits it.

 

Just like how we borrow free coding sources online.

 

This must be why I couldn’t use my ability against ‘Bermon’ or ‘Tyros’.

 

 

 

In other words, my real ability exists separately.

 

The upper version of .

 

Based on what has happened so far, a version of Tamer that goes beyond ‘animals’.

 

The black hand walked around us with heavy steps. It occasionally poked at Kwon Hae-seong and the kids, but it didn’t seem like behavior driven by interest.

 

…It seemed like it was waiting for me.

 

 

The message was still floating there. I clenched my fist and spat out one word.

 

“Nabi.”

 

…Yes, it might seem like I’m not in my right mind to give such a cute name to that unknown thing.

 

For reference, I’m not in my right mind right now.

 

Moreover, I can only explain that the name ‘Nabi’ just came to mind.

 

Black, and white…. Something black.

 

 

 

 

…4%.

 

Could I get out of here alive with this level of favorability?

 

I looked at the thing wiggling its fingers toward me.

 

Th-think….

 

Now it was time for it to appear.

 

-Ding…ring.

 

 

 

“What the…!”

 

This time I really bit my tongue. Because the only method I had thought of was blocked.

 

It was a different development from Kwon Hae-seong. Surely, a message should have appeared saying that Status Window confirmation and Command/Education were possible….

 

I looked down at Tae-jae, who had his eyes tightly shut in my arms, with a dejected expression.

 

…This is hopeless.

 

The method I had tried by gathering all my mental strength was now unusable.

 

‘Build sufficient friendships?’

 

Damn it. In this situation where I might die soon?

 

Helplessness. I couldn’t think of anything.

 

I didn’t even feel like looking for any missed details. Just when I was thinking I should give up everything and accept death.

 

Once again, a voice was heard.

 

「 Hello? 」

 

***

 

「 I’m, not, scary. 」

 

Clumsy Korean echoes from the Deep Cave. I numbly wiped away the tears flowing physiologically.

 

And I asked.

 

“…What are you?”

 

The thought ‘How ridiculous, what are you going to do knowing that?’ came belatedly, but I couldn’t take back what I’d already asked.

 

After a brief silence, an answer came again.

 

「 Nabi. They called me Nabi. Death is eternal Rest. Rest. Do you, hate, Rest? 」

 

“…”

 

Are you kidding me?

 

What you’re talking about is Rest after death! What kind of crazy person would like that?

 

“…I don’t like it.”

 

Every word I speak feels like it’s shaving a year off my lifespan.

 

「 Is that so? Then, live. If you live, you’ll want to die. Everyone seeks Rest. 」

 

“…!”

 

Should I interpret these words as meaning it will let us live?

 

「After Rest, play with me. I’m bored.」

 

Cold water was poured over my heated head again.

 

A long index finger slowly emerges and points at Tae-jae in my arms.

 

「 Answer. Satisfaction. Smile. Please. 」

 

My stomach churned.

 

‘Isn’t this pure highway robbery.’

 

Asking to play after death. Anyone would be horrified to hear such words.

 

But now I could even manage a reluctant smile.

 

…At least it’s saying it will let us live.

 

I quickly nodded my head.

 

“I’ll promise you… However.”

 

When it’s offering to save us right now, what couldn’t I do? However.

 

“Could you make that promise with just me? This child is young and won’t be fun.”

 

I had no intention of dragging Tae-jae into this.

 

How could I let Tae-jae’s post-death future be mortgaged when I don’t even know what this thing’s true identity is?

 

‘It’s better if only I get caught.’

 

It was right for only those with judgment ability to take responsibility.

 

「 He’ll die old. That child. So not young. 」

 

The Palm Entity makes a crescent shape and shrugs.

 

Instead of staying silent and letting both our afterlives be mortgaged, I decided to work my mouth desperately.

 

“I know more things. I’m smarter too.”

 

「 That child is smart too. Later… Well, anyway smart. 」

 

“Then, I’m more fun. I can do many things too. I can sing children’s songs, do Storytelling Performance, and I know several funny gags.”

 

「 … 」

 

“I’m confident I can keep you entertained without a dull moment…”

 

Damn it. Am I bragging about this stuff?

 

I boldly lifted my head to push through with sheer stubbornness.

 

Palm Entity scratches its fingers in the air as if there’s a chin there.

 

Then.

 

“…Yeah. You’re more fun. Funny.”

 

“…!”

 

“But.”

 

This is a good sign. I quietly waited for it to finish speaking.

 

“Shame. Can’t have both. Other guys sleep. Just, give other guys Rest?”

 

Palm Entity’s words had sold off all conjunctions and context, but I understood exactly what it meant.

 

Me and Tae-jae. It could take promises from two people, but if I do as I say, it won’t be able to do that.

 

But since everyone else except us two had fainted, wouldn’t it be profitable to at least kill these unconscious ones and take them to Rest… something like that.

 

“Then, how about this.”

 

There’s nowhere to retreat.

 

My afterlife is already mortgaged, so how could I fail to sell this.

 

I slowly exhaled and spoke my determined words.

 

Yeah, I’ll properly match the profit calculation you want just once.

 

“I’ll play with you. Even after leaving this place, often. After death too, of course.”

 

When situations turn this absurdly, it’s easy to forget momentarily, but my original job is a kindergarten teacher.

 

Therefore, I caught a scent from this Palm Entity.

 

‘That thing’s level is exactly the same as our kids’ level.’

 

I started speaking without even wetting my lips.

 

“Waiting until I die would take too long, wouldn’t it? If we meet while I’m alive, it’ll be fresher and more fun.”

 

It scratches its nonexistent head while pondering.

 

“Besides, we’re friends, aren’t we.”

 

Friends. None other than the Status Window had said so.

 

It asked me to give a friend a name.

 

Then, whether we like it or not, we’re bound together by the name of friends.

 

‘Usually kids around our children’s age can’t resist the word friend.’

 

Therefore, that bastard might be the same way.

 

“Mmm. Friend. Good. Then, how?”

 

“…Ah.”

 

It worked! It accepted!

 

I screamed internally at the thought that I might finally be able to return alive.

 

Then, I soon snapped to attention at its follow-up words.

 

‘Right, how do we do this? It doesn’t seem like it’ll let me go with just a verbal promise.’

 

 

And then.

 

An arm gradually extended from Deep Cave, and stretched fingers approached my face.

 

Unable to run away due to its tremendous size and overwhelming presence, I stood there like a faithful wife stone…

 

The white fingernail of its index finger touched the bag on my back, huh? The bag?

 

…It touched the Dog Doll attached to it and withdrew.

 

“….”

 

I thought I was going to die.

 

“Small but satisfying. With this I can see anytime.”

 

It covered its nonexistent mouth with its hand, pretending to laugh.

 

At the same time, I stroked my chest in relief.

 

“Now go. I’m leaving too.”

 

Well, that’s welcome news to hear.

 

“How should I get out…”

 

“Don’t know? Then, I’ll send you. See you later.”

 

With those words, fog rolled in again.

 

-Whoosh.

 

-Whoosh.

 

The human figures that had been collapsed beside me disappeared one by one into the mist by the hand.

 

Without time to panic, I quickly stood up and looked around.

 

They’re letting us live and sending us back, right?

 

“…Ugh!”

 

Suddenly, I jumped at the sensation of something gripping my entire body. However, my body, wrapped securely, moved calmly somewhere without any shaking.

 

Deep into the cave, endlessly.

 

And… the moment I blinked, we had come out of the gate.

 

Everyone unconscious.

 

I alone maintained my sanity, groping in the darkness to find people.

 

Four children, two adults.

 

“Phew…”

 

Everyone seems to be here.

 

And the smooth, hard floor texture I could feel right away.

 

This is probably the hallway that was connected to the gate.

 

Just then, a voice speaker sounded from outside.

 

-C1116 Safety Dungeon cleared.

-Cleared

 

-Security Team, please check the relevant dungeon.

 

-Clank.

 

-Crash!!

 

After waiting a moment, I heard the sound of a heavy Iron Door opening. Blinding fluorescent light poured into the pitch-black space.

 

I covered my eyes with my palm and looked toward the door.

 

Then, I made eye contact with one person.

 

…!

 

“Excuse me, please help here…!”

 

Wait a minute.

 

The joy of meeting people was brief, as my mouth clamped shut.

 

…I’ll correct that.

 

Not one person, but several people.

 

They came pouring in from outside the door.

 

“Gasp!! There are people here!!”

 

“This is C116 Underground Dungeon, people who appear to be civilians are collapsed in the passage. The dungeon is in cleared status.”

 

“…Teacher? Can you hear me? What happened here?”

 

“…Found you. You petty criminal.”

“…Found you. You petty criminal.”

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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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