Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 27

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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 027

 

Fortunately, I didn’t have to go home wearing blood-stained clothes.

 

I put on a gray hoodie that was about one size too big and awkwardly opened my mouth.

 

“You really didn’t have to go this far, but thank you so much.”

 

However, the other person shook their head and smiled at me instead.

 

Something… he even looked proud.

 

“Not at all. I’m really glad I could help in this way. Besides, we owe Teacher a great debt again today, so I’m happy to repay even a small part of that favor with something like this.”

 

Lee Seo-hyeok said as he handed me a shopping bag containing the blood-stained clothes. I took what he offered and hesitated for a moment before speaking.

 

I couldn’t bring myself to ask those two team leaders…

 

“If I leave here now, will it become more chaotic outside than it is now?”

 

Based on the rumors those two team leaders told me, I shouldn’t leave here right now.

 

‘They said there are even strange rumors going around that I might be a spy from other hunter companies.’

 

If I boldly walked through that curtain into the lobby, wouldn’t it become a complete mess?

 

‘It’s even scarier because I can’t predict the reaction at all.’

 

I was seriously considering whether I should find some hole to crawl out through if necessary.

 

“Hmm… Probably not.”

 

“…Really?”

 

I’m really serious here.

 

“Yes, there are also rumors going around that you were covered with a blanket the entire way from underground to the emergency center. Thanks to that, people can only identify you based on your general appearance and clothing…”

 

“…Ah.”

 

Lee Seo-hyeok’s gaze briefly swept over my upper and lower clothing.

 

Currently, I was completely changed into the clothes Lee Seo-hyeok had given me.

 

If only a simple description of my appearance had spread, there probably wouldn’t be anyone who could recognize me.

 

‘I should be able to leave quietly.’

 

I immediately pulled the hood attached to the hoodie down tight. I pushed back all the hair covering my forehead and carefully tucked it inside the hood.

 

When I slightly parted the curtain to check inside the emergency center, the commotion had died down compared to before.

 

‘At this rate, I should be able to get off work safely.’

 

I closed the curtain again, turned around, and lightly bowed my head toward Lee Seo-hyeok.

 

“Thank you for taking care of me in various ways today, including the clothes.”

 

As soon as the simple situation investigation with the field team leaders ended, Lee Seo-hyeok approached my bed as if he had been waiting.

 

Lee Seo-hyeok, who had belatedly heard the news, looked at me with a panicked face and tried to slam his head to the floor, which I stopped with my whole body.

 

He thought his younger siblings had played a part in this incident again.

 

However, after hearing my desperate defense and Moon Chae-yeong’s words beside me, he seemed to finally understand.

 

Then he suddenly disappeared and came back with a bundle, saying it was his spare clothes.

 

“The twins are okay, right?”

 

“Yes. Thanks to the teachers, Seo-ro is also safe without a single injury, and I sent him straight home with Seo-ra.”

 

Since the situation had turned out this way, I heard that the remaining teachers and children had no choice but to stop the field trip and go home. Not only that, but the entire company was on emergency alert, confirming overtime for all employees today.

 

Overtime, huh? I feel unnecessarily sorry.

 

“Today’s incident was largely due to our company’s oversight, so the company will handle it entirely. Also, the awakener who was in the dungeon with you has been confirmed as a criminal and taken away by the police. You don’t need to worry about this part. The CEO has also confirmed that you don’t need to worry about contacting the children’s parents separately. The CEO recommended that Teacher go home as soon as your body recovers and take two days of rest.”

 

Like information entered into a computer being output as is, Lee Seo-hyeok finished delivering the information without hesitation.

 

…Really? Well, that’s good for me.

 

I was already worrying about how to explain this situation to the parents.

 

However, it’s a bit disappointing that the refined conversation I had been planning with that kidnapper couldn’t happen.

 

If he was taken to the awakener specialized police, it seemed like a higher level conversation would take place there, which was actually better.

 

A fist conversation is still a conversation, after all.

 

“Well, that’s good for me then.”

 

I nodded, parted the curtain, and stepped outside the bed area.

 

I could feel people passing by glancing at us several times, but it was bearable.

 

‘It seems like they’re looking at Lee Seo-hyeok, not me.’

 

Only after seeing the obvious stares directed at Lee Seo-hyeok several times did I feel relieved, realizing he was more famous than I thought.

 

Let me just go home indifferently like this.

 

‘Come to think of it, I didn’t even get to ask the Research Department anything.’

 

Now that I was actually leaving work, I felt regretful about the thought that came to mind belatedly, but I brushed it off saying it wasn’t immediately important and hurried my steps.

 

Then, near the emergency center desk that led to the lobby, I spotted a familiar person.

 

Kwon Hae-seong?

 

…But somehow, the situation looked serious. Several people were surrounding Kwon Hae-seong and seemed to be saying something to him, but the atmosphere wasn’t good.

 

Besides, that guy’s complexion doesn’t look good?

 

I approached the door toward the desk with much slower steps.

 

‘This doesn’t seem like a place for me to get involved, so I should pretend not to notice.’

 

But even though I tried to ignore it, I could faintly hear voices.

 

“Hah… Do you think I let you go just to see you in this state?”

 

“…Senior, just say you’re sorry.”

 

“Ugh, frustrating! What the hell are you doing at that kindergarten?”

 

From what I could roughly hear, I had no idea what topic they were discussing.

 

But that statement, ‘Do you think I let you go just to see you in this state?’ was too much…

 

Could it be a love triangle drama?

 

Was Kwon Hae-seong previously in a relationship with a headquarters employee?

 

“If you’re going to be like this, quit the kindergarten too. Do you know how much it pisses me off every time I pass by the kindergarten and see you?”

 

They’re speaking really harshly.

 

“Senior, honestly I find it uncomfortable to look at too. Does a kindergarten teacher suit someone like you?”

 

Even job discrimination?

 

“Hey! Did you put grass in your mouth or something? Why aren’t you answering?!”

 

Tsk. One of them even grabbed Kwon Hae-seong’s shoulder and started shaking him roughly.

 

I stopped the steps I was about to turn away with, pretending not to notice.

 

“…Teacher?”

 

Lee Seo-hyeok looked down at me with a clear face.

 

I heard voices from behind again.

 

“Following kids around and chasing after them, is that what you want to do?”

 

“How perfectly suited! With that build of yours, aren’t the kids scared?”

 

“…Senior, just say you’re sorry…!”

 

I calmly exhaled. Then I turned my steps around.

 

Toward that bear cub who was just keeping his mouth shut and struggling.

 

“Excuse me.”

 

I naturally put on my professional smile and pushed my way between them. Lee Seo-hyeok also followed behind me with a confused expression.

 

I just smiled at the bear who was startled to see my face.

 

‘You little punk, do you think keeping your mouth shut here will work?’

 

What’s with job discrimination in this day and age?

 

“Yes…? But who are you?”

 

“…Lee Seo-hyeok?”

 

“What’s this, what’s Team Na’s rookie doing here?”

 

Their attention was drawn not to me who had suddenly appeared, but to Lee Seo-hyeok behind me.

 

Thanks to that, I was able to reach right in front of Kwon Hae-seong without any interference.

 

“Teacher Hae-seong, are you feeling alright?”

 

A love triangle drama should stop at being a love triangle drama.

 

Job discrimination and crushing someone’s spirit on top of that is a bit much, isn’t it?

 

Sitting properly on the bed, Kwon Hae-seong looked up at me with a stupid expression.

 

I interpreted Kwon Hae-seong’s mouth opening and closing like a goldfish according to my own taste and began speaking as if in monologue.

 

“Ah. You say your body is fine. But what? You’re tired, it’s noisy because…?”

 

The surroundings became quiet all at once.

 

“Hmm? Oh, you want to leave? Have you recovered? It’s natural to be in pain after going through such hell.”

 

Then he slightly lifted his hoodie and made eye contact with those nearest to him.

 

The people who had been berating Kwon Hae-seong.

 

To be precise, one woman and two men.

 

‘Why are so many people involved in one love triangle?’

 

I gave each of them a smile with my eyes as our gazes met.

 

You can’t spit on a smiling face.

 

“We really risked our lives to take care of the kids. You did well.”

 

Then I grabbed Kwon Hae-seong by the scruff of his neck and pulled him up.

 

I hid the following gazes by pulling my hat down deep again. At the same time, the corners of my mouth automatically relaxed.

 

I’m too tired to smile anymore.

 

“Let’s clock out now. We’ve finished everything we needed to do.”

 

Let’s go, Teacher Kwon.

 

Let’s hurry up and get off work.

 

 

***

 

Kwon Hae-seong’s limbs creaked with bewilderment. His body mechanically followed behind Na Hwi-yeon’s head as he walked ahead like a machine.

 

‘What on earth just happened?’

 

After regaining consciousness on the bed, somehow all his former teammates had rushed over after hearing the news.

 

They all surrounded him, giving him worried scoldings, and he could only listen silently.

 

He owed them far too much to feel otherwise.

 

So all he could do was listen quietly without making excuses.

 

Even though they spoke harshly, he knew they were saying it out of concern for him.

 

“Hae-seong, you know it’s ridiculous that you quit this job because of an injury, right?”

 

The team leader said with a sigh, placing his hands on his hips.

 

Injury.

 

To be precise, it was a serious injury where the ligaments in both wrists were completely torn.

 

However, in this industry, such an injury only counts as an excuse.

 

“You know that’s nothing but an excuse, yet I let it slide. I thought there was another reason.”

 

Because injuries that could be permanent for ordinary people aren’t the same for Awakeners.

 

Kwon Hae-seong looked down at his two wrists.

 

They were undoubtedly fine. Even without seeking out a Healer, this level of injury could be recovered through Self-Healing in about a week for Awakeners.

 

Yet two years ago, Kwon Hae-seong had forced his resignation using his wrist injury as an excuse.

 

It wouldn’t have been easy for them to let go of a colleague who had become like family after surviving countless life-or-death situations together.

 

However, Kwon Hae-seong had been stubborn at the time. Stubborn enough to push away colleagues trying to hold him back and turn away without looking back.

 

So they thought he would never return here again.

 

“Sigh… You think I let you go so I could see you in this state?”

 

“…Senior, just say you’re sorry.”

 

“Ugh, frustrating! What the hell are you doing at that kindergarten?”

 

Like an idiot, he had returned here again.

 

Wearing a ridiculously unsuitable seal-patterned apron at the company-affiliated kindergarten.

 

And as if that wasn’t enough, he got caught up in a dungeon and was carried to the emergency center unconscious.

 

They had encountered him several times around the kindergarten, but had diligently pretended not to notice.

 

However, when they heard he had collapsed, they came running out of worry.

 

“If you’re going to be like this, quit the kindergarten too. Do you know how frustrated I get every time I pass by the kindergarten and see you?”

 

“Senior, honestly, it’s uncomfortable for me to see too. Does a kindergarten teacher suit you?”

 

“Hey! Did you put glue on your mouth or something? Why aren’t you answering?!”

 

Even though he knew he needed to quickly assess the current situation, Kwon Hae-seong simply couldn’t get up from his spot.

 

He couldn’t coldly ignore people who had come all this way over something as simple as affection.

 

“Is chasing after kids’ butts what you want to do with your life?”

 

“How perfectly suited! Aren’t the kids scared of you with that build?”

 

“Senior, just say you’re sorry…!”

 

Kwon Hae-seong rubbed the back of his neck as he pondered.

 

‘I should say something…’

 

Just then.

 

A voice that snapped him back to his senses reached his ears.

 

“Excuse me.”

 

The face of the person he’d been constantly thinking about appeared before his eyes.

 

Though the clothes had changed and a hat was pulled down low, there was no mistake.

 

…Teacher Hwiyeon!

 

“Yes…? But who are you?”

 

“…Lee Seo-hyeok?”

 

“What’s this, what’s Team Na’s rookie doing here.”

 

By this point, Kwon Hae-seong couldn’t hear any other sounds. His mind had become complicated just from Na Hwi-yeon’s appearance alone.

 

The questions he wanted to ask were overflowing to the point of bursting from oversaturation.

 

Are the kids okay?

 

How did we end up coming out of that dungeon to this place?

 

Are you feeling alright?

 

Why did you change your clothes?

 

I’m sure I was fine, so why did I lose consciousness in the middle?

 

And what happened to that suspicious bastard?

 

Also…

 

“Teacher Kwon Hae-seong, are you feeling a bit better?”

 

However, for some reason, seeing Na Hwi-yeon’s incredibly bright face made the words refuse to come out.

 

Uh, um… Well, you see.

 

“Ah. You say your body is fine. But what? You’re tired, it’s too noisy…?”

 

No, I’m not tired.

 

It’s not noisy either…

 

He must have forgotten how to make sounds with his throat.

 

Why, why won’t the words come out?

 

“Hm? Ah, you want to leave? Has your body recovered? After going through such hell, it’s natural to be in pain.”

 

That’s… correct.

 

It really had been a long time since I’d struggled that much.

 

“We really looked after the kids with the resolve to die. You did well.”

 

At those words from Na Hwi-yeon, Kwon Hae-seong’s head unconsciously lifted slightly.

 

And he vaguely saw cracks appear on his team members’ faces.

 

…Those were faces where expressions of ‘was it really that bad?’ and feelings of ‘oh no’ seemed to cross.

 

Kwon Hae-seong was worried that worried words would burst from their mouths again at any moment.

 

So he opened his mouth to say something, anything, to reassure them…

 

And swallowed it back down.

 

“Let’s clock out now. We’re done with everything we need to do.”

 

Because he saw Na Hwi-yeon’s serious face as those words were spoken while pulling down the hat.

 

So he followed along without complaint, even though he looked like a beast being dragged away.

 

No sounds came from behind. Even his own team members didn’t try to stop him.

 

That day, Kwon Hae-seong learned an important principle needed for his second career life for the first time.

 

…Nothing is more frightening than when someone who smiles every day becomes serious.

 

‘I shouldn’t mess around with this person.’

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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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