Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 31

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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 031

 

To understand how I ended up being chased by a Serial Killer inside a Theme Park, we need to go back 30 minutes.

 

-Ding.

 

I opened the Shop door and stepped outside. I looked down at the 5 Parchment Notes in my hand.

 

[ Fast! ]

 

‘Hmm… I guess so.’

 

I had intended to take my time and leisurely look around, but things turned out this way.

 

Since there were many similarities to the original movie, I never got stuck once while searching for clues.

 

Let’s see, it’s only been 20 minutes since I entered.

 

Usually, they said it takes about an hour to collect all 6 final clues…

 

This was truly an incredible speed run.

 

“If I find just one more clue, I’ll have collected all the hints about the culprit.”

 

I walked while unfolding the notes one by one.

 

[ Axe ]

 

[ Scissors ]

 

[ Barbershop ]

 

[ Newspaper ]

 

[ Time Gap ]

 

At first glance, you might not understand what they’re trying to say.

 

“They’re giving away too much.”

 

[ Really? ]

 

“Yeah.”

 

I held up the notes and showed them to Nabi.

 

Nabi had decided to settle inside my hood instead of behind my Bag while touring the Theme Park.

 

Apparently, the view was wider there, making it better for sightseeing.

 

Through my diagonal vision, I could see a white, blunt Doll hand reaching toward the notes.

 

[ Why? What’s giving away too much? ]

 

“Well…”

 

The Axe and Scissors are likely the weapons used by the culprit, and the Barbershop and Newspaper are probably clues to deduce the culprit’s profession.

 

And this ‘Time Gap’ thing.

 

“I think it might be related to the culprit’s movements.”

 

To confirm this, I’d need to visit the murder Crime Scene directly.

 

I briefly examined the Map showing the Theme Park layout.

 

On the Map, there are only two places related to newspapers and barbershops.

 

Just searching these places should be enough to identify the culprit.

 

And conveniently, we’re close to one of those two places.

 

‘Should I set aside the last clue for now and check this place first?’

 

[ NO. 42 Dusk Street. ]

 

Just before entering what looked like a fairly neat Commercial District, I noticed a Street sign attached to a Street Lamp.

 

‘They said there’s a Newspaper Office on this Street.’

 

I immediately stepped into the Street.

 

Employees dressed as 19th Century London newspaper boys and girls were busy walking around with bundles of newspapers in their hands.

 

“Excuse me…”

 

I put on an appropriate smile and spoke to a nearby girl (an Employee in costume) carrying newspapers.

 

Then, I heard a youthful voice accompanied by a bright smile.

 

“Oh! Hello there, sir. Would you like a Newspaper?”

 

Such dedication to the job…

 

No, that’s not it. I quickly nodded so the other person wouldn’t feel embarrassed.

 

“Yes, I’d be grateful if you could give me one.”

 

“Here you go!”

 

The newspaper I received was indeed made of gray paper with the texture of newsprint.

 

It was A4 size with one full page densely packed with text.

 

[ When the fog thickens at night, that person comes! ]

The incident that occurred three days ago was a murder case that took place in Alley NO. 42….

 

It seemed to be about how the perpetrator of the murder case from three days ago was likely the same person as the recent serial killer….

 

I should find somewhere to sit and read this carefully.

 

Just as I turned around to look for a bench.

 

A voice from behind made me turn my head again.

 

“Excuse me…. Sir!”

 

“…Yes, yes?”

 

“Um…. Are you perhaps a detective?”

 

“….”

 

That’s right, but.

 

But somehow my mouth wouldn’t open.

 

But the other person, despite asking so boldly, couldn’t manage to continue either.

 

Their eyes just wavered between reality check and embarrassment before slowly sinking in defeat.

 

“….”

 

“….”

 

Then suddenly, seeing the other person’s face turn as red as if it might burst, I finally nodded with tears in my eyes.

 

“…Yes, I am a detective.”

 

Then, I heard a small whisper….

 

“Thank you. I was just selling churros and suddenly trying to do this kind of thing, so it’s not going well….”

 

An adult’s tearful circumstances.

 

Ah, it brings tears to my eyes.

 

After that, we both started talking again with some kind of inexplicable comradely look in our eyes.

 

“Detective, if you’re heading to the field site now, would you like me to go with you?”

 

The other person said, glancing slightly at the newspaper I was holding.

 

…I do need to check out the field site.

 

I need to find out what the ‘time difference’ written on the note means.

 

Actually, I was planning to visit the Newspaper Office first, but my mind changed after reading the newspaper just now.

 

Besides, the Crime Scene is closer than the Newspaper Office from here.

 

Thinking about it, there’s no reason to refuse this proposal.

 

I agreed readily.

 

“Sounds good. I’ll take you up on that.”

 

***

 

The two of us silently entered an alley.

 

The alley was so narrow that two adults couldn’t walk side by side.

 

I followed behind the person leading the way and asked.

 

“It’s deeper inside than I expected.”

 

“Ah, right? It’s probably to make it hard to find…. No, that’s not it. Police don’t patrol these kinds of alleys very well, so it’s good for committing crimes.”

 

I’ll overlook that slip-up.

 

“Ah, we turn slightly here….”

 

As we turned the corner to the left, the Employee and I naturally switched positions.

 

“If you keep going straight, you’ll see it right away.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Following the directions, I moved forward, and soon a place set up like a murder scene appeared.

 

Between the alleys, a circular space with a Street Lamp in the center.

 

And yellow Police Tape surrounding that Street Lamp.

 

I decided to crouch down in front of the Police Tape and examine the scene properly.

 

[ Blood! It’s blood! ]

 

Right, there’s a whole basin of blood.

 

Blood splattered in all directions, forming puddles as it dripped down the walls.

 

As expected, it was a high-quality murder scene created with red paint.

 

‘If it weren’t for the paint smell, I would have mistaken it for real.’

 

The blood color is so artistic, as if they brought in a movie art team to create it.

 

I alternated between admiration and disgust as I carefully examined the scene.

 

Looking at it, I think I understand what ‘time difference’ means….

 

If that’s the case, then is that what it comes down to?

 

I was about to get up from my spot, having roughly tied up my deduction.

 

And then.

 

Whoosh- something nearly grazed the back of my head…!

 

“What are you doing…?”

 

The person holding the thing that barely missed my head, only brushing my hair, looks down at me from the opposite side.

 

Why, why….

 

Do you have that expression?

 

The Employee hung her head low and spoke in a completely dejected voice.

 

“You have good quick reflexes….”

 

Well, my job is being a kindergarten Teacher…. No, that’s not the point.

 

“I really hope what I’m thinking isn’t the case.”

 

I had my suspicions while examining the scene too.

 

The evidence, the scene, the circumstances.

 

Everything was saying it.

 

‘That Employee is the culprit!’

 

“You’re right…. Sigh….”

 

I despaired at the Employee who was sighing while rubbing her face with her palm.

 

That thing in her hand is a Stamp, right?

 

I slowly got up from the floor and pointed at the Stamp with my index finger.

 

Surely, the Employee at the Entrance had explained it.

 

 

…is what they said.

 

And the shape of that Stamp was exactly the same as what that woman was showing me head-on.

 

A Stamp engraved with a small Axe or Scissors.

 

‘This one’s an Axe.’

 

In that case….

 

Let’s run.

 

As soon as I reached that conclusion, I ran straight toward the opposite Alley.

 

Not long after, I could hear the sound of high heels running behind me.

 

“N-Nabi. Do we need to see more here?”

 

[ We have to catch the culprit. ]

 

That’s true, but.

 

The Whistle only works if you blow it before the culprit notices you in the first place.

 

In that case, the only remaining method is to keep running around like this and grab any Police I see to ask for help.

 

“Do we really have to catch the culprit?”

 

[ Yes! This is the most fun right now. ]

 

Ugh.

 

I gritted my teeth and shouted toward the woman chasing closely behind me.

 

“Could you please just give up on me?!”

 

“Detective!”

 

The Employee smiles with a brightened face at my outcry.

 

Why? Are you going to let me go?

 

“I can’t give up on this either because it’s my performance record!”

 

Ah?

 

“What’s good about accumulating performance records?!”

 

“Huff huff! Paid vacation and bonuses!”

 

Ah, then I should catch them.

 

However, my legs moved steadily regardless of my feelings.

 

Right, this side is just as desperate.

 

Just a moment ago, I heard a definitive answer from my monster friend.

 

That right now is the most fun.

 

Imagine getting suddenly caught and kicked out in the middle of such an entertaining situation.

 

‘I don’t have the confidence to handle the aftermath.’

 

In the end, I had no choice but to run like hell.

 

…However, despite running like hell, I regrettably faced a Dead End.

 

“Huff huff.”

 

“…”

 

Damn it.

 

With my back pressed against the Wall, I turned around to see an Employee with a bright face, drenched in sweat.

 

Just looking at her expression, it seemed like she’d already gotten her paid vacation and bonus.

 

Gulp.

 

There was no escape route left.

 

I opened my mouth first to somehow create a gap to squeeze through and escape.

 

“You’re the culprit of the murder case from three days ago that was written in the Newspaper, aren’t you?”

 

There was something I learned from looking through the Newspaper while moving to the field site.

 

The murder case that happened three days ago.

 

According to the Detective’s estimation, the culprit was tall, thin and slender in build, and judging by the use of an Axe, likely a strong male.

 

I stared at the opponent in front of me.

 

Tall, thin and slender build.

 

However, not a strong male.

 

Clearly a woman.

 

Then would it be impossible?

 

That’s not necessarily true either.

 

What if she attacked by surprise from behind?

 

‘That changes everything.’

 

Looking at the blood splattered on the Wall, that’s exactly what happened.

 

They should have done their research better.

 

Of course, I don’t think this is all the evidence and circumstances. They said there were 6 decisive hints, but there were over 10 minor additional hints as well…

 

To be more certain about the culprit, I might have needed to find more hints.

 

“…Um, yes. I actually thought I was caught while following you. You really were suspicious of me.”

 

Please, at least deny it…

 

I don’t know who assigned such a poor actor to the important role of ‘Murderer’.

 

It seems like the greeting from our first meeting was like a line she gave her absolute best to deliver.

 

‘Just luring me here in the first place seems like she put in tremendous effort.’

 

But then again, this clumsy attitude stirred up a strange sense of fear.

 

It was like looking at a psychopath who was slightly off-kilter.

 

I forced the corners of my mouth up and raised both hands to show my palms.

 

“No, you acted so well that I’m only barely figuring it out now.”

 

That’s a lie.

 

I only became certain after seeing the field site, and there was nothing to be fooled by with that acting.

 

But to survive, I had to flatter her, didn’t I?

 

“Huh? Um… Really?”

 

He scratches his head sheepishly and asks back.

 

“Of course.”

 

I stretched both arms out with palms showing to secure some space.

 

While keeping my eyes fixed on the stamp, I slowly backed away step by step…

 

“But.”

 

I swallowed and stopped.

 

“Yes.”

 

The employee raised the hand holding the stamp and smiled awkwardly.

 

“What should we do. You really need to leave now…”

 

I said that was even scarier.

 

I’d rather he just charge at me openly.

 

As he approached saying sorry, my eyes squeezed shut.

 

‘If I run away from here, we’ll both just end up getting hurt.’

 

Maybe just leaving this Theme Park and calming Nabi down would be the safer method…

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“Huh, huh?… Kyaaaaaaah!”

 

-Kyaaaaaaah!

 

A shrill scream overlapped with the scream flowing from the speaker.

 

And it was right nearby.

 

I snapped my eyes open.

 

And closed them again.

 

‘Did I see wrong?’

 

If I didn’t see wrong, no, I really hope I saw wrong this time.

 

[ Wanna go to Rest? ]

 

At the eerie voice, I was startled and immediately rushed forward with my eyes wide open.

 

When did it pop out of the doll? Nabi was dangling the unconscious employee’s body in mid-air!

 

“Nabi! Put him down! Put that down!”

 

Hurry! You bastard!

 

Why did this guy suddenly get big again?

 

You can control your size at will?

 

But there’s a saying, isn’t there.

 

Bad things happen all at once.

 

“Teacher? Whoa! It’s our teacher!”

 

Almost hanging onto the black forearm, I could barely turn my head.

 

A familiar… voice.

 

A welcome face.

 

At the End of the Alley, a Kid with a Kindergarten Bag waves his hand greeting me.

 

…Noah?

 

“Huh? What’s that? A giant hand is holding a person…”

 

My heart drops with a thud.

 

I looked back and forth between Nabi and Noah with dazed eyes…

 

No, this can’t be.

 

Noah has finally encountered Nabi.

 

And at the worst possible timing.

 

“Teacher! Is that lady dead?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————