Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 33

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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 033

 

“This place is snack heaven…”

 

[ Wow. ]

 

Unlike Noah, who was covering his face with both hands in an ecstatic expression of admiration, I was utterly bewildered.

 

My vision swayed dizzily as I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again.

 

I put the child down and took out my mobile phone.

 

Swallowing nervously, I immediately called ‘Hyung’ at the top of my contacts, but…

 

-Crackle crackle crackle crackle.

 

-Beeeeeeeeep.

 

Click

 

Static continued before eventually only the message ‘Service unavailable area’ appeared again.

 

I put away my mobile phone in a dazed state and after hesitating for a moment, slowly raised my head.

 

Wow.

 

Wow.

 

Damn.

 

Scenes that wouldn’t make sense in reality began entering my vision one by one.

 

Straight benches made of biscuits.

 

Jelly chandeliers flowing down from the ceiling with mysterious light.

 

Building pillars made by filling transparent straws with hard candy.

 

Multicolored stained glass that looked like thinly spread candy syrup.

 

…And people who looked confused.

 

Warning bells rang in my head.

 

“What’s this, honey? Didn’t you say this was an outdoor theme park?”

 

“That’s right, did they renovate this place already?”

 

“Oh my, goodness! Local mom! Look at this. Is this real?”

 

“Come on, no way, it’s probably just styrofoam roughly shaped to look like it.”

 

“Dad! Can I eat that?”

 

“No, Jiji. That’s not for eating. Honey, are we in the right place? I never heard there was a place like this.”

 

I quietly clenched my fist, sweaty with tension.

 

I looked around, conscious of my finely trembling eyelids.

 

A space enclosed on all sides.

 

Right, whatever it was, one thing was certain… I should have noticed from the fact that a place known as an outdoor theme park had suddenly changed to an indoor space without any notice.

 

The fact that we had gotten caught up in something strange.

 

However, despite the scenery being different from the photos, people were just confused but not particularly frightened.

 

That was understandable since the atmosphere of this place was excessively bright, cute, and… adorable.

 

The unrealistically realistic snack props and environment only felt strange but didn’t create any unpleasant feelings.

 

But I couldn’t shake off this uneasy feeling.

 

‘If only I had someone to discuss this situation with, it would probably be okay…’

 

Just then.

 

A voice came from right beside me.

 

A familiar yet somehow unhinged tone.

 

“Oh~ sudden mood change?”

 

I reflexively turned my head to identify the owner of the voice.

 

The person who had been looking around with dead fish eyes finally made eye contact with me.

 

“Huh?”

 

“…Team Leader Moon.”

 

It’s Team Leader Moon Chae-yeong.

 

Holding a large green onion doll in one hand.

 

Team Leader Moon Chae-yeong in workout clothes opens her eyes wide and quickly approaches.

 

“Teacher, what brings you here?”

 

I felt bewildered, but at the same time, a feeling of joy at discovering someone I knew bloomed first.

 

“Ah! I’m….”

 

But wait a minute.

 

‘What should I say?’

 

My mouth reflexively shut.

 

A monster friend I know kept begging to go to Neverland?

 

Absolutely not. Something else….

 

Did you come to play alone?

 

An adult man by himself?

 

Wouldn’t that be even stranger?

 

As I hesitated with my answer, thinking it was a difficult question, Moon Chae-yeong smiled and gave her own response.

 

“I often come to Neverland alone to play. Today I came because I heard there’s a new Horror Theme Park. On days when I don’t go to work, my head gets stuffy and I just can’t stand it.”

 

…So she was the one who really came alone.

 

Since Moon Chae-yeong spoke about it so casually, I wondered why I had hesitated so much.

 

‘Right, well, an adult can come to an amusement park alone.’

 

If she came because of news that the Horror Theme Park was newly renovated, she must really be serious about Neverland… wait a minute.

 

‘But in other words, doesn’t that mean she’s someone who knows this place well?’

 

As soon as I realized this fact, I immediately asked a question.

 

“Have you come to this Theme Park often too?”

 

“Sometimes? When I want to take a breather after just riding rides.”

 

“By any chance…. Is this place originally like this?”

 

When I put my hand on the nearby Biscuit Bench, crumbs fall off….

 

They really installed such realistic sculptures?

 

Sculptures that even replicate texture?

 

Let’s say I can ignore the biscuit Chair and jelly lights.

 

‘But what about that?’

 

I raised my line of sight upward to look at the most eye-doubting thing among all this.

 

Star Candy falling down from the blocked ceiling.

 

The moment they touch skin, they turn into glittering powder and disappear…. Each moment is so fantasy-like that my head spins.

 

However, unlike my crying heart, the truth I hoped for was completely opposite.

 

‘Please, please tell me this place was originally like this.’

 

That I’m just overthinking because I’m too tired!

 

Still, if only Moon Chae-yeong would deny it….

 

‘I could close my eyes tight and try to believe it.’

 

Moon Chae-yeong narrowed her eyes at my question, then turned on the Watch on her wrist as if checking something.

 

Then she whistled loudly and said this.

 

“Oh my.”

 

Oh my?

 

“It wasn’t originally like this. There was just a Flower Garden and a few Candy Shops in the middle that kids would like…. But not anymore, huh?”

 

Stomp stomp.

 

I could hear the sound of Moon Chae-yeong trampling on my hopes like a hallucination.

 

I suppressed the scream that rose to my throat and asked.

 

“Then, what is this?”

 

“Teacher, I believe you have quite strong mental fortitude.”

 

“No, my mental state is trash, pathetic, and weak.”

 

“Oh, objective judgment, how cool. Looking at my Watch, it seems like a sudden gate has opened…. But the grade is really….”

 

Are you even listening to what I’m saying?

 

“….”

 

“Have you ever heard of EX grade?”

 

EX grade Dungeon.

 

In the past, only dungeons that belonged to such high-risk categories that their danger couldn’t even be measured were called this…

 

But as time passed, the meaning changed significantly.

 

Now it’s used with two different meanings.

 

1. Dungeons in the high-risk category in the old sense, which received the so-called ‘unmeasurable grade’ classification.

 

2. Dungeons that are not ‘standardized’ – meaning the simple method of killing a boss to clear them doesn’t work.

 

Moon Chae-yeong added this along with a brief explanation about EX-grade dungeons.

 

“Are you listening? I’m not usually someone who explains things like this. I’m only doing this specially because you’re a teacher at our Ocean Kindergarten, you know?”

 

However, I just stood there stiff as a tree.

 

“If our kids knew I was explaining things this kindly, they’d really faint.”

 

Could I faint instead of them?

 

***

 

Just as I was feeling my nerves getting thinner, Noah’s shout semi-forcibly snapped me back to attention.

 

“Oh? It’s Aunt! Aunt!”

 

“Huh? Aren’t you the twins’ friend?”

 

“That’s right! We met during the field trip last time.”

 

“Oh~ That was last year but you have good memory. Right, we had a lot of fun playing together then.”

 

As the two cheerfully laughed and exchanged greetings, I frantically beat my chest inside.

 

This isn’t the time to be laughing and greeting each other!

 

If what Moon Chae-yeong said is true, shouldn’t we get out of here right now?

 

“Team Leader Moon, then how do we get out of here? I noticed the entrance/exit connecting to other theme parks seems to have disappeared too.”

 

She picked up Noah and lightly scanned the surroundings as she answered.

 

“You can’t get out.”

 

Damn!! Why not!

 

“EX-grade dungeons are like that originally. They’re different from regular dungeons in many ways. Looking around, there’s no visible gate right now and nothing that looks like a door either, so you can’t get out for now!”

 

“Then should we wait for rescue?”

 

“Haha, Teacher!”

 

“Yes?”

 

There’s a way?

 

Is that why you’re laughing?

 

“There’s nothing more foolish than sitting still and waiting.”

 

This crazy woman!

 

Lee Seo-hyeok, quit right now.

 

Your boss isn’t in her right mind.

 

“But you don’t need to worry.”

 

Moon Chae-yeong said with a playful smile.

 

I forgot about wishing for Lee Seo-hyeok’s resignation just moments ago and eagerly took the bait again.

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes, I know a method that can greatly increase the survival rate even in situations like this.”

 

Then she made an interesting expression and asked me a question in return.

 

“Doesn’t this place remind you of somewhere?”

 

If you look at its function rather than just its appearance…

 

Straight benches, chandeliers, and stained glass.

 

It’s similar to that typical place.

 

“It looks like a cathedral.”

 

Right, that cathedral where people pray and worship.

 

“Exactly. And according to exploration reports and research on EX-grade dungeons reported so far, this type of dungeon corresponds to type 2.”

 

Type 2.

 

Among the EX-grade dungeons Moon Chae-yeong explained, places that can only be cleared using non-standardized methods.

 

I want to applaud the fact that it’s not a high-risk dungeon, at least.

 

“And among these dungeons, ‘dungeons’ that mimic places familiar and comfortable to us supposedly have ridiculously high survival rates if you just follow the prescribed actions. Simply put, if you just do what the dungeon wants.”

 

“…as the dungeon wants.”

 

“Yes, that could be the dungeon’s ‘boss’ or it could simply be the dungeon ‘itself.'”

 

“That’s difficult.”

 

It’s difficult.

 

At least with a boss, there would be something visible to see, but how am I supposed to figure out the ‘dungeon itself’s’ intentions?

 

Do I need to think and act as if the dungeon has its own consciousness?

 

“Is that so? Anyway, Teacher and Noah can return alive if you just do as I tell you.”

 

[ That’s not right. ]

 

“….”

 

What did it say?

 

I reflexively looked at the doll attached to my bag.

 

It was still and quiet without any movement.

 

‘Did I mishear?’

 

I turned my body slightly, about to speak to Nabi.

 

-Let us pray.

-Dong. Dong. Dong.

 

Along with the bell sound ringing in my head, a deep, low voice filled the space.

 

At the same time, an even larger amount of Star Candy began pouring down over our heads.

 

“Pray? What prayer?”

 

“Ugh! What are we going to do about all this damn glitter! How am I supposed to wash all this off when I get home?”

 

“Ah, damn it, it’s all getting in my mouth. I want to leave. I can’t stay here any longer.”

 

In the enclosed space, people now began moving in earnest, all looking for a door.

 

The bell sound and voice had stirred up the anxiety they had been trying to ignore.

 

-Let us pray.

 

‘Should I try looking for something too?’

 

Just as I was about to leave Noah with Moon Chae-yeong and search on my own…

 

“…?!”

 

My arm was suddenly pulled downward, and my body helplessly followed.

 

Thud.

 

Moon Chae-yeong seated Noah and me on the nearest chair, gently pressed down on Noah’s head, and whispered quietly.

 

“Prayer. Pretend to pray.”

 

-Let us pray.

 

Three bell sounds and three voices were heard.

 

“Uwah!”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Kyaaah!”

 

“W-wait-“

 

Short screams echoed above our bowed heads…

 

Then the voice was heard again.

 

-He sprinkles sugar for you and provides comfortable shelter, so pray. Prayer shall set you free.

-Dong. Dong. Dong.

 

After the bell sounds ended, the surroundings became as quiet as death.

 

I watched Moon Chae-yeong fearlessly raise her head beside me and followed suit as if entranced.

 

And I saw it.

 

“Hmm… this is really beyond consideration.”

 

“….”

 

People trapped in large glass bottles on the platform.

 

A man sitting on a nearby chair pointed at the glass bottle and shouted.

 

“Honey! Why are you in there?!”

 

The people who had been sitting on chairs and those who hadn’t.

 

Those who hadn’t were now screaming inside tightly sealed glass bottles.

 

“Aah! What, what is this?”

 

“Honey! Can you hear me! Can you hear me, you bastard!”

 

“Mom~ It’s too cramped in here~”

 

“Mister, you farted, didn’t you?”

 

“S-sorry… I was so startled.”

 

What a mess.

 

But it was too early to be more surprised.

 

This was just the beginning.

 

Something was slowly rising from the bottom of the glass bottles, rippling as it filled them.

 

Amber candy syrup.

 

“Waaaah”

 

“Baby! Don’t eat that! What if it’s something strange…”

 

“What is this now? This sticky sweet stuff, is it corn syrup?”

 

“It looks like acacia honey to me.”

 

“It’s just candy syrup.”

 

“No, is that what’s important right now? This stuff keeps rising!”

 

Having ended up in seats closest to the platform, we could hear all the conversations both above and below the platform.

 

I clutched my throbbing head.

 

‘If the candy syrup keeps rising, that’s dangerous.’

 

However, the humans on our side except for me didn’t seem to think so.

 

“Oh, look over there. They even added ribbon details on top of the glass bottles. The dungeon must really love cute things.”

 

“Aah~ I want to go in too! Aunt! Put me in there too. It looks fun-“

 

[ Fun! ]

 

[ Like a fairy tale! ]

 

[ I saw this in Hansel and Gretel. ]

 

My head felt like it was going to split.

—————
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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