Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 34

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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 034

 

“Isn’t this quite a serious situation right now?”

 

Having barely managed to get Noah, who wanted to go into the Glass Bottle, to sit down, I wiped the sweat from my forehead and asked.

 

Inside the Glass Bottle, there seemed to be no corner to escape to.

 

Even now, Candy Syrup was slowly filling up inside it.

 

Moon Chae-yeong looked around the Glass Bottle as if assessing it, then finally gave a strange answer.

 

“It could be, or it might not be?”

 

What kind of nonsensical statement was that?

 

Was she saying it’s dangerous if the syrup fills up completely, and not dangerous if it doesn’t fill up as much?

 

Even I, who have eyes, could figure that out!

 

I held back a sigh and immediately threw out another question.

 

‘I had postponed this because it might be rude, but since the situation is urgent…’

 

“Team Leader Moon.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Can’t you get out of the current situation with your own abilities?”

 

Despite how she looks, Moon Chae-yeong belongs to the Field Team of our country’s number one Hunter Company.

 

And her position is no less than Team Leader.

 

Isn’t there a saying that at least any human who operates under the name ‘Hunter’ can slice through slime monsters with their bare hands?

 

“No, I can’t.”

 

However, Moon Chae-yeong was firm. She had completed her self-assessment without a moment’s hesitation.

 

“Could you explain the reason?”

 

With a humming sound, she began to speak as if it wasn’t a big deal.

 

“My Awakening Ability is hallucination. It mainly consists of skills that overlay hallucinations on certain spaces, people, or monsters to throw them into confusion.”

 

While explaining, she drew a circle in the air with her finger.

 

“However, even if I cast hallucinations on any of these in this situation, it wouldn’t help with clearing.”

 

The more Moon Chae-yeong continued her gentle explanation, the more her brow furrowed.

 

There are no monsters visible right now, and casting hallucinations on people to reassure them could actually lower their survival rate.

 

In the end, they too would only be able to leave this place by safely following the rules that the ‘Dungeon’ demands.

 

“In that case, facing reality is better, even if it’s scary.”

 

…Every single thing she said was right.

 

Indeed, in a state where hallucinations are cast, it would be difficult to react immediately to changing situations.

 

I nodded as if entranced, then unconsciously muttered a thought I had only kept to myself.

 

“I thought all BOND Field Team leaders had abilities focused on combat power…”

 

The well-known strong hunters were mainly those with combat-focused abilities.

 

So I unconsciously thought that combat power would lead directly to authority and salary…

 

“Ah, that was certainly true before the ‘Peaceful Era’. But in times like these, the criteria for selecting responsible positions like team leaders has become no different from regular companies.”

 

Now they mainly look at experience, years of service, judgment ability, leadership, and personality compatibility…

 

“After all, these days we don’t just go into Dungeons. We handle all sorts of work…”

 

“I see.”

 

“Yes, in my case too, they gave me the team leader position based on my experience and performance. There are several cases like mine among other team leaders. People who were recognized as leader material even though they have abilities not suitable for Dungeon exploration.”

 

Then she added that BOND has the strange phenomenon of having people on the Board of Directors with shorter experience than those currently in Field Teams, saying ‘Honestly, sometimes I want to kill them when I see them acting up from above without knowing more than I do.’

 

Finally, an expression that matches the situation appears.

 

Somehow, she seems to view dealing with the company as worse than dealing with an EX-grade Dungeon.

 

Anyway, I had received a definitive answer that Moon Chae-yeong couldn’t get out of this situation with her own abilities.

 

So then, what should we do now?

 

But before I could even form an answer to that question, a voice came in again.

 

-Let us pray.

 

I immediately turned around and shouted.

 

“Sit down! If you don’t want to go into that Glass Bottle, pretend to pray!”

 

Thud. Thud.

 

The people who were startled and about to rush toward the glass bottle quickly took their seats at my shout.

 

-Ding.

 

“What the hell is going on!”

 

“What is dad doing in there?”

 

“This is seriously driving me crazy.”

 

Below our deeply bowed heads, chaotic voices overlapped one after another.

 

Ding. Ding.

 

…And only after repeating this ordeal three more times could we finally hear a voice that was quite different from before.

 

-The time for confession has come.

-We will invite one priest and one believer to the front.

 

Gulp.

 

At the suddenly changed words, even the murmuring sounds of people diminished.

 

While everyone held their breath and focused their attention on the changes about to unfold.

 

-Click.

 

With the sound of lights turning off, darkness fell over the blindingly bright space.

 

“…”

 

I felt dizzy and broke out in cold sweat.

 

It might be different for people who got caught up in this by accident, but knowing through Moon Chae-yeong that we were caught up in an EX-grade Dungeon…

 

‘I can’t help but imagine the worst.’

 

As I was steadying my breathing to stay calm… the foot that had been beside me slowly approached and lightly touched the tip of my right shoe before pulling away.

 

Right… there’s someone next to me.

 

Things are still okay for now.

 

Recognizing my heart that had calmed down compared to before, I slowly stared straight ahead.

 

It was pitch black.

 

-Click.

 

But… there were places that weren’t.

 

-You have been chosen as a believer.

 

“Huh? Why is there light only above me?”

 

-You have been chosen as a priest.

 

“…What is this?”

 

On the platform.

 

And just two places below the platform.

 

Among the people engulfed in darkness, blinding light poured down only on two people.

 

The Star Candy that had been falling from the ceiling disappeared, and instead glitter powder reflected the pouring light as it enveloped them.

 

If you forgot about the situation, it was a beautiful sight that would leave you mesmerized.

 

As if… advertising that only they were the chosen ones.

 

However, the expressions of the people standing under that light weren’t very good.

 

“Huh? Huh? Why is my body moving on its own?”

 

“Excuse me! Please grab me! My body is moving by itself!”

 

They resisted against invisible strings like in a tug-of-war, but eventually couldn’t overcome the force and were dragged up onto the platform.

 

The two people on the platform faced each other with bewildered expressions.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

-Let the believer confess their sins and repent.

-From now on, the believer will randomly confess sins that are either false or true.

 

Then, the middle-aged man with graying hair among the two began to speak while staring into space as if entranced.

 

“I recently started going to the gym, and it seems manageable, so I’ve been going every single day without missing… Wait, why am I saying this?”

 

As the man’s words ended…

 

-Priest, please determine whether the believer’s words are true or false.

 

The woman standing on the opposite side looked at the man restlessly.

 

However, after that, the man’s mouth clamped shut. Though not visible, it seemed like someone was pressing it closed.

 

-The priest must determine whether the believer’s words are true or false.

 

Eventually, unable to resist the urging, the woman opened her mouth.

 

“…True, true?”

 

-Ding.

-Faith has been proven.

 

“Ah… I’m, I’m alive?”

 

“Phew! What? Did it work?”

 

The two people were standing safely on the platform.

 

“Wait, if we just keep doing this like this…”

 

Moon Chae-yeong next to me seemed to be muttering something while looking at her watch…

 

-The believer must continue the confession.

 

I couldn’t hear her due to the second confession that immediately began afterward.

 

The middle-aged man chosen as the believer.

 

The young woman chosen as the priest.

 

Both looked back and forth between the platform and the glass bottle with faces that seemed ready to cry at any moment.

 

The syrup was now rippling at about the knee level of an adult woman.

 

After a certain amount of time passed, the man again began to speak while staring into space with entranced eyes.

 

“Actually, it’s been about a week since I started going to the gym…”

 

-The priest must determine whether the believer’s words are true or false.

 

“T-true! It’s true!”

 

The woman who raised her hand quickly gave her answer this time.

 

However.

 

-Ding.

-Today is the man’s first day going to the gym.

 

“Oh no, it’s revealing this…”

 

-Faith has been abandoned.

-Bear the appropriate suffering and repent.

 

-Click.

 

The light on the platform went out.

 

And only after a long while, when the light came back on, we could see the result of the failed confession.

 

“Oh my! This is getting too cramped!”

 

“Eek! Does this keep filling up?”

 

The two people who had been on the platform moments ago were now inside the glass bottle.

 

Squeezed in among the people, looking out with bewildered faces.

 

“Ah~ I’m jealous! I wanted to go in too~”

 

I said no. Kim Noah.

 

‘The more people fill the glass bottle, the higher the syrup level will rise.’

 

“Teacher.”

 

Tap tap. At the subtle touch on my shoulder, I turned my head.

 

It was Moon Chae-yeong, who had been quietly keeping her place next to me the whole time.

 

“Yes.”

 

And then the screen of the watch on Moon Chae-yeong’s wrist was suddenly thrust right in front of my face.

 

“If we do well, I think we can return safely.”

 

It was welcome news to hear…

 

However, instead of looking at the watch screen right in front of me, I observed Moon Chae-yeong.

 

‘Can a person really be that calm?’

 

Moon Chae-yeong had never shown any sign of being shaken until now.

 

‘Except for looking pissed off when talking about the company… There was almost no change in her expression.’

 

Given her profession, she must have seen all sorts of things she shouldn’t have seen, but this was a major accident that suddenly struck on a holiday – wouldn’t people normally be in chaos?

 

At least her nonchalant attitude was strange enough to notice.

 

And just then.

 

A familiar sound rang in my ears.

 

-Ding!

 

 

 

“…”

 

Could this be opened just by thinking about it?

 

But I didn’t have the mental capacity to analyze each detail.

 

‘By the way, she says her head hurts.’

 

The status abnormality written at the end of the Status Window.

 

After seeing Kwon Hae-seong’s Status Window, I had roughly guessed what that status abnormality meant.

 

‘I thought it was simply connected to consciousness or psychological problems.’

 

Seeing Moon Chae-yeong’s status abnormality changed my thinking.

 

Now that I look at it, it seems to be literal.

 

‘It just means the status is abnormal.’

 

Of course, that could be temporary or permanent…

 

In cases like Moon Chae-yeong where it’s related to physical abnormalities, it was likely to be permanent.

 

Maybe this person… really had a head injury or something that dulled her emotional responses.

 

“This watch has all sorts of functions. Among these functions, there’s one where the Product Development Team really put their heads together.”

 

Meanwhile, regardless of my thoughts, Moon Chae-yeong was getting worked up to explain the meaning of what she had said.

 

After spinning the round watch frame attached to her tanned wrist and adjusting the screen…

 

[ Clear in progress. ]

 

“…!”

 

An extremely hopeful message appeared on the screen.

 

Right, escape comes first for now.

 

‘And people can fail to feel a few emotions, right?’

 

Blinded by the prospect of escape, I skipped several steps of thinking.

 

“I don’t really know why it’s judged this way, so I can’t explain it to you. But what’s certain is, Teacher…”

 

“Yes.”

 

“If we’re lucky, it seems we might be able to get out of here without falling into that Syrup Container.”

 

Gulp.

 

Clear in progress.

 

I brushed back my sweat-soaked hair and carefully examined the content to understand it.

 

Blue liquid was gradually filling up the round screen.

 

Above it, the words ‘Clear in progress’ were displayed.

 

Could it mean that if we just muddle through like this, it’ll be over?

 

“Are you saying we just need to hold out?”

 

“Exactly. If we’re lucky enough not to get caught by that confession thing or whatever, and we just hold out, this dungeon will automatically clear. Then everyone here will be able to safely exit this dungeon.”

 

Of course, under the premise that the people trapped in the Glass Bottles don’t get submerged in syrup by then.

 

“But there’s no guarantee we’ll be lucky.”

 

Right, that’s the problem.

 

Luck can’t even be called a probability game.

 

It’s not an area we can control…

 

“That’s true. But it’s still good news, right? Normally, you’d have to do something ridiculous or it would come down to a ‘let’s all die together’ situation. Compared to that, this dungeon is a model dungeon.”

 

That’s… also true.

 

Should I be happy about this?

 

“This can only be explained as heaven helping us.”

 

Ah, yes.

 

A model dungeon, you say.

 

When we could be submerged in that sticky, sweet syrup and preserved as candy…

 

Perhaps because there’s someone highly deranged next to me, even the remaining fear has completely disappeared.

 

‘This is really an unexpected positive side effect.’

 

I gave up on getting anything more from Moon Chae-yeong and grabbed the doll attached to my bag with my hand.

 

Now my only hope is this kid.

 

“Nabi.”

 

“Nabi?”

 

“Oh, don’t mind me. When I get nervous, I need to grab anyone and vent to feel better.”

 

“Aha, I understand. I get it~”

 

What do you understand?

 

Even though it was something I made up on the spot, her reaction is so absurd it makes me want to sigh.

 

However, I just realized that expecting a normal reaction from that team leader would be foolish.

 

“Nabi.”

 

I called Nabi again.

 

[ Yeah. ]

 

The answer came immediately.

 

So quickly that it made me wonder why she had been so quiet until now.

 

“Isn’t it really dark here?”

 

[ Right, it’s so dark! I can’t even see the snacks. ]

 

“Right? So here’s the thing. If we get out of here, there are more fun things and lots of snacks. We saw them on our way here, didn’t we?”

 

[ Right, there were lots. ]

 

“Yeah, if we get out of here, I’ll buy you lots of snacks that you like, Nabi.”

 

[ Really? For real? ]

 

“Of course, really, for real. But… I don’t think I can get out of here right away, so do you happen to know how to get out?”

 

Please know.

 

I figured a monster would know the monster world better…

 

[ I know. ]

 

“…!!”

 

Jackpot.

 

“…You know? Really?”

 

What a windfall!

 

There’s no greater windfall than this.

 

I barely held back the tears that were about to flow physiologically and carefully held the doll with both hands.

 

“How do we get out?”

 

[ Just go out. ]

 

Be patient. Just be patient.

 

It’s natural that this kid and I have different ways of thinking.

 

“That’s too difficult for me… Could you tell me in a bit more detail?”

 

[ Just go out, you know? ]

 

“…”

 

[ Oh? Friend is human, right? Hmm, then you can’t go out right now! But you can go out. ]

 

…What the hell does this even mean.

 

Suppressing my urge to interrogate her thoroughly, I desperately asked again.

 

“So you’re saying I can’t get out right now, but I can get out eventually?”

 

Surely it’s not just about enduring like Moon Chae-yeong said.

 

[ Yeah, I put it in the bag. ]

 

The bag?

 

At this unexpected clue, I immediately opened my bag to check inside.

 

‘Wallet, Neverland Guide Booklet, handkerchief… wait, what’s this?’

 

Feeling an unfamiliar grip in my hand, I turned on my mobile phone screen to check.

 

“Why is this in here.”

 

[ I put it in! ]

 

Just as Nabi said, there was indeed something in the bag that I hadn’t packed.

 

A palm-sized plastic MP3 Player.

 

The screen embedded in the center of the green translucent MP3 Player was blinking.

 

I watched the rippling sunset sea flowing across the screen and barely managed to snap back to my senses.

 

‘This is.’

 

One of the Discarded Products that Section Chief Lee Won-woo from the Product Development Team had given as Gifts during the field trip.

 

It was one of them.

 

—————
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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