Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 53

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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 053

 

Na Hwi-yeon looked down at the cigarette butts piled up on the floor.

 

For two hours now, Yu Jin-chae had been sitting on the stone floor steps, doing nothing but smoking. As the acrid smoke filled her lungs, she could feel her complicated feelings settle down just a little bit.

 

‘It’s not that I don’t understand her feelings, but…’

 

At this rate, wouldn’t her lungs rot?

 

Then suddenly a door opened from the adjacent building and the surroundings became noisy. Even so, Yu Jin-chae remained motionless, her gaze fixed only on the floor.

 

Soon after, conversation that seemed like whispering out of awareness of their surroundings could be heard.

 

“So did they clear it?”

 

“Yeah, one team youngest died and they completed the clear. Officially it was ruled an accident, but I think it was a sacrifice. They said he went into a hallucination while holding onto the boss alone – how is that an accident? Thanks to that, the three people including the team leader who were inside came back alive and well.”

 

“Huh… Really, what kind of situation is this. I can’t believe that crazy bastard from our department was still holding onto that dungeon. Didn’t they say they were going to sell it to America? His grudge is incredible – how could he think to give it to Team Ra.”

 

“That’s what I’m saying! We almost got an earful too. What is this mess because of one crazy bastard.”

 

“He dug his own grave. I heard that guy got fired from the company and is being sued by headquarters. I don’t know how the verdict will turn out, but this is murder.”

 

“If the company hadn’t sued, there would have been bloodshed in our department. We all saw one of the Field Team Ra members come into the office with weapons as soon as they heard the news.”

 

Employees dressed sharply in black business suits took out cigarettes across from Yu Jin-chae and continued their conversation.

 

“I wonder if Field Team Ra will be disbanded like this. The atmosphere was completely like a funeral home.”

 

“Well, someone did die. You crazy bastard.”

 

The sound of snickering laughter.

 

“Ugh. If that team leader hadn’t acted up, that crazy bastard wouldn’t have done that either…”

 

“All field team leaders are like that anyway.”

 

Na Hwi-yeon was seized by a miserable feeling. From the context of the conversation, he could tell that those guys running their mouths across from them were from the assignment department.

 

But…

 

‘Are those even human beings?’

 

Yu Jin-chae had lost a colleague. She had lost a twenty-year-old right before her eyes, someone she had faced for at least six hours every single day.

 

‘At the very least, they should watch their time and place when running their mouths.’

 

Eventually, she only got up from her spot after the employees had finished their cigarettes and left. And she returned to the quiet place where only her two team members remained.

 

Looking at the remaining two team members whose faces were a mess from tears, Yu Jin-chae finally opened her mouth.

 

“I’m going to quit. I can’t go to high places anymore.”

 

In an extremely calm tone.

 

***

 

I opened my eyes.

 

The status window I had wanted finally appeared.

 

 

But I wasn’t happy.

 

My heart felt heavy to the point of being suffocating.

 

Unlike with Kwon Hae-seong, the words I wanted to say didn’t come to mind clearly.

 

‘What on earth should I say?’

 

I was starting to regret having confidently guaranteed the effects.

 

I approached Yu Jin-chae, who was still lying on the cold iron cage floor. And I gently pulled back the outer clothing I had covered her with.

 

As soon as the outer clothing was pulled back, Yu Jin-chae opened one eye and spoke to me.

 

“…I suddenly feel better. What could this be about?”

 

What could it be about? It’s the result of me doing time travel.

 

“…I’m glad you’re feeling better. Do you think you can walk now?”

 

“Yes, completely. How should I put it, my heart feels calm and settled? Anyway, I have some strength in my arms and legs… Did you perhaps pour a potion on me?”

 

“…No. I don’t carry potions in my bag. I took other measures.”

 

“Other measures? What was that?”

 

“It’s a secret.”

 

“Aw~ How disappointing, really.”

 

What should I do with this woman?

 

Yu Jin-chae is a rational person. That’s an extremely objective conclusion I’ve reached from the standpoint of having lived in her head for over a month.

 

A person who knows work priorities and acts rationally rather than emotionally.

 

It was at the point when a month had passed in the dungeon that she boldly gave up searching for team members and only looked for the gate exit.

 

During those hellish 40 days, she moved by splitting every moment of time.

 

Finally, her decision to resign based on purely objective judgment rather than responsibility or guilt – all of this showed that she was a rational person.

 

Yu Jin-chae’s reason for quitting the BOND Field Team was simple.

 

‘She judged that she would never be able to go to high places again.’

 

Field workers are people who are placed in special situations every day.

 

If she went out to a field site and faced high places again like that time, Yu Jin-chae knew she wouldn’t be able to do anything, just like today.

 

‘Such decisiveness to immediately quit a company she worked at for 10 years.’

 

But a person with such decisiveness and rationality is now smiling playfully and cheerfully.

 

‘It can’t be that she became like this after entering the kindergarten.’

 

I held back a sigh.

 

…Anyway, half-hearted comfort or encouragement would actually be poison to Yu Jin-chae.

 

Then for now, first…

 

“You two seem to get along well. I suppose comrades who’ve endured hardships together naturally become close, right?”

 

I should resolve this first.

 

Knock knock. After mimicking a knocking sound with his mouth, a refined, clear voice could be heard.

 

When I turned my head to check, features even more distinct than when under the lighting were revealed in the darkness.

 

Befitting someone who held a position in religion, he had likeable features and a tall, well-built frame.

 

“Since you’re such expensive offerings, I hope there will be results, at least for today.”

 

The Cult Leader was smiling at us with his hands clasped together in prayer.

 

***

 

Yu Jin-chae carefully covered her face with Na Hwi-yeon’s outer clothing draped over her head.

 

In that state, sitting cross-legged on the floor, if she raised her head…

 

She could see her colleague in front of the iron cage, viciously cursing at the man called the Cult Leader.

 

“Results my ass. Hey, get that unlucky face out of here and hurry up and untie this. Do you think you’ll be able to see demons by doing this kind of thing? Even elementary school kids these days don’t do things like Ouija boards because they think it’s childish.”

 

“…I understand that you’re very displeased, but this isn’t something like a Ouija board – it’s something with proper procedures and rules…”

 

“To my eyes, it just looks like an expensive Ouija board. If I were a demon, I wouldn’t come to such a low-level place. How would I know what kind of stupid wishes you’d make?”

 

“Soon… I have no intention of treating you badly, as you’re precious and will be offered to the demon.”

 

“I’m sure you would. People like you talk about faith, faith, but you’re idiots who can’t think of offering yourselves as sacrifices. You must have exploited physically and mentally weak and vulnerable people instead! Speaking nicely would be what you people consider mercy!”

 

Na Hwi-yeon, who had been getting excited to the point of shrugging his shoulders, suddenly turned his head and approached her.

 

Yu Jin-chae was startled, but soon became confused seeing Na Hwi-yeon’s calm face as he approached.

 

‘What is he, a man of a thousand faces?’

 

He was furious like fire and suddenly became calm?

 

However, what followed next was even more bewildering.

 

“Could you see that guy’s face clearly? I tried to lure him to come closer on purpose, but it’s not working well.”

 

What is this person? So the reason he was furious like fire earlier was to show me the Cult Leader’s face in detail?

 

…What… What is this person.

 

‘Why is he so smart?’

 

Yu Jin-chae opened her mouth blankly as if entranced. It was something she habitually said for nearly 10 years whenever she saw decent talent.

 

“By any chance, are you not interested in BOND itself, not just BOND Kindergarten?”

 

“…I do check the stocks from time to time.”

 

“No, no. Field work… Hunter.”

 

“Absolutely never, even if I die.”

 

“…Tsk. Yes.”

 

I didn’t know he would be so disgusted by it.

 

Yu Jin-chae clicked her tongue and swallowed her disappointment. Right, this isn’t what’s important.

 

“What happens after I transform into that guy?”

 

Na Hwi-yeon crouched down on the floor and seemed to think for a moment, then opened his mouth with difficulty.

 

His face showed he wasn’t sure if she would understand this.

 

‘What exactly are you trying to do?’

 

And during Na Hwi-yeon’s calm explanation, Yu Jin-chae could hardly keep her mouth shut.

 

Then, unable to hold back any longer, she raised her hand!

 

“No! Let’s say we can get out of this Iron Cage. But do you think those people outside will listen just because I say those things with the Cult Leader’s face? If I suddenly say we can’t proceed with the Summoning Ritual, they might refuse to leave and hold out.”

 

“There is a way for that too, but it would be better for you not to know about it according to the plan.”

 

‘Good heavens.’

 

Na Hwi-yeon’s way of thinking was different.

 

Yu Jin-chae had only thought about escaping with herself, Na Hwi-yeon, and the clueless high school student An Param.

 

…After that, she was going to contact either the Police or the company.

 

But this person was actually thinking of making it so that this Building itself—that is, the Summoning Ritual itself—could never be performed again.

 

“We might not be able to perform the Summoning Ritual today, but crazy people like these will try to attempt it again anytime. It might be… a meaningless action.”

 

“Well, that might be true.”

 

Shrugging his shoulders, Na Hwi-yeon continued speaking as if it wasn’t a big deal.

 

“Still, there might be people who won’t set foot in places like this anymore because of what happens today. I’m doing this for those people.”

 

…Strong. How can a person be this strong?

 

His resolve was firm and solid. Yu Jin-chae nodded while looking at Na Hwi-yeon’s unwavering eyes.

 

At that affirmation, Na Hwi-yeon smiled slightly and let out a long sigh.

 

“For now, the biggest problem is getting out of here and knocking that guy unconscious… They say electric current flows through this Iron Cage. You can see it, right? That guy is also desperately trying not to touch the Iron Cage.”

 

Yu Jin-chae, who had been staring intently in the direction he pointed, asked with rare tension.

 

“By any chance… do you think we should pursue non-violence equally for all people and act ethically?”

 

How long has it been since I’ve been mindful of others? Strangely, I find myself being mindful of this Teacher’s opinion.

 

“All people? No. I’m not someone who can be a Saint. I pursue peace, but I don’t love those who break peace.”

 

Na Hwi-yeon spoke with a complicated expression, but Yu Jin-chae felt refreshed instead.

 

‘Really? Then that’s fine.’

 

She stood up abruptly from her seat.

 

And she approached the Man who couldn’t bring himself to touch the Iron Cage and was earnestly peering into This Place.

 

This person is the Cult Leader?

 

“Excuse me, come a little closer.”

 

“Oh, so the other Believer has finally decided to look at me.”

 

After confirming that the Cult Leader had approached close to the Iron Cage, Yu Jin-chae immediately pulled down the Outer Clothing she was wearing on her head.

 

Then, the reaction changed dramatically.

 

“…What, what is this!! You’re not Moon Chae-yeong!! How could you mess up the work…!”

 

The startled Man was shocked and stuck his face between the Iron Cage bars. Not missing that moment, she reached her arm through the gap, grabbed the Man’s hair, and pulled with all her might.

 

“Aaah!! What, what are you doing! Let go right now?!”

 

Then she raised her other fist and immediately—thud.

 

“He didn’t pass out in one hit.”

 

Again.

 

Thud.

 

Thud.

 

Due to the consecutive impacts and the electric current that touched his shoulder, the Man’s upper body slumped down powerlessly.

 

‘Finally passed out.’

 

Yu Jin-chae dusted off her hands and searched through the unconscious Man’s Pants Pocket.

 

‘Right, it should be here.’

 

And she found a Key that anyone could see looked like the Cage Key. She took it out and immediately opened the Iron Cage door and…

 

-Creak.

 

“Teacher, the door is open.”

 

She said to Na Hwi-yeon with a proud expression!

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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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