Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 64

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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 064

 

Doesn’t everyone have at least one experience that makes them dizzy just thinking about it?

 

I experienced one of those on my first day at work.

 

And the person who greatly contributed to giving me that experience is right over there.

 

I can see a familiar middle-aged man inside the door.

 

The Principal, wearing a sports collar shirt, is stretching his arm toward the sprinkler attached to the ceiling.

 

I crossed my arms and stared at that sight.

 

“This damn sprinkler activates at the slightest thing, what the hell!”

 

Rip. His hands are rough as he tears the rubber tape.

 

Since it wasn’t cutting well with his hands, he struggled to tear it using his teeth and hands.

 

“How do you manage kids when they break everything every single day?”

 

Hmm.

 

Since this wasn’t a good scene for Cheonji to see, I pushed the wide-open door with my foot to close it halfway.

 

“I need to block everything completely! I’m sick to death of being called to Headquarters every time because of sprinklers and alarms!”

 

So that was the reason.

 

I still remember it. The moment I saw the sprinkler that wouldn’t activate while fire was breaking out and smoke was rising.

 

‘I almost let out a string of curses.’

 

Since putting out the fire was urgent, I postponed the interview with the person who had carefully blocked the sprinkler with rubber tape.

 

After the incident was resolved, I did go around asking who did it.

 

‘But everyone said they didn’t know…’

 

I thought the opportunity for an interview was lost.

 

‘Hmm… But now there is one?’

 

I carefully turned my thoughts. Apart from the fact that I suffered terribly because the sprinkler didn’t work properly…

 

What kind of punishment should I give that bastard?

 

Whether viewed subjectively or objectively, that bastard is disqualified as a Principal.

 

Drinking, neglect of duty, frequent profanity, unnecessary company politics, bribery, embezzlement, and let’s see… sprinklers are essential fire safety equipment.

 

‘Violation of the Fire Services Act has been added too.’

 

I’d like to take care of the above disqualification reasons while I’m at it…

 

The problem is there’s no physical evidence that bastard did it.

 

I could somehow prepare the rest.

 

But how can I prove it when the CCTV from that time was all burned up by Seo-ra’s flames on my first day…

 

“…I can do it.”

 

I looked at the door open on the opposite side.

 

The empty Office Space.

 

However, the cute Writing Supplies and the adorable Event Schedule made from cardboard cut and placed on the Cork Board create a cozy atmosphere.

 

I approached that door and reached for an Office Desk where warm sunlight was streaming in. Then I snatched what was on top of it.

 

It was the Digital Camera that Seo-ra had entrusted to me during the morning activities.

 

‘With this…’

 

“That Camera belongs to Seo-ra, right?”

 

“Right, are there photos of Cheonji here too?”

 

I quickly closed the door after taking out the Camera. I was just lucky to find the door connected to the Kindergarten, but that option is wrong.

 

The location is the same but the time period is different.

 

‘The escape method just said to enter a door that leads to reality.’

 

But that word ‘reality’ is quite ambiguous.

 

Is it reality if only the location is the same? Well…

 

‘Anyway, it’s better to set aside answers I’m not confident about.’

 

If necessary, I can just remember it and come back to open it later.

 

I turned on the Camera and lowered my posture. Then I adjusted the half-closed door to just enough for the Camera lens to fit through and fixed it in place.

 

“Look, when you press this button, it takes a picture.”

 

I held up the Camera and adjusted the angle…

 

Oh, good.

 

Going to video.

 

Before pressing the record button, I saw Cheonji looking at the camera with sparkling eyes.

 

I couldn’t exactly tell the kid that I was planning to film the Principal’s crazy antics.

 

“There’s… an animal here.”

 

“An animal at the Kindergarten?”

 

Huh…? Hmm, she must have looked inside already.

 

“Yeah, a very bad animal. But it’s so elusive that no one has seen it until now.”

 

“…Really? No one?”

 

“It’s big but surprisingly agile. This time I’m definitely going to film this guy and let everyone at the Kindergarten know.”

 

“…Wow.”

 

“For that to happen, there’s something our Baek Cheonji needs to do.”

 

“Yes, yes…!”

 

Nod nod.

 

As expected, the model student of our class.

 

Her eyes look very good.

 

“Until Teacher says ‘It’s over now!’, you need to go ‘shh’. How about it. Can you do it?”

 

“Just leave it to me.”

 

“Good. Shh.”

 

I removed the index finger I had been holding against my lips and looked at the camera again.

 

Fortunately, the Principal seemed too busy blocking the four sprinklers to notice.

 

I pressed the record button and…

 

We held our breath as if we had become documentary directors filming wild animals in the Amazon.

 

“Why are there so many of these? Instead of wasting money on stuff like this, give us more operating funds.”

 

Zoom in.

 

The Principal’s expression and movements were being clearly recorded.

 

“I should quit this job soon too! I’ll make some more money and get out of here. The budget and donations are pretty good, so that’s the only reason I’m staying here for so long, otherwise, huh? I would have left long ago, huh?”

 

Thank you. Even subtly revealing the embezzlement.

 

“The only place I can drink without my wife knowing is here, what a shame.”

 

Got the drinking fact as a double bonus.

 

“Damn it!”

 

I was able to clearly capture on video the Principal rambling on like that for a while and sticking all the rubber tape.

 

I closed the door with a satisfied smile.

 

‘This is quite profitable.’

 

This one video alone reduced the physical evidence I needed to prepare by a truckload.

 

After straightening my back and getting up from my position, I spoke to Cheonji who was still tightly covering her mouth with both hands.

 

“It’s over now!”

 

“…Whoooosh!”

 

I asked her to stay quiet, not to hold her breath.

 

Anyway, everything that needed to be done was finished and it would be over soon.

 

Huh? Why over?

 

Well, because there wasn’t much left now.

 

Until I found the right door.

 

After opening dozens of doors to get here, I realized one fact.

 

Time inside the doors was gradually flowing.

 

And the backgrounds were becoming familiar too. According to the person opening the door.

 

At first it was my middle school home, then the university lecture hall I attended, then the Kindergarten at different times…

 

‘It will appear soon.’

 

And like magic, as soon as I opened the very next door, it appeared.

 

A glimpse of a Children’s Washbasin.

 

The analog clock hanging on the wall.

 

The dark hallway contrasting with the brightly lit restroom.

 

‘This is it.’

 

The moment I felt certain.

 

From behind me, space began to distort with creaking noises.

 

I hurriedly grabbed Cheonji’s hand and rushed inside.

 

I watched the space disappearing like a whirlpool beyond the door that hadn’t closed yet, then… click.

 

I closed the door.

 

I looked around.

 

The time on the wall showed 11:30 PM.

 

Roughly similar to when Cheonji had gone to and returned from the restroom.

 

I checked inside the restroom, but there were no signs of anyone. I walked briskly toward Dolphin Class without stopping. Then I opened the door.

 

There, just as we had left them, everyone was sleeping.

 

“…Ha.”

 

With only Cheonji’s and my spots empty.

 

‘Honestly, it would be a lie to say I wasn’t scared at all.’

 

It was just that my brain, having woken up not long ago, processed the sense of danger more dully than usual, along with the thought that I needed to get the child back to sleep quickly…

 

With a sigh of relief, my shoulders that had been stiff with tension finally relaxed.

 

With my exhausted body, I lay down on the blanket with Cheonji. I pulled my blanket over to cover Cheonji’s body and immediately started patting the child’s back.

 

Pat pat.

 

What on earth did I experience in the middle of the night.

 

“…Teacher, I’m not sleepy anymore.”

 

“No, our Cheonji is sleepy.”

 

“Teacher, can’t you show me that animal you filmed?”

 

“Animal? Ah… that bad animal? I’ll show you tomorrow~ Let’s sleep for now.”

 

Let’s sleep for now, please.

 

Teacher wants to forget reality right now and escape into sleep.

 

“…I’m really not sleepy though.”

 

“If you close your eyes tight, sleep will come, right?”

 

Pat pat.

 

“Or should we try counting sheep with Teacher?… One sheep, two sheep, three sheep…”

 

Pat pat.

 

Are you sleeping? You should be sleeping.

 

If you don’t sleep now, tomorrow’s daily routine will be all messed up.

 

I pulled Cheonji close and patted with slightly more force. The child’s warm body temperature made my mind drowsy as well.

 

“…A productive day.”

 

“…Hm?”

 

“Did I… spend a productive day today?”

 

I looked down at the child while holding them. It would be strange to call it a bizarre thing to say suddenly… but I had heard this before.

 

Baek Cheonhyeong, you bastard.

 

I don’t want to attach the word bastard to a student’s guardian, but.

 

Even now, just thinking about that nerve-wracking conversation makes me feel troubled.

 

 

You’ve been holding onto those words.

 

I nodded vigorously.

 

“Of course, of course. Teacher can guarantee that Cheonji’s day today was more productive than anyone else’s.”

 

I’m confident I could even write a guarantee for the above fact.

 

“…!”

 

Seeing Cheonji cover their face as if embarrassed and burrow into my arms, I felt relieved inside.

 

And as a lullaby, I conveyed my sincere feelings to the child who must have had a hard day today.

 

“Cheonji, honestly, wasn’t Teacher really scary in the hallway? But Cheonji held Teacher’s hand and saved me with the light.”

 

“….”

 

“Teacher knows everything. That Cheonji moves around busily among friends. You try to keep Seo-ra and Seo-ro from fighting, and you watch over your friends instead, worried that Tae-jae and Noah might trouble Teacher.”

 

Not just today, but there were things I’d been observing consistently.

 

Cheonji is quiet, but stands out.

 

Cheonji holding his forehead between the twins, Cheonji monitoring Noah and Tae-jae with hawk-like eyes, and even Cheonji who tried to save me despite being scared.

 

People with hearts that care for others naturally draw attention.

 

Even if all of that behavior stemmed from some obsession with a certain role….

 

‘The fact that he acted is what matters most.’

 

I remained silent for a moment, then spoke slowly.

 

“I’m always grateful to Cheonji.”

 

A surge of emotion welled up instead, but I pressed it down.

 

“….”

 

There was no response, but I could tell.

 

‘He’s listening.’

 

After that, gradually hearing the child’s breathing stabilize, I too closed my eyes.

 

‘I put the USB and camera in my bag.’

 

Back it up, organize it…. Oh right…. I need to schedule a parent conference for Cheonji too. I’ll make sure Baek Cheonhyeong comes somehow….

 

No, what on earth did he usually say to the kid to make him think like that all day…. I’m going to absolutely….

 

Then I fell asleep.

 

I slept deeply for the first time in a very long while.

 

***

 

Everyone at the kindergarten woke up early in the morning.

 

However, only two people remained asleep even when lunchtime arrived.

 

Poke.

 

Park I-deun pressed Na Hwi-yeon’s cheek with her index finger as he slept soundly.

 

“He still won’t wake up even with this.”

 

“No…! What if he wakes up from that?”

 

“Wasn’t the problem that he’s not waking up right now?”

 

This terminally suspicious, thoroughly meticulous person oversleeping….

 

“Isn’t this behavior inconsistent with his character traits?”

 

“Stop talking like an otaku.”

 

“No, look. Since he’s sleeping, he looks really gentle. I used to think this guy was like a cat based on his usual behavior, but seeing him now, he’s like a puppy. He looks exactly like that keyring he carries around.”

 

At Park I-deun’s words, weak exclamations burst from the mouths of the teachers sitting in a circle around Na Hwi-yeon, watching him.

 

“Ah, really….”

 

“…I suppose so.”

 

“A puppy? I’m not sure about that, maybe a stray dog.”

 

Rarely, a coldly bitter assessment came from Yu Jin-chae’s mouth.

 

However, Park I-deun seemed to pay no mind to Yu Jin-chae’s words as she playfully moved Na Hwi-yeon’s hair around with her hands.

 

“Look, when I expose his forehead here, he looks even gentler….”

 

“Teacher~! When will Cheonji wake up?”

 

Just then, Noah, unable to bear his friend’s absence any longer, suddenly stuck his face between the teachers.

 

In fact, not just Noah, but the twins and Tae-jae had also found spots among the teachers and were observing the two sleeping humans.

 

“Cheonji and Teacher are hugging while they sleep?”

 

“They look like they get along well! Lee Seo-ra wants to sleep next to them too!”

 

“But when will they wake up? Why is Teacher oversleeping? Is that okay?”

 

Park I-deun scratched the back of her head vigorously.

 

The day after the overnight camp is a weekend, so there’s no special schedule – they just send home the children who wake up in the morning and the teachers can leave work too.

 

The Seal Class and Shark Class children had already gone home, and now only Dolphin Class needed to go home….

 

“But their homeroom teacher is sleeping like a log.”

 

Dolphin Class couldn’t go home.

 

…Naturally, the teachers couldn’t leave work either.

 

“Let’s let them sleep more.”

 

“Yeah~ Let them sleep more.”

 

“Yes, let them sleep…. They worked so hard.”

 

But somehow, the other teachers didn’t seem to have any desire to leave work early.

 

Seeing Na Hwi-yeon sleeping with a comfortable expression and Cheonji smiling proudly for some reason, Park I-deun’s desire to go home also diminished.

 

More precisely, it could be said that she just felt like letting those two sleep peacefully like this.

 

‘We all feel the same way.’

 

He could only carefully tuck in the blanket that the two were sharing more thoroughly.

—————
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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